JPH03120065A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the period from the start of print data receiving process till commencement of actual printing action by a method wherein a first controller and a printer part are provided, and the printer part is equipped with a driver and a second controller. CONSTITUTION:A first controller 3' performs print data receiving process and editing process for ever page. When receiving the print data of the first page, the first controller 3' outputs a print paper supply instruction to a printer part 4'. The printer part 4' makes a print paper feeder 11 start print paper supply according to the print paper supply instruction from the first controller 3', so that print paper transfer is takes place in parallel with the data receiving and editing processes performed by the first controller 3' for every page. Thereby, the period from the start of receiving the first page print data till commencement of actual printing action can be shortened. And as a driver 12 is provided in the middle between the print paper feeder and the print start position, the printing interval (printing cycle) is remarkably shortened when printing of two or more pages is continuously carried out.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a printing device that prints page by page.

(Prior Art) FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electrophotographic printing apparatus.

In the figure, an electrophotographic printing device l is a terminal device 2.
The printer is comprised of a control section 3 that receives print data from a printer, and a printing section 4 that performs printing. The control section 3 is provided with an external connection interface section 5 including a Centronics interface, a reception buffer 6, a microprocessor 7, a font memory 8, an image memory 9, and a printer interface section IO. Here, print data from the terminal device 2 is supplied to a reception buffer 6 via an external connection interface section 5. Further, the printing section 4 is provided with a printing paper supply section 11 on the bottom and right side for automatically supplying standard printing paper. Further, inside the printing section 4, a photoreceptor drum 12 having a photoreceptor surface formed on its outer periphery, a light emitting diode array 13 for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image data for printing on the photoreceptor surface, a developer 14, and a transfer device are provided. A fixing device 15 and a fixing device 16 are provided. A discharge section 17 is provided on the left side of the printing section 4 to discharge printing paper after printing has been completed.

The printing section 4 is also provided with a microprocessor 18 that communicates with the control section 3 and controls the printing section 4 as a whole, and a cover open switch 19 that detects whether the cover of the printing section 4 is opened.

Further, between the control section 3 and the printing section 4, there is a bidirectional serial interface 20 for communication between the two, and a signal for transferring and controlling print data formed from dot image data. They are connected by a video interface 21 with a wire. Here, the serial interface 20 is connected to the printer interface section 1 of the control section 3.
Similarly, the video interface 21 connects the microprocessor 7 and the light emitting diode array 13 of the printing section 4 through the printer interface section 10 of the control section 3.

The printing apparatus 1 configured as described above operates as follows.

When print data is input from a host computer (not shown) via a terminal 2 and an external connection interface section 5, the printing apparatus 1 captures the print data into a reception buffer 6. Next, the microprocessor 7 reads the character code included in the print data, refers to the font memory 8, and creates print image data. This printing image data is
It is written into the image memory 9. In the image memory 9, for example, print image data for one page of printing paper is edited and stored.

Further, when image data is directly transmitted as print data from a host computer (not shown) to the reception buffer 6 via the terminal 2 and the external connection interface section 5, the microprocessor 7 directly transfers the image data to the image memory 9. Write to the given address. In the case of business graphic printing, print data is sent from the host computer in the form of graphic commands, so the microprocessor 7 edits and calculates the data and writes it directly into the image memory 9 as image data.

In this way, when the analysis and editing of the printing image data is completed, the printing paper is transferred to one of the printing paper supply units 11.
from there toward the transfer device 15. In parallel with this, printing image data is supplied by the microprocessor 7 to the light emitting diode array 13 via the video interface 21 to drive the light emitting diode array 13.
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer periphery of the photoreceptor drum 12. When the photosensitive drum 12 rotates in the direction of the arrow 12a, this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 14 and transferred onto printing paper by the transfer device 15. The printing paper is fixed in the fixing device 16 and then discharged to the discharge section 17 .

In this way, information based on the print data received from the host computer is printed on the printing paper.

Next, the supply of printing paper in the printing section 4 will be explained using FIGS. 3 to 5. In addition, FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining the printing paper supply timing of the conventional printing apparatus 1, FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are detailed explanatory diagrams explaining the printing paper conveyance of the printing section of the conventional printing apparatus, FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating printing paper conveyance in the conventional printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. In addition, in FIGS. 4 and 5, t.

is the printing paper transport time from the start of printing paper supply to the entrance sensor 22, tW is the printing paper transport time from the detection of the printing paper by the entrance sensor 22 to the starting position of writing print data on the printing paper, and tRI is the first page acceptance processing time, t
El is the editing processing time for the first page, tp is the printing paper passing time, Ri (i=1.2...) is the receiving process for page i, Ei (i=1.2...) is i In the page editing process, PRi (i=1.2...) indicates printing of the i-th page.

First, print data is transferred from the host computer to the printing device.
, the control unit 3 performs reception processing for one page as shown in FIG. 5(a) (step Sl in FIG.
, S2), then after the first page acceptance processing time tRI, editing processing is performed as shown in FIG. 5(b). When the editing process for one page is completed at the first page editing processing time tEI and one page of dot image data is formed (steps S3 and S4 in FIG. 3), the microprocessor 7 connects the serial interface. 20 from the microprocessor 18 of the printing unit 4 (step S5 of FIG. 3), and if printing is possible, the process is performed as shown in FIG. 5(C). As shown in FIG.
When the microprocessor 18 of the printing section 4 receives a print start command from the microprocessor 7 of the control section 3 through the printer interface section 10, the microprocessor 18 of the printing section 4 enters the printing process (step S7 of FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 4(d), the hopping roller clutch 23 is turned on to start taking out the printing paper 24 from the printing paper supply section 11 [FIG. 4(a)]. The printing paper 24 taken out from the printing paper supply unit 1 is detected by the inlet sensor 22 at a time to after the hopping roller clutch 23 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 5(e). b)]. ] The large mouth sensor 2 notifies the microprocessor 18 of its detection. Then, the microprocessor 18 executes the process shown in FIG. 5(d).
The hopping roller clutch 23 is turned off as shown in FIG. 5(f), and the register roller clutch 25 is turned on as shown in FIG. 5(f). By turning off the hopping roller clutch 23, the printing paper 24 is transferred to the register roller clutch 2.
The conveyance is stopped at position 5 [Fig. 4(b)].
After the register roller clutch 25 is turned on as shown in FIG. 5(f), the actual printing operation starts after some time tw as shown in FIG. 5(g) [FIG. 4(C)]. ] After the large-edge sensor 2 detects the printing paper 24, when time tw has elapsed as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a request for printing dot image data is made via the serial interface 20. Then, printing dot image data is sent from the control section 3 through the video interface 21, and the light emitting diode array 13 is driven to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer periphery of the photosensitive drum 12. The photosensitive drum 12 moves in the direction of arrow 1 in synchronization with the conveyance of the printing paper.
The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 14 and transferred onto a printing paper 24 by a transfer device 15. The transfer of the page is completed, and the printing paper 24 is shown in FIG.
), when the paper passes the entrance sensor 22, the microprocessor 18 turns off the register roller clutch 25 based on the output (off signal) of the entrance sensor 22, and prepares to supply printing paper for the next page.

The control unit 3 performs reception processing and editing processing for the next page in parallel with the printing processing, and when one page of dot image data is formed (steps 81 to S4 in FIG. 3).
, it is determined whether the printing unit 4 is capable of printing. When the microprocessor 7 receives a print enable signal based on the off signal of the large size sensor 22 from the microprocessor 18 through the serial interface 20, the microprocessor 7 sends the print to the microprocessor 18 through the serial interface 20 as shown in FIG. 5(C). A start command is sent (step S6 in FIG. 3), and the printing process begins again (step S7 in FIG. 3). Therefore, the control section 4 again controls the printing paper supply section 1.
Taking out the printing paper 24 from 1, transporting it, forming an electrostatic latent image,
After development and transfer are performed and the printing paper 24 passes the entrance sensor 22, a series of operations similar to those described above are repeated, including preparation for supplying the next printing paper.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional printing apparatus described above, as explained in FIG. 5, it takes one page reception processing time tR1,1 Page editing processing time tEl, printing paper transport time from the start of printing paper supply from the printing paper supply section 11 to the entrance sensor 22 (
The processing time for taking out the printing paper from the printing paper supply unit) to and the printing paper transport time from the detection of the printing paper 24 by the entrance sensor 22 to the print data writing start position (printing paper transport time to the printing start position) tw are required. Become. Therefore, when receiving image data that takes time to process from the host computer, when printing business graphics that takes time to edit, and when printing on both sides, it takes a lot of processing time to actually print (paper supply When the distance from the copy to the printing start position is long), it takes a long time from the start of the reception process to the start of the actual printing operation, and the drop in printing throughput is particularly significant.

In addition, when print data for several pages is sent from the host computer, each time printing is performed, as shown in FIG. is added to the actual printing time (tp''to), and for this reason, it is not possible to shorten the page interval (time until the next page is printed) when several pages are continuously printed, resulting in a decrease in printing throughput.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to shorten the time from the start of print data reception processing to the start of actual printing operation, and to reduce the page interval (next page) when printing multiple pages continuously. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent printing device that can shorten the printing time (time required for printing) and has a high printing throughput.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides a printing device that receives print data from an external device and prints it page by page. a first control unit that sends a printing paper supply command when receiving the second print data; and starting printing paper supply from the printing paper supply unit based on the printing paper supply command from the first control unit; and a printing section that transports printing paper in parallel with page-by-page reception processing and editing processing by the first control section, and the printing section is provided between the printing paper supply section and the printing start position. A detection unit that detects the conveyed print paper, a drive unit that controls on/off of the printing paper conveyance operation, and a drive unit that controls the conveyance of the print paper when printing multiple pages continuously using these detection units and the drive unit. and a second control section.

(Function) Therefore, the first control section performs print data reception processing and editing processing on a page-by-page basis. (This refers to when the reception of print data for the first page is started or during the reception process before the reception process for the first page of print data is completed.), a print paper supply command is sent to the printing unit. The printing unit starts supplying printing paper from the printing paper supply unit based on the printing paper supply command from the first control unit, and prints in parallel with page-by-page reception processing and editing processing by the first control unit. Allow paper to be transported.

Therefore, it is possible to shorten the time from starting the process of receiving print data for the first page until starting the actual printing operation. Also, between the printing paper supply section and the printing start position,
Since it is equipped with a detection unit that detects the conveyed printing paper and a drive unit that controls on/off of the printing paper conveyance operation, the printing interval (printing cycle) when printing multiple pages continuously can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional method. I can do it. As a result, throughput can be significantly improved. The present invention is particularly suitable for image data reception, which takes time to receive data from an external device, business graphic printing, which takes time to edit, or when the distance from the printing paper supply unit to the print start position is long, for example. It is extremely effective when transporting printing paper from the printing paper supply unit installed at the bottom of the printing unit, transporting printing paper from the printing paper supply unit optionally installed outside the printing device, and when printing on both the front and back sides of the printing paper. It is true.

(Example) Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. In this figure, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts as in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1, the printing device 1' of the present invention is
It is composed of a control section 3' and a printing section 4'. The difference between the control section 3' and the control section 3 of FIG. 2 is as follows.
The control section 3' uses a microprocessor 7' with a different program processing in place of the microprocessor 7 of the control section 3, and other configurations are similar to the configuration of the control section 3 shown in FIG.

Further, the difference between the printing section 4' and the printing section 4 of FIG. 2 is that the printing section 4' has a microprocessor 18
Instead, a microprocessor 18' is used as a second control section of the present invention that performs program processing different from that of the microprocessor 18, and furthermore, a microprocessor 18' is used as a second control section of the present invention that performs program processing different from that of the microprocessor 18. The other point is that a means for taking out and conveying the printing paper 24 is used, and the other configurations are the same as the configuration of the printing section 4 in FIG. 2.

Next, a detailed explanation will be given using FIGS. 6 to 8.

Note that FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining the printing paper supply timing of the present invention, FIGS. 7(a) to (e) are detailed diagrams explaining the printing paper conveyance of the printing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating the conveyance of printing paper in the printing apparatus of FIG. In FIGS. 7 and 8, tA is the printing paper transport time from the start of printing paper supply to the entrance sensor 26; 1. is the printing paper passing time.

FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing the printing paper supply start state of the printing apparatus of the present invention, and in FIG. 7(a), the conventional printing paper conveying means [see FIG. 4(a)] In comparison, hopping roller clutch 23 and register roller clutch 2
A register roller clutch 27 and an entrance sensor 26 are newly provided approximately midway between the register roller clutch 5 and the entrance sensor 22, and their operation will be explained in sequence with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

First, when the first page of print data is sent from the host computer to the control section 3' via the terminal 2 and the external connection interface section 5, the first page of print data is sent to the reception buffer of the control section 3'. Accumulated (received) in 6
At this stage, the microprocessor 7' determines whether or not there is print data for the first page (step 81 in FIG.
1-513). When the microprocessor 7' determines that the sent print data of the first page is print data rather than font data or control data, the microprocessor 18' of the printing section 4' further transmits the data through the serial interface 20. It is determined whether there is a printing paper supply enable signal (a signal sent from the microprocessor 18' when the population sensor 22 does not detect the printing paper 24 and is in the off state) (whether or not printing paper can be supplied). (Step S13.314 in FIG. 6).Then, the microprocessor 7' outputs the printing paper supply enable signal "present".
(At this time, the population sensor 22 is in the off state), the print paper supply command is sent to the serial interface 2.
0 to the microprocessor 18' (6th
Step S14.515 in the figure). In this case, when the receiving buffer 6 starts receiving the print data of the first page as shown in FIG. 8(a), the microprocessor 7' starts receiving the print data as shown in FIG.
The printing paper supply command is sent at the timing shown in C) (step 515 in FIG. 6). Thereafter, the process for receiving the print data for the first page is continued until the process for receiving the print data for the first page is completed in step S16 in FIG. S11. S12. S13. The process moves to step S14, and further passes through the route 31 that has already been supplied (when the population sensor 22 is off and the print paper supply command has been sent), and then proceeds to step S16. Sl 1-314°S16. S11. S
Similar steps will be repeated, such as l2.

When the reception process for the first page of print data is completed, the process moves from step 512 to step S17, and the editing process for the first page of print data begins. The microprocessor 7' continues step S18. until the editing process for the first page of print data is completed. Steps S16 to S18. S14. S
Steps 16 to S18 are repeated. When the editing process for the first page of print data is completed, the process proceeds from step S18 to step S19. The process moves to step S21 via the supplied route 33. It should be noted that the print data reception process by the reception buffer 6 [FIG. 8(a)] and the print data editing process by the microprocessor 7' performed after this reception process [FIG. 8(a)]
(b)] is carried out in the same manner as before.

When the microprocessor 18' of the printing section 4' receives the printing paper supply command, it turns on the hopping roller clutch 23 at the timing shown in FIG. 8(d) and starts taking out the printing paper 24 from the printing paper supply section 11. [Figure 7 (a
)eSho].

When the entrance sensor 26 detects the printing paper 24 taken out from the printing paper supply section 11, it turns on as shown in FIG. 8(e) and notifies the microprocessor 18' of this fact.

When the printing paper 24 comes to the position of the register roller clutch 27, the microprocessor 18' gives an off instruction to the hopping roller clutch 23 at the timing shown in FIG. 8(d) to stop the hopping roller clutch 23 and remove the printing paper. 24 is stopped [see FIG. 7(b)]. When the hopping roller clutch 23 is turned off,
The register roller clutch 27 is turned on by the microprocessor 18' as shown in FIG. 8(f), and the printing paper 2
4 is a register roller clutch 25 and an entrance sensor 22
transported towards.

Next, when the entrance sensor 22 detects the printing paper 24,
It is turned on as shown in FIG. 8(g), and the microprocessor 18' is notified of this. When the printing paper 24 reaches the position of the register roller clutch 25, the microprocessor 18' transfers it to the register roller clutch 27 as shown in FIG. 8(f).
At the timing shown in FIG. 7, an off instruction is given to stop the register roller clutch 27, and the conveyance of the printing paper 24 is stopped [see FIG. 7(c)].

The microprocessor 18' sends an actual printable signal to the microprocessor 7,' of the control unit 3' through the serial interface 20 based on the notification from the entrance sensor 22 (on signal due to the detection of the printing paper 24 by the entrance sensor 22). Send.

On the other hand, in the control unit 3', when the editing process for the first page of print data is completed as described above, the microprocessor 7' starts determining whether or not the printing unit 4' is capable of actual printing (as shown in FIG. Steps S18 and S19. Supply completed (when the population sensor 22 is off and the printing paper supply command has been sent) route 33. Step 521). The microprocessor 7' determines that the actual printing is possible based on the actual printing possible signal from the microprocessor 18' and the completion of the editing process for the first page of the print data, and performs the actual printing as shown in FIG. 8(h).
As shown in FIG. 6, an actual printing start command is sent to the microprocessor 18' of the printing unit 4' through the serial interface 20 (step 522 in FIG. 6), and actual printing processing such as dot image data transfer begins (step 5 in FIG. 6).
23).

In the printing section 4', when the microprocessor 18' receives the command to start actual printing, the microprocessor 18' turns on the register roller clutch 25, as shown in FIG. 8(i), and resumes conveyance of the printing paper. After resuming printing paper transport,
When time jw has elapsed, the microprocessor 18' requests the control unit 3' for printing dot image data of the first page through the serial interface 20 in order to form an image on the photosensitive drum 12. Figure (d
)reference]. When the time tw has elapsed after the register roller clutch 25 is turned on (after resuming conveyance of the printing paper), the actual printing operation begins as shown in FIG. 8(j). This actual printing operation starts after a tosty time has elapsed from the start of the reception process of the print data for the first page. Here, to is the printing paper transport time from the start of printing paper supply to the population sensor 22, and tw is the printing paper transport time from the printing paper detection by the population sensor 22 to the print data writing start position.

From the microprocessor 7' of the control unit 3', the printer interface unit 10. Printing dot image data is sent through the video interface 21 to drive the light emitting diode array 13 to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer periphery of the photoreceptor drum 12. The photosensitive drum 12 rotates in the direction of an arrow 12a in synchronization with the conveyance of the printing paper, and this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 14, and transferred to the printing paper 24 by the transfer device 15
transcribed into. When the printing paper 24 passes the position of the entrance sensor 26, the population sensor 26 turns off as shown in FIG. 8(e), and based on the off signal, the microprocessor 1
8' is a serial interface 20. The printer interface unit 10 notifies the microprocessor 7' of the control unit 3' that printing paper can be supplied, and preparations for supplying printing paper for the next page begin [see 3 in FIG. 7(8)]. The control unit 3' performs the next page reception process (step 511 in FIG. 6) and editing process (step 517 in FIG. 6) in parallel with the printing process. In reception processing,
If it is determined that there is print data (step 5 in Figure 6)
13), the microprocessor 7' sends the printing paper supply command [FIG. 8(C)] for printing the next page to the printing section 4'.
The microprocessor 18' of the printer interface unit 10. The next page is sent out via the serial interface 20 (step 520 in FIG. 6), and the printing process for the next page begins (step 523 in FIG. 6), but since the previous page is still in the actual printing operation, it is in a state of waiting for completion. The printing section 4' performs electrostatic latent image formation, development, transfer and fixing operations in parallel with
Upon receiving the printing paper supply command for printing the next page, the hopping roller clutch 23 is activated as shown in FIG.
It is turned on as shown in d), and the printing paper 24 begins to be taken out from the printing paper supply section 11. In this case, the microprocessor 18' turns on the hopping roller clutch 23 upon receiving the printing paper supply command from the microprocessor 7'.

When the entrance sensor 26 detects the printing paper 24 taken out from the printing paper supply section 11, it turns on as shown in FIG. 8(e) and notifies the microprocessor 18' of this fact.

When the printing paper 24 reaches the position of the register roller clutch 27, the microprocessor 18' gives an off instruction to the hopping roller clutch 23 at the timing shown in FIG. 8(d) to stop the hopping roller clutch 23, and then The conveyance of the page printing paper 24 is stopped. At this time, the previous page printing paper 24 which is being printed has completed its transfer operation and passes the large edge sensor 22, and when the entrance sensor 22 is turned off, the microprocessor 18' gives an off instruction to the register roller clutch 25 and registers. Turn off the roller clutch 25 [FIGS. 8(g) and (i)]. This means that the entrance sensor 26 and the register roller clutch 27,
This is made possible by providing the hopping roller clutch 23 between the entrance sensor 22 and the register roller clutch 25.

The register roller clutch 27 is turned on again according to an instruction from the microprocessor 18' [FIG. 8(f)], and the printing paper 24 for the next page is conveyed to the large edge sensor 22 and actual printing begins.

The series of operations described above are repeated.

As can be seen from the above description, the detection detects the conveyed printing paper between the printing paper supply section 11 and the printing start position, that is, between the hopping roller clutch 23, the entrance sensor 22, and the register roller clutch 25. Since the entrance sensor 26 as a section and the register roller clutch 27 as a drive section for controlling on/off control of the printing paper conveyance operation are provided, the printing interval when printing continuously over a plurality of pages can be adjusted as shown in FIG. 5(g). Compared to the conventional tp"to time shown in FIG. 8(j), tp+tA (=tp
"to/2)", and the throughput can be significantly improved.In particular, the printing paper supply section 11
If the distance from to the printing start position is long, for example, printing paper may be transported from the printing paper supply section 11 provided at the bottom of the printing section 4', or printing may be carried out from the printing paper supply section optionally provided outside the printing device 1'. It is extremely effective when transporting paper and printing on both the front and back sides of printing paper (in this case, the front side is printed and then the back side is printed again, so the transport distance to the printing start position is particularly long). .

In addition, the printing paper supply (printing paper hopping) from the printing paper supply unit 11 is performed in advance when the first page of print data is received, in this case at the time of starting reception of the first page of print data (start of reception processing). Start [Figure 8 (a), (C)
]. In parallel with the first page reception processing 1 editing processing, the printing paper 24 is moved to the vicinity of the printing start position by the large edge sensor 26. Since the register roller clutch 27 was also used for conveyance [Fig. 7 (a) to (C), Fig. 8 (a), (
b), (d), (e), (f) (g)], the time from the start of the reception process of the print data of the first page to the start of the actual printing operation is shown in Fig. 5 (g). Conventional t
Compared to the time of R+"tE+"to+tw, FIG.
) shown in t. +tw, and the time from the start of the reception process of the first page print data to the start of the actual printing operation is significantly shortened. Furthermore, the printing cycle time can also be shortened as described above. Therefore, the throughput can be improved more significantly. Especially when receiving image data from an external device such as a host computer, which takes time to process, when printing business graphics, which takes time to edit, or when the distance from the printing paper supply section 11 to the print start position is long. For example, the printing paper is transported from the printing paper supply section 11 provided at the bottom of the printing unit 4', and the printing paper is transported from the printing paper supply section optionally provided outside the printing device 1', and furthermore, the printing paper is transported on both the front and back sides of the printing paper. This is extremely effective when printing (in this case, the front side is printed and then the back side is printed again, so the conveyance distance to the printing start position is particularly long).

In this embodiment, although the control section 3' sends the printing paper supply command to the printing section 4' at the time of starting reception of the first page print data (at the start of reception processing), the control section 3' sends the printing paper supply command to the printing section 4'. The invention is not limited to this, and if the control unit 3' receives the print data of the first page, for example, other than the time of starting reception of the print data of the first page (starting reception processing), The printing paper supply command may be sent to the printing section 4' even during the reception process before the completion of the reception process for the first page of print data. Therefore, in the present invention, the time when the print data of the first page is received is the time when the reception of the print data of the first page is started or the time during the reception process before the reception process of the print data of the first page is completed. shall mean.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and that various applications and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, if the present invention is used, the following various effects can be achieved.

(1) When the first control unit receives the print data for the first page, it sends a printing paper supply command, and the printing unit starts supplying printing paper from the printing paper supply unit based on this printing paper supply command. Since the printing paper is conveyed in parallel with page-by-page reception processing and editing processing by the first control unit, the actual printing operation starts after receiving the print data for the first page. The time it takes to enter the system can be significantly shortened compared to conventional methods.

(2) A detection unit that detects the conveyed printing paper and a drive unit that controls on/off the printing paper conveyance operation are provided between the printing paper supply unit and the printing start position, so multiple pages can be printed continuously. In this case, the printing interval (printing cycle) can be significantly shortened compared to the conventional method.

(3) From (1) and (2) above, throughput can be significantly improved.

(4) The present invention is particularly suitable for image data reception, which takes time to receive data from an external device, business graphic printing, which takes time to edit, and where the distance from the printing paper supply unit to the print start position is long. For example, in cases where printing paper is transported from a printing paper supply section provided at the bottom of the printing unit, printing paper is transported from a printing paper supply section provided outside the optional printing device, and when printing is performed on both the front and back sides of the printing paper, etc. Remarkably effective.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an electrophotographic printing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electrophotographic printing device, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electrophotographic printing device. equipment l
A flowchart explaining the printing paper supply timing of
FIG. 4 is a detailed explanatory diagram illustrating the conveyance of printing paper in the printing section of a conventional printing device, FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating the conveyance of printing paper in the conventional printing device 1, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram illustrating the conveyance of printing paper in the printing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a timing chart illustrating the conveyance of printing paper in the printing apparatus of the present invention. 1'...Printing device, 3'...Control unit, 4'...Printing unit, 7', 18'...Microprocessor, 11
...Printing paper supply unit, 22.26...Inlet sensor, 23...Hopping roller clutch, 25.27...
・Register roller clutch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a printing device that receives print data from an external device and prints it page by page, the printing device receives print data and edits it page by page, and prints the print data of the first page. a first control unit that sends a printing paper supply command when received; and a first control unit that starts supplying printing paper from the printing paper supply unit based on the printing paper supply command from the first control unit;
a printing unit that transports printing paper in parallel with page-by-page reception processing and editing processing by the control unit of the controller; A detection unit that detects paper, a drive unit that controls on/off of the printing paper conveyance operation, and a second control that can control the conveyance of the printing paper when printing multiple pages continuously using these detection units and the drive unit. A printing device comprising: 2. The second control unit controls the detection unit and the drive unit to hold the next page of printing paper on standby until the actual printing operation is completed on the previous page of printing paper. The printing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The second control section is characterized in that the second control section performs control to cause the printing paper supply section to supply the next page of printing paper based on the fact that the printing paper for the previous page has passed the detection section position. The printing device according to claim 1.