JPH08185293A - Printer and its print control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To stop a print sequence which is being executed if the operation of a disturbance on a printer device body is acknowledged and to print out print data through the stopped print sequence without any print defect by controlling the execution state of the print sequence on the basis of the setting state of a mode wherein the execution of the print sequence is stopped. CONSTITUTION: An emergency measure mode is selected on a panel 24. If a disturbance occurs to a printer 2 to slant the printer 2 at an angle where it is difficult to perform print processing and a sensor 23a detects the angle where a print error is generated, a control part 211 interrupts all data processes and holds the data in a page buffer 213 and a receiving buffer 212. Then information showing the printer is put back to a printable angle is obtained from the sensor 23a and a paper feed sensor 23c checks whether or not a form for printing is already fed from a paper feed part; when NO, paper is newly fed and the print processing is restarted from the data held in the paper buffer 213 to perform data processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing print data generated by analyzing print information input from a host computer and outputting the print data to a printer engine, and a print control method for the printing apparatus. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of printing apparatus, control for stopping the printing sequence by detecting the occurrence of disturbance action on the printing apparatus main body has not been executed.

[0003]

For this reason, conventionally, the printing sequence is continued even when the main body of the printing apparatus is affected by the disturbance, and the disturbance is not appropriately dealt with, so that the printing is not performed. There is a problem that valuable paper resources are unnecessarily consumed because all pages received continuously in disorder are output and reprinting is performed as a result.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to sixth inventions of the present invention is to detect the presence or absence of disturbance on the printer main body. By controlling the execution state of the print sequence based on the setting status of the mode that stops the execution of the print sequence, when the action of disturbance on the printer main body is recognized, the print sequence being executed is stopped and stopped. To provide a printing apparatus and a printing control method for the printing apparatus, which can output printing based on print data based on the printing sequence without causing print failure.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus which transfers print data generated by analyzing print information input from a host computer to a printer engine for printing. Detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an external action on the printing apparatus main body during execution of a predetermined printing sequence, and stopping the printing sequence for the printer engine when the detecting means detects the external action on the printing apparatus main body Stopping means, a setting means for setting a stop mode for validating or invalidating the stop of the printing sequence by the stopping means, the stop mode by the setting means is set to be valid, and the printing sequence is set by the stopping means. When stopped, the holding means for holding the print data in the print sequence and the detecting means When changed to the external action whether conditions there without the state state for printing apparatus main body, is provided with a control means for resuming the printing sequence for said print data held in said holding means.

The second aspect of the present invention is that the external action is
The printing apparatus main body is in a tilted state.

A third aspect of the present invention is provided with a feeding sensor for detecting the feeding state of the recording medium when the printing sequence is stopped by the stopping means, and the control means is provided when the feeding sensor stops the printing sequence. When the feeding of the recording medium is detected, after the fed recording medium is ejected from the main body of the printing apparatus, the printing sequence for the print data held by the holding means is restarted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the setting means is
It is provided in the operation unit on the main body of the printing apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the setting means is
It is provided on the host computer side and notifies the printing apparatus main body by a command indicating the set stop mode.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a print control method for a printing apparatus, wherein print data generated by analyzing print information input from a host computer is transferred to a printer engine for printing. A detecting step of detecting the presence or absence of an external action on the printing apparatus main body during execution of the printing sequence, and a stopping step of stopping the printing sequence for the printer engine when the external action on the printing apparatus main body is detected. A setting step for setting a stop mode for enabling or disabling the stop of the print sequence, a holding step for holding the print data in the print sequence in a storage medium, and an external action presence / absence state for the printing apparatus main body. For the print data held in the storage medium when the presence state changes to the absence state It is provided with a a resume step resuming the character sequence.

[0011]

In the first aspect of the invention, when the stop mode is effectively set by the setting means and the print sequence is stopped by the stop means, the print data in the print sequence is held by the holding means, When the presence / absence state of the external action on the printing apparatus main body by the detection unit changes from the presence state to the absence state, the control unit restarts the print sequence for the held print data, and the stopped print data and the subsequent print data. Can be normally output without causing print failure.

In the second aspect of the invention, the detecting means can detect the tilted state of the printing apparatus main body as an external action, surely recognize the printing failure due to the tilting, and stop the printing sequence.

In the third aspect of the invention, the control means discharges the fed recording medium from the printing apparatus main body when the feeding sensor detects the feeding of the recording medium when the printing sequence is stopped. After that, the print sequence for the print data held in the holding means is restarted, and the print sequence can be normally restarted when the influence of the disturbance disappears.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the stop mode can be set by the user by the setting means provided in the operation unit on the printing apparatus main body side.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the setting means provided on the host computer side allows the user to remotely set a command in the printing apparatus main body in the stop mode.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the presence or absence of an external action on the printing apparatus main body is detected by the detection unit during execution of the predetermined print sequence in the state where the stop mode for enabling or disabling the stop of the print sequence is set. Then, the print sequence for the printer engine is stopped, the print data in the stopped print sequence is held in the storage medium, and when the external action presence / absence state for the printing apparatus main body changes from the presence state to the absence state. The printing sequence for the print data held in the storage medium is restarted, and the process of normally outputting the stopped print data and the subsequent print data without causing a print failure can be executed in a programmable manner.

[0017]

1 is a block diagram showing the control arrangement of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 2 is a printing device (printer).
The printer 2 is connected to a host computer 1 that transmits print data and the like. The printer 2 includes a control board 21 that controls the printer engine, a printer engine 22, an angle sensor 23a, a temperature sensor 23b, and a paper feed sensor 23c. And a panel 24. The control board 21 includes a control unit 2 for controlling the entire printer.
11, and a reception buffer 21 for temporarily storing reception information
2 and a page buffer 213 for storing print data
And a data analysis unit 214 that analyzes print data.

Further, the control unit 211 has a CPU 211a.
And a ROM 211b for storing processing programs and the like and an auxiliary RAM 211c. The CPU 211a of the control unit 211 performs processing while using the RAM 211c according to the program stored in the ROM 211b.

In this embodiment, only the angle sensor 23a is provided as a sensor for detecting the occurrence of disturbance, but it may be constituted by a sensor for detecting vibration or both an angle sensor and a sensor for detecting vibration.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each means of the first to fifth inventions and their functions will be described below with reference to FIG.

A first aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus that transfers print data generated by analyzing print information input from the host computer 1 to a printer engine 22 to perform printing, during execution of a predetermined print sequence. Detecting means (angle sensor 23a) for detecting the presence or absence of an external action on the printing apparatus main body (printing apparatus 2), and printing on the printer engine 22 when the detecting means detects the external action on the printing apparatus main body. Stop means for stopping the sequence (by the CPU 211a), setting means for setting a stop mode for enabling or disabling the stop of the print sequence by the stop means, and a stop mode for enabling the stop mode by the setting means. And the print sequence is stopped by the stop means, the print sequence Holding means (RAM 211c) for holding the print data of No. 1 and printing of the print data held by the holding means when the presence / absence state of external action on the printing apparatus main body by the detection means changes from the presence state to the absence state. Control means for restarting the sequence (C
PU 211a executes the control program stored in the ROM 211b), the stop mode by the panel 24 is effectively set, and the CPU 211a
When the print sequence is stopped by, the print data in the print sequence is held in the RAM 211c,
When the presence / absence state of the external action on the printing apparatus 2 by the angle sensor 23a changes from the presence state to the absence state, the CP
The U211a restarts the print sequence for the held print data, and enables the stopped print data and the subsequent print data to be normally output without causing print failure.

The second aspect of the invention is to detect means (angle sensor 23
(a) externally detects the tilted state of the printing apparatus main body, reliably recognizes the printing failure due to the tilted, and can stop the printing sequence.

A third invention is provided with a feeding sensor for detecting the feeding state of the recording medium when the printing sequence is stopped by the stopping means (by the CPU 21a), and the control means is provided when the feeding sensor stops the printing sequence. When the feeding of the recording medium is detected, after the fed recording medium is ejected from the main body of the printing apparatus, the printing sequence for the print data held by the holding means is restarted, and the influence of the disturbance may occur. Allows the printing sequence to resume normally when it runs out.

In the fourth aspect of the invention, the user can set the stop mode by the setting means provided on the operation unit (panel 24) on the main body of the printing apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the setting mode provided on the host computer side allows the user to remotely set a command in the main body of the printing apparatus in the stop mode.

The print control method in the printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of the printing control method of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. In addition,
(1) to (7) show respective steps. This step is performed when print data is sent from the host computer 1 to the printer 2 and when a disturbance occurs in the printer 2.
It corresponds to the procedure for controlling the printout of print data.

In step (1), the emergency response mode is selected by the panel 24. In step (2), disturbance occurs in the printer 2 and the tilted state of the printer 2 becomes an angle at which printing is difficult, and in step (3),
When the sensor 23a detects the angle causing the printing error, the control unit 211 suspends any data processing and holds the data in the page buffer 213 and the reception buffer 212.

Then, in step (4), the state of step (3) is held until the sensor 23a obtains information indicating a normal installation angle at which printing can be resumed.

Next, in step (4), when the information indicating the printable angle is obtained from the sensor 23a,
In step (5), it is determined whether the paper has already been fed from a paper feed unit (not shown) for printing.
, And if NO, proceed to step (7) and beyond
If it is ES, in step (6), the fed paper is ejected to the outside of the machine, and in step (7), the paper is newly fed and printing is restarted from the held data in the page buffer 213. , Perform data processing.

Correspondence between the present embodiment and each step of the sixth invention and its action will be described below with reference to FIG.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a print control method for a printing apparatus, wherein print data generated by analyzing print information input from the host computer 1 is transferred to the printer engine 22 to perform printing, in a predetermined print sequence. During the execution, a detection step of detecting the presence or absence of an external action on the printing apparatus main body by the detection unit (step (2) in FIG. 2), and when the external action on the printing apparatus main body is detected, the printer engine is detected. A stop step for stopping the print sequence (step (3) in FIG. 2), a setting step for setting a stop mode for enabling or disabling the stop of the print sequence (step (1) in FIG. 2), and the print sequence A holding process (step (3) in FIG. 2) for holding the print data in the storage medium and the external action presence / absence state with respect to the printing apparatus main body are performed. And a restarting step (step (7) in FIG. 2) of restarting the print sequence for the print data held in the storage medium when the print state is changed from the dry state to the non-print state. A process for normally outputting subsequent print data without causing printing failure can be executed in a programmable manner.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view for explaining the configuration of a laser printer to which the present embodiment is applied, which is constructed so that a character pattern and a fixed form (form data) can be registered from a data source (not shown). .

In the figure, reference numeral 1000 denotes a laser beam printer (LBP) main body (hereinafter simply referred to as a main body),
Character information (character code) supplied from an external device, such as the host computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 or the like, which is connected to the outside, form information, a macro command, or the like is input and stored, and corresponding in accordance with the information. A character pattern, a form pattern, etc. are created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet, which is a recording medium. Reference numeral 1112 denotes an operation panel 1101 on which switches for operation and an LED display or an LCD display for displaying the status of the printer are arranged.
Is a printer control unit for controlling the entire LBP 1000 and analyzing character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit 1101 mainly converts character information into a video signal of a corresponding character pattern and outputs it to the laser driver 1102. The laser driver 1102 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1103, and the semiconductor laser 1 is driven according to an input video signal.
The laser beam 1104 emitted from 103 is switched on / off. As a result, a character pattern electrostatic latent image is formed on the electrostatic drum 1106. Reference numeral 1105 is a rotary polygon mirror.

This latent image is developed by a phenomenon unit 1107 around the electrostatic drum 1106 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet is the sheet cassette 11 mounted on the main body 1000.
No. 08 is accommodated in the apparatus and is taken into the apparatus by the sheet feeding roller 1109 and the conveying rollers 1110 and 1111 and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1106.

FIG. 4 is an external view for explaining the structure of a storage device to which the present invention can be applied, for example, the case of an inkjet recording device (IJRA).

In the figure, a spiral groove 5004 of a lead screw 5005 that rotates via driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 in association with forward and reverse rotations of a drive motor 5013.
The carriage HC that engages with is a pin (not shown)
And is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. An inkjet cartridge IJC is mounted on the carriage HC. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the carriage movement direction. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which confirm the existence of the lever 5006 of the carriage HC in this area,
It functions as home position detection means for switching the rotation direction of the drive motor 5013 and the like. 5016 is a cap member 5022 for capping the entire surface of the recording head.
Reference numeral 5015 is a suction means for sucking the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the opening 5023 in the cap. A cleaning blade 5017 can be moved in the front-rear direction by a member 5019. 5
Reference numeral 018 denotes a main body supporting plate, which is a cleaning blade 501.
7. Support the member 5019. Reference numeral 5012 denotes a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage HC, and is driven by the drive motor 50.
The movement of the driving force from 13 is controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching.

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are constructed so that desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage HC reaches the home position side area. It may be configured to perform a desired operation at the timing.

The present invention may be applied to either a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the printing sequence is automatically restarted when the angle sensor 23a detects that the printing apparatus main body has returned to the printable tilt state from the printing failure angle has been described. , Specify the disturbance according to the sensor type that has detected the disturbance, display the content as it is or on the panel of the printing apparatus or on the panel of the printing device, and notify the user of an instruction for restarting. You may comprise. Further, at that time, when it is detected from the notification that the status does not change to a resumable state within a predetermined time, the content is recorded in the nonvolatile RA.
It may be stored in M or the like, and the power supply to the printer engine or the like may be stopped, and control may be performed to shift to a so-called power save mode (sleep mode).

[0042]

As described above, the first aspect of the present invention
According to the invention, when the stop mode is effectively set by the setting means and the print sequence is stopped by the stop means, the print data in the print sequence is held by the holding means, and the print data is detected by the detecting means. When the external action presence / absence state on the printing apparatus main body changes from the presence state to the absence state, the control means restarts the print sequence for the held print data, so that the stopped print data and the subsequent print data are printed. It is possible to output normally without causing a defect.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the detecting means can detect the tilted state of the printing apparatus main body as an external action, reliably recognize the printing failure due to the tilting, and stop the printing sequence.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the control means controls the fed recording medium from the main body of the printing apparatus when the feeding sensor detects the feeding of the recording medium when the printing sequence is stopped. After the paper is discharged, the printing sequence for the print data held in the holding means is restarted,
The printing sequence at the time when the influence of the disturbance disappears can be normally restarted.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the user can set the stop mode by the setting means provided in the operation unit on the printing apparatus main body side.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the user can remotely set the stop mode command in the printing apparatus main body by the setting means provided on the host computer side.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the presence / absence of external action on the main body of the printing device is detected during execution of a predetermined print sequence with the stop mode for enabling or disabling the stop of the print sequence set. Then, the print sequence for the printer engine is stopped, the print data in the stopped print sequence is held in the storage medium, and the external action presence / absence state for the printing apparatus main body is changed from the presence state to the absence state. In this case, since the print sequence for the print data held in the storage medium is restarted, it is possible to programmatically execute the process of normally outputting the stopped print data and the subsequent print data without causing print failure. .

Therefore, when the action of the disturbance on the main body of the printing apparatus is recognized, the print sequence in execution is stopped, and the print based on the print data based on the stopped print sequence is output without causing print failure. There is an effect such as being able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a print control method for a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a laser printer to which this embodiment is applied.

FIG. 4 is an external view illustrating a configuration of a storage device to which the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer 2 Printer (Printing Device) 21 Control Board 22 Printer Engine 23a Angle Sensor 211a CPU

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus that transfers print data generated by analyzing print information input from a host computer to a printer engine for printing, and is external to the printing apparatus main body during execution of a predetermined print sequence. Detecting means for detecting the presence / absence of action, stopping means for stopping the printing sequence for the printer engine when the detecting means detects an external action for the main body of the printing apparatus, and stopping the printing sequence by the stopping means. Setting means for setting the stop mode to enable or disable,
When the stop mode is effectively set by the setting means and the print sequence is stopped by the stop means, a holding means for holding print data in the print sequence and an external device for the printing apparatus main body by the detecting means. A printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that restarts a print sequence for the print data held in the holding unit when the physical action presence / absence state changes from the presence state to the absence state. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external action is a tilted state of the printing apparatus main body. 3. A feeding sensor for detecting the feeding state of the recording medium when the printing sequence is stopped by the stopping means is provided, and the controlling means detects the feeding of the recording medium when the printing sensor is stopped. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: when the fed recording medium is ejected from the printing apparatus main body, the printing sequence for the print data held by the holding unit is restarted. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is provided in an operation unit on the printing apparatus main body side. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit is provided on the host computer side and notifies the printing apparatus main body by a command indicating the set stop mode. 6. A print control method for a printing apparatus, wherein print data generated by analyzing print information input from a host computer is transferred to a printer engine to perform printing, wherein the printing apparatus is executed during execution of a predetermined print sequence. A detection step of detecting the presence or absence of an external action on the main body by a detection unit, a stop step of stopping a print sequence for the printer engine when an external action on the printing apparatus main body is detected, and a stop of the print sequence. The setting step of setting the stop mode to be valid or invalid, the holding step of holding the print data in the print sequence in the storage medium, and the external action presence / absence state of the printing apparatus main body are changed from the presence state to the absence state. In this case, the print sequence for the print data held in the storage medium is restarted. A printing control method for a printing apparatus, comprising: an opening step.