JPH08204926A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable printing without stopping an entire operation while using remaining normal memories even when a part of an image is omitted by reporting that any abnormality is detected at the image memories of plural banks for storing image data to be printed, at the time of detection. CONSTITUTION: A processing part 41 controls the entire device and while using an image memory 44 divided into eight banks and a line buffer memory 45 for storing image data for two lines, the image data are stored. In setting modes A, B and C, 1st, 4th and 8th banks are required, when a detecting means detects memory abnormality at any bank, that bank can not be used any more and it is reported on a display part 48 or the like. Therefore, the use of the mode to disable setting is inhibited and at the time of setting not to inhibit the use in error generation, the use is preferentially started from the bank at a low defect rate. Thus, the operation of the entire device is not stopped by the abnormality at the memory 44 but the remaining normal memories are used and even when a part of the image is omitted, that image can be printed.

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 an image by superimposing a partial image on a recording paper surface by an electrostatic recording method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording paper by an electrostatic recording method.

According to the data input format, the conventional printing apparatus has (1) an input format for performing full color printing by sequentially and repeatedly receiving and printing data for one color, and (2) a different number of colors. A device that prints minute data,
For example, in a device that prints data of four colors of CMYK, the printing operation is started after receiving data for all colors. For example, an input format in which data for four colors is first received and then printing is started. And,

Further, in a conventional color printing apparatus of a type which outputs one pixel in binary with ON and OFF, some kind of gradation expression such as dither method is required for full color printing. As for type input format,
(A) An input format for receiving data of a type in which a gradation is expressed by a plurality of bits for one pixel, and (b) 1-bit data for one pixel (that has been previously dither-converted)
The input format that receives the data of the type that expresses the gradation is classified into a printing device.

[0005]

However, between the above-mentioned printing devices (1) and (2), one data input type device cannot receive the other data input type device. Therefore, it is not possible to print, and it is necessary for the host computer to match the data transfer method with the printing device.

Between the above-mentioned printers (a) and (b),
A device corresponding to one data input format could not receive the other data. Therefore, it is impossible to print, and it is necessary to adapt the data transfer method to the printing device on the host computer side. Further, in recent years, various types of printing apparatuses having a self-diagnosis function have been increasing. This feature is very user friendly. However, once something abnormal is detected, the device stops,
It may not be able to operate unless it accepts any input or instructions and repairs. Therefore, even if you can do it without using the faulty part, it will not work,
Depending on the situation, it may be difficult to handle.

For example, in the conventional printing apparatus, when a part of the image memory fails, it is notified as a memory error, does not accept an input or an instruction, and cannot operate. Normal,
If a memory error occurs, a service call will be made and it will take time to repair. In this case, the user may urgently print out the printout and may have some defects. Even if the user wants to temporarily operate the printing apparatus, the printout cannot be used.

In other words, if the failure location is simply a part of the memory, for example, even if half of the memory fails and only half of the printed image can be obtained, that half of the image may be sufficient. For the user, even if half of the image cannot be printed at all,
Much more useful.

Therefore, the present invention provides a printing apparatus which does not prohibit the entire operation even if a memory abnormality occurs, notifies the abnormal state, and prints out using the remaining normal memory area. To aim.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories and printed. An image memory means for storing image data, a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color of an image for the bank memory of the image memory means, Two or more modes of the second mode in which the bank memory is used as a data area for one image and the third mode in which a plurality of bank memories are used as a data area for one image color are combined, and each mode is combined. Using the required number of bank memories, select the mode setting means for storing as print data of a specific size and the mode set in the mode setting means. A mode selecting means for reading image data based on the mode from a bank memory of the image memory means; a printing means for printing a color image from the image data selected by the mode selecting means and read from the image memory means; The presence / absence of an abnormality in each bank memory of the memory means is detected, the bank memory in which the abnormality has occurred is disabled, and when a mode in which the bank memory in which the abnormality has occurred cannot be formed occurs, the use of the mode that cannot be formed is prohibited. There is provided a printing apparatus having a memory check unit for prohibiting, which does not stop the apparatus when the bank memory of the image memory unit is abnormal and prints even when a part of an image to be formed is missing.

[0011]

The printing apparatus having the above-described structure has a plurality of bank memories each having a predetermined capacity, and one bank memory is one.
At least two of a mode using a color memory data area, a mode using a bank memory of the number of colors as a data area for one image, and a mode using a plurality of bank memories as a data area for one color A mode in which full-color printing is repeated by repeating operations of storing modes in combination and receiving data for one color as the mode selected by the mode selection unit to print and then receiving and printing data for the next color. In the case of the type, the first and third modes are selected and, for example, the number of colors of the image is CMY.
In the case of the second type in which the data of four colors of K is printed, and the data of four colors is first received and then the printing operation is started, the second mode is selected, and any type is selected. Correspond.

Further, for the data which receives the data of the type in which the gradation is expressed by a plurality of bits for one pixel, either the first mode or the second mode is selected, and the one bit for one pixel is selected. The third mode is selected and supported for the data (data that has been subjected to dither conversion or the like in advance) that receives the data of the type expressing the gradation.

If some or all of the predetermined number of bank memories, but not all, fail, the bank is disabled and each of the first to third modes is disabled. When the required number of banks is insufficient, it is prohibited to use only the insufficient mode.

Further, when the image memory is checked and an abnormality is found in the bank memory, or when an abnormality is found in the bank memory, after notifying, the printing operation is not prohibited,
Printing is performed even if a part of the image memory is abnormal, and the image corresponding to the abnormal memory is abnormally printed, but the image of the other part is normally printed.

[0015]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of an embodiment of the printing apparatus according to the present invention. This printing device is, for example, a color printing device using an electrostatic recording method. The printing apparatus is roughly divided into an engine unit 1 that records a color image on a recording medium by an electrostatic recording method, and a recording control unit 2 that controls the engine unit 1. The engine unit 1 receives image data processed by a personal computer or the like via a SCSI I / F and prints it on a recording medium.

First, in the engine section 1, an electrostatic recording paper roll 3 having a recording paper 4 wound around the outer circumference of a paper tube is used as a recording medium. In the embodiment, the mounting position of the electrostatic recording paper roll 3 is provided at the end of the apparatus main body so that the paper can be easily fed.

A guide roller 5 for sending out the recording paper 4 is arranged near the mounting position of the electrostatic recording paper roll 3, and a recording paper feed roller 6 is arranged downstream of the roller 5. It is set up. A guide roller 7 is provided downstream of the recording paper feed roller 6, and a take-up roller 8 is further provided downstream thereof, and the end portion of the recording paper 4 passes through the roller 5 to the recording paper feed roller 6. Is led. The recording paper feed roller 6 is rotationally driven and controlled by a motor controlled by the image forming control unit 9, for example, a pulse motor M, and the recording paper 4 is conveyed.

A recording system and a developing system are installed between the roller 5 and the recording paper feed roller 6, and the recording paper feed roller 6 is provided.
A recording paper winding system and a cutting system are arranged on the downstream side of. Therefore, the end portion of the recording paper 4 passes through the roller 5 and the recording system,
It is led to a developing system, a recording paper winding system, and a cutting system.

The recording system is composed of an electrostatic recording head (for example, a multi-stylus electrostatic recording head) 10, and the electrostatic recording head 10 moves the recording paper 4 in contact with the head surface (the upper surface in the figure). An electrostatic latent image is formed on. The electrostatic recording head 10 has a rectangular head surface so as to traverse the recording paper conveyance path, and forms a latent image line by line in the transverse direction of the recording paper surface in contact with the head end surface.

Therefore, when the transverse direction is the main scanning direction and the conveying direction of the recording paper 4 is the sub-scanning direction, a latent image is drawn line by line by the main scanning, and when the drawing is completed, the recording paper 4 is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The latent image at the line position is sequentially drawn by moving to the next drawing line position, and as a result, the latent image is drawn. That is, the electrostatic recording head 10 draws a latent image by receiving the data of the image to be printed converted into the raster data of the line unit in the line unit.

Next, an optical mark reading head 11 is arranged between the electrostatic recording head 10 and the vicinity of the guide roller 5 on the downstream side. This mark reading head 11
Reads a marking 12 for recording position control, which will be described later, recorded on the recording paper 4, and at the same time, reads an edge 13 of the recording paper 4.
a, 13b are read, for example, CCD (c
charge coupled device) linear
An image sensor (solid-state line image sensor) is used. The optical mark reading head 11 has a one-dimensional position resolution, and can identify what position and what kind of radiation mark is detected on the recording paper from the detected image sensor output signal.

In this embodiment, this mark reading head 1 is used.
The output signal 1 is sent to the image forming control unit 9 to control the timing of latent image formation. Therefore, the recording paper 4
3, the recording position control is performed in a rectangular shape of a predetermined size at a predetermined interval along the edge of the recording paper 4 in the vicinity of one edge 13a side on the recording surface and in the area outside the recording area as shown in FIG. The marking 12 for recording is recorded together with the image of the first color when recording the first color, and is read each time when recording the image of the second color and thereafter, and is used for position correction and scale correction.

Developing head 1 constituting the above-mentioned developing system
Liquid developers of different colors are supplied to 4, 15, 16 and 17, and the electrostatic latent images on the recording paper are developed with the liquid developers. In this embodiment, four developing heads (K
(Black), C (cyan), M (magenta)
And Y (for yellow) are arranged side by side.

These developing heads 14 to 17 sequentially move up and down in synchronization with each reciprocating operation when a color image is formed while reciprocating the recording paper 4 a plurality of times, as will be described later, and a predetermined amount of movement is performed. A color image is to be produced, and when one developing head is in contact with the recording paper 4,
The other developing heads are retracted from the recording paper 4, and the development is performed one color at a time.

Then, between the developing heads 14 to 17 and the recording paper feed roller 6, a developing solution sucking roller 18 for sucking and removing excess developing solution excessively attached on the recording paper 4 by the developing head. Is provided.

A pressing roller 19 is arranged in pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the recording paper feed roller 6, and the recording paper 4 is suitably sandwiched between the pressing roller 19 and the recording paper feed roller 6, and the M motor The recording paper 4 is fed by the rotation.

A guide plate 20 curved in an arc is attached to the recording paper feed roller 6, and the leading end of the recording paper 4 is fed between the recording paper feed roller 6 and the guide plate 20. The pressing roller 19
The recording paper 4 can be sandwiched between the recording paper feeding roller 6 and the recording paper feeding roller 6.

Further, the guide roller 7 is provided with a guide roller 21 paired with the guide roller 7. A pair of recording paper guide guide plates 22 are provided on the exit side of the recording paper feed roller 6.
Is arranged, and a pair of guide plates 23 is arranged on the upstream side thereof so as to be opened between the guide rollers 7 and 21, and the recording paper 4 fed from the recording paper feeding roller 6 is The recording paper lead-out guide plate 22 is sent out to a guide plate 23, guided by the guide plates 23, and guided between the guide rollers 7 and 21.

On the downstream side of the guide rollers 7 and 21, a Y cutter 24 for cutting the recording paper in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper feed direction and a recording paper cut in a direction parallel to the recording paper feed direction. An X cutter 25 is provided.

Further, the guide roller 7 and the guide roller 2
1, a recording paper path switching guide lever 26 for switching the path of the recording paper 4 is provided, and its base end is pin 2
It is rotatably supported by 7. The recording paper path switching guide lever 26 is provided on the guide rollers 7, 21.
The leading end of the recording paper 4 nipped and fed by the guide is switched between the direction of the automatic sheet winding device 28 and the direction of the Y cutter 24 and the X cutter 25.

When the recording paper 4 is guided to the Y cutter 24 and the X cutter 25 by the recording path switching guide lever 26, it is guided so that the guided recording paper 4 is guided to the Y cutter 24 and the X cutter 25. The rollers 29, 30 and the guide plate 31 are arranged, and further the Y cutter 2
4, a guide plate 32 and a pair of guide rollers 3 for sending the recording paper 4 cut by the X cutter 25 to the outside.
3, 34 are arranged.

The recording paper automatic winding device 28
Is a winding roller 8, a pressure contact roller 36 having a peripheral surface in contact with the winding roller 8, and the recording paper 4 guided and fed by the recording paper path switching guide lever 26 along the peripheral surface of the winding roller 8. It is constituted by a guide plate 35 which guides and guides it between the pressure contact roller 36. With this configuration, the recording paper 4 guided and fed by the recording paper path switching guide lever 26 can be automatically wound around the winding roller 8.

The guide roller 5, the take-up roller 8, the recording paper feed roller 6, the guide rollers 7 and 2 are provided.
When the recording paper 4 is fed for recording or the like, 1 is rotated in the normal direction, and at this time, the electrostatic recording paper roll 3 is slowly rotated in the normal direction by an appropriate force in order to apply tension to the recording paper 4. Gives the moment of rotation.

In the case of rewinding, the electrostatic recording paper roll 3 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the guide roller 5, the take-up roller 8, the recording paper feed roller 6, and the guide rollers 7 and 21 are tensioned to the recording paper 4. In order to give, a slow reverse rotation is applied with an appropriate force, or a forward rotation moment is applied.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the recording control unit 2 described above, and will be described.

This recording control unit 2 sets a processing unit 41 for performing overall control of the entire recording control unit, a number setting unit 42 for setting the number of image forming processes, and a recording color for each number of image forming processes. A recording color setting section 43, an image memory 44 for storing image data composed of 32 megabytes DARM divided into, for example, eight banks, and a line for storing the image data converted into raster data in line units. A buffer memory 45, a density pattern conversion circuit 46 for converting the density of the image data in units of lines to an appropriate level, an external host computer or personal computer for generating the image data, and an SC, for example.
It is composed of an SCSII / F control unit 47 for connecting to the SI I / F and a display unit 48 for displaying warnings and various displays. Further, the type of I / F is not limited.

The processing section 41 includes a CPU and a memory (RO
M, RAM), DMA, address decoder, I / O circuit and the like. The SCSI I / F control unit 47 communicates with the host computer by the SCSI method based on the control signal of the processing unit, and transfers / receives data and commands / transfers to / from an external host computer. Be done.

The processing section 41 can be provided outside and can be replaced by a personal computer. When the processing unit 41 is provided in the device, the SCS
Only the I / F cable comes out, so it is refreshing. On the other hand, since the SCSI I / F cable cannot be taken out of the device for a long time, the installation place of the host computer is limited.

On the other hand, when the processing section 41 is installed outside the apparatus,
The length of the local I / F cable and the SCSII / F cable corresponds to the host computer installation range, and the restrictions on the installation conditions are eased, but the installation location of the processing unit 41 is required.

The line buffer memory 45 is composed of a bidirectional RAM for two lines (1762 bytes × 2). If the memory for one line is the memory 1 and the other memory is the memory 2, the image memory 44 to
While writing the data for one line, the data for one line is read from the memory 2 to the density pattern conversion circuit 46, which will be described later, and when the operation is completed, this time, the data is written to the memory 2 and read from the memory 1. . The above operation is alternately repeated.

The control circuit 1 is controlled by the processing unit 41, and controls the transfer of 1762 bytes of data from the image memory 44 to the memories 1 and 2 of the line buffer memory 45 as described above. .

Further, the control circuit 2 is controlled by the processing unit 41, and as described above, the line buffer memory 176 is used.
The transfer of 2 bytes of data to the density pattern conversion circuit 46 is controlled.

The image data from the host computer is received by the SCSI I / F control unit 47 and temporarily stored in the image memory 44. When a command is received, it is transferred to the processing unit 41.

The image data read line by line from the image memory 44 is temporarily held in the line buffer memory and further transferred to the engine unit 1 when it is transferred to the engine unit 1.
The following density pattern conversion is performed via the density pattern conversion circuit 46.

(1) The data is subjected to density pattern conversion by a predetermined density pattern conversion table stored in the ROM.

(2) Density pattern conversion is performed on the data according to a predetermined density pattern conversion table stored in the RAM.

(3) Nothing is converted.

It is possible to select three types. The set value of the density pattern conversion table is a value empirically obtained by outputting various patterns in advance. This selection is made from the input panel of the apparatus of the embodiment (not shown) or by an instruction by a command from the host computer. Further, the DMA in the processing unit 1 stores the image data received from the host computer in the image memory 44 or transfers the image data from the image memory 44 to the line buffer memory 45.

The printing apparatus of this embodiment is compatible with two types of data. For one of the data types, 1 byte of input data is 1 PI of 1 color of output image.
This is a case corresponding to XEL, and this device has 8 bits x 8
The density pattern is converted into binary data of bit (64 PIXEL). At that time, conversion is performed based on the table (1) or (2). Hereinafter, this method is referred to as "8x8 conversion method".

The other data type is 1 bit of data.
Corresponds to 1 PIXEL of one color of the output image, this apparatus treats it as the output data without any conversion. This corresponds to the above (3). Hereinafter, this method will be referred to as "1 x 1".
Conversion method ".

The engine unit 1 and the recording control unit 2 described above are local I / Fs which are composed of serial communication for bidirectional communication of commands and information and parallel communication for transferring data from the recording control 2 to the engine unit 1. Connected by. Transfer of image data for printing is transmitted from the recording control unit 2 to the engine unit 1 by serial communication, and other control data is transferred by parallel communication. In serial communication, various other information is transmitted in addition to this, but since it is not directly related to the gist, its description is omitted here.

In the “1 × 1 conversion method”, the line buffer memory 45 is read once, but in the “8 × 8 conversion method”, the line buffer memory 45 is read eight times. Controlled.

In the “8 × 8 conversion method”, as described above, each PIXEL data of each color is converted into 8 × 8 binary data, and there are the following four conversion methods.

(1) The host computer performs γ correction in advance, and this apparatus linearly converts the density pattern of the input data.

(2) The ROM has a conversion table for γ correction, and γ correction is performed based on the data.

(3) Receive γ correction data from the host computer and perform γ correction based on the data. The data is input to the non-volatile memory.

(4) There is a concentration measuring means in the present apparatus, and the measured value is subjected to a predetermined calculation to calculate the γ correction data,
Γ correction is performed based on the data. The data is input to the volatile memory or the non-volatile memory in a table format.

The image memory will be described in more detail.

The image memory has a capacity of about 32 MB.
In the case of a RAM, for example, 4 megabytes are divided into one bank into eight banks, and in the “8 × 8 conversion method”, one bank can store image data of one color of A0 size, In the “× 1 conversion method”, the image data for one color can be stored in A0 size by using all the eight banks.

First, data of K color (hereinafter, K color is black, C color is cyan color, M color is magenta color, and Y color is yellow color) is transferred from an external host computer.
This data is taken into the bank 1 of the image memory 44. A
In the 0 size, the data for one color is 1762 x 2340 bytes, and the data for bank 1 is 1762 x 2340 bytes.
When the byte acquisition is completed, (1) Parameter N is set to 1.

(2) 1 byte is taken out.

(3) The density pattern conversion circuit converts the density pattern.

(4) Write the converted 1-byte data to the line buffer.

(5) The above steps (2) to (4) are repeated 1762 times. Increment the parameter N.

(6) The above (2) to (5) are repeated 8 times.

(7) The above steps (1) to (6) are repeated 2340 times.

By such an operation, the image data is transferred to the engine section.

As an example of the input data, the input data in the density pattern conversion circuit will be described. here,
The output is 1 byte of data.

Ditehe matrix (i, j) = {f0, d0, a0,60,9c, cc, ec, fc, d4, a4,64,30,5c, 98, c8, e8, a8,68,34,10,2c, 58, 94, c4, 6c, 38, 14,00, 0c, 28, 54, 90, 70, 3c, 18, 04, 08, 24, 50, 8c, ac, 74, 40, 1c, 20, 4c, 88, c0, d8, b0,78,44,48,84, bc, e4, f4, dc, b4,7c, 80, b8, e0, f8} Such a density pattern matrix is compared with the input data. When the input parameter is N, the N rows of data are compared with the input data. When the input data is larger than the value of the density pattern matrix, it is "1", and when it is smaller, it is "0". Then, the result of the j-th column is the output data 1
It is the j-th bit counted from the LSB of the byte (N, i, j take values from 0 to 7).

For example, when the parameter N = 1 input data = 6a, 6a <d4-> 0 6a <a4-> 0 6a>64-> 1 6a>30-> 1 6a <5c-> 1 6a> 98- > 0 6a <c8-> 0 6a <e8-> 0, Get.

In this embodiment, the capacity of the standard mounting memory is 4
It is Mbyte. 4Mbyte as an option
It is possible to easily increase by 32 Mbytes at the maximum. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the initialization is performed after the power is turned on and the memory is checked.

In order to speed up the determination process of the capacity of the standard mounted memory, first write 55h to the first byte of each bank, read the same address and read 55h, the memory is mounted in that bank. It is determined that
Next, in a bank determined to have a storage capacity, WRITE / of 55h is performed over all 4M bytes.
READ check, then AAh WRITE / REA
A D check is performed, and a bank having no error is determined as the mounting memory.

In this embodiment, three types of modes are set: a mode in which printing is possible with one bank (A), a mode in which four banks are required (B), and a mode in which eight banks are required (C). When a memory error occurs in some banks, an executable mode will appear depending on the number of valid banks. In that case, the host computer is notified that the mode cannot be executed, and execution of the mode is prohibited. For example, when an error occurs in 2 out of 8 banks, execution of mode (C) is prohibited. Further, the mounted memory bank number can be set, and the user can select whether to prohibit the execution of the mode.

Therefore, if the execution of the mode is not prohibited, the abnormal memory is used depending on the selected mode. However, when an abnormality is found in the memory, a warning message indicating that a memory error has occurred is displayed on the display unit 48, the screen of the host computer, etc., and the user is notified.

As a method, by memory check,
The memory defective rate of each bank is also checked, and the display unit 48 displays whether or not defective banks and defective rates (unit:%) have occurred. In addition, the occurrence of memory failure, defective bank, and defective rate are reported to the host computer.

When the image memory 44 is normal, all the modes (A), (B) and (C) are in banks 1, 2, 3 ,.
8 are used in order, but when it is set so that the use is not prohibited when a memory error occurs, the bank having the lowest memory defect rate is used first.

For example, if two banks are defective and bank 1 is 3% defective and bank 5 is 20% defective, the order of use is banks 2, 3, 4,
It becomes 6, 7, 8, 1, and 5.

In this embodiment, in order to further improve the image quality, a mode for inputting binarized data in the host computer is provided. As a use of this mode, for example, a case of printing image-processed data by an error diffusion method can be considered.

As a method, banks 1 to 8 are treated as data of the A0 drawing, and the data is directly sent to the engine unit 1 without passing through the density pattern conversion circuit 46.

It is also possible to print a long drawing exceeding A0. In this case, in the mode (A), the density pattern conversion circuit 46 is used, one bank of the image memory 44 is treated as data of A0 drawing, and banks 1 to 8 are used, so that a maximum of eight times A0 is obtained. You can print up to the size. Further, in the mode (B), it is possible to print up to twice the size. In addition, the printing apparatus of this embodiment includes a Y cutter 2
4 and X cutter 25, A4, A3, A2, A1, A
Various sizes of 0 can be cut out.

Therefore, if a maximum size of eight times A0 is printed, and if the size is A4, 128 sheets can be printed at one time.

Further, this device has a mode in which the contents of a plurality of bank memories are ORed and output simultaneously.
For example, bank 1 has image data, bank 2 has company name logo data, and bank 3 has image edging (for example, frame image) data, and these data are simultaneously read out to the OR circuit. The output is sent to the engine unit 1.

This setting is possible in modes (A) and (B). Further, if the image memory 44 is further expanded from 32 Mbytes, the mode (C) is also possible.

Further, the engine unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 of the present embodiment.
The operation of is divided into 3 minutes for printing, 2 minutes for post-printing processing, and 2 minutes for post-printing discharge processing. On the other hand, the host computer analyzes the image file, processes the image data for 10 seconds, and decomposes the 33 seconds / color image data into each color data.

It took 15 seconds / color to transfer each color data to this apparatus. Of course, these processing speeds are examples by design.

The data processing procedure is as follows. The processes described in parallel mean that the printing device and the external host computer perform the processes independently. This method can be used in modes (A) and (C).

K color K color K color C color K color C color C color M color C color M color M color Y color M color Y color Y color'Y color Now, the processing time is>,> As the sum of ′. As a result, in the present embodiment, it depends on the processing time of the host computer until the K color data is received.
It can be seen that after the K color printing operation is started, it does not depend on the processing time of the host computer thereafter. This is a result of the recent increase in the processing speed of personal computers.

However, when a low-speed computer or a computer of a type that performs multitask processing spends time on other jobs, it is conceivable that the relations of>and> are reversed. Even in that case, the apparatus is in a standby state until the processing after the processing is completed and the printing time is extended, but the printing can be normally performed. In addition, normally, when switching from to a drive motor,
Although the power supply to the paper feed motor is still performed, the power supply to the drive motor and the paper feed motor of the printing apparatus is interrupted in this standby state.

In addition, there may be a case where the standby state is too long. For example, if the environment is highly humid, wrinkles are likely to occur on the recording paper. Therefore, it is possible to transfer the data of four colors to the four banks first, and then start printing. In that case, the procedure is as follows. This method is used in mode (B). In this case, in the present embodiment, printing can be performed without depending on the processing speed of the host computer, so that problems such as paper wrinkles can be avoided.

K color K color C color C color M color M color Y color Y color K color K color C color C color M color M color Y color ′ Y color Mode (A) and mode (B) can be selected as means. ,
(1) Selection by instructions from the host computer,
(2) Selection from the panel of the printing device, (3) Automatic selection,
There are three methods.

(1) The instruction from the host computer is given by a command via the SCSI I / F.

As the selection from the above (2) panel, liquid crystal display on the panel is selected.

The above (3) automatic selection is as follows.

A. First, the host computer notifies the start of operation of K color.

B. This device measures the time from that point until the end of K color.

C. If the time + does not exceed +, the mode (A) is selected. If the time + does not exceed +, the mode (B) is selected.

In addition, the present embodiment is provided with the medium speed high image quality mode in addition to the normal high speed mode, and the mode can be switched by the host computer. The high image quality mode increases the application time of the electrostatic head to the recording paper,
An image with high density can be obtained by increasing the charge amount of the image on the recording paper and increasing the developing power. This selection is similarly set by three methods: selection by an instruction from the host computer, selection from the panel of this apparatus, and automatic selection.

In this automatic selection, a. First, the host computer notifies the start of operation of K color.

B. This device measures the time from that point until the end of K color.

C. If the time + exceeds +, the high image quality mode can be automatically selected.

In this embodiment, when it is desired to print the next image in the host computer during the processing of Y color and Y color, the K color data of that data can be accepted. As a result, when printing the second and subsequent images, the apparatus waited for the following processing time by the host computer before starting printing the first sheet.
The waiting time is apparently shortened.

K color K color When various troubles such as a jam occur, printing may not be normally completed. In that case, the jam recovery cannot be performed in the mode (C) (however, although the cost is increased, it is possible if the image memory is set to 8 times 32 Mbytes). However, in modes (A) and (B), jam recovery is performed as follows.

In modes (A) and (B), a. If banks 1 to 4 are group 1 and banks 5 to 8 are group 2, all data sent from the host computer is retained by alternately using group 1 and group 2, so when trouble occurs After removing the cause, the process can be restarted from K color data processing.

Next, the handshake between the external host computer and the printing apparatus will be described.

On the host computer side: a. The printer is inquired about the status periodically.

B. When the data for one color has been sent, the printer waits for the printer to become ready and starts sending the next data.

On the printing apparatus side, in mode (A) and mode (C), a. When the data for one color is sent, a busy signal indicating that the printing operation is being executed is returned during printing in response to a status inquiry from the host computer.

B. After the printing operation is completed, a ready is returned in response to the inquiry from the host computer.

In mode (B), a. (While data for all colors is sent, a ready status is returned in response to a status inquiry from the host computer.

B. After that, the printing operation is started.

Further, the printing apparatus of the modified embodiment has various information to be provided to the user such as troubleshooting. For example, there are remaining amount of recording paper, occurrence of paper jam, and no toner.

With respect to this information, the status is periodically inquired from the host computer, that is, at intervals of about 1 second in this embodiment, to the printing apparatus side. Then, the printing apparatus side reports the inquired information and the printing status (for example, inactive state (standby), printing K color, post-processing, etc.).

Based on the information, the host computer may display the state of the printing apparatus on the screen, if necessary,
If the user is warned or the printer is artificially dangerous or the printer is destroyed, the printer is forcibly stopped.

It is also possible to monitor a periodic inquiry from the host computer, and if the inquiry is interrupted for a predetermined time (for example, about 3 seconds), it can be judged that some abnormality has occurred in the host computer or the communication line. .

At this point, when it is judged that an abnormality has occurred, if all the final data has been received, printing continues. If all the data has not been received, abnormal processing is performed. Here, the abnormal processing means that the printing is interrupted, and if it is under development, it is sucked and fed, and all the portions in the middle of printing are discharged and cut to return to the initial state.

The processing section 41 is provided with an operating section such as a keyboard and the like, and a display section 48 (not shown), and displays not only the status of the inside of the apparatus but also the above-mentioned abnormality of the host computer or the communication line. Further, according to the instruction of the processing unit 41, various settings such as resetting of the apparatus, printing of a test chart prepared in the apparatus, conveyance, stoppage, and cutting of recording paper can be performed.

Further, in this embodiment, the number of times the image forming process is performed and the recording color for each time set by the number of times setting section 42 and the recording color setting section 43 are set prior to the start of recording. A desired color image can be printed on the recording paper 4 by repeating a predetermined image forming process based on the setting.

The number of times setting section 42 and the recording color setting section 43
The setting can be done either from the host computer through a communication line or by setting the color electrostatic plotter side with an input means. In this device, the number of times can be set from the host computer to the color electrostatic plotter. When instructed, the plotter records the value in the memory and repeats recording based on the value. There is no limitation on the order of recording colors, and in many cases, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow are usually recorded in this order.
The order or the number of times other than this may be used. For example,
It may be a complicated order / number of times such as black, black, cyan, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

The number of times of printing may be set to be the same for each color, or the number of times of printing may be specified independently for each color because it may be desired to increase the density of only a specific color. In this embodiment, each color is independent. For example, when the image data includes black character data and it is desired to emphasize the blackness of the character, if only black color is repeatedly recorded twice, only the black density increases. Also, if the toner density is low only for magenta,
You can also record only Magenta twice.

As an example of actually performing such recording once and twice, the results shown in Table 1 below were obtained.

[0122]

[Table 1] Since the increase rate of the density depends on the characteristics of the toner, it is desirable to perform data processing according to the density in the image processing on the host computer side depending on the number of repetitions.

Since the magenta color density is the lowest in this example, it is necessary to match the maximum density of the other colors with the density of the magenta color by gradation processing of the image data.

For example, when the density of a certain PIXEL (represented by p) is represented by the gradation F (p) and its value is represented by 0 to 256, the number of recordings is F (p) for black. It is necessary to multiply the coefficients 0.69 / 1.07. Then, the gradation of black changes from 0 to 164.

Since the density of magenta color is low, the following density is obtained by recording only magenta color twice. For comparison, one case is also shown.

[0126]

[Table 2]

[Table 3] In such a case, the coefficient F (p) is 0.96 /
It is necessary to multiply by 1.07. Then, the gradation of black changes from 0 to 229 as shown in the table, and of course the magenta color, which is relatively light in color, increases the density of magenta compared to the recording frequency of 1, and the density of black also increases. I understand that The same applies to magenta and yellow.

It should be noted that the present embodiment can be easily applied to a recording apparatus such as a laser system, and the present embodiment can be easily applied not only to a color image composed of a plurality of colors but also to an image of the same color. it can. Further, the present invention can be easily applied even to a so-called ordinary character printer whose output image is only characters.

Further, there may be only one marker for image alignment at the beginning of the recording paper, or the edge of the leading edge of the recording paper may be used as a reference. It is easy to realize that the images can be matched by positioning by controlling.

Although the description has been given based on the above embodiments, the present invention also includes the following inventions. (1) In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image memory unit. For the bank memory, a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one image color, and a second mode in which as many bank memories as the number of image colors are used as a data area for one image
Among the modes and the third mode in which a plurality of bank memories are used as a data area for one color of an image, two or more modes are combined, and a required number of bank memories is used for each mode to obtain a specific size. A mode setting means for storing as print data, a mode selecting means for selecting a mode set in the mode setting means, and reading image data based on the mode from a bank memory of the image memory means, and a selection by the mode selecting means The printing means for printing a color image from the image data read from the image memory means and the presence / absence of an abnormality in each bank memory of the memory means are detected, and the bank memory in which the abnormality has occurred is disabled, and When a mode that cannot be formed due to an abnormal bank memory occurs, prohibit the use of the mode that cannot be formed. Memory check and means, wherein the image bank memory of the memory means abnormal without stopping the apparatus, the printing apparatus characterized by performing printing even lack a part of the image to be.

(2) In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image. In the bank memory of the memory means, a mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one image color, a mode in which as many bank memories as the number of image colors are used as a data area for one image, and a plurality of banks are used. Mode setting means for combining two or more modes among the modes in which the memory is used as a data area for one color of the image and using a required number of bank memories for each mode to store the print data of a specific size. , A mode set in the mode setting means is selected, and an image data based on the mode is selected from the bank memory of the image memory means. Printing apparatus, wherein a mode selection means for reading out, to print an image size based on said mode selecting means selected the mode.

(3) In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory means for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image. In the bank memory of the memory means, a mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color of an image and a mode in which as many bank memories as the number of image colors are used as a data area for one image are used. A required number of bank memories are used for each mode to select a mode setting means for storing as print data of a specific size and a mode set in the mode setting means, and the mode is selected from the bank memory of the image memory means based on the mode. Mode selecting means for reading out image data, and printing an image in a size based on the mode selected by the mode selecting means Printing apparatus according to claim and.

(4) In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image. In the bank memory of the memory means, a mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color of an image and a mode in which a plurality of bank memories are used as a data area for one color of an image are required for each mode. Mode setting means for storing print data of a specific size using the bank memory of
A mode selecting unit that selects the mode set in the mode setting unit and reads image data based on the mode from the bank memory of the image memory unit, and an image is printed in a size based on the mode selected by the mode selecting unit. A printing device characterized by:

(5) In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image. In the bank memory of the memory means, a mode in which as many bank memories as the number of colors of an image are used as a data area for one image and a mode in which a plurality of bank memories are used as a data area for one image color are used. A required number of bank memories are used for each mode to select a mode setting means for storing as print data of a specific size and a mode set in the mode setting means, and the mode is selected from the bank memory of the image memory means based on the mode. A mode selecting unit for reading out image data and an image for printing in a size based on the mode selected by the mode selecting unit. Printing apparatus according to claim.

(6) In the above (2) or (3), in the system in which the host computer first informs the printer of the start of operation and then the data for one color is sent, the printer transfers data from the start. When the mode selection means measures the time until the end, the mode selection means uses one bank memory as a data area for one color of the image when the time measured by the measurement means is less than a predetermined time. A printing apparatus comprising means for selecting a mode in which a bank memory having the same number as the number of colors of an image is used as a data area for one image when the mode is longer than a predetermined time.

(7) In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory means for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image. The bank memory of the memory means has a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color and a second mode in which as many bank memories as the number N1 of images are used as a data area for one image. , A third mode in which a plurality of N2 bank memories are used as a data area for one color, and a mode setting means for storing print data of a specific size using a required number of bank memories for each mode, The presence or absence of an abnormality in the bank memory of the image memory means is detected, and if the number of usable bank memories is 0, the use of the first mode is prohibited and is smaller than N1. Prohibit the use of the second mode if Kere,
A printing apparatus, comprising: a memory check unit that prohibits use of the third mode if it is smaller than N2.

(8) The printing apparatus according to any one of (1) to (7) above, further comprising notification means for displaying, sounding, or printing an abnormal state (fault state) of the image memory. .

(9) The printing apparatus as described in (1) above, further comprising means for notifying an abnormal state of the image memory to a host computer.

(10) In a printing apparatus for forming a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image. For the bank memory of the memory means, a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color of an image, and a first mode in which as many bank memories as the number of colors N1 of the image are used as a data area for one image. Of the two modes and the third mode in which a plurality of N2 bank memories are used as a data area for one color of an image, two or more modes are combined, and a required number of bank memories are used for each mode to specify a specific area. A mode setting means for storing size print data, a memory check means for detecting a memory defect rate for each bank,
In each of the modes, the printing apparatus is characterized in that, among the bank memories in which an abnormality has occurred previously, the bank memory having a smaller number of occurrences of the abnormality is preferentially used.

[0139]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, even if a memory abnormality occurs, the entire operation is not prohibited, an abnormal state is notified, and printing is performed using the remaining normal memory area. It is possible to provide a printing device that performs the printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a recording control unit of the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of control marks recorded on a recording sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Engine part, 2 ... Recording control part, 3 ... Electrostatic recording paper roll, 4 ... Recording paper, 5 ... (Guide) roller, 6 ... Recording paper feed roller, 7, 21, 33, 34 ... Guide roller, 8 ...
Take-up roller, 9 ... Image forming control unit, 10 ... Electrostatic recording head, 11 ... Mark reading head, 12 ... Marking, 13a, 13b ... Edge, 14, 15, 16, 17
... developing head, 18 ... developer sucking roller, 19 ... pressing roller, 20, 23, 31, 32 ... guide plate, 22 ... recording paper lead-out guide plate, 24 ... Y cutter, 2
5 ... X cutter, 26 ... Recording path switching guide lever,
27 ... Pins, 28 ... Sheet automatic winding device, 36 ... Pressure contact roller, 41 ... Processing section, 42 ... Number of times setting section, 43 ... Recording color setting section, 44 ... Image memory, 45 ... Line buffer memory, 46 ... Density pattern Conversion circuit, 47 ... Display unit.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/48

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image memory. With respect to the bank memory of the means, a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color of an image, and a second mode in which as many bank memories as the number of colors of the image are used as a data area for one image And a combination of two or more modes out of the third mode in which a plurality of bank memories are used as a data area for one color of an image, and a required number of bank memories are used for each mode,
A mode setting unit for storing as print data of a specific size; a mode selecting unit for selecting a mode set in the mode setting unit and reading image data based on the mode from a bank memory of the image memory unit; The printing means for printing a color image from the image data selected by the selecting means and read out from the image memory means, and the presence or absence of an abnormality in each bank memory of the memory means are detected, and the bank memory in which the abnormality has occurred cannot be used. And a memory check means for prohibiting the use of the mode that cannot be formed when a mode that cannot be formed by the bank memory in which the abnormality has occurred occurs. Printing device characterized by performing printing even if a part of the formed image is missing. Place. 2. In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, image memory means for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image memory. In the bank memory of the means, a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color, and a second mode in which as many bank memories as the number N1 of images are used as a data area for one image, Of the third mode in which a plurality of N2 bank memories are used as data areas for one color, two or more modes are combined, and a required number of bank memories are used for each mode to store as print data of a specific size. The presence or absence of abnormality in the bank memory of the image memory means is detected, and if the number of usable bank memories is 0, the first mode is selected. And a memory check unit that prohibits the use of the second mode if it is smaller than N1 and prohibits the use of the third mode if it is smaller than N2. 3. In a printing apparatus for printing a color image on a recording medium in a predetermined image forming process, an image memory unit for storing image data to be printed, which is divided into a plurality of bank memories, and the image memory. With respect to the bank memory of the means, a first mode in which one bank memory is used as a data area for one color of an image, and a second mode in which bank memories having the same number N1 as the number of colors of the image are used as a data area for one image
Among the modes and the third mode in which a plurality of N2 bank memories are used as a data area for one color of an image, two or more modes are combined, and a required number of bank memories is used for each mode to obtain a specific size. Mode setting means for storing as print data and memory checking means for detecting a memory defect rate for each bank. In each mode, a bank having a low defect rate among the bank memories that have previously failed. A printing device characterized by being preferentially used from a memory.