JPH09188039A - Image forming device and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate a waste of recording medium such as recording paper and normally perform a printing job as far as possible by a method wherein a process for deciding which emulation should be used in printing is performed not only at the start of printing job but slso at any necessary point of time. SOLUTION: Data of a printing job received through a communication controller 6 are stored in an input buffer 5a. And the stored data are successively analyzed to effect a printing process. At that time, as analyzing emulation, an emulation indicated in an emulation control table 5c is used. When an analysis error occurs during analysis process using elumation, it is considered that there is the possibility that the emulation has been erroneously selected, whereupon the process for dicision of emulation is performed again. And if there is a need to change the emulation, an information to specify a newly selected emulation is stored in the emulation control table to continue the job.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and its control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printing apparatus having a plurality of emulations, when print data transmitted from a higher-level device (host computer etc.) is received, one emulation is selected and the selected emulation is operated. The print data is analyzed to form the bitmap data, and printing is performed.

The problem here is which emulation is selected. Up to now, printing is performed by using the method set on the operation panel of the printing apparatus or by checking the contents of the received print data. It is determined by using one of the emulation automatic switching methods that determines which emulation should be used on the device side.

From the point of view of operation, it is obvious that the latter automatic switching method is desirable. Automatic switching is determined by checking the contents of print data of a fixed size at the beginning of the job. If the start of the job is not clear here, when the printing device is idle (that is, there is a blank interval between receiving print data and receiving the next print data). Recognize the received data as the data at the beginning of the job.

Generally, the judgment is made based on the print data (constant size) at the head of the above-mentioned job depending on whether or not the control code peculiar to each emulation is included, but there are several judgment levels. . For example, the judgment level is 3
In terms of stages, (1) the code specific to the emulation is included (2) it is likely that it is that emulation (3) If none of the above apply, select the default emulation. It is conceivable that the emulation is determined by sequentially analyzing at the stage.

[0006]

If a reliable judgment is made as in (1), there is no problem. However, as a result of the determination based on the fixed size at the beginning of the print data, for example, if the determination level of (1) cannot be determined, the determination level of (2) or the determination level of (3) is the only option. However, there is a possibility of selecting the wrong emulation, and especially this possibility exists in the emulation decided at the judgment level in (3).

Needless to say, if the wrong emulation is selected, normal printing cannot be performed, but meaningless printing will be performed, and in some cases, it will be noticed only after the printing is completed. The recording paper may be wasted.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the process of determining which emulation to perform the print process is not performed only at the start of the print job, but at the necessary time. By appropriately performing the above, it is intended to provide an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof that can eliminate waste of a recording medium such as recording paper and can print a print job as normally as possible. is there.

In order to solve this problem, for example, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following structure. That is, an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of emulation functions and forms a visible image on a predetermined recording medium based on a print job sent from a higher-level device, analyzes received print data, and responds to it. A determination unit that determines the emulation, a selection unit that selects the corresponding emulation based on the determination result of the determination unit, and whether an analysis error occurs when the print data is analyzed according to the already selected emulation. When detecting the occurrence of an analysis error by the detecting means for detecting whether or not the detecting means,
Control means for urging the determination means.

An image forming apparatus of another invention has the following structure. That is, an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of emulation functions and forms a visible image on a predetermined recording medium based on a print job sent from a host apparatus, analyzes the received print job, and responds to it. The system includes a determination unit that determines emulation, a selection unit that selects a corresponding emulation based on a determination result of the determination unit, and a setting unit that sets a biasing timing of the determination unit.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional structure of a printing apparatus (laser beam printer = LBP) in this embodiment.
This LBP can register a character pattern and a fixing format (form data) from a data generation source (a host device such as a host computer) not shown.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code) supplied from an externally connected host computer, form information, macro commands, and the like. A corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created in accordance with the above, and an image is formed on the recording paper which is a recording medium. 300 is an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LCD display are arranged, 101 is LBP100
This is a printer control unit that totally controls and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer.
The control unit 101 mainly converts character information corresponding to character information into a video signal to convert the laser driver 10 into a video signal.
Output to 2. The laser driver 102 is the semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 103 switches on and off a laser beam 104 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 according to an input video signal. The laser beam 104 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 105 and scans the electrostatic drum 106. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. The latent image is developed by the developing unit 107 around the electrostatic drum 106 and then transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used as this recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 108 mounted on the LBP 100, taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 109 and delivery rollers 110 and 111, and then is recorded on the electrostatic drum 106. Supplied. Then, the toner image attached on the electrostatic drum 106 by the developing device 107 is transferred to the conveyed recording paper. After that, the recording paper is conveyed toward the fixing device 112, the toner is fixed, and finally discharged by the discharge roller 113 to the outside.

FIG. 1 mainly shows the internal configuration of the printer control unit 101 in the embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU, which is, for example, a microcomputer, which controls the peripheral devices and circuits of this embodiment via the CPU bus 2a in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 3 or the like. There is. Reference numeral 4 denotes a timer, which is used to set the time for activating the emulation determination means, which is one of the features of the embodiment, at time intervals (details will be described later). 5 is R
In AM, it is used as a work area for CPU2.
The RAM 5 has therein an input buffer 5a for temporarily storing data sent from the host, a page buffer 5b for storing print data as an intermediate code after analysis processing of print data, and an emulation control table 5c. The contents of the emulation control table 5c can be set by a control command from the panel 300 or the host. The communication control unit 6 controls communication processing with the host, and supports bidirectional communication in this embodiment. An output unit 7 outputs an image signal as a signal to the printer engine unit shown in FIG. Panel 8
Is for setting and displaying various information.

FIG. 2 is an example showing the structure of the emulation control table 5c used in the description of the embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has five elements as setting items. "Currently selected emulation name"
Stores the currently selected emulation name (or information identifying it). The “printing device status” indicates the status of the printing device of the present embodiment, and as an example, an idle status indicating that there is no data to be processed, a page open or closed status indicating whether or not there is a page being processed. The state of etc. is memorized. The "emulation determination means start timing" stores information indicating when the emulation determination is performed. For example, the contents are such that the print data analysis error is detected, the page is started at the beginning of each page, and the timer is started at the time interval set in the timer 3. The “emulation determination manual activation interval time” stores the time set in the timer 3 when the activation is designated at the time interval in the “emulation determination means activation timing”. The "operation when abnormality is detected by emulation determination means" indicates the subsequent operation when the result determined by the emulation determination means activated at the activation timing is different from the currently selected emulation name. Operations such as making a call, automatically switching the emulation, allowing the operator to select the emulation, and what to do with the page currently being processed are stored.

Similar to FIG. 2, FIGS. 3 and 4 also show an example of the contents of the emulation control table 5c used in the description of the embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the control flowcharts of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. When print data is received from the host computer via the communication control unit 6, an interrupt signal is generated to the CPU 2 and the CPU 2 performs a process of storing the received data in the input buffer 5a. Since the interrupt processing is as described above, no explanation will be necessary.

First, in step S501, it is determined whether or not there is received print data in the input buffer 5a. If no data has been received, the same steps are repeated to wait for print data. If it is determined that the print data is received, the process proceeds to step S502 to check whether the received data is a control code. If it is a control code, the process proceeds to step S510, and it is determined that the data is a non-control code. In step S503, the process proceeds to step S503.

When the processing advances to step S510, it is checked whether or not the control code means job start. If it is not the job start, the process advances to step S511 to check whether it means the job end this time. If not, the process proceeds to step S509 to process the corresponding control code. If the control code indicates the end of the job in step S511, the process advances to step S513 to perform the job end process. Of course, if the page is currently open, the page is closed, the printer status of the emulation control table 5c is set to the closed status, and the image output processing of the page is performed.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the data received in step S502 is not a control code, step S5
In step 03, the item of the printer status of the emulation control table 5c is checked. If it is in the idle state, that is, if no data to be printed is received from the host until that time, the process proceeds to step S601 (FIG. 6). The processing shown in and after step S601 is executed even when the control code means job start in step S510.

The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The process described in this flowchart is the first emulation determination process at the time of starting a job, which is conventionally performed.

First, in step S601, emulation determination processing is started. In step S602, the emulation name determined as a result of step S601 is set in the item of the currently selected emulation name in the emulation control table 5c. In step S603,
The switching process to the emulation determined in step S601 is performed.

As described above, the emulation determination and the emulation switching process at the time when the first print data is received when the job start by the control code for starting the job or the printer state of the emulation control table 5c is in the idle state are completed. After that, the process proceeds to step S504 in FIG.

In step S504, the emulation control table 5c is checked for the item of the printer status, and it is checked whether the page open process has already been performed. The page open state shifts when data relating to actual printing is received, The intermediate code is generated while analyzing the data received from the host, and the result is written in the pay buffer 5b.

A page break command or a control command indicating the end of a job is found in the print data, or if the data received from the host does not arrive for a certain period of time, the page currently being processed is closed and image development is performed. The actual printing sent from the output unit 7 to the printer unit is performed.

If the page is in the closed state in step S504, the page open process is performed in step S512. If the page is already open in step S504, print data analysis processing is performed in step S505.

In step S506, it is checked whether an analysis error has been detected. If no analysis error is detected, the analysis result in step S507 is written in the page buffer 5b. In step S508, it is checked whether or not there is unanalyzed print data in the input buffer 5a. If there is, the process returns to step S505 to continue the print data analysis process. If there is no print data in the input buffer 5a in step S508, the process returns to step S501 and waits for data reception from the host.

If a print data analysis error is detected in step S506, step S701.
The process proceeds to (FIG. 7). Hereinafter, description will be given according to the flowchart of FIG.

Needless to say, step S701 and subsequent steps are the processing when an analysis error is detected during the print data analysis processing.

In step S701, the term of the emulation determination means activation timing in the emulation control table 5c is checked. If it is not specified that the print data analysis error is detected, the process proceeds to step S708, and the print data analysis error process is performed by the predetermined method, and
To step S507.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S701 that the emulation determination means activation timing is when a print data analysis error is detected, the flow advances to step S702 to determine that the data stored in the input buffer 5a is determined to be the analysis error. Emulation determination processing is performed based on the data before and after that.

In step S703, the result of the determination in step S702 is compared with the term of the currently selected emulation name in the emulation control table 5c. If the result is the same, the process proceeds to step S708 to perform analysis error processing. If it is different from the currently selected emulation name in step S703, that is, if the emulation determined in step S521 is incorrect, the process proceeds to step S704, and a new determination is made in the item of the currently selected emulation name in the emulation control table 5c. Change the emulation name. Next in step S70
In step 5, if the page is currently open, it is closed and the printer status of the emulation control table 5c is closed. Similarly, the information about the page currently being processed in the page buffer 5b is also deleted. Next, the process proceeds to step S706, and the switching process to the emulation obtained in step S702 is performed. In step S707, with respect to the page currently being processed, a resend request is issued to the host in order to resend the print data from the top of the page.

After performing the above processing, the process returns to step S501 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and waits for resending of print data from the host.

As described above, conventionally, the emulation is determined only by the head data of the job, but in the present embodiment, which emulation should be selected when the analysis error occurs, Since it is possible to switch to that emulation, at least the subsequent pages can be printed normally. Further, as described above, by having an interface capable of bidirectional communication with the host computer and issuing a request for resending print data of a page for which analysis has failed, it is possible to print the page for which analysis has failed normally.

<Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment described above, a resend request is made to the host for the page currently being processed in step S707 of FIG. When the print data from the beginning of the page being processed remains (when the print data is not overwritten by the next data), the request for resending the print data to the host is not issued, and the process of step S706 is followed by step S52.
It is also possible to return to step 4 and proceed to step S512 to perform page open processing and then perform print data analysis processing.

For this purpose, the address position of the head data of each page is separately stored, and when the next data is overwritten at that position, the address is sequentially invalidated so that it can be easily confirmed. it can.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 shows the above-described embodiment.
In the flowchart of FIG. 6, if the result of re-determination at the time when the print data analysis error is detected does not match the emulation that has already been selected, the emulation switching process is automatically performed. Good as a call. In this case, the host is notified of the error and the user is allowed to select the next operation.
The choices are "Cancel the job currently being processed" or "Specify emulation from the host and send a print instruction to the printing device so that the printing device performs emulation switching processing based on the instruction from the host."
Alternatively, it is conceivable that the setting is made on the operation panel of the printing apparatus.

The operation specifications after the print data analysis may be set in advance from the host or the panel of the printing apparatus.

<Fourth Embodiment> In the above-described embodiments, the activation timing of the emulation determination means is described as the point of time when the print data analysis error is detected. However, as in the emulation control table of FIG. It may be started.

By doing so, it becomes possible to omit the wasteful processing that has been performed up to the point of error detection. However, when the analysis is performed on a page-by-page basis, the print processing is not performed until the analysis is completed, so that for a print job of only one page, the time until the output is completed is somewhat delayed. In addition, regarding printing of a plurality of pages, the whole is only shifted in time, and the printing interval between pages is not significantly affected. However, it is desirable to secure a sufficient capacity of the input buffer 5a.

<Fifth Embodiment> In the above embodiments, the activation timing of emulation determination is described as the point of time when a print data analysis error is detected. However, the emulation determination means is set at a certain time interval as in the emulation control table of FIG. It may be started. In this case, it is necessary to properly set the timer 4 so that an interrupt is generated at the time interval based on the time set in the emulation determination means activation interval time section of the emulation control table 5c.

The various settings in the second to fifth embodiments may be selected from the host computer or from the operation panel, and necessary parameters (for example, time intervals) may be set.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the emulation determination is performed only based on the print data portion first received in the idle state, in other words, the print data of the head portion at the start of the job. Instead, when printing data analysis error is detected or by emulation judgment at every page or at timings such as a fixed time interval, image output that prevents useless output of print results is not guaranteed even if the first emulation judgment is incorrect. Since the apparatus can be provided, it is possible for the user to avoid waste of paper and waste of time.

Although the laser beam printer has been described in the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and another method such as an LED printer or
Of course, it may be an inkjet printer or the like.

Even when the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (for example, a printer built-in information processing device). Etc.) may be applied.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the process of determining which emulation the print process should be performed is not performed only at the start of the print job, but is appropriately performed when the time is required. Thus, it is possible to eliminate waste of a recording medium such as recording paper and to print the print job as normally as possible.

[0048]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printer control unit according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of a data structure of an emulation control table in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of a data structure of an emulation control table in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of a data structure of an emulation control table in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of the printer in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 CPU 2a CPU bus 3 ROM 4 timer 5 RAM 5a input buffer 5b page buffer 5c emulation control table 6 communication control unit 7 output unit 8 operation panel

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of emulation functions, which forms a visible image on a predetermined recording medium based on a print job sent from a host apparatus, and analyzes received print data. , A determination means for determining the corresponding emulation, a selection means for selecting the corresponding emulation based on the determination result of the determination means, and an analysis error when the print data is analyzed according to the already selected emulation. An image forming apparatus comprising: a detection unit that detects whether the error has occurred and a control unit that activates the determination unit when the detection of the analysis error is detected. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is activated even at the start of receiving at least one print job. 3. Regardless of whether the apparatus itself is in an idle state or not, when a control command indicating a job start is sent from the host, it is considered as a print job start, and the determination means is added to the print data following it. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a biasing device. 4. The image forming apparatus, further comprising a second control unit that biases the determination unit in a predetermined unit when processing one print job. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined unit is a page unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined unit is a predetermined time interval. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined time interval is programmable. 8. When different emulation is selected by holding the control means and energizing the determination means,
The image forming process according to claim 1, wherein when data of a print job of the entire page being processed remains in a predetermined reception buffer, the image forming process is performed by newly selected emulation for the page of interest and subsequent pages. Image forming device. 9. The print data relating to the page of interest when an interface for bidirectional communication with the host device is provided, and when different emulation is selected by holding the control means and energizing the determination means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resend request is output via the interface. 10. Further, when an analysis error occurs,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying the outside. 11. A plurality of emulation functions are provided,
An image forming apparatus for forming a visible image on a predetermined recording medium based on a print job sent from a higher-level device, the determining means for analyzing a received print job and determining a corresponding emulation; An image forming apparatus comprising: a selection unit that selects a corresponding emulation based on a determination result of the unit; and a setting unit that sets a biasing timing of the determination unit. 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determination unit is activated even at the start of receiving at least one print job. 13. Regardless of whether the apparatus itself is in an idle state or not, when a control command indicating a job start is sent from the host, it is regarded as a print job start, and the determination means is added to the print data following it. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a biasing device. 14. The setting device according to claim 11, wherein the setting device sets, when the analysis error occurs during the analysis by the selected emulation, as the energizing timing of the determination device. Image forming apparatus. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the setting unit sets reception of print data in page units as the energizing timing of the determination unit. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the setting unit sets a predetermined time interval as an urging timing of the determination unit. 17. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined time interval is programmable. 18. When data for a print job for the entire page being processed remains in a predetermined reception buffer when different emulation is selected by energizing the determination unit at the timing set by the setting unit 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming process is performed on the page of interest and subsequent pages by newly selected emulation. 19. An attention page is provided when different emulation is selected by providing an interface for bidirectional communication with the host device and energizing the determination means at the timing set by the setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the resend request of the print data is output via the interface. 20. Further, when an analysis error occurs,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies the outside. 21. Having a plurality of emulation functions,
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus for forming a visible image on a predetermined recording medium based on a print job sent from a higher-level device, comprising: a determining step of analyzing received print data and determining a corresponding emulation; A selection step of selecting a corresponding emulation based on the determination result of the determination step, and a detection step of detecting whether or not an analysis error has occurred when the print data is analyzed according to the emulation already selected And a control step of energizing the determination step when the occurrence of an analysis error is detected in the detection step. 22. Having a plurality of emulation functions,
A control method of an image forming apparatus for forming a visible image on a predetermined recording medium based on a print job sent from a higher-level device, comprising: a determination step of analyzing a received print job and determining a corresponding emulation; A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising: a selecting step of selecting a corresponding emulation based on a determination result of the determining step; and a setting step of setting a biasing timing of the determining step.