JP3993284B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that prints image data formed by a host device, and more particularly to improvement of printing efficiency.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to increase the printing speed when printing data sent from the host device, two pages of data are sequentially stored in the memory, and the stored two pages of data are recorded on a recording sheet fed two by two. A printer apparatus having a two-sheet printing function for continuously printing has been developed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When an error such as a paper jam occurs in the printer engine during printing using the above two-sheet printing function and printing is resumed after the error has been resolved, the printing speed may decrease depending on the timing of the error. There is a case. For example, if an error such as a paper jam occurs and only the first sheet of recording paper fed in pairs is discharged, the error is cleared and printing is resumed. In this data, only one page of data that remains without being printed is printed, and thereafter, data for one page is printed without using the two-sheet printing function. .
[0004]
The present invention improves this disadvantage, and when the printing is resumed after an error such as a paper jam occurs in the printer engine during printing using the two-sheet printing function, printing is continued with the two-sheet printing function. An object of the present invention is to obtain a printing apparatus that prevents the printing speed from decreasing.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus having a two-sheet printing function for storing image data for two pages in a memory and continuously printing the stored image data on a recording sheet fed two by two. An error occurs when printing for each page of image data without using the two-sheet printing function, and when the error is resolved and printing is resumed, the connected image It is checked whether the image data is being transferred subsequently from the forming apparatus. If the image data is not transferred subsequently, printing is performed using the two-sheet printing function, and the image data is being transferred subsequently. In this case, printing is performed without using the two-sheet printing function.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The control unit of the printer apparatus of the present invention has a host interface for inputting control signals and data from the host apparatus, a CPU for processing control signals and print data input by the host interface, various memories, an engine interface, and a print mode setting. Part. The print mode setting unit stores two pages of data sent from the host device in a memory, and sets a two-sheet print mode in which the stored data is continuously printed on a recording sheet fed two by two. .
[0009]
When reception of data to be printed from the host device is started, the print mode setting unit sets the two-sheet print mode when the received data is a plurality of pages. When the two-sheet print mode is set, the CPU processes the data for the first page stored in the reception buffer, stores the processed data for one page in the memory, and subsequently stores the data for the next page. Process and store in memory. When two pages of data are stored in combination in the memory, the CPU drives the printer engine in two-sheet print mode, and sequentially sends the two pages of data stored in the memory to the printer engine for printing. When the two-sheet printing mode is designated, the printer engine enters a two-sheet printing operation in which recording sheets are fed one by one from the sheet feeding tray and data for two pages is continuously printed. In this two-sheet printing operation, the first recording paper is fed from the paper feed tray to print the first page data, and then the second recording paper is fed to the second page. Printing is interrupted if a paper jam occurs when printing data and a paper feed error occurs in the printer engine. When the printer engine error is resolved and printing is resumed, the CPU resumes processing in the set two-sheet print mode, processes the third page data, stores it in the memory together with the second page data, The data for the second and third pages stored in combination are sequentially sent to the printer engine for printing. Subsequently, the data on the fourth page and the data on the fifth page are processed in the two-sheet print mode and printed for two pages at a time.
[0010]
In this way, even if an error occurs in the printer engine and printing is interrupted, when the error is resolved and printing is resumed, processing is continued in the 2-sheet print mode, and printing is performed without reducing the printing speed. .
[0011]
【Example】
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a printer device 2 that converts image data input from a host device 1 into video data according to a control code and prints it out has a panel device 3, a printer engine 4, and a control unit 5. The panel device 3 includes a display unit that indicates the state of the printer device 2 and a switch unit that designates a print mode and the number of copies, and switches fonts. The printer engine 4 forms an electrostatic latent image by the video signal and the control signal from the control unit 5, develops the formed electrostatic latent image, and transfers the developed image to the recording paper fed from the paper feed tray. Fix and discharge. The control unit 5 includes a host interface 6, a CPU 7, a program ROM 8, a font ROM 9, a RAM 10, an NV-RAM 11, an IC card 12, a panel interface 13, an engine interface 14, and a print mode setting unit 15. The host interface 6 inputs a control signal and print data from the host device 1 and sends a status signal to the host device 1. The CPU 7 processes control signals and print data input through the host interface 6. The program ROM 8 stores a program for processing and managing data in the control unit 5 and controlling peripheral modules. The font ROM 9 stores various fonts used for printing. The RAM 10 stores work data when the CPU 7 processes, print data from the host device 1 in units of pages, temporarily stores the data, and video data obtained by converting the print data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern. Used for bitmap memory. The NV-RAM 11 is a non-volatile memory that stores data to be retained even when the power is turned off. The IC card 12 supplies font data and programs from the outside. The panel interface 13 exchanges various information with the panel device 3. The engine interface 14 outputs control signals and video signals to the printer engine 4 and inputs status signals from the printer engine 4. The print mode setting unit 15 stores two pages of data sent from the host device 1 in a memory, and performs a two-sheet print mode in which the stored data is continuously printed on recording paper fed two by two. Set.
[0012]
The operation when the image data sent from the host apparatus 1 is printed by the printer apparatus 2 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0013]
When reception of data to be printed from the host apparatus 1 is started, the CPU 7 temporarily stores the sent data in the reception buffer of the RAM 10 (step S1). The print mode setting unit 15 determines whether or not the received data is a plurality of pages (step S2). When the received data is one page, the two-sheet print mode is turned off. When the two-sheet printing mode is off, the CPU 7 processes and prints the data stored in the reception buffer of the RAM 10 for one page (steps S2 and S3). When the received data is a plurality of pages, the print mode setting unit 15 sets the two-sheet print mode (steps S2 and S4). When the two-sheet printing mode is set, the CPU 7 processes the data of the first page stored in the reception buffer of the RAM 10 according to the program of the program ROM 8, and stores the processed data for one page in the RAM 10 (step S1). S5). The CPU 7 subsequently processes the data for the next page and stores it in the RAM 10 (steps S6 and S5). When the data for two pages is stored in the RAM 10, the CPU 7 drives the printer engine 4 in the two-sheet print mode and sequentially sends the data for two pages stored in the RAM 10 to the printer engine 4 for printing (step S6). , S7). When the two-sheet printing mode is designated, the printer engine 4 enters a two-sheet printing operation in which recording sheets are fed one by one from the sheet feeding tray and data for two pages is continuously printed. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first recording sheet is fed from the sheet feeding tray to print the first page data, and then the second recording sheet is printed. When a paper jam occurs due to a paper jam when printing the second page of data by feeding paper, printing is interrupted if a paper feed error occurs in the printer engine 4 (step S8). Even when printing is interrupted due to an error of the printer engine 4, the print mode setting unit 15 retains the setting of the two-sheet print mode unless the operator turns off the two-sheet print mode setting. When the error of the printer engine 4 is resolved and printing is resumed (step S9), the CPU 7 resumes the processing in the set two-sheet print mode, and the data for the first page is printed normally and the data for the second page. Is not printed due to an error (step S10), the third page data is processed and stored in the RAM 10 together with the second page data (step S11). Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the data for the second and third pages stored in the RAM 10 are sequentially sent to the printer engine 4 for printing (step S7). Subsequently, the data on the fourth page and the data on the fifth page are processed in the two-sheet print mode and printed for two pages at a time (steps S12, S5 to S7). When the data is changed to a combination of even page data and odd page data and all data is processed and printed, the printing operation is terminated (step S12). Further, when the error of the printer engine 4 is resolved and printing is resumed, if all the data for two pages are printed normally (steps S9 and S10), the odd page data and the even page data are stored. The two sheets are combined and processed in the two-sheet print mode to print two pages at a time (steps S5 to S7).
[0014]
Thus, even if an error occurs in the printer engine 4 and printing is interrupted, when the error is resolved and printing is resumed, printing is continued in the 2-sheet print mode, so that the printing speed is not reduced. Can be printed.
[0015]
Next, an operation when image data is sent from the host device 1 when the operator turns off the two-sheet print mode setting on the panel device 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0016]
When the operator receives data from the host device 1 when the setting of the two-sheet printing mode is turned off on the panel device 3 (steps S21 and S22), the CPU 7 reads one page of the sent data in the program ROM 8 Is processed and sent to the printer engine 4 for printing (step S23). This process is sequentially repeated for each page (steps S23, S24, S30). When printing one page at a time, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the third page is printed, if a recording paper jam or the like occurs and a paper feed error occurs in the printer engine 4, printing is performed. The process is interrupted (step S24). When the error of the printer engine 4 is resolved and printing is resumed (step S25), the print mode setting unit 15 confirms whether data is continuously sent from the host device 1 (step S26). If no data is subsequently sent from the host device 1, the processing of the host device 1 is complete, and the print mode setting unit 15 sets the two-sheet print mode (steps S26 and S27). The CPU 7 resumes the processing in the set two-sheet printing mode, processes the data of the fourth page, stores it in the RAM 10 together with the data of the third page, and stores the data for the second page of the third and fourth pages. The data is sent to the printer engine 4 for printing, and then the data for the second and fifth pages are processed and combined for printing (steps S28 and S29). In this way, printing can be performed quickly when an error occurs in the printer engine 4 and printing is resumed.
[0017]
Further, when the error of the printer engine 4 is resolved and printing is resumed (step S25), when data is subsequently sent from the host device 1, the host device 1 is still processing, so the print mode The setting unit 15 turns off the two-sheet printing mode. Then, the CPU 7 processes and prints the sent data for every page, and when all the data has been printed, the process ends (steps S23, S24, S30).
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described the invention above, when an error during the printing of every page of data without the use of two-up printing function occurs, resume printing to clear the error, connection If no image data is subsequently transferred from the image forming apparatus , printing can be performed without reducing the printing speed by performing printing using the two-sheet printing function.
[0019]
Also, if an error occurs during printing, and when the error is resolved and printing is resumed , if image data is still being transferred from the connected image forming device, use the 2-sheet printing function. By performing printing without printing, it is possible to print quickly according to the processing of the image forming apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another operation of the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another operation of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Host apparatus 2 Printer apparatus 4 Printer engine 5 Control part 6 Host interface 7 CPU
10 RAM
14 Engine interface 15 Print mode setting section

Claims (1)

A printing apparatus having a two-sheet printing function for storing image data for two pages in a memory and continuously printing the stored image data on a recording sheet fed two by two,
An error occurs when printing one page of image data without using the two-sheet printing function, and when the error is resolved and printing is resumed, the connected image forming apparatus Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not the image data is being transferred. If the image data is not subsequently transferred, printing is performed using the two-sheet printing function, and if the image data is subsequently transferred, A printing apparatus that performs printing without using a two-sheet printing function.

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