JPH0781155A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a generation of a time-out error in a host device by providing a means for transmitting print command to a print control section based on the count value of a means of counting the sum total of page data. CONSTITUTION:A controller 1 is constituted of respective models like a host interface 5, a CPU 9, a RAM 10, a program ROM 6, a font ROM 7 and others. Data transmitted from a host device 3 through the host interface 5 are assorted into a print data, print control data and other data by the CPU 9, and the print data and print control data are stored in a buffer. When data received from printer command out of the host device 3 or the host device 3 are beyond one page, a print start command is issued to a printer engine 13 by the controller 1 through an enginer interface 12. The print data from the host device 3 are printed by a print engine 13 in the processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device for printing image information created on a host device, and more particularly to a page printer such as a laser printer. Further, the present invention can be applied to a so-called multi-function device having a copier, a fax machine, a printer, and the like in one device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a paper jam occurs while receiving image data over a plurality of sheets from a host device, the printer side resembles the host device and succeeds the subsequent data.
A request to suspend data transmission was made, and data was not transmitted or received to or from the host device. In addition, the host device forcibly interrupted the transmission of data to the printing device will cause a timeout error if the transmission device does not cancel the transmission interruption for a certain period of time. Even if the raised paper was removed, the print data had to be transmitted from the beginning again.

FIG. 6 shows the sequence of a conventional apparatus from the transmission of print data to the recovery of paper jam and printing. The print data transmitted from the host device is temporarily stored in the buffer allocated in the RAM through the host interface, and the command analysis program in the program ROM analyzes and executes the data. Font data in font ROM
The page data is created by using the data. This series of operations is continuously performed until one page of data is completed, and after one page of data is completed, the engine control program in the program ROM passes through the engine interface. , Sends a start command to the printer engine. The printer engine that has received the activation command starts the printing operation.

Here, if a paper jam occurs during the conveyance of the paper, the host control program in the program ROM transmits a code for interrupting the data transmission from the printer side, or The communication control line is set to the transmission stop state. The state in which the transmission from the host device is interrupted continues until the paper is actually removed from the transport path and a code indicating that the printer engine is transportable is issued. The host control program, which confirms that printing is possible, issues a code to cancel the suspension of data transmission, or
The control line is turned on to continue the printing operation.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional apparatus, if the recovery process when a paper jam occurs is delayed, the host apparatus causes a time-out error, including data that has already been printed. The print data must be sent to the printer from the beginning, and even if the printer performs a jam backup in preparation for a paper jam, after all, the printer is reset and the data that remains in the buffer is reset. After erasing the print data, the print data must be transmitted from the beginning from the host device. Considering the processing time and paper waste during that time, the efficiency was extremely poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to perform data transmission / reception so that the host device does not cause a time-out error even if a paper jam occurs. An object is to provide a printing device.

[0007]

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention achieves the above object, and a host interface for receiving print data from a host device and data received by the host interface. And the analyzed data
Means for expanding the page data based on the data, means for storing the page data information, detecting means for detecting the occurrence of paper jam, and detecting the occurrence of paper jam by the detecting means. A means for storing the page data generated later, a means for counting the total sum of the page data generated while the paper jam is continuing, and a count value by the counting means. It is configured to have a transmission unit that transmits a print command to the print control unit.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

The controller 1 converts the print data from the host device into video data according to the set control mode and the control code from the host device 3 to convert the print data from the host device to the printer engine 13. Is a general term for the control mechanism for outputting to the host interface 5, C as shown in FIG.
PU9, RAM10, program ROM6, font R
It is composed of each module such as OM7.

The host interface 5 includes control signals and print data sent from the host device 3 to the printer 1.
It is an interface for status signals that can be sent from the printer 1 to the host device 3. The CPU 9 processes the print data and control data from the host device 3 according to the program stored in the program ROM 6. RAM1
0 is a work memory for the CPU 9 to process, a buffer for managing the data from the host device 3 in page units and temporarily storing the data, and an actual print pattern for the data stored in the buffer. And is used as a bit map memory for storing video data. The NV-RAM 11 is a non-volatile RAM for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off.

The program ROM 6 stores programs for controlling data processing in the controller 2 and peripheral modules. The font ROM 7 stores various types of fonts used for printing. The engine interface 12 is an interface for a control signal sent from the controller 2 to the printer engine 13 and a status signal sent from the printer engine 13 to the controller 2. Printer engine 1
A reference numeral 3 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor by a video signal and a control signal from the controller 2, develops it, and feeds it from a paper feeding section to transfer and fix it to form an image. The panel interface 8 is for displaying the status of the printer 1, the mode,
This is an interface for signals when switching fonts and the like. The operation panel 4 is a display section showing the status of the printer, and a switch section for switching the mode, font, etc. of the printer.

The data sent from the host device 3 through the host interface 5 is divided by the CPU 9 into print data, print control data and other data.
The print data and print control data are stored in the buffer. Print command from host device 3 or host device 3
When the amount of data received from the printer exceeds 1 page, the controller issues a print start command to the printer engine through the engine interface. Through this series of processing, the printer engine 13 prints the print data from the host device 3.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

The print data transmitted from the host device 3 of FIG. 1 is sent to the RAM 10 through the host interface 5.
Once stored in the buffer allocated in the program, the command analysis program in the program ROM 6 analyzes and executes the data, and the font RO
Create page data by using font data in M7. This series of operations is continuously carried out until one page of data is completed, and after one page of data is completed, the engine control program in the program ROM 6 passes through the engine interface 12 , And sends a start command to the printer engine 13. The printer engine 13 which has received the activation command starts the printing operation after confirming whether the printing operation is possible.

When a state such as a paper jam that makes it impossible to continue printing occurs while the paper is being conveyed, the page buffer control program in the program ROM 6 stores one page of page data in the RAM 10. Store in the secured save area. After that, when the printer is started up, a count 1 is added to a variable such as a page count (p_cnt) which has been initialized to 0, and data is received again via the host interface 5.

Here, after the command is analyzed again, even if one page of data is created in a print-disabled state due to paper jam or the like, the next page created by the same sequence.
The data is also stored in the save area.

In the meantime, when a recovery operation such as the removal of the paper by the operation of the operator is performed and it is confirmed by the print engine 13 that the printing operation is possible again,
Program RO through engine interface 12
A code notifying that printing is possible is transmitted from the print engine 13 to the engine control program stored in M6. The engine control program is
In accordance with this code, page data printing designated by the page buffer control program is started. When the page data stored in the save area is printed normally, the page
The value of the page count (page_cnt) is subtracted, and a series of printing operations are performed until the value of the page count (page_cnt) becomes zero while receiving the data again and generating the page data. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

The print data transmitted from the host device 3 shown in FIG. 1 is sent to the RAM 10 through the host interface 5.
Once stored in the buffer allocated in the program, the command analysis program in the program ROM 6 analyzes and executes the data, and the font RO
Create page data by using font data in M7. This series of operations is continuously carried out until one page of data is completed, and after one page of data is completed, the engine control program in the program ROM 6 passes through the engine interface 12 , And sends a start command to the printer engine 13. The printer engine 13 which has received the activation command starts the printing operation after confirming whether the printing operation is possible.

If a state such as a paper jam that makes it impossible to continue printing occurs while the paper is being conveyed, the page buffer control program in the program ROM 6 stores one page of page data in the RAM 10. Store in the secured save area. After this, when the printer is started up, a count of 1 is added to the page count (page_cnt) variable which has been initialized to 0, and the host interface 5 receives the data again.
Through. Here, after the command is analyzed again, even if one page of data is created in a state in which printing is impossible due to paper jam or the like, the page data created next by the same sequence is used. Is also stored in the save area.

While this sequence is repeated, the state in which printing cannot be continued continues, and when the total sum of page data exceeds the capacity of the save area in the RAM 10 (page--
cnt> ram_cnt), the page buffer control program in the program ROM 6 moves the save destination of the next page data to the external storage device, and transfers the management right of the page data to the disk control program in the program ROM 6 .

When the printing cannot continue further, the page data generated subsequently passes through the disk interface 14 under the control of the disk control program to the hard disk 15 (external storage device). Stored in.

In the meantime, when a recovery operation such as the removal of the paper by the operation of the operator is performed and it is confirmed by the print engine 13 that the printing operation is possible again,
Program RO through engine interface 12
A code notifying that printing is possible is transmitted from the print engine 13 to the engine control program stored in M6. The engine control program is
In accordance with this code, page data printing designated by the page buffer control program is started. When the page data stored in the save area is printed normally, the page
The value of the page count (page_cnt) is subtracted, and a series of printing operations are performed until the value of the page count (page_cnt) becomes zero while receiving the data again and generating the page data. .

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the third embodiment according to the present invention.

The print data transmitted from the host device 3 in FIG. 1 is sent to the RAM 1 through the bidirectional host interface 5 such as a scan interface (SCSI) interface.
Once stored in the buffer allocated in 0,
The command analysis program in the program ROM 6 analyzes the data and analyzes and executes the command, and the font R
The page data is created using the font data in OM7. This series of operations is continuously carried out until one page of data is completed, and after one page of data is completed, the engine control program in the program ROM 6 passes through the engine interface 12 , And sends a start command to the printer engine 13. The printer engine 13 which has received the activation command starts the printing operation after confirming whether the printing operation is possible.

If a state such as a paper jam that makes it impossible to continue printing occurs while the paper is being conveyed, the page buffer control program in the program ROM 6 stores one page of page data in the RAM 10. Store in the secured save area. After this, when the printer is started up, a count of 1 is added to the page count (page_cnt) variable which has been initialized to 0, and the host interface 5 receives the data again.
Through. Here, after the command is analyzed again, even if one page of data is created in a state in which printing is impossible due to paper jam or the like, the page data created next by the same sequence is used. Is also stored in the save area.

While this sequence is repeated, the state in which printing cannot be continued continues, and when the sum of the page data exceeds the capacity of the save area in the RAM 10, the page buffer control in the program ROM 6 is performed. If the program
The hard disk installed in the host device 3 is the destination for saving data.
To a host disk (external storage device of the host device) and to the host control program in the program ROM 6
Hand over the management right of the data.

When the printing cannot continue further, the page data generated subsequently is controlled by the host interface 14 (SC) under the control of the host control program.
It is stored in the save area of the hard disk 17 (external storage device) on the host through SI).

In the meantime, when the recovery work such as the removal of the paper by the operation of the operator is performed and it is confirmed by the print engine 13 that the printing operation is possible again,
Program RO through engine interface 12
A code notifying that printing is possible is transmitted from the print engine 13 to the engine control program stored in M6. The engine control program is
In accordance with this code, page data printing designated by the page buffer control program is started.

When all the page data stored in the save area of the RAM 10 is printed normally, the page buffer control program is stored in the hard disk on the host device side via the host control program. Printing is performed after transferring the page data to the RAM 10 and storing it. During this time,
Each time the page data stored in the save area is printed normally, the value of the page count (page_cnt) is decremented, and the page data is received again.
Data generation work while performing page generation (page
A series of printing operations is performed until the value of _cnt) becomes zero.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the sequence of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

The print data transmitted from the host device 3 of FIG. 1 is sent to the RAM 1 through the bidirectional host interface 5 such as a scan interface (SCSI) interface.
Once stored in the buffer allocated in 0,
The command analysis program in the program ROM 6 analyzes the data and analyzes and executes the command, and the font R
The page data is created using the font data in OM7. This series of operations is continuously carried out until one page of data is completed, and after one page of data is completed, the engine control program in the program ROM 6 passes through the engine interface 12 , And sends a start command to the printer engine 13. The printer engine 13 which has received the activation command starts the printing operation after confirming whether the printing operation is possible.

If a state such as a paper jam that makes it impossible to continue printing occurs while the paper is being conveyed, the page buffer control program in the program ROM 6 stores one page of page data in the RAM 10. Store in the secured save area. After this, when the printer is started up, a count of 1 is added to the page count (page_cnt) variable which has been initialized to 0, and the host interface 5 receives the data again.
Through. Here, after the command is analyzed again, even if one page of data is created in a state in which printing is impossible due to paper jam or the like, the page data created next by the same sequence is used. Is also stored in the save area.

While this sequence is repeated, the state in which printing cannot be continued continues, and when the sum of page data exceeds the capacity of the save area in the RAM 10 (page--
cnt> ram_cnt), the page buffer control program in the program ROM 6 moves the save destination of the next page data to the external storage device of the printer, and the program ROM
The management right of the page data is passed to the disk control program in the disk control program 6, and the generated page data is transferred to the disk interface 1 under the control of the disk control program.
4 to a hard disk 15 (external storage device).

Further, the state in which printing cannot be continued continues,
When the total sum of page data exceeds the capacity of the save area of the external storage device 15 installed in the printer (page_c
nt> ram_cnt + hd_cnt), the management right of the page data is transferred from the disk control program to the host control program, and then the generated page data is stored in the host interface 1 under the control of the host control program.
4 (SCSI) and is stored in the hard disk 17 (external storage device) attached to the host device.

In the meantime, when the recovery work such as the removal of the paper by the operation of the operator is performed and it is confirmed by the print engine 13 that the printing operation is possible again,
Program RO through engine interface 12
A code notifying that printing is possible is transmitted from the print engine 13 to the engine control program stored in M6. The engine control program is
In accordance with this code, page data printing designated by the page buffer control program is started.

First, when the page data stored in the save area in the RAM 10 is printed normally, then the save area on the hard disk 15 equipped with the printing device is changed to the save area. The stored page data is transferred to the save area of the RAM 10, printing is performed based on the data, and finally stored in the save area of the hard disk 17 equipped in the host machine. The printed page data is transferred and printed.

The value of the page count (page_cnt) is subtracted each time each printing is normally performed, and the page count (page_cnt) is received again while the data is received and the page data is generated. A series of printing operations are performed until the value of (page_cnt) becomes zero.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the printing operation becomes impossible due to paper jam, etc., the printing operation will not be stopped after the error is released without stopping the transmission of the data on the host device side and thus without generating the timeout error. It will be possible continuously.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention.
It is a chart.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention.
It is a chart.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention.
It is a chart.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the operation of the first embodiment according to the present invention.
It is a chart.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional printing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Printer 2 Printer Controller 3 Host Device 4 Operation Panel 5 Host Interface 6 Program ROM 7 Font ROM 8 Panel Interface 9 CPU (Control Device) 10 RAM 11 NV-RAM (Nonvolatile Memory) 12 Engine interface 13 Printer engine 14 Disk interface 15 Hard disk connected to printing device 16 Main power supply 17 Hard disk connected to host device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A host interface for receiving print data from a host device, means for analyzing the data received by the host interface, and analyzed data.
Means for expanding the page data based on the data, means for storing the page data information, detecting means for detecting the occurrence of paper jam, and detecting the occurrence of paper jam by the detecting means. A means for storing the page data generated later, a means for counting the total sum of the page data generated while the paper jam is continuing, and a count value by the counting means. A printing apparatus having a transmission unit that transmits a print command to a print control unit. 2. A means for storing page data generated after the occurrence of the paper jam is detected is provided on a RAM in the printer controller. The printing device described. 3. A means for storing page data generated after the occurrence of the paper jam is detected is provided in a RAM in the printer controller and an external storage device connected to the printing device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is provided. 4. A means for storing page data generated after the occurrence of the paper jam is detected is provided in a RAM in the printer controller and an external storage device connected to the host device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is provided. 5. A means for storing the page data generated after the occurrence of the paper jam is detected, a RAM in the printer controller, an external storage device connected to the printing device, and a host device. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is provided on an external storage device connected to the printer.