JPH0825692A - Electrophotographic printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an electrophotographic printer capable of obtaining high printing speed even with respect to a low cost printer by providing a structure capable of selecting either one of an increase in printing speed and re-printing. CONSTITUTION:When input operation selecting printing speed priority is performed in an operation panel part 27, a printing speed increase signal C2 showing an increase in printing speed is inputted to a CPU 30 from an operation panel control part 28. Whereupon, the parallel image data D3 in a frame memory 25 is cleared by the control of the CPU 30 after the elapse of a predetermined time. When input operation selecting re-printing priority is performed in the operation panel part 27, a printing speed increase signal C3 showing re-printing is inputted to the CPU 30 from the operation panel control part 28. Whereupon, the printing operation state in a printing control part 3 is monitored by the CPU 30 and, when it is judged that there is abnormality in printing operation, the control of re-printing processing is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic printer, and more particularly to an electrophotographic printer capable of selecting which of printing speed and reprinting is prioritized.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art One of the performances of electrophotographic printers is a reprint function for reprinting an abnormal page when an abnormality occurs. Abnormality that requires reprinting is a phenomenon called jam, and the probability of occurrence is 1/3.
It is so small that it is said to be 000 to 1/4000 sheets. This reprint function is provided in the printer controller. Another performance of the electrophotographic printer is printing speed. This printing speed is a performance indicating how many recording sheets can be printed in one minute, and it can be said that the higher the printing speed, the better the performance of the electrophotographic printer. Therefore, it can be said that an electrophotographic printer having a reprint function and a high printing speed is preferable, but such an electrophotographic printer is inevitably expensive.

Conventionally, there is an electrophotographic printer having a reprint function as shown in FIG. The electrophotographic printer includes a printer controller 200 that receives the character / image code D1 transmitted from the host computer 100, and a print controller 300 that controls a printing operation of a print unit (not shown) according to a command from the printer controller 200. Is equipped with.

The printer controller 200 operates the host computer 100 in response to an output start operation by an operator.
The CPU 201 of the printer controller 200 stores the received character / image code D1 in the temporary receiving buffer 202. After that, the CPU 201 extracts from the CGROM 204 the print data D2 corresponding to the character / image code D1 input according to the control program in the ROM 203. Then, the print data D2 is converted into parallel image data D3 by the parallel / serial conversion unit 205, and one page of parallel image data D3 is converted into the frame memory 20.
6 is stored.

As described above, once the frame memory 20
The parallel image data D3 stored in 6 is
Serial image data D4 in the serial conversion unit 205
Is converted into the serial image data D4 and is sent to the print control unit 300 via the interface 207 and printed by the printer unit.

In the electrophotographic printer having the above structure and operation, the CPU 201 monitors whether or not the parallel image data D3 stored in the frame memory 206 is normally printed and discharged by the print control unit 300. Then, the CPU confirms that the paper is normally ejected.
When detected by 201, the CPU 201 sends a frame memory clear signal MC to the frame memory 206 to clear the parallel image data D3 in the frame memory 206.

When the CPU 201 detects an abnormality such as a jam during paper ejection, the CPU 201 controls the CPU 201 to retransmit the parallel image data D3 from the frame memory 206 to the parallel / serial conversion unit 205.
Since an abnormality such as a jam is made before the frame memory clear signal MC is sent, the parallel image data D3 is sent again from the frame memory 206 to the parallel / serial conversion unit 205.
Since it can be sent, it is possible to reprint in the event of an abnormality.

[0008]

However, in the above-described conventional electrophotographic printer, when the CPU 201 detects an abnormality such as a jam during paper ejection, the CPU 201 controls the parallel / serial conversion unit 205 to change the frame from the frame memory 206. The parallel image data D3 is sent again to the printer to reprint the image. Therefore, the parallel image data D3 of the page remains in the frame memory 206 until the sheet of the page in which the abnormality has occurred is printed and discharged. Therefore, since the parallel image data D3 of the next page cannot be stored in the frame memory 206 for a long time until the printing and discharging of the page is completed, there is a problem that the printing speed is reduced in the case of an abnormality.

As another conventional example having a reprint function, there is a printer device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-117987. In this apparatus, the storage means stores at least one page of image data, and a hard copy image corresponding to the image data stored in the storage means can be repeatedly formed by operating the reprint designation means. Has become. However, even this printer apparatus has the same problem as above when an abnormality such as a jam occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. It is possible to obtain a high printing speed even with a low-priced printer by adopting a structure in which either printing speed increase or reprinting can be selected. The purpose is to provide an electrophotographic printer that can be used.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a parallel / parallel control by the control of a central control means.
After converting the print data to parallel image data via the serial conversion unit, it is stored in the frame memory, and the parallel image data stored in this frame memory is read out,
You can select either print speed priority or reprint priority for an electrophotographic printer that converts serial image data into parallel image data with the parallel / serial conversion unit and prints. At the time of selection, either print speed priority or reprint priority is selected. And a function for clearing the parallel image data in the frame memory after a lapse of a predetermined time when the signal indicating the print speed priority is input to the central control means, and the reprinting. When you input a signal indicating priority, monitor the status of the above printing operation,
It is configured to have a function of performing reprint processing when it is determined that the printing operation is abnormal.

In the electrophotographic printer according to claim 2, the central control means includes a timer, a memory clear signal generator for outputting a frame memory clear signal for clearing parallel image data in the frame memory, and the printing speed. When the signal indicating the priority is input, the memory clear signal generator is operated after the predetermined time has elapsed based on the timer, and when the signal indicating the reprint priority is input, the state of the printing operation is monitored. When it is determined that the printing operation is abnormal, reprint processing control is performed, and when it is determined that the printing operation is normal, a control unit that operates the memory clear signal generation unit is provided.

In the electrophotographic printer according to a third aspect of the present invention, the selection means can perform either input operation of the print speed priority or the reprint priority, and indicates either the print speed priority or the reprint priority at the time of input. When a print speed / reprint selection signal is output from the operation panel unit that outputs a print speed / reprint selection signal, and a print speed / reprint selection signal that indicates print speed priority is input from the operation panel unit, a print speed up signal is output to the central control unit for reprinting. When a print speed / reprint selection signal indicating priority is input, the operation panel control unit outputs the reprint signal to the central control means.

[0014]

According to the electrophotographic printer, when the selecting means selects the printing speed priority, the signal indicating the printing speed priority is output to the central control means. Then, the central control means clears the parallel image data in the frame memory after a predetermined time has elapsed. Also. When the selection means selects the reprint priority, a signal indicating the reprint priority is output to the central control means. Then, the state of the printing operation is monitored by the central control means, and when the abnormality of the printing operation is detected, the reprinting process is performed.

According to the electrophotographic printer of the second aspect, when the signal indicating the print speed priority is input to the control section of the central control means, the memory clear signal generation section operates after a lapse of a predetermined time based on the timer. The parallel image data in the frame memory is cleared by the frame memory clear signal from the memory clear signal generator.
When the control unit inputs a signal indicating reprint priority, the state of the printing operation is monitored, and when it is determined that the printing operation is abnormal, the reprint processing is controlled. On the contrary, when it is determined that the printing operation is normal, the memory clear signal generating section is operated to clear the parallel image data in the frame memory.

According to the third aspect of the electrophotographic printer, it is possible to select either the print speed priority or the reprint priority by an input operation on the operation panel unit, and at the time of input, either the print speed priority or the reprint priority. Is output to the output operation panel control unit. When a print speed / reprint selection signal indicating print speed priority is input from the operation panel control unit to the operation panel control unit, a print speed increase signal is output from the operation panel control unit to the central control unit, and reprinting is performed. When the print speed / reprint selection signal indicating priority is input, the reprint signal is output from the operation panel control unit to the central control means.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CPU. The electrophotographic printer according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a host computer 1, a printer controller 2 that receives a character / image code D1 signal transmitted from the host computer 1, and a printer unit (not shown) that prints according to a command from the printer controller 2. A print control unit 3 that controls execution of operations is provided.

The printer controller 2 converts the reception buffer 21 for storing the character / image code D1, the CGROM 22 for storing the print data D2, the ROM 23 for storing the control program, and the print data D2 into the parallel image data D3. And parallel image data D3
To serial image data D4, a parallel / serial conversion unit 24, a frame memory 25 that stores the parallel image data D3, an interface 26 that connects the parallel / serial conversion unit 24 and the print control unit 3, and an operation panel unit 27. It has an operation panel control unit 28 and a CPU 30 as a central control means for controlling these.

The operation panel unit 27 is a panel into which it is possible to input either print speed or reprint priority, and outputs a print speed / reprint selection signal C1 indicating either print speed priority or reprint priority. . The operation panel control unit 28 receives the print speed / reprint selection signal C1 indicating the print speed priority from the operation panel unit 27, and outputs the print speed up signal C2 indicating the print speed up ON to C.
When the print speed / reprint selection signal C1 indicating the reprint priority is input to the PU 30, the print speed is increased.
Print speed up signal C as a reprint signal indicating F
3 is output to the CPU 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 30 has a control unit 31, a timer 32, a memory clear signal generation unit 33, and a frame memory monitoring unit 34. Timer 32
The clock signal having a predetermined frequency is output to the control unit 31, and the memory clear signal generation unit 33 has a function of outputting the frame memory clear signal MC to the frame memory 25. The frame memory monitoring unit 34 is a unit that monitors whether or not the parallel image data D3 is stored in the frame memory 25, and has a function of transmitting the information to the control unit 31.

The control section 31 is a section for performing the following control on each of the above sections. That is, the character / image code D1 from the host computer 1 is received by the reception buffer 2
The print data D2 corresponding to the character / image code D1 is read from the CGROM 22 and input to the parallel / serial converter 24. In addition, the parallel image data D3 stored in the frame memory 25 is read out and the parallel / serial conversion unit 2 is read.
The output to 4 is controlled. Then, the print start signal P is output to the print control unit 3 to control the printer unit (not shown) of the print control unit 3 to execute the print operation.

Further, when the control section 31 receives the print speed increase signal C2 indicating the print speed increase ON from the operation panel control section 28, the control section 31 outputs the print start signal P and a predetermined value based on the clock signal from the timer 32. The memory clear time T as time is monitored, and when it is determined that the memory clear time T has elapsed, an operation command signal is output to the memory clear signal generation unit 33 to output the frame memory monitoring unit 3
It is supposed to monitor the information from 4. At the same time, the printer unit also monitors whether or not the recording paper is normally ejected.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, when the operator performs a printer output start operation, the character / image code D1 is transmitted to the printer controller 2, and the character / image code D1 is C.
The reception buffer 21 is controlled by the control unit 31 of the PU 30.
Stored in. Then, the control unit 31 reads the print data D2 corresponding to the character / image code D1 from the CGROM 22 according to the control program stored in the ROM 23, and outputs it to the parallel / serial conversion unit 24.
Then, the parallel / serial conversion unit 24 converts the print data D2 into parallel image data D3 and stores the parallel image data D3 in the frame memory 25. In this way, the parallel image data D3 once stored in the frame memory 25
Is read by the control unit 31 and input to the parallel / serial conversion unit 24. As a result, the parallel image data D3 is converted into serial image data D4, sent to the print control unit 3 via the interface 26, and printed by the printer unit.

In performing such a printing operation, if the operator inputs in advance the print speed on the operation panel unit 27, the print speed / reprint selection signal indicating the print speed priority from the operation panel unit 27. C1 is input to the operation panel control unit 28, and the print speed increase signal C2 indicating the print speed increase ON is output to the control unit 31 of the CPU 30 (step S1 in FIG. 3).

The control unit 31 determines that the input signal is the print speed increase signal C2 indicating the print speed increase ON, and outputs the print start signal P to the print control unit 3 (step in FIG. 3). YES in S2, step S3).

In parallel with this operation, the memory clear time T is monitored based on the clock signal from the timer 32, and when the memory clear time T has elapsed, an operation command signal is output to the memory clear signal generator 33 ( Step S in FIG.
4 YES). As a result, the memory clear signal generator 3
The frame memory clear signal MC is output from 3 to the frame memory 25, and the frame memory 25 becomes empty (see FIG. 4).
Step S5).

The state of the frame memory 25 can be detected by the control unit 31 based on the information from the frame memory monitoring unit 34. Therefore, when the parallel image data D3 of the next page is stored in the empty frame memory 25, the control unit 31 sends the print start signal P to the print control unit 3.
Can be output (YES in step S6 of FIG. 3, step S7).

Therefore, if the operator selects to increase the printing speed, the parallel image data D3 in the frame memory 25 is erased before the paper in the printer section is completely discharged, and the parallel image data of the next page is framed. Since it is stored in the memory 25, the printing speed of the printer unit becomes high. As a result, if it is possible to determine that the probability of occurrence of an abnormal situation such as a jam is extremely low in consideration of the quality of the recording paper and the printer unit, it is possible to print by increasing the printing speed as described above. The speed can be improved.

On the contrary, the operator previously operates the operation panel unit 27.
When the input for prioritizing reprinting is performed with, the printing speed / reprinting selection signal C1 indicating reprinting priority is output from the operation panel unit 27 to the operation panel control unit 28, and the printing speed up indicating OFF printing speed up. Signal C3 is CP
It is output to the control unit 31 of U30 (step S in FIG. 3).
1).

When the control unit 31 determines that the input signal is the print speed increase signal C3 indicating the print speed increase OFF, the control unit 31 monitors whether or not the recording paper is normally discharged in the printer unit (see FIG. 3). N in step S2
O, step S8).

When an abnormality such as a jam, which is an abnormality in the printing operation, occurs, the control unit 31 controls the reprinting process because it is not normally ejected in the printer unit (step S8 in FIG. 3). NO, step S9). If there is no abnormality and the recording paper is ejected normally,
An operation command signal is output to the memory clear signal generator 33 (step S10 in FIG. 3).

As a result, the memory clear signal generator 33
From frame memory 25 to frame memory clear signal M
C is output and the frame memory 25 becomes empty. The state of the frame memory 25 is detected by the information from the frame memory monitoring unit 34, and at the time when the parallel image data D3 of the next page is stored in the empty frame memory 25, the control unit 31 outputs the print start signal P. Print control unit 3
(Step S11: YES, step S12 in FIG. 3).

Therefore, if the operator selects reprinting, the reprinting process is performed when an abnormality such as a jam occurs in the printer unit. When no abnormality has occurred, the frame memory 25 is used until the recording paper is ejected.
Since the parallel image data D3 is stored in, the printing speed is lower than that when the printing speed increase is selected, but the printing operation is normally performed. As a result, if it is determined that there is a high probability that an abnormal situation such as a jam will occur in consideration of the quality of the recording paper and the printer unit, reprinting can be selected to make good use of the reprinting of the current performance. Normal printing can be performed.

[0034]

As described above, according to the electrophotographic printer of the present invention, it is possible to select whether to increase the print speed or keep the print speed at the current performance by utilizing the reprint function. By selecting the speedup, there is an excellent effect that the printing speed can be improved in the low-cost electrophotographic printer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrophotographic printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CPU.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrophotographic printer according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Host Computer 2 Printer Controller 3 Print Control Section 24 Parallel / Serial Conversion Section 25 Frame Memory 27 Operation Panel Section 28 Operation Panel Control Section 30 CPU 31 Control Section 32 Timer 33 Memory Clear Signal Generation Section 34 Frame Memory Monitoring Section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A parallel controller is controlled by a central control means.
After converting the print data to parallel image data via the serial conversion unit, it is stored in the frame memory, and the parallel image data stored in this frame memory is read out,
In an electrophotographic printer that converts serial image data into parallel image data with the parallel / serial conversion unit and prints, either print speed priority or reprint priority can be selected. At the time of selection, either print speed priority or reprint priority is selected. And a function for clearing the parallel image data in the frame memory after a lapse of a predetermined time when a signal indicating the printing speed priority is input to the central control means, and a reprinting function. An electrophotographic printer provided with a function of monitoring a state of the printing operation when a signal indicating priority is input and performing a reprinting process when it is determined that the printing operation is abnormal. 2. When the central control means inputs a timer, a memory clear signal generator for outputting a frame memory clear signal for clearing parallel image data in the frame memory, and a signal indicating the print speed priority, Based on the timer, the memory clear signal generator is operated after the lapse of the predetermined time, and when the signal indicating the reprint priority is input, the state of the print operation is monitored and it is determined that the print operation is abnormal. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that performs reprinting process control when it does, and operates the memory clear signal generation unit when it is determined that the printing operation is normal. 3. The selection means can perform any one of the input operation of the print speed priority or the reprint priority, and at the time of inputting, a print speed / reprint selection signal indicating either the print speed priority or the reprint priority. When the operation panel section to output and the print speed / reprint selection signal indicating the print speed priority are input from the operation panel section, the print speed up signal is output to the central control means, and the print speed / reprint indicating the reprint priority. The electrophotographic printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an operation panel control unit that outputs a reprint signal to the central control unit when a selection signal is input.