JP3932780B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a controller that receives print information and issues a command and an engine that executes printing according to the command, and in particular, executes calibration and the like at an appropriate timing based on a request from the engine side. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of performing the above.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical configuration of a conventional printing apparatus. The printing apparatus 1 is an apparatus that is connected to a host computer 2 such as a personal computer and executes printing based on a print command from the host computer 2. The printing apparatus 1 is largely divided into a controller 3 and an engine 4. When a command is issued from the host computer 2, the controller 3 first receives the print information, and based on this, creates commands for issuing various instructions to the engine 4 and image data to be printed.
[0003]
The engine 4 is roughly divided into a mechanical control 5 and a mechanical part 6 as shown in the figure. Here, the mechanical controller is a mechanical controller that controls the mechanical unit. When the created command is issued from the controller 3, the mechanical controller 5 receives it and controls each part of the mechanical unit 6 according to the instruction to execute printing. Normally, the engine 4 includes a paper feed unit, a photoconductor unit, a transfer unit, a fixing unit, a paper discharge unit, and the like. Specifically, the mechanical controller 5 includes a motor, a clutch, Controls sensors and the like.
[0004]
Further, as shown in the figure, the interface part between the controller 3 and the mechanical control 5 is called a video interface part 7. In order to transmit the above command, the video interface unit 7 usually transmits a dedicated line for transmitting / receiving a specific signal such as a communication line for notifying each other of the stable power supply state, a communication line for transmitting video data, and the like. Serial communication lines are provided. Among them, on the serial communication line, the above-described command transmission from the controller 3 to the mechanical control 5 and the status return from the mechanical control 5 to the controller 3 in response thereto are performed. Here, the status is a signal mainly indicating the state on the engine 4 side, and the controller 3 grasps the state of the engine 4 by returning the status.
[0005]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how commands and status are issued. As shown in the figure, the video interface unit 7 of the conventional apparatus repeatedly transmits a 1-byte command from the controller 3 to the mechanical controller 5 and returns a 1-byte status response from the mechanical controller 5 to the controller 3 in response thereto. Is designed to be done. Further, the controller 3 and the mechanical control 5 have a master-slave relationship (master / slave). In principle, the mechanical control 5 only returns the status of the requested content when a command from the controller 3 is received. It is. Therefore, the status cannot be issued voluntarily at any timing from the mechanical control 5 (engine 4 side), and the contents not requested cannot be answered.
[0006]
On the other hand, some calibrations such as density adjustment which are indispensable in the printing apparatus are performed by the controller 3 depending on the contents, and some are performed only by the engine 4 side.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Usually, it is considered that it is more appropriate to determine the execution timing of each calibration described above based on the state of the mechanical unit 6 detected by each sensor or the like on the engine 4 side.
[0008]
However, in the conventional apparatus, as described above, since the controller 3 and the engine 4 are in a master / slave relationship, even if a state in which the predetermined calibration is to be executed is detected on the engine 4 side, it is immediately detected. Since there is no means to inform the controller 3 at an arbitrary timing, the execution timing of the calibration performed by the controller 3 described above is determined by the judgment of only the controller 3 side, and is always executed at an appropriate timing. It was not always.
[0009]
Further, since the execution of the calibration performed only on the engine 4 side is not controlled on the controller 3 side, for example, the calibration is executed during the print job. For example, it may be executed at an unfavorable timing.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing calibration or the like at an appropriate timing without changing a conventional communication architecture in a video interface between a controller and an engine.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus that performs printing according to a print job, a request from the engine is transmitted to the controller in a status issued by the engine in response to a command issued by the controller. The engine request bit is provided, and the controller issues an execution command for the request based on the contents of the engine request bit. Also, the engine uses this engine request bit to notify the controller that a condition for executing calibration or the like has been established, and the controller instructs the execution of calibration or the like based on the condition. Therefore, according to the present invention, the controller can know at any time the timing of execution of calibration and the like detected on the engine side, and calibration and the like are controlled on the controller side. Calibration and the like can be executed at a more appropriate timing than before.
[0012]
In order to achieve the above object, another aspect of the present invention provides a printing apparatus that performs printing according to a print job, a controller that issues commands that express various instructions according to the print job, and printing according to the command. An engine that executes and returns a status indicating an internal state to the controller in response to the command, and an engine request bit for requesting an operation from the engine to the controller is provided in the status; Is configured to issue an execution command of the requested operation based on the engine request bit and cause the engine to execute the operation.
[0013]
Further, in the above invention, a preferable aspect thereof is that the controller and the engine return master / slave so that the predetermined status is returned in response to the received command only when the engine receives the command. It communicates by the relationship of this.
[0014]
Further, in the above invention, another aspect is that the status is returned in response to a command issued from the controller at regular intervals and indicates a plurality of basic states of the engine, and a plurality of the engine statuses. The engine request bit is provided in the basic status, and the engine request bit is provided in the basic status.
[0015]
Furthermore, in the above-mentioned invention, another aspect uses the engine request bit provided in the basic status, and the engine transmits the presence / absence of the operation request to the controller. When it is transmitted that there is a request for the operation, the controller issues a command, and in response to the command, the engine returns the unique status indicating the content of the operation request. And
[0016]
In the above invention, another aspect is characterized in that the requested operation is execution of calibration.
[0017]
Furthermore, in the above invention, another aspect is characterized in that the calibration is density patch control or gradation patch control.
[0018]
In the above invention, another aspect is characterized in that the requested operation is a toner remaining amount check.
[0019]
Furthermore, in the above invention, another aspect is that, when it is detected that the engine needs to execute at least density patch control or gradation patch control, the control is performed using the engine request bit. Is executed to the controller, and the control is executed by a command issued from the controller based on the request.
[0020]
Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments of the invention described below.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, such an embodiment does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals or reference symbols.
[0022]
The electrical configuration of the embodiment of the printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is the same as that of the conventional apparatus, as shown in FIG. As described above, the printing apparatus 1 includes the controller 3 and the engine 4, and the engine 4 includes the mechanical controller 5 and the mechanical unit 6. The controller 3 receives print information from the host computer 2 and generates various commands for instructing the engine 4 to print and image data to be printed. The mechanical controller 5 that has received the command transmitted from the controller 3 controls each part of the mechanical unit 6 in accordance with the instruction and executes printing.
[0023]
In addition, the video interface unit 7 between the controller 3 and the mechanical control 5 is provided with various dedicated communication lines and a serial communication line for transmitting the command as in the conventional case. In the serial communication line, A command and status are transmitted between the controller 3 and the mechanical control 5 in a master / slave relationship.
[0024]
As described above, the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment maintains the electrical configuration of the conventional apparatus and the master / slave communication architecture in the video interface unit, while moving from the engine 4 side to the controller 3 side. The request can be transmitted so that calibration and the like can be performed at a more appropriate timing than before.
[0025]
There are various types of commands used in the printing apparatus 1 such as an execution command related to execution of printing, an acquisition command for knowing the state on the engine 4 side, and a setting command for setting each part of the engine 4. Based on the master / slave relationship described above, the status to be returned from the engine 4 side for each of these commands is determined.
[0026]
The status includes a basic status that generally indicates the state on the engine 4 side, and a plurality of individual statuses (hereinafter referred to as unique statuses) that indicate the detailed state of each part on the engine 4 side. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic status and a unique status bit array used in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and their relationship. In the figure, (a) shows a bit arrangement example of the basic status, and (b) to (e) show bit arrangement examples of the unique status related to the basic status.
[0027]
As shown in the figure, the basic status generally indicates a basic state on the engine 4 side, and includes information that the controller 3 should always grasp. Therefore, the controller 3 issues the acquisition command for obtaining a response of the basic status at regular time intervals, and monitors the situation on the engine 4 side. For example, the controller 3 is designed to issue a command for receiving a basic status at least once per second. Further, not only when the acquisition command for obtaining the basic status is issued, but also when the command issued from the controller 3 does not require specific information from the engine 4 side, this basic status is returned to the controller 3. For example, a basic status is returned to a command for specifying a color or a printing surface issued when printing is executed. The controller 3 can check whether the issued command is received by the engine 4 while checking whether or not the printing can be executed by returning the basic status. As described above, the basic command is important for the controller 3 to grasp the overall state on the engine 4 side, and is the status with the highest frequency of reply.
[0028]
On the other hand, as described above, the unique status is for transmitting the individual state of each part on the engine 4 side to the controller 3, and various types of statuses are prepared. Each unique status, as well as basic status, which is determined either beforehand which command is returned when they are issued, is transmitted in response to the issuance of the corresponding command. The unique statuses shown in (b) to (e) of FIG. 1 indicate details of each item shown in the basic status ((a)). For example, the controller 3 informed of the status of “next printing not possible” (bit 6 in FIG. 1A) by the basic status issues a command for obtaining the detailed contents. In response to the command, the engine 4 side returns a unique status of “details that cannot be printed next” ((b) in FIG. 1), for example, “normal wait” (bit 6 in FIG. 1 (b)) state. Let me know. As described above, the unique status is for informing the individual detailed contents, and the issue frequency of each is lower than that of the basic status.
[0029]
The printing apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied is characterized in that the request from the engine 4 side is transmitted to the controller 3 side using the basic status. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1A, the bit 4 is provided with a bit called “engine request” (hereinafter referred to as an engine request bit). This engine request bit is for notifying the controller 3 when the operation that is convenient on the engine 4 side is necessary. When the value is “1”, the controller 3 receives information from the engine 4. It is determined that there is some operation request, and when the value is “0”, it is determined that there is no request.
[0030]
When the controller 3 receives the engine request bit of “1”, the controller 3 issues a command for confirming the content of the operation requested by the engine 4, and the engine 4 displays the detailed content of the engine request corresponding to the command. A unique status ((c) in FIG. 1) to be transmitted is returned. As a result, the controller 3 knows the details of the requested operation and issues a command for executing the operation according to the requested operation content. Therefore, a predetermined operation can be performed by a request on the engine 4 side while maintaining the conventional master / slave relationship, that is, the relationship of returning a predetermined status to the command only when the command is issued. Will be executed. Furthermore, since the basic status indicating the operation request is frequently returned as described above, there is little possibility of losing the execution timing of the required operation, and the operation requested at a more appropriate timing can be executed. .
[0031]
Further, even if the operation recognized as necessary on the engine 4 side can be executed only on the engine 4 side, it is not executed as it is, but after notifying the controller 3 with the engine request bit as described above, Is supposed to be executed. As a result, all operations are controlled by the controller 3, and the inconvenience described as the problem of the prior art does not occur. Note that bits other than bit 4 in the bit arrangement example shown in FIG. 1A indicate the general state of the engine 4 side, and are the same as those in the conventional apparatus.
[0032]
The operation required from the engine 4 side described above is specifically calibration for density adjustment, etc., and how to use the engine request bit, which is a feature of this apparatus, will be described below using a specific example. Will be described in detail. As calibration for density adjustment, there are usually density patch control and gradation patch control. Density patch control is to adjust to the correct density by changing the development high pressure with a constant exposure amount, and is applied when a deviation as shown in FIG. In the figure, the solid line indicates the correct state, and the dotted line indicates a shifted state. In such a case, as described above, the image density due to the toner formed on the intermediate medium such as the transfer unit in the engine is detected, and the maximum and minimum values of the developing bias voltage and the maximum and minimum values of the charging bias voltage are detected. The dotted line can be corrected in the direction of the arrow by the density patch control for changing the above. Since this control can be executed only on the engine 4 side, in the conventional apparatus, the determination is made on the engine 4 side regardless of the controller 3.
[0033]
The gradation patch control is applied when a shift as shown in FIG. 2B occurs. In this case as well, as in the case of the density patch control, the image density formed on the intermediate medium is measured on the engine 4 side, and control is performed based on the measurement data, but the deviation is shown in FIG. Since it is not a linear type as shown in FIG. 5, it cannot be handled only by changing the voltage as in density patch control. Therefore, in gradation patch control, the controller 3 performs control so as to obtain an appropriate density by changing a conversion table used when the image data is binarized. Therefore, it is necessary for both the controller 3 and the engine 4 to be involved in the execution of the gradation patch control. In the conventional apparatus, the execution is performed under the initiative of the controller 3.
[0034]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a status of commands and statuses that are issued when the gradation patch control is necessary while the printing apparatus 1 is idle. Since the controller 3 normally needs to know the situation on the engine 4 side even during idling, it frequently issues a command for obtaining a basic status at regular time intervals ((1) in FIG. 3). On the other hand, on the engine 4 side, it is assumed that the concentration state is in a state as shown in FIG. That is, it is recognized that the gradation patch control needs to be performed on the engine 4 side (a in FIG. 2).
[0035]
Then, in order to inform the controller 3 that the gradation patch control should be performed, the engine 4 first sets the value of the engine request bit to “1” as a response to the command ((1) in FIG. 3). The basic status is transmitted ((2) in FIG. 3). Thereby, the controller 3 knows that there is a request from the engine 4 side, and issues a command for requesting the content ((3) in FIG. 3). The engine 4 that has received the command returns a unique status indicating the details of the engine request, which is predetermined to respond to the command ((4) in FIG. 3). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a bit arrangement example of the unique status. “1” is set in bit 6 when tone patch control is requested, and bit 5 is set when density patch control is requested. In this case, a value of “1” is entered in bit 6 and returned.
[0036]
The controller 3 that has received the unique status knows the content of the operation requested by the engine 4 and issues a command for instructing the execution of the gradation patch control based on this ((5) in FIG. 3). In the example of FIG. 3, since it is idle, this command ((5) in FIG. 3) is issued immediately. The engine 4 side returns the basic status to the command ((6) in FIG. 3) and starts executing the gradation patch control.
[0037]
As described above, in this printing apparatus, a more accurate gradation patch control execution timing that can be known only on the engine 4 side is caused by using a frequently issued basic status to cause a significant time delay. Can be transmitted to the controller 3 without any problem. Therefore, tone patch control can be performed at a more appropriate timing than in the conventional apparatus that has been led by the controller 3 without receiving a request from the engine 4 side. In addition, as described above, the request from the engine 4 side is transmitted to the controller 3 with two statuses, that is, the basic status and the specific status of the engine request details, so that the conventional communication architecture with 1 byte length is achieved. There is no need to change.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing, as another specific example, commands and statuses that are issued when the printing apparatus 1 needs to perform the density patch control during printing. Usually, in order to execute printing, a plurality of commands ((1), (3),..., (5) in FIG. 5) such as color and paper setting are issued, and the basic corresponding to each command is issued. The status ((2), (4),..., (6) in FIG. 5) is returned. The example shown in FIG. 5 is a case where it is recognized that density patch control is necessary on the engine 4 side during this print job.
[0039]
When it is recognized that the density patch control is necessary (a in FIG. 5), the engine 4 has a basic status ((4) in FIG. 5) with respect to the command ((3) in FIG. 5) immediately after that. The necessary bits are set to “1”. The controller 3 that has received this basic status knows that there is a request for operation from the engine 4 side, but because it is in a print job, unlike the example shown in FIG. Continue issuing commands for print execution without issuing commands. Then, when printing is completed, a command for requesting details of the engine request is issued ((7) in FIG. 5). Hereinafter, as in the case of the example of FIG. 3, the response of the specific status indicating the density patch control from the engine 4 ((8) in FIG. 5) and the execution command of the density patch control ((9) in FIG. 5) And density patch control is executed.
[0040]
As described above, in the conventional apparatus, this density patch control is performed only by the determination on the engine 4 side, and it may be executed even during a print job as in the above example, which is inconvenient. In the printing apparatus 1, density patch control is also executed according to an instruction from the controller 3, so that such inconvenience can be avoided and the density patch control can be executed at an appropriate timing for the entire apparatus.
[0041]
In the specific status of the engine request details shown in FIG. 4, the operations requested from the engine 4 side are only the gradation patch control and the density patch control, but other operations are performed using bit 1 to bit 4. It can also be requested. For example, it can be used to request a check of the remaining amount of toner. Regarding the check of the remaining amount of toner, in the conventional apparatus, the execution timing is determined only by the controller 3 from the number of printed sheets. However, since the determination based on the information detected by the sensor on the engine 4 side is more appropriate, the remaining toner check is executed at a more appropriate timing by using the engine request function in this apparatus. be able to.
[0042]
Further, it is possible to execute density patch control in the specific example shown in FIG. 3 and gradation patch control in the specific example shown in FIG. 5 in the same procedure.
[0043]
As described above, in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the controller uses the engine request bit in the basic status and the unique status of the engine request details for all the operations recognized as necessary by the engine side. Request to the side. Therefore, the operation request from the engine side to the controller side can be executed without losing the timing while maintaining the master / slave relationship and the communication architecture of the conventional apparatus of 1-byte transmission / reception. Are controlled uniformly by the controller. As a result, operations that are preferably determined to be executed based on information detected on the engine side, such as calibration for density adjustment, can be executed without losing timing. Inconveniences such as execution during a print job can also be avoided.
[0044]
The protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but covers the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the controller can know at any time the timing required to execute calibration or the like detected on the engine side, and the calibration or the like is controlled on the controller side. Calibration and the like can be executed at a more appropriate timing than the conventional one while maintaining the communication architecture of the conventional device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a basic status and a unique status bit array used in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment and their relationship;
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining density patch control and gradation patch control.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a status of commands and statuses that are issued when gradation patch control is required during idling in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a bit arrangement example of a specific status indicating details of an engine request.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a status of commands and statuses that are issued when density patch control is required during printing in the printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a conventional printing apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing how commands and status are issued in a conventional apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 2 Host computer 3 Controller 4 Engine 5 Mechanical control 6 Mechanical part 7 Video interface part

Claims (3)

A controller that issues commands representing various instructions according to the print job;
An engine for executing printing according to the command and returning a status indicating an internal state to the controller in response to the command;
In the printing apparatus, wherein the controller and the engine communicate with each other in a master / slave relationship that is limited when the status is returned by the engine when the command is received.
The status is provided with an engine request bit for requesting an operation from the engine to the controller,
When the engine recognizes that it is necessary to perform a predetermined operation, it returns the status for the command received immediately after the recognition as the content of the operation request with the engine request bit of the status,
The controller issues an execution command for a requested operation based on the engine request bit of the returned status, and causes the engine to execute the operation. In claim 1,
The status is returned in response to the command issued from the controller at regular intervals, and a basic status indicating a plurality of basic states of the engine and a plurality of types of unique statuses indicating detailed states for each basic state of the engine And
The printing apparatus, wherein the engine request bit is provided in the basic status. In claim 2,
If the controller request bit of the returned basic status is the content that there is the operation request, the controller issues a command for request content,
In response to the command, the engine returns the unique status indicating the content of the operation request,
The controller issues an execution command for the requested operation based on the returned unique status.

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