JPH05147757A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid taking unnecessary sheet feeding tray into account and select only a tray loaded with applicable sheets simply and correctly by specifying sheets of the quality which one wishes to select, and giving an ID mark to the applicable tray. CONSTITUTION:A printer is furnished at the body 21 with a hand feed tray 22 for feeding sheets, a plurality of trays 23-27 where respective sheet feeding cassettes are fitted, a quantity feed tray 28, and a discharged paper tray 29 to which the sheets printed are discharged. The position of the tray 23-28 to meet the sheet specification is selected by specifying the sheet quality which one wishes to select. An appropriate ID mark is given to the tray which contains the specified quality of sheets. Thereafter only trays fitted with the ID mark are selected. Thereby only the tray containing the specified quality of sheets among others can be selected simply and accurately.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing an image based on information of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, widely used printers, large ones, use a manual feed tray as a paper feed mechanism for feeding paper for printing.
There is known a printer in which two paper feed cassette trays, which are called an upper tray and a lower tray, are provided in addition to the above-mentioned locations and a large-volume paper feed tray is additionally provided at one location.

For selection of a paper feed tray in such a printer, a selection method using a command (escape sequence) input from a key switch or a host interface is known.

In the case of the selection by the key switch, the selection is made by directly designating the paper feed tray position.

In the case of selection by a command, the number defined for the paper feed tray position is used as a parameter of the escape sequence for selection. As the paper feed tray position, a paper feed cassette tray in which a commonly used paper feed cassette is mounted can be used instead of the normal tray on which the paper is placed. The paper feed cassette for storing the paper is provided with means for indicating the size and quality of the paper to be stored, and the printer is stored in each paper feed cassette when the paper feed cassette is stored at an arbitrary paper feed cassette tray position. The type of paper can be identified.

Generally, paper feed cassettes containing necessary paper sheets are attached to the upper tray and the lower tray, and trays are selected as needed.

For a large number of used sheets, a paper feed cassette containing the same paper is attached to both the upper tray and the lower tray, and when one of the paper feed cassettes runs out of paper,
It is also known to provide an automatic switching function so as to automatically switch to the other sheet feeding cassette.

Recently, with the increase and diversification of users, it is desired to use various types of paper for printers. In order to be able to properly use many different types of paper, the paper tray selection function is complicated.

It is known to switch and control a plurality of paper feed tray positions by using numbers, alphabets, etc., but there is a limit in distinguishing each paper feed tray position.

In order to support a wide variety of usages, various combinations are expected for the setting function of the paper feed tray to be selected, and the paper feed tray is set every time the user changes and the usage method changes. Had to be changed, and there was a problem that printer settings were complicated.

Further, as for error processing when there is no paper feed tray in which the paper to be used is set, control capable of handling various kinds of processing is required.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and makes it possible to easily select a paper feed tray in which required papers are set from among various types of recording papers. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer that is capable of performing appropriate error processing when necessary paper is not set and that can effectively use resources.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above problems by providing a printer having a plurality of paper feed tray mounting portions and provided with means for discriminating the size and material of the paper stored in each paper feed tray. In step 2, by selecting the paper quality to be selected, the corresponding paper feed tray position is selected, an ID indicating the selection target is given to the selection target paper feed tray, and only the paper feed tray to which the ID is given is given. The problem was solved by a printer characterized by making it selectable.

The present invention further selects the above-mentioned problems in a printer having a plurality of paper feed tray mounting portions and provided with means for discriminating the size and material of the paper stored in each paper feed tray. Specifying a paper quality that does not exist, assigning an ID indicating that it is not a selection target to the paper feed tray that stores the paper of the specified paper quality, and making the paper feed tray to which the ID has been added unselectable Solved by the characteristic printer.

[0015]

According to the present invention, unnecessary paper feeding trays are taken into consideration by designating the paper quality to be selected, assigning a selection target ID to the corresponding paper feeding tray, and selecting from only those with the ID. Is avoided. Further, by designating a paper quality that is not desired to be selected and making it possible to select from a paper feed tray that accommodates paper having a paper quality other than that specified, it is possible to select and use a paper quality that can be used instead when there is no desired paper quality.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

A controller for connecting a host device for outputting image information and a printer engine for forming an image can be constructed as shown in FIG. 1, for example.

In FIG. 1, the controller 1 is a CPU
2, NVRAM3, program ROM (Prog. ROM)
4, font ROM (Font ROM) 5, RAM 6, engine interface (Engine I / F) 7, panel interface (Panel I / F) 8, host interface (Host I / F) 9, disk interface (Disk I / F) 10 The CPU 2 has a removable IC card 11, and the CPU 2 controls the entire controller by a program in the program ROM 4, a mode instruction from the panel device 13, and a command from the host device 14.

The NVRAM 3 is a non-volatile storage device for storing the contents of the mode instruction from the panel device 13, the program ROM 4 stores the controller control program, and the font ROM 5 stores the font pattern data. The RAM 6 is stored and used as a work memory of the CPU 2, an input buffer for input data, a page buffer for print data, a memory for download fonts, and the like.

The IC card 11 is used to supply font data and programs from the outside.

The engine interface 7 communicates with a printing engine (abbreviation of printer engine) 12 for commands, statuses and print data.

The panel interface 8 communicates commands and status with the panel device 13 that informs the user of the current printer status and gives a mode instruction.

The host interface 9 communicates with the host device 14 as an upper device for outputting image information, and normally uses a Centro I / F or RS232C.

The disk interface 10 communicates with a disk device 15, such as a floppy disk device or a hard disk device, which stores various data such as font data, programs and print data.

As a printer, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a manual feed tray 22 for feeding paper to a printer main body 21 and first to fifth trays in which paper feed trays, for example, paper feed cassettes are detachably formed. A laser printer or the like provided with 23 to 27, a large-volume paper feed tray 28, and a paper discharge tray 29 for discharging the printed paper is used.

The selection of which paper feed tray is used in such a printer is made by an instruction from the panel device 13 in FIG. 1 or by a command from the host device 14.

In the case of using the panel device 13, all the paper feed trays 23 to 28 currently mounted in the printer,
Alternatively, the IDs and the like assigned to the respective paper feed trays are sequentially displayed on the LCD (liquid crystal display), and the paper feed tray to be selected is determined according to the displayed contents and set by the key switch.

In the case of selection by the host device 14, the selection tray in the escape sequence for instructing the selection of the paper feed tray is designated by a parameter that means, the escape sequence is sent to the printer, and the paper feed tray designated in the printer is selected. The paper feed tray is set by making a judgment. The parameters used at this time are defined by ID numbers or alphabetical symbols as shown in Table 1, for example.

[0029]

[Table 1]

When the type of paper stored in each paper feed tray (paper feed cassette) is as shown in Table 2, the paper quality required for printing (paper quality desired to be selected) is designated and the paper feed tray is selected. There is a way to limit the range.

[0031]

[Table 2]

For example, when outputting a formal sentence, it may be necessary to use plain paper. In such a case, a paper feed tray that stores plain paper is selected as the paper quality. For example, when recycled paper, plain paper, OHP, and the like are used, a paper feed tray accommodating plain paper is selected. In this case, it is determined whether or not there is plain paper, and if plain paper is present, how many different sizes are set, and unnecessary information is omitted so that selection and designation can be simplified.

For example, an ID indicating a selection target for a paper feed tray for storing plain paper and an ID not selected for a non-plain paper are given to each paper feed tray.

After the paper quality is designated, the user can refer to and set only the paper feed tray that stores the paper of one kind of paper quality to be selected.

When the ID of the selection target is 0 and the ID of the non-selection target is “1”, in the example of Table 2, the IDs of “0” are given to the second paper feeding tray 24 and the third paper feeding tray 25. Then, the ID “1” is given to the non-selected paper feed trays such as the first paper feed tray 23, the fourth paper feed tray 26, and the fifth paper feed tray 27.

When the paper is selected by the printer, only the paper feed tray to which the ID indicating the selection target, that is, "0", is displayed, and the paper is selected from the trays.

On the contrary, there is a method of limiting the range of the paper feed tray to be selected by designating the paper quality which is not desired to be selected.

In this case, "1" is set as an ID indicating a non-selection target for a paper feed tray of a paper quality that is not desired to be selected, and "0" is set as an ID indicating a selection target for a paper feed tray other than that.
Is given.

For example, if OHP sheets are designated as non-selection targets in the paper feed trays of Table 2, the recycled paper and plain paper feed trays become the selection targets, so the first paper feed tray 23 and the second paper feed tray
The paper feed tray 24, the third paper feed tray 25, and the fourth paper feed tray 26 are given an ID of “0” and the fifth paper feed tray 27.
Is assigned an ID of "1".

According to this method, when there is no paper feed cassette that originally contains the paper of the desired paper quality, or when printing is performed using the paper feed cassette that contains the paper of the desired paper quality, the paper runs out. When automatically switching to the paper feed tray of No. 3, it is possible to print by selecting paper of a paper quality other than the specified paper quality not selected.

Further, as shown in Table 3, one paper feed tray,
For example, a different kind of paper from the paper to be recorded in the fifth paper feed tray 27, for example, a colored paper for jog separation is stored, and an ID of 0 which is a selection target and an ID which is 1 of a non-selection target are different, For example, 2 is used as an ID for instructing job separation, and is assigned to the paper feed tray.

[0042]

[Table 3]

Depending on whether the selection target or the non-selection target is designated, as described above, the selectable sheet is
When printing is completed for one job, the paper feed tray with ID 2 is selected, and paper, that is, job separation paper, for example, colored paper, is fed from the paper feed tray, and then the next job is performed.

When recycled paper is designated as a selection target and colored paper is used for job separation, the first paper feed tray 2
The selection target ID 0 for the third and fourth paper feed trays 26 is
The second sheet feeding tray 24 and the third sheet feeding tray 25 are provided with the non-selected target ID 1, and the fifth sheet feeding tray 27 is provided with the ID 2 for the job separation.

[0045]

According to the present invention, it is possible to select only the paper feed trays of the required paper quality by designating the paper quality to be selected, so that it is not necessary to pay attention to the unnecessary paper feed trays. , The burden of paper tray selection management has been reduced.

According to the present invention, by specifying the paper quality which is not desired to be selected, it is possible to distinguish and use only the paper quality of the required paper quality and the paper quality of the paper quality which can be used instead. Management burden is reduced,
The problem of selecting an unnecessary paper quality tray has been resolved.

According to the present invention, by specifying the job separation paper, it is possible to feed a paper having a different paper quality from the paper to be printed at the end of one job for printing by the paper necessary for printing. Even when individual jobs are continuously performed by one printer, prints of different jobs are prevented from being mixed with each other.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of an example of a printer according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Main Body 22 Manual Feed Tray 23 First Paper Feed Tray 24 Second Paper Feed Tray 25 Third Paper Feed Tray 26 Fourth Paper Feed Tray 27 Fifth Paper Feed Tray 28 Large Paper Feed Tray

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer having a plurality of paper feed tray mounting portions and provided with a means for discriminating the size and material of the paper stored in each paper feed tray, by specifying the paper quality to be selected. A printer characterized in that a paper feed tray position is selected, an ID indicating a selection target is given to a selection target paper feed tray, and only the paper feed tray to which the ID is given can be selected. 2. In a printer having a plurality of paper feed tray mounting portions and provided with means for discriminating the size and material of the paper stored in each paper feed tray, the paper quality that is not desired to be selected is designated and designated. I indicating that it is not selected for the paper feed tray that stores paper of different quality
A printer characterized in that a paper feed tray to which D is added and the ID is added is not selectable. 3. In a printer having a plurality of paper feed tray mounting portions and provided with means for discriminating the size and material of paper stored in each paper feed tray, a job separation paper quality is designated and designated. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein an ID indicating that it is for job separation is given to a paper feed tray that stores the quality of paper, and the paper can be fed after the end of each job.