JPH03184060A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the consumption of a photosensitive drum with respect to the number of a printing by selecting one of two printing methods according to the length of an average intrval between the sending of a paper hopping instruction. CONSTITUTION:A first control part sends a first printing starting instruction to a second control part when an interval between the reception of printing data is shorter than a reference value. Moreover, the first control part detects an interval between the reception of the printing data from an outside device and sends a second printing starting instruction to the second control part when the interval between the reception of printing data is longer than the reference value. The second control part continuously rotates the potosensitive drum for a definite period after the completion of the printing of a page according to the first printing starting instruction, and stops the photosensitive drum rotation immediately after the completion of the printing of the page according to the second printing starting instruction. Thus, when the period of sending the printing data from the outside device and the interval between the receptions of the data are long, the wasteful rotation of the photosensitive drum after the completion of the printing of the page can be reduced, and its level of exhaustion with respect to the printing number can be lowered.

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 apparatus 1 is comprised of a control section 3 that receives print data from a terminal 2, and a printing section 4 that performs printing. The control unit 3 includes an external connection interface unit 5 including a Centronics interface, a reception buffer 6, and a microprocessor (A
) 7, a font memory 8, an image memory 9, and a printer interface unit 10. Here, the print data from the terminal device 2 is sent to the external connection interface section 5.
The signal is supplied to the reception buffer 6 via the . Further, the printing section 4 is provided with a printing paper supply section 11 on the right side for automatically supplying standard printing paper. Also, inside the printing section 4, a printing paper supply section 1 is provided.
1 to registration roller 1, which is a printing paper running drive starting part.
A clutch-driven hopping roller 13 is provided which feeds the printing paper up to 2. Further, inside the printing section 4, a photoreceptor drum 14 having a photoreceptor surface formed on its outer periphery and a charger 15 for uniformly charging the zero surface of the photoreceptor are provided. Further, a light emitting diode array 16 and a developing device 1 are provided which form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to printing image data on the surface of the photoreceptor.
7, a transfer device 18, and a fixing device 19 are provided. A discharge section 20 is provided on the left side of the printing section 4 to discharge printing paper on which printing has been completed.

The printing section 4 is also provided with a microprocessor (B) 21 that communicates with the control section 3 and controls the printing section 4 as a whole. Further, between the control section 3 and the printing section 4, there is a bidirectional serial interface 22 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 23 with a wire. Here, the serial interface 22 connects the microprocessor (A) 7 through the printer interface section 10 of the control section 3.
and the microprocessor (B) 21 of the printing section 4,
Similarly, the video interface 23 is also connected to the microprocessor (A) through the printer interface section 10 of the control section 3.
) 7 and the light emitting diode array 16 of the printing section 4 are connected.

The printing apparatus I 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.

When one page of print data is received in the reception buffer 6, the photoreceptor drum 14 is rotated, and the charger 15 uniformly charges the surface of the photoreceptor. When the surface of the photoreceptor is uniformly charged, the clutch of the hopping roller 13 is turned on, and the printing paper is taken out from the printing paper supply section 11 and sent to the registration rollers 12.

Meanwhile, in parallel with the above operation, the microprocessor (A)
7 reads the character code included in the print data taken into the reception buffer 6, refers to the font memory 8, and creates print image data. This printing image data 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 (A) 7 directly converts the image data into an image. In the case of printing business graphics, etc., print data is sent from the host computer in the form of graphic commands, so the microprocessor (A) 7 edits and calculates the image data. It is written directly to the image memory 9 as .

In this manner, when the analysis and editing of the printing image data is completed, the printing paper that has reached the registration rollers 12 is conveyed toward the transfer device 18. In parallel with this, image data for printing is sent to the microprocessor (A).
7 to the light emitting diode array 16 via the video interfaces 2 and 3.
6 to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer periphery of the photoreceptor drum 14. When the photosensitive drum 14 rotates in the direction of arrow a,
This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 17 and transferred onto printing paper by a transfer device 18.

Thereafter, the printing paper is fixed in the fixing device 19 and is discharged to the discharge section 20.

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

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 will be explained using FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 is a flow chart explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a timing chart explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2.

First, print data is transferred from the host computer to printing device 1.
, the control unit 3 performs reception processing for one page as shown in FIG. 4(a) (step Sl in FIG. 3).
, S2). When this reception process is completed, the microprocessor (A) 7 of the control unit 3 transmits the data as shown in FIG.
As shown in c), the microprocessor (B) 21 sends the paper hopping command to the microprocessor (B) 21 of the printing unit 4 (step S3 in FIG. 3). When the microprocessor (B) 21 receives the paper hopping command, The photosensitive drum 14 is rotated as shown in e), and the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged by the charger 15. Then, after the tc waiting time,
As shown in FIG. 4(f), the clutch of the hopping roller 13 is turned on, and the printing paper is taken out from the printing paper supply section 11 and sent to the registration roller 12.

The control unit 3 also sends a paper hopping command (third
Almost simultaneously with step S3) in the figure, the print data is edited as shown in FIG. 4(b). Then, when the editing process for one page is completed and dot image data for one page is formed (steps S4 and S5 in FIG. 3).
, the microprocessor (A) 7 issues a print start command to the printer interface section 10. as shown in FIG. 4(d). It is sent to the microprocessor (B) 21 through the serial interface 22 (step S6 in FIG. 3). When the microprocessor (B) 21 receives the print start command, it drives the registration roller 12 as shown in FIG. The printing process is performed until the ejection is completed (FIG. 4(h), step S7 in FIG. 3).

In order to increase the printing throughput, the tRx photosensitive drum 14 is rotated for a certain period of time even after the printing process is completed, as shown in FIG. 4(h). Therefore, Fig. 4(c),(f)
After the microprocessor (B) 21 receives the paper hopping command as shown in FIG. The initial charging time tc of the photosensitive drum 14 can be omitted. Also,
If a paper hopping command for printing the next page is not sent, the photosensitive drum 14 is temporarily stopped after a certain period of time tR after the printing process for the page is completed (see FIG. 4(C)(e)). , (h)), and then the microprocessor (A) 7 again issues a paper hopping command as shown in FIG.
), the printing apparatus 1 again operates from the initial charging of the photosensitive drum 14 to the printing process in the same manner as described above.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional printing apparatus described above, the microprocessor (A) 7 is delayed in sending out the paper hopping command for the next page until a certain time tR after the printing process for the page is completed. If a paper hopping command for the next page is not sent out, the rotation of the photosensitive drum 14 will temporarily stop.

Therefore, the photosensitive drum 14 rotates unnecessarily during the time period from the end of the printing process until the rotation of the photosensitive drum 14 stops. For this reason, there is a problem in that the degree of wear (deterioration) of the photoreceptor drum 14 increases significantly with respect to the number of printed sheets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of these conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent printing apparatus in which the degree of wear (deterioration) of the photoreceptor drum does not increase with respect to the number of sheets printed.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an electrophotographic printing apparatus that receives print data from an external device and prints page by page using a photoreceptor drum. A first print start command that detects the interval and sends a first print start command when the print data reception interval is less than or equal to a reference value, and sends a second print start command when the print data reception interval is greater than the reference value. a control unit that causes the photosensitive drum to continue to be driven for a certain period of time after the printing process for the page ends based on the first print start command, and immediately after the print process for the page ends based on the second print start command; and a second control section that stops driving the photosensitive drum.

(Operation) Therefore, the first control unit sends the first print start command to the second control unit when the print data reception interval is equal to or less than the reference value. The first control unit also detects the print data reception interval from the external device, and determines the print data reception interval (the reception interval between the print data of the current page and the print data of the previous page, or the reception interval of the print data of the current page). When the average value of the print data reception interval up to that point is larger than the reference value, a second print start command is sent to the second control unit.

The second control unit continues to rotate the photosensitive drum for a certain period of time after the printing process for the page ends based on the first print start command, and after the printing process for the page ends based on the second print start command. Immediately stop the rotation of the photoreceptor drum. Therefore, when the print data transmission time or print data reception interval from an external device increases, the unnecessary rotation of the photoreceptor drum after the printing process for the page is completed can be reduced compared to the conventional method, and the number of printed sheets can be reduced. Accordingly, the degree of wear (deterioration) of the photoreceptor drum can be reduced, that is, the life of the photoreceptor drum can be extended.

Also, when printing continuously, the throughput does not become long. Furthermore, the life of the cleaner, developing device, etc. that operate in conjunction with the photoreceptor drum can be extended.

(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, a printing apparatus 1' of the present invention includes a control section 3'.
and a printing section 4'. The difference between the control unit 3' and the control unit 3 shown in FIG. It uses a microprocessor (A) 7', and the rest of the configuration is the same as that of the control section 3 in FIG. 2. Here, the microprocessor (A) as the second control unit of the present invention
A processing program 7' is configured to detect the paper hopping command exit interval and select one of the two print processing methods described later based on the magnitude of the average value.

The difference between the printing section 4' and the printing section 4 in FIG.
) 21 is replaced by a microprocessor (B) 21' as a second control unit of the present invention that performs program processing different from that of the microprocessor (B) 21. The configuration is similar to that of the printing section 4 shown in the figure. Here, the microprocessor (B) 21'
A processing program is set up so that the rotation of the photosensitive drum 14 after printing processing can be performed in two ways, which will be described later.

Next, a detailed explanation will be given using FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 1' of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a timing chart explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 1' of FIG. 1. In Figure 6, t
c is the time required to uniformly charge the surface of the photoreceptor drum 14 with the charger 15, and tR' is a value determined in order to avoid any trouble in printing the next page and to reduce wear and tear on the photoreceptor drum 14 as much as possible. .

First, when print data for one page is sent from the host computer to the control section 3' via the terminal 2 and external connection interface section 5, the reception buffer 6 receives the print data for one page. Performs reception processing (step S in Figure 5).
When the receiving process is completed, the microprocessor (A) 7' sends the paper hopping command to the printer interface unit 10.ll, 512). It is sent to the microprocessor (B) 21' of the printing section 4' through the serial interface 22 (step S13 in FIG. 5; FIGS. 6(a) and (c)
)), upon receiving the paper hopping command, the microprocessor (B) 21' rotates the photosensitive drum 14 as shown in FIG. Charge. Next, the microprocessor (B) 21' turns on the clutch of the hopping roller 13 at the timing shown in FIG.
Send it to the position.

On the other hand, the microprocessor (A) 7' of the control unit 3'
The time from the sending of a paper hopping command to the exit of the next paper hopping command is detected every time. Further, the microprocessor (A) 7' edits the print data almost simultaneously with sending out the paper hopping command (step 513 in FIG. 5), as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 6(c).

When the editing process for one page is completed and the dot image data for one page is formed (step S14, 515 in FIG. 5), the microprocessor (A) 7
' is the paper hopping command interval tn+j n-In
When the average value tx of tn-2+... is larger than the reference value ts, the printer interface unit 1 issues a print start command 2 to immediately stop the rotation of the photosensitive drum 14 after printing processing.
0. It is sent to the microprocessor (B) 21' through the serial interface 22 (step S1 in FIG.
6°517). Upon receiving the print start command 2, the microprocessor (B) 21' moves the registration roller 12 to the sixth position.
The printing paper is driven at the timing shown in FIG. 5G to send the printing paper toward the transfer device 18, and perform printing process 2 (step 818 in FIG. 5) until completion of ejection to the ejection section 20 after actual printing.

The microprocessor (B) 21' is configured as shown in FIG. 6(h), (
Printing process 2 (step 518 in FIG. 5) as shown in e)
After the completion of the process, the rotation of the photosensitive drum 14 is immediately stopped.

On the other hand, the microprocessor (A) 7' executes the paper hopping command interval 〇+ 70-1+ j n-2+
The average value tx of ... is less than the reference value ts (tx≦t
s) In some cases, the printer interface unit 10 issues a print start command 1 to continue rotating the photosensitive drum 14 for a certain period of time tR' after the printing process. It is sent to the microprocessor (B) 21' through the serial interface 22 (step S16°519 in FIG. 5). Upon receiving the print start command 1, the microprocessor (B) 21' drives the registration roller 12 to feed the printing paper toward the transfer device 18, and performs the printing process until the completion of ejection to the ejection section 20 after actual printing. 1 (step 520 in FIG. 5).

The microprocessor (B) 21' performs print processing 1 (fifth
After step 520) in the figure is completed, the photosensitive drum 14 is not stopped immediately, but continues to rotate for a predetermined time tRI after the printing process is completed. To explain this case with reference to FIG. 6, the print start command 2 in FIG. 6(d) becomes the print start command 1, the print process 2 in FIG. The rotation of the photoreceptor drum 14 is changed from immediately stopping the rotation as shown in FIG. I will do it.

As can be seen from the above description, in the present invention, the microprocessor (A) 7' detects the paper hopping command interval every time, and the average value tx of the paper hopping command intervals exceeds the reference value t (tx>ts ) and print start command 2 to the microprocessor (B) 21', and based on this print start command 2, the microprocessor (B) 21' immediately starts printing the photoreceptor drum 14 after finishing the printing process for the page. I tried to stop it. Also, microprocessor (A)
7' means that the average value tx is less than or equal to the reference value ts (tx
≦ts), the print start command 1 is sent to the microprocessor (B) 21', and the microprocessor (B) 2
1', based on this print start command 1, the photosensitive drum 14 is rotated for a certain period of time tRs after the printing process for the page is completed. Therefore, when the print data transmission time or the print data reception interval from the host computer increases, the paper hopping command interval becomes longer (the print interval becomes longer), so by applying the present invention, the print processing of the page The unnecessary rotation of the photoreceptor drum 14 after printing can be reduced compared to the conventional method, and the degree of wear (deterioration) of the photoreceptor drum 14 relative to the number of printed sheets can be reduced compared to the conventional method. It can extend the lifespan. Further, by applying the present invention, when printing continuously, the throughput does not become long.

Furthermore, the lifespan of the cleaner, developer 17, etc. that operate in conjunction with the photoreceptor drum 14 can be extended.

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.

In this embodiment, when comparing the print data reception interval with the reference value, the paper hopping command interval (average value)
Although the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the paper hopping command interval (the interval between the paper hopping command of the current page and the paper hopping command of the previous page) is used. may be compared with a reference value.

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

(1) If the print data reception interval from the external device becomes long (including when the print data transmission time from the external device becomes long), the photoconductor drum Wasteful rotation can be reduced compared to the conventional method, reducing wear (deterioration) of the photoconductor drum relative to the number of sheets printed.
The degree can be made smaller than before. Therefore, the life of the photosensitive drum can be extended.

(2) When printing continuously, the throughput does not become long.

(3) The lifespan of cleaners, developing devices, etc. that operate in conjunction with the photoreceptor drum can also be extended.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an electrophotographic printing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electrophotographic printing apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electrophotographic printing apparatus 1. FIG. 4 is a flow chart explaining the operation of the printing device 1 shown in FIG. 4, a timing chart explaining the operation of the printing device 1 shown in FIG.
1 is a flow chart explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 1' shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a timing chart explaining the operation of the printing apparatus 1' shown in FIG. 1'... Printing device, 7'... Microprocessor (A), 13... Hopping roller, 14... Photosensitive drum, 21'...
Microprocessor (B).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An electrophotographic printing device that receives print data from an external device and prints page by page using a photoreceptor drum, which detects the print data reception interval from the external device and prints When the data reception interval is less than the reference value, the first
a first control unit that sends out a print start command and sends out a second print start command when the print data reception interval is greater than a reference value; and terminates printing processing for the page based on the first print start command. continuing to drive the photoreceptor drum for a certain period of time;
A second method for stopping the driving of the photosensitive drum immediately after the printing process for the page is completed based on the second print start command.
A printing device comprising: a control unit.