JP4274512B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer , and more particularly to a printer applied as a general printing machine such as a laser printer including black and white and color.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a printer generally displays an error and discharges print data when trouble such as running out of paper occurs.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there is a problem that once the data is discharged, the data must be newly acquired from the beginning.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient printer that retains data that is not subjected to printing processing.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, a printer system according to the present invention is a printer that executes an automatic tray selection function and performs printing based on print data from a host. When there is no paper, means for storing the user ID of the print data in the history file and the automatic tray selection function are executed, and when there is no designated paper, the print data expanded into image data is held. And when a predetermined print data is printed, it is determined whether or not the same user ID as the user ID of the print data is stored in the history file. the retention time of the print data held as the in the hard disk, the document name, the predetermined mark print data log information including the retaining reasons It is characterized by printing subsequent after.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1-11 , an embodiment of the printer of the present invention is shown.
[0010]
(Overview of laser printer)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a laser printer.
The laser printer includes a controller 1, a host machine 3, a hard disk 17, and an operation panel 4.
The controller 1 has a host I / F 5, ROM 6, font ROM 7, panel I / F 8, CPU 9, RAM 10, NV-RAM 11, engine I / F 12, Network I / F 13, Disk 14, printer engine 15, and hard disk 17. Configured.
[0011]
The controller 1 is a general term for control mechanisms that convert print data from the host into video data according to the control mode set at that time and the control code from the host 3 and output the video data to the printer engine 15.
[0012]
The controller 1 includes modules of an operation panel 4, a host I / F 5, a ROM 6, a font ROM 7, a panel I / F 8, a CPU 9, a RAM 10, an NV-RAM 11, an engine I / F 12, a network I / F 13, a disk 14, and a printer engine 15. It is comprised.
[0013]
The host I / F 5 is an interface that transmits and receives control signals and data from the outside to the printer 1 and status signals from the printer 1.
The CPU 9 performs data processing according to the program contents of the ROM 6.
[0014]
The RAM 10 is used as a work area for the CPU 9, a data reception buffer from the host, and an image development area after processing.
[0015]
The NV-RAM 11 is a non-volatile memory that can hold data regardless of whether the power is on or off.
[0016]
The font ROM 7 is a memory that holds several types of fonts used for printing.
[0017]
The engine I / F 12 is an I / F that transmits and receives control signals to the controller 1 and the printer engine 15 and status signals from the printer engine 15 to the controller 1.
The printer engine 15 electrostatically forms an image on the photoconductor based on the video signal and control information from the controller 1 and feeds transfer paper from the paper feed unit to form an image.
[0018]
The operation panel 4 is a switch unit that can change the printer status display, mode, and printing conditions.
[0019]
The network I / F 13 is an I / F for LAN or Internet connection.
[0020]
When a page of print data from the host via the above module is completed based on the control information, a printer start command is issued to the printer engine 15 and printing is started. An example of operation is shown below.
[0021]
(Operation example 1)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the first operation example. FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 2, when there is an automatic tray selection command (step S1 / Y), it is checked whether or not a designated sheet exists (step S2). Are added to the history file (step S3). Further, the data is expanded and stored in the hard disk (HDD) (step S4). The automatic tray selection is a function for selecting and printing a tray without specifying the paper feed tray by designating the paper size and type.
[0022]
According to the above, if the designated sheet does not exist, the sheet is discharged to the virtual tray (HDD output). Therefore, the print processing of the print data is completed without being affected by any setting state of the printer, and the hindrance to the subsequent job is reduced as much as possible.
[0023]
As an operation and effect corresponding to the operation example 1, since automatic paper selection is performed and a paper discharge process is virtually performed even when a designated paper is not set, the printer is in a busy state or has an influence on the subsequent printing as much as possible. Can not be expected.
[0024]
(Operation example 2)
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation example 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 4, the page is printed (step S11), and it is checked whether or not it is the last page (step S12). If it is the last page (step S12 / Y), whether or not the data user ID is stored exists. Is checked (step S13), and if it exists (step S13 / Y), the date and time of the saved data, the document name, the number of pages, and the reason for the virtual paper discharge are added to the final page and printed (step S14). ).
[0025]
According to the above, as a means for notifying the user who transmitted the data held (virtual paper discharge) in the operation example 1, the log is printed at the same time when the user prints.
[0026]
As an effect corresponding to the operation example 2, as means for notifying the user of the history of virtual paper discharge according to claim 1, data management by user ID is performed, and a user having a virtual paper discharge history is simultaneously notified to the user. A history of virtual paper discharge is printed.
[0027]
(Operation example 3)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation example 3. FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 6, after checking whether the virtual tray on the web is connected (step S11 / Y), the user ID is input (step S22). If the input user ID is stored (step S23 / Y), the date and time, the number of pages, the document name, and the reason for the virtual discharge are displayed for the pages that have been virtually discharged (step S24).
[0028]
According to the above, as a means for notifying the user of the operation example 2, it is possible to provide a service that allows a virtual printer (HP) using WEB to visually confirm a page that has been virtually discharged.
[0029]
As an effect corresponding to the operation example 3, as a means for notifying the user of the history of virtual paper discharge according to claim 1, the information can be obtained remotely with a web-connected virtual printer (HP). It is what you expect.
[0030]
(Operation example 4)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation example 4. FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 8, after confirming that there is data that has been virtually ejected (step S31 / Y), it is confirmed whether or not the data is to be printed from the web (step S32), and the virtual printer (HP) Data is designated from the top and printed (step S33).
[0031]
Further, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a variation example. FIG. 11 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure of the variation. In FIG. 10, after confirming that there is data that has undergone virtual paper ejection (step S41 / Y), it is confirmed whether or not the data is to be printed from the web (step S42). And data is specified and printed (step S43).
[0032]
According to the above, in the operation example 2 or operation example 3, the stored data can be executed from the direct operation of the main body and the virtual printer (HP) on the web as means for requesting the printing again.
[0033]
As an operation and effect corresponding to the operation example 4, as a means for printing the virtual paper discharge data confirmed in the operation examples 2 and 3 on the actual paper, a print request is issued from the virtual printer HP confirmed, or other printing is performed. We expect that it will be possible to reprint by operating the main body with reference to the history page on the spot.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, the printer of the present invention executes the automatic tray selection function and automatically discharges the corresponding data to the virtual paper discharge tray when there is an error such as the absence of the designated paper. have. For this reason, the data held in the virtual paper discharge tray can be held in the state of a drawn and developed image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laser printer showing an embodiment of a printer of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first operation example.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a first operation example.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second operation example.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a second operation example.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a third operation example.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a third operation example.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a fourth operation example 1;
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a fourth operation example 1;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a fourth operation example 2;
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a fourth operation example 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Controller 3 Host 4 Operation panel 5 Host I / F
6 ROM
7 Font ROM
8 Panel I / F
9 CPU
10 RAM
11 NV-RAM
12 Engine I / F
13 Network I / F
14 Disk
15 Printer engine 17 Hard disk

Claims (1)

A printer that executes an automatic tray selection function and performs printing based on print data from a host,
Means for executing an automatic tray selection function and storing a user ID of print data in a history file when there is no designated paper;
A hard disk that holds the print data expanded into image data when the automatic tray selection function is executed and there is no designated paper;
Have
When the predetermined print data printing is completed, it is determined whether or not the same user ID as the user ID of the print data is stored in the history file, if it is stored, the like to the hard disk printer for holding date and time of the print data held, the document name, characterized in that the print is subsequently log information after printing of the predetermined print data including holding reasons.

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