JPH08118752A - Imaging processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent paper from being discharged to a purge tray when an imaging error is generated in the imaging processing method of a printer subjecting printing data to image development (imaging) at every page to perform printing. CONSTITUTION: The paper fed from a paper supply part is once stopped and, only when the imaging of a page to be printed on the paper is normally completed, the feed of the stopped paper is resumed. When the imaging (a-d) of all of pages is normally performed, the feed of papers A-D to the respective pages is resumed to perform printing. When the first imaging of a page 3 is not normally performed (c of x mark), the feed of the paper is not resumed. Since paper feed is not resumed when imaging is not normally performed, no paper is discharged to a purge tray. Therefore, paper is not wasted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method in a printer that prints print data provided from a host computer, a magnetic tape or the like, by printing (imaging) print contents of each page. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a print data processing unit and a printing unit of the printer as described above. In FIG. 6, 1 is a magnetic tape, 2 is a print data processing unit, 3 is a data input mechanism, 4 is a CPU (central processing unit), 5 is a user interface, 6 is a console, 7 is a memory, and 7-1 is an operating system. System, 7-2 is input data processing unit, 7-3 is printer / imager control unit, 7-4 is operator control unit, 8 is disk controller, 9 is disk unit, 10 is interface, 11 is imaging mechanism, 12 is Print memory, 13 is a printing unit, 14 is an interface, 1
5 is a video data receiving mechanism, 16 is a marking mechanism, 1
7 is a laser control mechanism, 18 is a paper conveyance control mechanism, 1
9 is a paper feeding unit, 20 is a resist stop unit, 21 is a stacker,
22 is a purge tray.

A host computer, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, an external line and the like can be considered as means for giving the print data, but here, the magnetic tape 1 is given. The data input from the magnetic tape 1 is stored in the disk unit 9 of the print data processing unit 2.
In addition to being stored once, a program used for processing is stored in advance. The program to be used is taken out from the disk unit 9 to the memory 7 at any time. The disk controller 8 is a disk unit 9
Controls the storage and retrieval of data to and from.

An operating system 7-1 drawn in the memory 7 indicates a portion in which the operating system taken out from the disk unit 9 is stored. Similarly, the input data processing unit 7-2 indicates a portion in which a program for performing the processing at the time of data input is stored, and the printer / imager control unit 7-3 performs the imaging processing of the input print data. , A portion in which a program for controlling the discharge of print paper is stored (this control operation is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The present invention will be described later with reference to a control method by this program. It is an improvement.). The operator control unit 7-4 is a portion of the console 6 connected through the user interface 5, in which a program related to control by the operator is stored.

The imaging mechanism 11 performs an imaging process on the input data taken out little by little from the disk unit 9 and sends it to the printing section 13 line by line. The print memory 12 is used during the imaging process. Data related to print contents (video data) is
The image signal is sent from the imaging mechanism 11 to the video data receiving mechanism 15, and a control signal related to a mechanical operation (eg, paper feeding operation) for printing the image data is sent from the interface 10 to the interface 14.

The marking mechanism 16 of the printing unit 13 is a mechanism relating to the photosensitive drum and peripheral devices (eg, developing, printing). The paper transport control mechanism 18 includes a paper feed unit 19, a resist stop unit 20, a stacker 21, a purge tray 22, and the like. Further, the video data received by the video data receiving mechanism 15 is the laser control mechanism 1.
The intensity of the laser beam sent to the photosensitive drum 7 is controlled to form a latent image according to the print data.

The outline of the operation is as follows. The print data processing unit 2 processes the print data from the magnetic tape 1 to generate dot data that constitutes the print content of the page,
Form one line at a time. The printing unit 13 forms the latent image by controlling the laser irradiation with the dot data sent from the print data processing unit 2. Then, the latent image is transferred to a sheet and developed or the like.

Next, the operation from the start to the end of printing will be described in detail. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the entire operation of the related art, and FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the imaging processing operation therein. First, FIG. 9 will be described.

(Overall Operation) Step 1 ... Examine whether there is data to be printed. This is checked by accessing the disk unit 9 which stores the input data. Steps 2, 3 ... Check whether the printing unit 13 is in the cycle up state (that is, the operating state), and if not, request the printing unit 13 to cycle up.

Step 4 ... When the printing unit 13 cycles up and makes a print preparation request to the print data processing unit 2, the imaging process of the data to be printed on each sheet is started one after another while shifting the time. To do. Details of the imaging process are shown in FIG. Step 5 ... When the imaging process for the last sheet is completed, a request to the print unit 13 to cycle down is issued (see Step 5 in FIG. 10), and it is checked whether or not the cycle is down due to the request.

Steps 6 and 7 ... If the imaging of all pages has been normally performed, the processing is terminated. If not, the processing of the next page is performed or the processing is stopped. Whether or not to do so is displayed on the console 6 and the operator is inquired. Step 8 ... If the instruction to process the next page is issued, the process returns to step 1, and if the instruction to cancel is issued, the process is ended.

(Imaging process) In step 4 of FIG. 9, the imaging process is performed for each page according to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 8 shows the processing steps of the imaging processing method by exemplifying the case of imaging the print data of four pages in total.
FIG. 8A shows the case where the imaging of all pages is normally performed, and FIG. 8B shows the case where the imaging of the third page is abnormal (when an imaging error occurs). The symbols in FIG. 8 have the following meanings. CU ... Cycle up (operating the printing unit 13) F ... Paper number determination and paper feed request SU ... Print resource setup and transfer to imaging mechanism (note that print resources are font files and form files) , Input data, graphic file, etc.) IM ... start of imaging end ... end of imaging CD ... cycle down (stop operation of printing unit 13) PG ... purge (discharge paper to purge tray 22) T ₁ 〜 T ₄ ... Imaging period for each page

The operation of the flowchart of FIG. 10 will be described below with reference to FIG. Step 1 ... When the "print preparation request" command to which the paper number is added is notified from the printing unit 13, the print data processing unit 2 requests the printing unit 13 to feed the paper (F). Step 2 ... Set up print resources and transfer them to the imaging mechanism 11 (SU). In other words, it is a process of preparing for imaging. In this case, if it takes more than a predetermined time due to complicated print contents, the fed paper is temporarily stopped by a resist stop unit (not shown).

Step 3 ... Imaging is performed by the imaging mechanism 11 (IM). Steps 4 and 5 ... If the imaging is normally performed over the entire page, the imaging is ended (end). Raster data (dot data) obtained by imaging is sent to the video data receiving mechanism 15 in scan line units. The paper is conveyed and printing is performed at the same timing. If the page is the final page, a cycle down request is issued to the printing unit 13. In addition, when the imaging of each page is normally performed, the imaging of pages 1 to 4 is
It is performed in the period of T _{1 to} T ₄ in FIG.

Step 6 ... The imaging mechanism 11 detects whether the imaging is normally performed and notifies the printer / imager controller 7-3. If it is not performed normally (imaging error has occurred), it is requested that the paper for that page be purged (discharged to the purge tray 22 in FIG. 6). Along with that
It also requires purging of paper for pages that follow it and for which paper feed has already started. For example, in FIG. 8B, since an abnormality has occurred in the imaging of page 3, not only the paper of page 3 but also the paper of page 4 for which the paper feeding has already started,
Request purging. In this case, imaging was normally performed only on pages 1 and 2 performed at T ₁ and T ₂ . Step 7 ... The print data processing unit 2 requests the printing unit 13 to cycle down (stop operation).

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between the control on the print data processing unit side and the operation on the IOT side in the conventional imaging processing method described above. If the print resource is set up and sent to the imaging mechanism 11 for a predetermined time or longer (if the print content of the page is complicated, it takes a long time), it is requested to temporarily stop the paper feeding. If it is once stopped, the feed is restarted at an appropriate timing with the progress of the imaging process, and the subsequent processing steps (latent image formation, transfer of latent image to paper, etc.) are performed.

As a conventional document relating to the above-mentioned imaging processing method, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-4
There are 8061 and 3-50107.

[0018]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

(Problem) However, in the above-described conventional imaging processing method, when an imaging error occurs, all the papers that have already started feeding (in other words, the papers pulled out to the paper transport path of the printing unit 13) are all Since it is purged, there is a problem that many sheets are wasted.

(Explanation of Problems) In the example shown in FIG. 8B, the paper whose feeding is started at the time when an error occurs in the imaging of the page 3 is the page 3
2 for 4 and these are purged. If the printing unit 13 has a higher speed function and an imaging error occurs when there are still many subsequent pages, the number of sheets pulled out to the sheet conveyance path becomes larger (eg, 10 sheets), Many of them are wasted because they are all purged.

It should be noted that the paper may be temporarily stopped after the feeding, but this is done when the content of the page to be imaged is complicated and it takes a predetermined time or more to transfer it to the imaging mechanism 11. ,
It was done regardless of whether the imaging was done correctly. Therefore, it does not contribute to saving paper when an imaging error occurs. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0021]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, in an imaging processing method in a printer comprising a print data processing unit and a printing unit, a first step of starting the feeding of the paper and the paper The second step of preparing for imaging of the page corresponding to the above, the third step of temporarily stopping the fed paper before the start of imaging, and the fourth step of executing imaging.
And the fifth step of selecting one of the predetermined countermeasures when an imaging error occurs, and restarting the stopped paper feed only when the imaging is normally completed. It was decided to include the sixth process.

[0022]

[Operation] Once the fed paper is stopped,
Only when the imaging of the page to be printed on the paper is completed normally, the feeding of the stopped paper is resumed. Therefore, even if an imaging error occurs, the paper is not discharged to the purge tray, and the paper is not wasted.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The hardware structure of a printer for carrying out the present invention is the same as that shown in FIG. In the present invention, the method of the imaging process performed by the program of the printer / imager control unit 7-3 is improved so that the paper is not wasted when an imaging error occurs. A feature of the present invention is that the fed paper is temporarily stopped on the way and the feeding is restarted when the imaging is normally performed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the imaging processing method of the present invention. a to d, t are imaged print data, and A to D, T are sheets for printing them.

FIG. 1A shows a case where imaging is normally performed, and FIGS. 1B to 1C show a case where an imaging error occurs. There are a total of 4 pages to be printed, and an example is given in which an error occurs during the imaging of the print data c of the third page (the imaging of c marked with x indicates that an error occurred. Showing imaging). There are three types of measures to be taken when an imaging error occurs,
(B) to (c) show them.

FIG. 1B shows a case where the print data c in which an imaging error has occurred is subsequently re-executed. No paper is fed for the imaging in error. The sheet C is supplied for the normally performed imaging.

FIG. 1C shows an error display message (for example, "error occurrence") that informs the occurrence of an error next to print data c in which an imaging error has occurred.
The case where imaging is performed and the image is printed is shown. The print data t for the error display phrase is prepared in advance, and it is called and imaged. The imaged t is transferred to the paper T. FIG. 1D shows print data c in which an imaging error has occurred.
As for, indicates the case where the processing is aborted without any treatment and the processing is skipped to the processing of the next page.

The operation (operation from the start to the end of printing) in the imaging processing method of the present invention is shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 4 shows the entire operation, and FIG. 5 shows the imaging processing operation. First, FIG. 4 will be described.

(Overall Operation) Step 1 ... Examine whether there is data to be printed. This is checked by accessing the disk unit 9 which stores the input data. Steps 2, 3 ... Check whether the printing unit 13 is in the cycle up state (that is, the operating state), and if not, request the printing unit 13 to cycle up.

Step 4 ... When the printing unit 13 cycles up and makes a print preparation request to the print data processing unit 2, the imaging process of the data to be printed on each sheet is shifted one after another, one after another. Start. Details of the imaging process are shown in FIG. Step 5: When the imaging process for the last sheet is completed, a request to the printing unit 13 to cycle down is issued (see Step 7 in FIG. 5), but it is checked whether or not the cycle is down due to the request. If yes, the process ends; otherwise, the process returns to step 4.

(Imaging Process) In step 4 of FIG. 4, the imaging process is performed for each page according to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 shows a processing process in the imaging processing method by exemplifying a case of printing four pages of print data in total. FIG. 3A shows the case where the imaging of all pages is normally performed, and FIG. 3B shows the case where the imaging is re-executed when the imaging of the third page is abnormal.
The symbols (CU, etc.) in FIG. 3 have the same meanings as in FIG. 8, and the meanings of F ₁ , F ₂ , and ST are as follows. F ₁ ... Paper number determination and paper feed request F ₂ ... Feed restart request for paper that was once stopped ST ... Temporary stop for paper that was fed

The operation of the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described below with reference to FIG. Step 1 ... When the "print preparation request" command to which the paper number is added is notified from the printing unit 13, the print data processing unit 2 requests the printing unit 13 to feed the paper (F). Step 2 ... Set up print resources and transfer them to the imaging mechanism 11 (SU). In other words, it is a process of preparing for imaging. Step 3 ... Stop the fed paper once. This is to advance the paper only when it is found that the imaging is performed normally and the paper is not wasted.

Step 4 ... Imaging is performed by the imaging mechanism 11 (IM). Steps 5 and 6 ... If imaging is normally performed over the entire page, a request is made to restart the paper feed that was once stopped (F ₂ ). Step 7 ... If the paper is the last page of paper, a cycle down request is issued to the printing unit 13. If all pages are imaged normally, pages 1 to 4
The imaging up to is performed during the period of T _{1 to} T ₄ in FIG.

Step 8: If the imaging is not normally performed, a display for inquiring the operator which one of the following paths to take is displayed on the console 6. Whether to re-execute imaging, print error display, skip, or cancel the entire imaging process (abort)

Step 9: Step 4 when re-executing
Return to and perform another imaging of the same page. FIG. 3B shows a case where the imaging of page 3 is re-executed. “T ₃ (abnormal)” is an imaging period when there is an abnormality, and “T ₃ (normal)” is an imaging period in which imaging is normally performed. Step 10 ... If error display printing is to be performed, the process returns to Step 2 to prepare printer data prepared for error display. Step 11 ... If the processing on the next page is skipped, the process proceeds to step 7. Step 12: When the entire imaging process is stopped (abort), the printing unit 13 is requested to cycle down.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between the print data processing unit side control and the IOT side operation in the above-described imaging processing method of the present invention. As can be seen by comparing with the conventional case of FIG. 7, the following points are different. After setting up print resources and sending them to the imaging mechanism 11, be sure to stop the fed paper once. Restart the paper feeding only when the imaging is completed normally. Stop the processing when an imaging error occurs, etc. In addition, the point that three types of measures can be taken

[0037]

As described above, according to the imaging processing method of the present invention, the fed paper is temporarily stopped, and is stopped only when the imaging of the page to be printed on the paper is normally completed. Since the feeding of the previously used paper is restarted, the paper is not discharged to the purge tray even if an imaging error occurs, and is not wasted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an imaging processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a print data processing unit side control and I according to the present invention.
The figure explaining the correspondence with OT side operation

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing process in an imaging processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the overall operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an imaging processing operation of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a print data processing unit and a printing unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between print data processing unit side control and IOT side operation in a conventional imaging processing method.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing process in a conventional imaging processing method.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional overall operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional imaging processing operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Magnetic tape, 2 ... Print data processing unit, 3 ... Data input mechanism, 4 ... CPU, 5 ... User interface, 6 ... Console, 7 ... Memory, 7-1 ... Operating system, 7-2 ... Input data processing unit , 7-3 ...
Printer / imager control unit, 7-4 ... Operator control unit, 8 ... Disk controller, 9 ... Disk unit, 10 ... Interface, 11 ... Imaging mechanism, 12 ... Print memory, 13 ... Printing unit, 14 ... Interface, 15 ... Video Data receiving mechanism, 16 ... Marking mechanism, 17 ... Laser control mechanism, 18 ... Paper transport control mechanism, 19 ... Paper feed section, 20 ... Register stop section,
21 ... Stacker, 22 ... Purge tray

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method of imaging in a printer comprising a print data processing section and a printing section, comprising a first step of starting feeding of a sheet and a second step of preparing for imaging of a page corresponding to the sheet. , One of a third process of temporarily stopping the fed paper before the start of imaging, a fourth process of performing imaging, and a predetermined countermeasure when an imaging error occurs. And a sixth step of restarting the feeding of the stopped paper only when the imaging is normally completed.