JP3558799B2 - Printer device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to switching of a paper feed tray when paper runs out.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a printer having a plurality of paper feed trays, there may be no paper in a specified paper feed tray. On the other hand, for example, if there is paper of the same size in another paper tray, switch to that paper tray.If there is no paper tray containing paper of the same size, paper of another size is loaded. The user selects a paper feed tray, changes the magnification of the image, and prints on paper of another size.
[0003]
Further, for example, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-118663, when there is no paper in a specified paper feed tray during printing, a paper feed tray containing paper of the same size but in a different direction is selected. The image is rotated and printing is continued. Further, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-182636, when a paper shortage is detected, the paper feed tray is switched according to a predetermined priority.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when printing is continued while changing the magnification of the paper during printing, or when the paper-out is detected as in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-182636, the paper feed tray is set in accordance with a predetermined priority. The size of the same document will change in the middle of the switching.
[0005]
Further, when there is no paper in a designated paper feed tray during printing as in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-118663, a paper feed tray containing paper of the same size but in a different direction is selected. However, simply rotating the image and continuing printing cannot cope with the case where there is no sheet specified at the start of printing.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a disadvantage, and it is an object of the present invention to appropriately switch a paper feed tray when paper runs out, and to reduce interruption of print processing.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the printer device according to the present invention, when accepting a print instruction over a plurality of pages specifying the same size paper and starting printing, there is no paper feed tray containing paper of the same size as the size specified by the print instruction. If this is the case, select a paper tray containing paper of another size, change the image size according to the size of the paper in the selected paper tray, and start printing. If there is a paper feed tray containing paper of the same size as the size, the paper feed tray is selected and printing is started. Then, when the paper feed tray during printing becomes out of paper, the sheet with the same size of the paper feed tray becomes out of paper, and containing the paper feed tray and the same direction of the paper became out of paper Search for another paper tray, and if there is another paper tray that is the same size as the paper in the paper tray that has run out and that contains paper in the same direction as the paper tray that ran out of paper. to feed paper from the paper feed tray, the paper of the same size of the paper feed tray becomes out of paper, and other paper feed tray that contains the paper feed tray and the same direction of the paper became out of paper If not, look for the paper feed tray the paper of the paper and the same size of the paper feed tray for the paper feed tray and the direction which has become out-of-paper has become out of paper different is on, a paper feed tray, which has become out-of-paper and a sheet of paper feed tray, which has become out of paper that direction is different If there is a paper feed tray that contains the paper one size to feed paper from the paper feed tray, printing by changing the orientation of the image. Further, if there is no paper feed tray containing paper of the same size, the printing process is interrupted without selecting a paper feed tray containing paper of another size. Therefore, even when the paper feed tray runs out during printing can feed paper of the same size from another paper feed tray, and Ru can be prevented that the change paper size during printing.
[0009]
Further, when the paper tray runs out of paper during printing, if there is no paper tray containing paper of the same size, the printing process is interrupted to prevent the paper size from changing during printing. .
[0010]
Also, a print instruction over a plurality of pages specifying sheets of the same size includes information on the number of prints, and the paper runs out during printing by selecting a paper feed tray having sheets for the number of prints included in the print instruction. Can be prevented beforehand.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The printer of the present invention includes a plurality of paper feed trays. The printer device includes, for example, a tray selection unit, a tray switching unit, a magnification calculation unit, a scaling unit, and an image rotation unit. When starting printing, if there is no paper in the specified size and in the specified direction, the tray selection unit searches for a paper tray containing paper of the same size in a different direction, and prints paper of the same size in a different direction. If there is a paper tray that contains paper of the same size, select that paper tray. If there is no paper tray that contains paper of the same size, select a paper tray that contains paper of another size. Here, the designation direction of the paper refers to designation of whether the paper is set in the paper feed tray in a portrait or landscape orientation. The tray switching unit changes the paper feed tray for feeding paper to the paper feed tray selected by the tray selection unit. When the tray selection unit selects a paper feed tray of another paper size, the magnification calculation unit calculates the magnification of the image so as to fit the paper in the paper feed tray selected by the tray selection unit. The magnification processing unit scales and prints an image to be printed at the magnification calculated by the magnification calculation unit. Thus, an image can be printed even when there is no paper of the designated size.
[0012]
Furthermore, when accepting a print instruction over multiple pages specifying the same size paper and starting printing, if there is no paper tray with paper of the same size as the size specified in the print instruction, another size Select the paper tray that contains the paper, change the image size according to the paper size of the selected paper tray, and start printing.On the other hand, select the paper of the same size as the size specified in the print instruction. If there is a paper feed tray in which is stored, the paper feed tray is selected and printing is started. Then, when the paper feed tray during printing becomes out of paper, the tray selecting section, the paper of the same size of the paper feed tray becomes out of paper, and the paper feed tray and in the same direction became out of paper Search for another paper tray that contains paper, and then load another paper that is the same size as the paper in the paper tray that ran out of paper , and that contains paper in the same direction as the paper tray that ran out of paper. If there is a tray , paper is fed from that paper feed tray . On the other hand, if there is no other paper tray with the same size as the paper in the paper tray that has run out and the paper in the same direction as the paper tray that has run out, the paper has run out. Search for a paper tray that contains paper of the same size as the paper in the paper tray that ran out of paper. If there is a paper feed tray containing paper of the same size as the paper in the paper tray, the paper is fed from that paper feed tray , and the image rotating unit rotates the image 90 degrees and continues printing. Thereby, even if the paper runs out during printing, interruption of printing can be reduced.
[0013]
Further, when there is no paper tray containing paper of the same size, without selecting a paper tray containing paper other size, it interrupts the printing. This can prevent the size of the printed document from changing during printing.
[0014]
Also, a print instruction over a plurality of pages specifying sheets of the same size includes information on the number of prints, and the paper runs out during printing by selecting a paper feed tray having sheets for the number of prints included in the print instruction. Can be prevented beforehand.
[0015]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printer device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the printer device 1 includes a controller 10, a panel device 2, paper feed trays 3a to 3n, a paper feed device 4, and a printer engine 5.
[0016]
The controller 10 includes a RAM 11, a font ROM 12, a program ROM 13, a nonvolatile RAM 14, an IC card 15, a CPU 16, a host interface (hereinafter, referred to as "host I / F") 17, and a panel interface (hereinafter, referred to as "panel I / F") 18. , An engine interface (hereinafter referred to as “engine I / F”) 19, a tray selection unit 20, a tray switching unit 21, a magnification calculation unit 22, a scaling unit 23, and an image rotation unit 24. The RAM 11 is a part for storing temporary data and the like, and includes a work area of the CPU 16, an input buffer, a page buffer for print data, and a download font storage area. The font ROM 12 stores a plurality of fonts. The program ROM 13 stores a control program of the controller 10. The nonvolatile RAM 14 stores a mode instruction from the panel device 2 and the like. The CPU 16 controls the entire controller 10. The host I / F 17 communicates with the host device 9 and includes a Centronics type connector or an RS232C type connector. Here, the host device 9 may be connected using a network. The panel I / F 18 communicates with the panel device 2. The engine I / F 19 communicates commands, status, print data, and the like with the printer engine 5.
[0017]
The tray selector 20 selects paper feed trays 3a to 3n for feeding paper when printing. The tray switching unit 21 controls the sheet feeding device 4 so as to supply sheets from the sheet feeding trays 3a to 3n selected by the tray selecting unit 20. The magnification calculator 22 calculates the magnification of the image so that the image can be printed on the paper supplied from the paper feed trays 3a to 3n selected by the tray selector 20. The scaling unit 23 enlarges or reduces the image to be printed at the magnification calculated by the magnification calculation unit 22. The image rotation unit 24 rotates the image by 90 degrees when the paper direction is different from the image direction.
[0018]
The paper feeding device 4 supplies paper from the paper feeding trays 3 a to 3 n according to the control of the tray switching unit 21 and sends the paper to the printer engine 5.
[0019]
The operation when printing an image with the printer device 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
[0020]
Upon receiving the image data from the host device 9 and starting a print job, the tray selection unit 20 checks whether or not there is a sheet in the designated paper feed trays 3a to 3n (step S2). When there is paper in the designated paper feed trays 3a to 3n, the tray selection unit 20 selects the designated paper supply trays 3a to 3n, and the tray switching unit 21 operates the paper supply tray 3a selected by the tray selection unit 20. 3n to control the paper feeder 4 to start feeding paper.
[0021]
If there is no paper in the designated paper feed trays 3a to 3n, the tray selection unit 20 checks information such as the size and paper direction of the paper in the other paper feed trays 3a to 3n (step S4). When the same size and the same direction of paper are contained in the paper feed trays 3a to 3n designated as the other paper feed trays 3a to 3n, the tray selection unit 20 selects the paper feed trays 3a to 3n. Then, the printing process is continued (steps S5 and S7). If there are no paper feed trays 3a to 3n in the same size and in the same direction as those in the designated paper feed trays 3a to 3n, the tray selection unit 20 contains paper of the same size and in a different direction. Search the paper feed trays 3a to 3n. When there are paper feed trays 3a to 3n containing papers of the same size but in different directions, the tray selection unit 20 selects the paper feed trays 3a to 3n, and the image rotation unit 24 rotates the image to be printed by 90 degrees. To continue the printing process (steps S6 and S7). As described above, since the paper feed trays 3a to 3n containing the same size paper as those in the designated paper feed trays 3a to 3n are selected, there is no need to enlarge or reduce the image, and the Can be printed.
[0022]
If there is no paper in the designated paper feed trays 3a to 3n and there is no paper feed tray 3a to 3n containing paper of the same size as that in the paper feed trays 3a to 3n, the tray selection unit 20 Checks whether there is paper in the other paper feed trays 3a to 3n. If there is paper in the other paper feed trays 3a to 3n (step S9), the tray selection unit 20 stores paper of the size closest to the size of the paper in the specified paper feed tray 3a to 3n. The selected paper feed trays 3a to 3n are selected (step S10). The tray switching unit 21 controls the sheet feeding device 4 so as to supply sheets from the sheet feeding trays 3a to 3n selected by the tray selecting unit 20. The magnification calculator 22 calculates the magnification of the image according to the size of the paper in the paper feed trays 3a to 3n selected by the tray selector 20 (step S11). The scaling unit 23 enlarges or reduces the image to be printed at the magnification calculated by the magnification calculator 22, and continues the printing process (step S12). Thus, the printing process can be started even when there is no paper of the designated size.
[0023]
As described above, when the printing process is started, and the paper is not present in the paper feed trays 3a to 3n to which the paper has been supplied during printing (step S2), the tray selection unit 20 supplies the paper up to that point as described above. The paper feed trays 3a to 3n containing paper of the same size as the loaded paper are searched (steps S4 to S7). If there is no paper feed tray 3a to 3n containing paper of the same size, a paper out error has occurred. And the printing process is interrupted (step S13). Thus, even if the paper is broken during printing, the same size paper can be supplied from the other paper feed trays 3a to 3n to prevent the printing process from being interrupted. It is possible to prevent the paper size from changing.
[0024]
In addition, information such as the number of prints is added to the head of the image data transmitted from the host device 9, and at the start of the printing process, the printer device 1 selects paper feed trays 3 a to 3 n having the number of prints. You may do it. This can prevent the paper from running out during printing.
[0025]
In addition, the paper feed trays 3a to 3n run out of paper during printing. If there is no paper, the paper is supplied from the paper feed trays 3a to 3n containing paper larger than the paper in the paper feed trays 3a to 3n that have run out of paper. Printing may be continued. Since printing is performed on a sheet larger than the sheet contained in the paper feed trays 3a to 3n that have run out of sheets, the sheet size can be made the same by cutting the sheet.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when a printing instruction over a plurality of pages specifying the same size paper is received and printing is started, a paper tray containing paper of the same size as the size specified by the printing instruction is used. If not, select a paper tray containing paper of another size, change the image size according to the paper size of the selected paper tray, and start printing. If there is a paper feed tray containing paper of the same size as the specified size, the paper feed tray is selected and printing is started. Then, when the paper feed tray during printing becomes out of paper, the sheet with the same size of the paper feed tray becomes out of paper, and containing the paper feed tray and the same direction of the paper became out of paper Search for another paper tray, and if there is another paper tray that is the same size as the paper in the paper tray that has run out and that contains paper in the same direction as the paper tray that ran out of paper. Then, paper is fed from the paper feed tray . On the other hand, if there is no other paper tray with the same size as the paper in the paper tray that has run out and the paper in the same direction as the paper tray that has run out, the paper has run out. looking for a paper feed tray that contains paper of the paper and the same size of the paper feed tray for the paper feed tray and the direction has become out of paper different is, became the paper out of the paper feed tray and the direction is different, which has become out-of-paper feed If there is a paper tray that contains paper of the same size as the paper in the paper tray, paper is fed from that paper tray and the image is printed with the orientation changed. Even when there is no more paper, the same size paper can be fed from another paper feed tray and print processing can be performed.
[0029]
In addition, if the paper tray runs out of paper during printing and there is no paper tray with paper of the same size , print without selecting a paper tray with paper of another size. Since the processing is interrupted, it is possible to prevent the paper size from changing during printing.
[0030]
Also, a print instruction over a plurality of pages specifying paper of the same size includes information on the number of prints, and paper is exhausted during printing by selecting a paper feed tray having papers for the number of prints included in the print instruction. Can be prevented beforehand.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 printer device 10 controller 20 tray selection unit 21 tray switching unit 22 magnification calculation unit 23 scaling unit 24 image rotation unit 3 paper feed tray 9 host device

Claims (2)

In a printer device having a plurality of paper feed trays,
When accepting a print instruction over multiple pages that specify the same size paper and starting printing,
If there is no paper tray with paper of the same size as the size specified in the print instruction, select a paper tray with paper of another size and fit it to the paper size of the selected paper tray. To change the size of the image and start printing.If there is a paper tray with paper of the same size as the size specified in the print instruction, select that paper tray and start printing. ,
When the paper feed tray has become out of paper during printing,
Search for another paper tray that is the same size as the paper in the paper tray that has run out of paper , and that contains paper in the same direction as the paper tray that ran out of paper. If there is another paper tray with the same size as the paper in the tray and the paper in the same direction as the paper tray that has run out of paper, feed paper from that paper tray,
If there is no other paper tray with the same size as the paper in the paper out tray and the paper in the same direction as the paper out tray, there is no paper in the paper tray. looking for a paper tray paper tray and the direction is on a different sheet of paper the same size of the paper feed tray, which has become out-of-paper, became the paper out of the paper feed tray and the direction is different, which has become out-of-paper If there is a paper tray with paper of the same size as the paper in the paper tray , feed paper from that paper tray, change the orientation of the image, and print.
If there is no paper feed tray containing paper of the same size , the printing apparatus interrupts the printing process without selecting a paper feed tray containing paper of another size . 2. The printer apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the print instruction over a plurality of pages specifying the same size of paper includes information on the number of prints, and selects a paper feed tray provided with the number of prints included in the print instruction .

Images