JPH06115173A - Color printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible both to discriminate occurrence of shortage of an ink and to continue emergently the whole printing when the shortage of the ink occurs during color printing. CONSTITUTION:The apparatus is a color printing apparatus wherein a color printing control apparatus 1 which controls color printing with a plurality of basic constitutional colors Y, M, C and K based on a command data from a host computor 2 and a part 8 for detecting the amt. of remaining ink and a means for marking a paper with the basic constitutional colors regardless of the printing data from the host computor, are provided and when shortage of the ink occurs on either one of the basic constitutional colors, printing is continued with basic constitutional colors with no shortage of ink and a mark indicating shortage of ink is printed on the paper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional color printer, Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), K (black)
When any one of the color inks runs out of ink, the process is interrupted as an error when the ink runs out, or printing is continued with the ink running out.

In the conventional color designating method in a color printing apparatus, an output color is determined by an instruction from a host computer or a panel switch with respect to an object to be output, for example, characters, ruled lines, figures and images. However, each color was output in the designated color.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, if any one of the plurality of inks of different colors runs out, the printing process is interrupted as an ink shortage error. And even if you want to see the print output result for the time being, you cannot do that. Also, if you continue printing with the ink running out, you cannot determine whether the page is out of ink, or the part that is out of ink is not printed and you do not know what the original print result will be. It was In addition, there is a problem that there is a waste of using each remaining ink even though the printing is incorrect, and then another ink runs out of ink.

Further, in the conventional example in which the output color of the output target is designated by the host computer or the like, even if there is a portion which is not desired to be output in some cases, it is not possible to separate it, so that all the print data etc. is always output. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. When ink runs out during color printing, it can be identified that ink has run out, and the entire printing can be performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a convenient color printing device that can be continued urgently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient color printer capable of changing the output color according to the purpose without changing the print data or the like.

[0008]

Therefore, a color printing apparatus according to the present invention is a color printing apparatus for performing color printing output with a plurality of basic constituent colors according to instruction data from a data source such as a host computer. There is a configuration. That is, with a configuration that includes a detection unit that detects ink shortage and a unit that marks a sheet with a basic component color regardless of print data from a data source.

Alternatively, a detection means for detecting ink shortage,
With a configuration that includes a detection unit that detects the remaining ink amount of each of the basic constituent colors and a unit that prioritizes the basic constituent colors.

Alternatively, a detection means for detecting ink shortage,
With a configuration in which a detection unit that detects each residual ink amount of the basic constituent color and a unit that determines the basic constituent color with the largest residual ink amount are provided.

Alternatively, a detection means for detecting ink shortage,
With a configuration in which a detection unit that detects each residual ink amount of the basic constituent color and a unit that determines the darkest basic constituent color of the residual ink are provided.

Alternatively, the changing means for changing the Y, M, C, K color printing process to the Y, M, C color printing process and the Y, M, C, K color printing process are used. , A changing means for changing to the K color gray printing process.

Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object by a configuration including a designating means for designating a color that can be used at the time of printing and a determining means for determining whether or not the print data is the designated color. .

[0014]

With the above configuration, when the ink runs out, the printing process continues, and a mark indicating the ink runs out is put in the corner of the page where the ink runs out to identify the ink runout and to determine which ink has run out. Can be identified.

Alternatively, when the ink runs out, the entire printing can be performed by printing only the color having the highest priority among the remaining inks.

Alternatively, when ink runs out, the entire print can be performed by printing only the color with the largest amount of remaining ink.

Alternatively, when the ink runs out, the entire ink can be printed by printing only the darkest color in the remaining ink.

Alternatively, if the K ink runs out when the ink runs out, color printing with YMCK ink is performed.
If the MC ink is used, and if any of the YMC ink runs out, color printing data with the YMCK ink is converted into gray, and gray printing with the K ink is performed, so that printing can be continued.

Alternatively, it is possible to change the print result according to the purpose without changing the print data by pre-registering the print-permitted color and printing only with the permitted color. .

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments.

(First Embodiment) The present embodiment is a color printing apparatus capable of expressing 256 gradations of each color by four color inks of YMCK having a pixel density of 300, and detecting means for detecting ink shortage and printing from a data source. It is configured to have a means for marking a sheet with a basic constituent color regardless of the data. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system of a full-color printing apparatus which is a first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 1 is a print control device provided in the main body of the printing apparatus, and 2 is an external host computer which serves as a data source. A central processing unit (CPU) 3 controls all of the printing devices. Reference numeral 4 is an input interface for storing data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is a program ROM in which a program of a flow chart shown in FIG. 3 to be described later and a program for controlling the entire printing apparatus are stored. A font ROM 6 stores a character pattern corresponding to a character code or the like input to the input interface 4.

A RAM 7 is used as a work area when the CPU 3 executes the program. Further, in the RAM 7, there is a mark output color storage section 7a which indicates which color of ink should be used for marking when ink runs out.
A remaining ink amount detection unit 8 detects how much amount of each YMCK ink is left. 9 is an output unit, R
The image stored in AM7 is output.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which a mark indicating the ink shortage is printed when the ink runs out in the present embodiment. In the illustrated example, the K ink is run out by printing the mark with YMC ink.

FIG. 3 is a control flow chart of a process of putting a mark indicating ink shortage at a corner of a page where ink shortage occurs in the full color printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. The characteristic operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to this flowchart.

First, when power is supplied to this embodiment, initial setting of this apparatus is performed in step S1. Next, step S
At 2, the received data is received from the input interface 4. In step S3, it is determined whether it is a paper discharge command. If the result of this determination is yes, in step S4, the remaining ink amount detection unit 8 extracts information on the remaining ink amount of each color of YMCK. Next, in step S5, it is determined whether there is no ink remaining, that is, whether there is any ink that has run out. In this determination, if there is ink out, the color with the remaining ink is taken out and stored in the mark output color storage section 7a as the mark output color in step S6, and the printing is continued and the mark output color storage section 7a is continued in step S7. With the color set to
Print a rectangular mark for each color on the corner of the page. Next, in step S8, the paper discharge process is performed, and after paper discharge, the process returns to step S2. If the determination in step S5 is no, the process proceeds to step S8.

On the other hand, if the determination in step S3 is negative, the process as an ordinary printing device is performed in step S9, and the process returns to step S2.

In the above embodiment, a full color printing apparatus using ink colors has been described, but it is also possible to configure it as a color printing apparatus that outputs with color toner.

As described above, in the first embodiment, when ink is depleted, the printing process is continued, and a mark indicating the ink depletion is added to the corner of the page where the ink depletion has occurred to identify the ink depletion. And which color ink has run out can be identified.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of a full-color printing apparatus according to the second embodiment, and the same or corresponding portions as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment also uses YMCK with a pixel density of 300.
A color printing apparatus capable of expressing 256 gradations of each color by four color inks, a detection unit for detecting ink shortage, a detection unit for detecting each remaining ink amount of basic constituent colors, and prioritizing the basic constituent colors. It is configured to include means.

Reference numeral 1 is a print controller provided in the main body of the printing apparatus, and 2 is an external host computer which serves as a data source. Reference numeral 3 is a CPU that controls all of the printing apparatus. Four
Is an input interface for storing the data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is a program ROM in which the programs of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 which will be described later and the program for controlling the entire printing apparatus are stored. is there. A font ROM 6 stores a character pattern corresponding to the character code input to the input interface 4.

A RAM 7 is used as a work area when the CPU 3 executes the program. In addition, in the RAM 7, an ink depletion flag storage unit 7b that stores a flag indicating which ink is currently out of ink and a color priority table that stores a priority of printing colors are stored. There is a rank storage unit 7c and a print color storage unit 7d that indicates which ink should be output when ink runs out. A remaining ink amount detection unit 8 detects how much amount of each YMCK ink is left. An output unit 9 outputs the image stored in the RAM 7.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are control flow charts for switching the output to the ink having the highest priority among the remaining inks when the ink runs out in the full-color printing apparatus of the second embodiment.

The characteristic operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow chart.

First, when power is supplied to the apparatus of this embodiment,
In step S1 of FIG. 5, the device is initialized. In this initialization processing, the ink depletion flag storage unit 7b is initialized to off (setting that ink is not depleted), and the color priority table of the print color priority storage unit 7c is initialized. Next, in step S2, the remaining ink check routine is called.

The remaining ink check routine is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S20, the remaining ink amount detection unit 8 extracts the remaining ink amount information of each YMCK color.
Next, in step S21, it is determined whether there is no ink remaining, that is, whether there is any ink that has run out. With this judgment,
If there is one that runs out of ink, the color priority table stored in the print color priority storage unit 7c is referenced in step S22,
Take out the color with the highest priority among the remaining ink colors,
In step S23, the print color storage unit 7 uses that color as the print color.
Store in d. Next, in step S24, the ink-out flag storage portion 7b is set to ON (setting that ink is out), and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. On the other hand, if the determination in step S21 is NO, in step S25, the ink out flag storage portion 7b is set to off (setting that ink is not exhausted), and the process returns to the main routine.

Next, in step S3, the received data is received from the input interface 4, and in step S4 it is determined whether the received data is a color priority setting command. If the result of this determination is NO, it is determined in step S5 whether the received data is print data, and if the result is NO, it is determined in step S6 whether it is a paper discharge command. If the result of this judgment is NO, the process as an ordinary printing device is performed in step S7, and the process returns to step S3.

If the determination in step S4 is yes,
The color priority order specified in step S8 is stored in the color priority order table of the print color priority order storage unit 7c, and the process returns to step S3.

If the determination in step S5 is yes,
In step S9, the flag set in the ink out flag storage 7b is turned on (that is, there is ink out).
If no, a full-color printing process using normal YMCK is performed in step S10, and the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S9 is yes, the printing process using only the ink colors set in the printing color storage unit 7d is performed in step S11, and
Return to 3.

If the determination in step S6 is yes,
Paper ejection processing is performed in step S12, and after paper ejection step S1
In step 3, the remaining ink check routine described above is called, and the process returns to step S3.

In the above embodiment, the embodiment in the full-color printing apparatus using color ink has been described, but it is also possible to configure it as a color printing apparatus which outputs by using color toner.

As described above, in the second embodiment, when ink is depleted, all the printed portions can be output by printing with the color having the highest priority among the remaining inks, and the ink is depleted. Can be generated.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system of a full-color printing apparatus according to the third embodiment. The same or corresponding parts as those in the first and second embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

Also in this embodiment, YMC having a pixel density of 300 is used.
A color printing device capable of expressing 256 gradations of each color by K4 color inks, and a detection unit for detecting ink shortage,
The configuration is such that a detection means for detecting each remaining ink amount of the basic constituent color and a means for discriminating the basic constituent color having the largest remaining ink amount are provided.

Reference numeral 1 is a print controller provided in the main body of the printing apparatus, and 2 is an external host computer, which serves as a data source. Reference numeral 3 is a CPU that controls all of the printing apparatus. Four
Is an input interface for storing the data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is a program ROM in which the programs of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 which will be described later and the program for controlling the entire printing apparatus are stored. is there. A font ROM 6 stores a character pattern corresponding to the character code input to the input interface 4.

A RAM 7 is used as a work area when the CPU 3 executes the program. In addition, in the RAM 7, an ink out flag storage portion 7b for storing a flag indicating which ink is currently out of ink and a print color storage portion for indicating which ink should be output when the ink is out. There is 7e. A remaining ink amount detection unit 8 detects how much amount of each YMCK ink is left. An output unit 9 outputs the image stored in the RAM 7.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flow charts for switching the output to the ink with the largest remaining ink amount when the ink runs out in the full-color printing apparatus of this embodiment.

The characteristic operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, when power is supplied to the apparatus of this embodiment,
In step S1, the device is initialized. In this initial setting process, the ink depletion flag storage unit 7b is initialized to off (setting that ink is not depleted). Next, step S
In step 2, the remaining ink check routine is called.

The remaining ink check routine is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S20, the remaining ink amount detection unit 8 extracts the remaining ink amount information of each YMCK color. Next, in step S21, it is determined whether there is no ink remaining, that is, whether there is any ink that has run out. If it is determined that there is ink out, the color with the largest amount of ink remaining is taken out in step S22, and that color is stored in the print color storage section 7e as the print color in step S23. Next, in step S24, the out-of-ink flag storage portion 7b is set to ON (setting that some ink is out), and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the determination in step S21 is NO, in step S25, the ink-out flag storage unit 7b is set to OFF (setting that ink is not out),
Returning to the main routine shown in FIG.

Next, in step S3, the received data is received from the input interface 4. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the received data is print data, and if not, it is determined in step S5 whether or not it is a paper discharge command. If the result of this judgment is NO, the process as an ordinary printing device is performed in step S6, and the process returns to step S3.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S4 is yes, it is determined in step S7 whether the flag set in the ink out flag storage portion 7b is on (that is, there is ink out), and if no. In step S8, normal YMCK full-color printing processing is performed, and the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S7 is yes, the process proceeds to step S9, the printing process using only the ink color set in the printing color storage unit 7e is performed, and the process returns to step S3.

If the result of the determination in step S5 is yes, the paper discharge process is performed in step S10, the above-described residual ink check routine is called in step S11 after paper discharge, and the process returns to step S3.

In the above embodiment, the full-color printing apparatus using color ink has been described, but it is also possible to configure it as a color printing apparatus for outputting with color toner.

As described above, in the third embodiment, when ink runs out, it is possible to print the entire portion by printing with the color having the largest amount of remaining ink, and the ink runs out. Can be shown.

(Fourth Embodiment) A full-color printing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment will be described below.

The present embodiment is a color printing apparatus capable of expressing 256 gradations of each color using YMCK four color inks having a pixel density of 300, as in the first to third embodiments.
The configuration is such that a detection unit that detects ink shortage, a detection unit that detects the amount of each remaining ink of the basic constituent colors, and a unit that determines the darkest basic constituent color of the remaining ink.

The control system block and the main routine for characteristic control are the same as those in the third embodiment, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 is a print control device provided in the main body of the printing apparatus, and 2 is an external host computer which serves as a data source. 3 is C for controlling all of the printing devices
It is PU. Reference numeral 4 is an input interface for storing data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is a program of a flowchart shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 which will be described later, a color density table defining the order of color density, and main printing. It is a program ROM that stores programs for controlling the entire apparatus. A font ROM 6 stores a character pattern corresponding to the character code input to the input interface 4.

A RAM 7 is used as a work area when the CPU 3 executes the program. In addition, in the RAM 7, an ink out flag storage portion 7b for storing a flag indicating which ink is currently out of ink and a print color storage portion for indicating which ink should be output when the ink is out. There is 7e. A remaining ink amount detection unit 8 detects how much amount of each YMCK ink is left. An output unit 9 outputs the image stored in the RAM 7.

The operation control for switching to the output of the darkest ink in the remaining ink when the ink runs out in the full-color printing apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 10.

First, when power is supplied to the apparatus of this embodiment,
In step S1, the device is initialized. In this initial setting process, the ink depletion flag storage unit 7b is initialized to off (setting that ink is not depleted). Next, step S
In step 2, the remaining ink check routine is called.

The remaining ink check routine follows the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, and first in step S20, the remaining ink amount detecting section 8 extracts the remaining ink amount information of each color of YMCK. Next, in step S21, it is determined whether there is no ink remaining, that is, whether there is any ink that has run out. If it is determined that the ink is out, the color having the highest density is extracted from the color density table stored in the ROM 6 in step S22, and that color is printed in step S23. Printing color storage unit 7e as a color
To store. Next, in step S24, the out-of-ink flag storage portion 7b is set to ON (setting that some ink is out), and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the determination in step S21 is NO, in step S25, the ink out flag storage portion 7b is set to OFF (setting that ink is not exhausted), and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

Next, in step S3, the received data is received from the input interface 4. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the received data is print data, and if not, it is determined in step S5 whether or not it is a paper discharge command. If the result of this judgment is NO, the process as an ordinary printing device is performed in step S6, and the process returns to step S3.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S4 is YES, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the flag set in the ink out flag storage portion 7b is on (that is, there is ink out), and if no. In step S8, normal YMCK full-color printing processing is performed, and the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S7 is yes, the process proceeds to step S9, the printing process using only the ink color set in the print color storage unit 7b is performed, and the process returns to step S3.

If YES in the determination in step S5, the paper discharge process is performed in step S10, the above-described residual ink check routine is called in step S11 after paper discharge, and the process returns to step S3.

In this embodiment, a full-color printing apparatus using color ink has been described as an embodiment, but it is also possible to configure it as a color printing apparatus for outputting with color toner.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when the ink runs out, by outputting with the darkest color of the remaining ink, the entire print portion can be output and the ink runs out. You can show what you have done.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system of a full-color printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. The same or corresponding parts as those in the first to fourth embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment also uses YMCK with a pixel density of 300.
A color printing device capable of expressing 256 gradations of each color using four color inks, and changing means for changing the color output processing of Y, M, C, and K colors to the color output processing of Y, M, and C colors. , M, C, K color output processing,
And a changing means for changing to the K color gray output process.

Reference numeral 1 is a print controller provided in the main body of the printing apparatus, and 2 is an external host computer which serves as a data source. Reference numeral 3 is a CPU that controls all of the printing apparatus. Four
12 is an input interface for storing data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is shown in FIG.
And the program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, YM
YMCK, a program that converts CK colors to YMC colors
A program R that stores a program that performs color gray conversion processing and a program that controls the entire printing apparatus
OM. A font ROM 6 stores a character pattern corresponding to the character code input to the input interface 4.

A RAM 7 is used as a work area when the CPU 3 executes the program. In addition, in the RAM 7, an ink depletion flag storage unit 7b that stores a flag indicating which ink is currently depleted, and how to perform conversion processing of YMCK data when the ink depletion occurs and output the result. There is an output processing means storage 7f that indicates whether or not to do. 8 is a remaining ink amount detection unit, which is YMC
Detect how much remaining each ink of K is.
An output unit 9 outputs the image stored in the RAM 7.

12 and 13 are control flowcharts of the full-color printing apparatus of this embodiment. The characteristic operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, when power is supplied to the apparatus of this embodiment,
In step S1, the device is initialized. In this initial setting process, the ink depletion flag storage unit 7b is initialized to off (setting that ink is not depleted). Next, step S
In step 2, the remaining ink check routine is called.

The remaining ink check routine is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S20, the remaining ink amount detection unit 8 extracts the remaining ink amount information of each YMCK color. Next, in step S21, it is determined whether there is no ink remaining, that is, whether there is any ink that has run out. In this determination, if there is any ink that has run out, it is determined in step S22 which ink has run out, and if K ink has run out, the output processing means storage unit performs color output processing by YMC in step S23. Store in 7f. Next, in step S24, the out-of-ink flag storage portion 7b is set to ON (setting that some ink is out), and the process returns to the main routine. On the other hand, if the determination in step S21 is NO, in step S25, the ink-out flag storage unit 7b is set to OFF (setting that ink is not out),
It returns to the main routine shown in FIG. Also, step S
If it is determined in step 22 that one of the YMC inks has run out, it is stored in the output processing means storage section 7f so that gray output is performed with K ink in step S26, and the process proceeds to step S24.

Next, in step S3, the received data is received from the input interface 4. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the received data is print data, and if not, it is determined in step S5 whether or not it is a paper discharge command. If the result of this judgment is NO, the process as an ordinary printing device is performed in step S6, and the process returns to step S3.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S4 is YES, it is determined in step S7 whether or not the flag set in the ink out flag storage portion 7b is on (that is, there is ink out), and if no. In step S8, normal YMCK full-color printing processing is performed, and the process returns to step S3. If the result of the determination in step S7 is YES, the output means set in the output processing means storage section 7f in step S9 is Y output by K ink or YM.
It is determined whether the color output is C color output, and if it is determined that the K ink is gray output, the YMCK data is converted to gray in step S10, and only K print data is printed, and the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S9 that the color output is YMC, step S9 is performed.
Convert YMCK data to YMC data in 11
Then, the color printing process is performed and the process returns to step S3.

If the result of the determination in step S5 is yes, the paper discharge process is performed in step S10, the above-described residual ink check routine is called in step S11 after paper discharge, and the process returns to step S3.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the embodiment of the full-color printing apparatus using the color ink has been described, but it is also possible to configure it as a color printing apparatus for outputting with color toner.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, when ink runs out, when K ink runs out, YMCK
Color printing assuming ink is performed with YMC ink, and if any of the YMC ink runs out, YMCK
It is possible to continue printing by converting the color print data with ink to gray and perform gray printing with K ink, and it can be shown that the ink has run out.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a control block diagram of a full-color printing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment, and the same or corresponding portions as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, YMC3 with a pixel density of 300 is used.
It is a color printing device that can express 256 gradations of each color.
The configuration includes a designating unit that designates a color that can be used during printing, and a discriminating unit that determines whether the print data is the designated color.

Reference numeral 1 is a print control device provided in the printer body, and 2 is an external host computer which serves as a data source. Reference numeral 3 is a CPU that controls all of the printing apparatus. Four
16 is an input interface for storing data sent from the host computer 2, and 5 is shown in FIG.
A program R in which the program of the flowchart shown in FIG.
OM. A font ROM 6 stores a character pattern corresponding to the character code input to the input interface 4.

A RAM 7 is used as a work area when the CPU 3 executes the program. Further, in the RAM 7, there are a print color storage area 7g for storing a color to be printed at present and a printable color registration table storage section 7h for storing a printable color registration table shown in FIG. An output unit 9 outputs the image stored in the RAM 7.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the printable color registration table of this embodiment. This table stores the number of printable colors and the Y, M, C values of the colors. Note that FIG. 15 is an example in which black, red, ... Blue is designated as a printable color, and the Y, M, and C values in each table show that the color increases as the value increases from 0 to 255. It has become darker, black has Y, M and C of 255, red has Y, M of 255 and C is 0, and blue has M and C of 255 and Y is 0.
Has become.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart for performing color adjustment of the color registration table in the full color printing apparatus of this embodiment. The characteristic operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, when power is supplied to the apparatus of this embodiment,
In step S1, the printer is initialized. In this initialization processing, the print color storage area 7g and the printable color registration table 7h are initialized. Next, in step S2, the received data is received from the input interface 4. In step S3, it is determined whether the received data is a print color designation command. If the received data is not a print color designation command, it is determined in step S4 whether the received data is a print permission color designation command. In this determination, if it is not the print permission color designation command, it is determined in step S5 whether it is the print inhibition color designation command. If this judgment is NO, it is judged whether or not it is print data. If the judgment is YES, it is judged in step S7 whether or not a print color is set in the print color storage area 7g and it is NO. In that case, it returns to step S2. Also,
If the result of this judgment is YES, printing is performed in the color set in the printing color storage area 7g in step S8, and the process returns to step S2.

On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S3 is yes, the print designated color is taken out from the received data in step S10, it is determined whether the color is registered in the printable color registration table 7h, and if it is registered. If step S1
The color designated by 1 is stored in the print color storage area 7g, and the process returns to step S2. If the determination in step S10 is NO, in step S12, it is set in the print color storage area 7g that printing is not required, no printing is performed regardless of any print data, and the process returns to step S2.

If YES in the determination in step S4, the color designated in step S13 is registered as the printable color in the printable color registration table 7h, and the step S2 is performed.
Return to. If the result of the determination in step S5 is YES, the color designated in step S14 is set as the print inhibition color and deleted from the printable color registration table 7h.
Return to 2.

If the determination in step S6 is no, in step S9 the process as a normal printing device is performed and the process returns to step S2. That is, the output unit 9 performs a process such as an output process for the paper discharge command.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the embodiment in the full-color printing apparatus using Y, M, C has been described.
It is also possible to configure as a color printing device which outputs by C, K or R, G, B. Further, it can be applied to other display devices such as a CRT using a color table.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, the colors for which output is permitted are registered in advance, and only the permitted colors are output, so that the inside of the print data is not changed. , It is possible to output by masking to a specific color.

[0094]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the ink runs out, the printing process is continued, and a mark indicating the ink runs out is put in the corner of the page where the ink runs out, so that the ink runout and the ink runout can be identified.

Alternatively, when ink runs out, it is possible to print with the color having the highest priority among the remaining inks.
In addition, it can indicate that the ink has run out.

Alternatively, when the ink runs out, it is possible to print with the color having the largest amount of remaining ink and to indicate the ink run out.

Alternatively, when the ink runs out, it is possible to print with the darkest color in the remaining ink and to show the ink runout.

Alternatively, when the ink runs out, if the K ink runs out, color printing assuming YMCK ink is performed with the YMC ink, and if any of the YMC ink runs out, the YMCK ink runs out. The color print data can be converted into gray, the gray print with the K ink can be performed, and the ink shortage can be indicated.

That is, it is possible to provide a convenient color printing apparatus capable of appropriately and urgently continuing the entire printing as described above when ink runs out and at the same time showing the ink run out.

Further, according to the present invention, the colors for which output is permitted are registered in advance, and printing is performed only with the permitted colors, so that it is possible to specify specific colors without changing the inside of the print data. Mask and print. That is, it is possible to provide a convenient color printing apparatus that can change the printing color according to the purpose.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an output diagram of an out-of-ink mark according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a residual ink check flowchart of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system of a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a control flowchart of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a residual ink check flowchart of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a residual ink check flowchart of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control system of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a control flowchart of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a residual ink check flowchart of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control system of a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a printable color registration table according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a control flowchart of the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Print Control Device 2 Host Computer 3 Central Processing Unit (CPU) 4 Input Interface 5 Program ROM 6 Font ROM 7 RAM 7a Mark Output Color Storage 7b Ink Out Flag Storage 7c Print Color Priority Storage 7d, 7e Print Color Storage section 7f Output means storage section 7g Print color storage area 7h Printable color registration table storage section 8 Remaining ink amount detection section 9 Output section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A color printing apparatus for performing color printing with a plurality of basic constituent colors in accordance with instruction data from a data source such as a host computer, and detecting means for detecting ink shortage of each of the basic constituent colors, and a data source. Regardless of the print data from, the printer is provided with means for marking the paper with the basic constituent color, and when ink runs out in any of the basic constituent colors, printing is continued with the basic constituent color that has not run out of ink. In addition, a color printing apparatus that prints a mark indicating that the ink runs out on the paper. 2. A color printing device for performing color printing with a plurality of basic constituent colors in accordance with instruction data from a data source such as a host computer, and a detection means for detecting ink shortage of each of the basic constituent colors; Detecting means for detecting the residual ink amount of each constituent color and means for prioritizing each of the basic constituent colors are provided. When ink runs out in any of the basic constituent colors, the remaining ink has the highest priority. A color printing device characterized by printing in high-ranked colors. 3. A color printing device for performing color printing with a plurality of basic constituent colors in accordance with instruction data from a data source such as a host computer, the sensing means for sensing ink shortage of each of the basic constituent colors, and the basic means. Detecting means for detecting the remaining ink amount of each constituent color, and means for discriminating the basic constituent color with the largest remaining ink quantity, and when any one of the basic constituent colors runs out of ink, the remaining ink quantity A color printing device characterized by printing in the most common colors. 4. A color printing device for performing color printing with a plurality of basic constituent colors in accordance with instruction data from a data source such as a host computer, and a detection means for detecting ink shortage of each of the basic constituent colors, and the basic means. Detecting means for detecting the residual ink amount of each of the constituent colors and determining means for determining the darkest basic constituent color of the remaining ink, and when any one of the basic constituent colors runs out of ink, A color printer that prints with the darkest color. 5. According to instruction data from a data source such as a host computer, Y (yellow), M (magenta),
A color printing apparatus for performing color printing with C (cyan) and K (black) basic constituent colors, and a detection means for detecting ink shortage of each of the basic constituent colors, and Y, M,
Change means for changing the color printing process of C, K colors to the color printing process of Y, M, C colors, and Y, M, C, K
A change unit is provided for changing the color printing process using the colors to the gray printing process using the K colors. When the K ink runs out of ink, color printing is performed using the Y, M, and C inks. A color printing apparatus, which performs gray printing only with K ink when ink runs out in any one. 6. A color printing device for performing color printing with a color designated by a plurality of basic constituent colors in accordance with instruction data from a data source such as a host computer, and a designating means for designating a color usable at the time of printing. A color printing apparatus, comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the print data is the designated color that can be used for printing when printing, and performs printing only by the designated usable color.