JPH11138852A - Printing controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To report the residual amount of ink to a user by displaying it. SOLUTION: In a printer having a head that discharges ink, a calculating means 5 that calculates the consumption of ink corresponding to output data in advance, a judgement means 6 that compares a calculated consumption and the residual amount of ink and judges if printing is possible or not, a residual amount reporting means that displays the information and reports it to the user, and display means 7, 8 that display the possibility/impossibility of printing are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a head for ejecting ink, comprising comparison means for comparing information on the remaining amount of ink with the amount of ink output from the printing apparatus. As a result, the present invention relates to a print control device including an ink remaining amount notifying unit that informs a user whether printing is possible or not with respect to the ink remaining amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional printing apparatus, it is customary to simply output data developed in a bit pattern format.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional example, when the user selects printing, there is a problem that the printing is performed to the end regardless of the remaining amount of ink, and the ink runs out during printing.

For example, it is assumed that a frequently used color head is mounted on a printer and a user creates a document as shown in FIG. The same applies to figures and images other than documents, but conventionally, since the remaining amount of ink was not known, printing was performed to the end after the execution of printing, regardless of the remaining amount of ink. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the magenta ink is exhausted during printing, the color becomes yellow after ABC of the ABCDE character, and printing must be performed again. Since red is a mixed color of magenta and yellow, If the ink runs out halfway, the red that should be output is output in yellow. Also, in the case of monochrome printing, if the ink becomes empty during printing, printing is stopped from the middle, so that there is a problem that paper, ink and time are wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a print control apparatus capable of displaying and notifying a user of remaining ink amount information.

[0006]

The present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems by providing the following constitution.

(1) In a printing apparatus having a head for ejecting ink, a calculating means for calculating in advance the amount of ink used corresponding to output data, and comparing the calculated amount of used ink with the remaining amount of ink, and performing printing. A print control apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the printing is possible; an ink remaining amount notification unit that displays the information to notify the user; and a display unit that displays whether printing is possible or not.

(2) The print control apparatus according to the above item (1), wherein the ink discharge head has an individual number, and storage means for storing the number in a main body or a memory of the printer.

(3) The print control apparatus according to the above item (1), wherein the ink tank has a number individually, and has storage means for storing the number in a memory of a main body or a printer.

(4) The ink remaining amount notifying means displays the remaining amount of ink corresponding to the number of the ink ejection head or ink tank which is individually owned, and notifies the user of the remaining amount. Print control device.

(5) In the printing control apparatus of the above item (1), before removing the previously used head, a means is provided for assigning a number to the head or ink tank and storing the number in a memory of the main body or the printer. By storing the data in this memory, it is possible to print the head or ink tank previously used efficiently according to the remaining amount of ink (use it for documents or postcards with relatively few characters and figures). Printing control device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing processing steps, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show examples of displaying the remaining amount of ink in a graph. FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of ink management status, and FIGS. 6, 7 (a) and 7 (b) and FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are the same. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a situation, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a bit pattern format display example of characters, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a document creation example, and FIG. 11 shows an example in which ink runs out during printing. FIG.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a printing apparatus main body having a CPU, 2 is a ROM, 3 is an image data buffer for storing image data, 4 is an ink remaining amount calculation unit, and 5 is an estimated output use amount in dot conversion. DOT-equivalent ink usage calculator 6 is a comparison / determination unit that compares the calculated remaining ink amount with the calculated DOT-equivalent ink usage to determine whether printing is possible or not. Is configured to display the printable or unprintable state to notify the user of the current situation.

A flowchart showing the processing steps of FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 (a), (b), 5 (a), (b), FIGS. 6, 7 (a), (b), and Display of remaining ink information based on FIGS. 8A and 8B (FIGS. 4A and 4B)
The procedure, operation, and the like for which is required are described.

In the range of the flowchart, when the print key is pressed in step S21, first, in step S21,
At 22, the printer determines whether the head is mounted. If the head is not mounted, a message that the head is not mounted is displayed in step S23, and the user mounts a new head or a used head. Naturally, until the head is attached
This processing step is repeated. When a new head or a new ink tank is installed (step S2
4), as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 8 (a), based on the information that both are new, in step S27 and step S28, the head number or ink tank number is selected from 0-7. The user selects and sets it on the printer or the main unit. 7 and 8, hatched head numbers or ink tank numbers 0 in a72 and a82,
Numbers 1, 3, and 5 mean that they have been registered, and this number cannot be selected. This is to avoid duplication with the number previously set by the user. Therefore, the user must select other than this number, for example, 2 (2 of a73 and 2 of a83 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). If the head or the ink tank is not new, a number other than the one set when the head or the ink tank is new is set in step S25 as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B. b72,
b82 must be selected from the already registered shaded numbers 0, 1, 3, and 5. Therefore, for example, No. 3 can be selected. However, when the user deletes the registered number, it is excluded. When the number is selected, a calling process of the head number or the ink tank number previously set in step S26 is performed. By this calling process, information on the remaining ink amount of the head or the ink tank is obtained. In order to prevent the actual ink remaining amount information from being different from the ink remaining amount information of the number, the head and the ink tank can be marked with a number, a mark, or the like with a writing implement, a seal, or the like.

In the range of the flowchart, when the main body receives the information described above, the document, graphics, images, and the like created by the user are subjected to image development processing in step S29 by a print editing process, and step S30
Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the data is converted into a bit pattern format and stored in a buffer.

Next, within the scope of the flowchart,
In step S31, a comparison is made between the remaining amount of ink and the scheduled output amount of ink to determine whether printing is possible. As a result, when the remaining amount of ink is larger than the expected output amount of ink, printing is possible and a display process as shown in FIG. 5B is performed, and when execution is selected by the user, printing is executed (step S32). . Next, a process of counting the amount of ink used in step S33 is performed. This process is necessary for calculating the remaining ink amount, and stores information on how many dots and which ink has been used since the new head was mounted in the memory every time. Next, step S35
Performs the remaining ink remaining amount processing after use. Since the maximum number of dots that can be printed by a new head or a new ink tank can be determined by conducting an experiment in advance, the amount of ink used is subtracted from the remaining amount of ink (100% FULL in the case of a new head). The value becomes the remaining ink amount after use, and this value is stored. At step S37, it is determined whether or not printing has been completed. If data to be printed still exists in the buffer, the process returns to (b) in FIG. 2. If no data exists in the buffer, the process returns to step S37. finish.

If the remaining amount of the ink is smaller than the expected output amount of the ink in the determination processing in step S31 in the range of the flowchart, an alert (a warning standby state) indicating that the ink is insufficient as shown in FIG. ) Display. Next, in step S36, an automatic storage process of the remaining ink amount is performed. When printing is performed again using this head by the automatic storage process, the above-described step S2 is performed.
In step 6, the old head number or the old ink tank number is called and the remaining ink amount information can be obtained. After the automatic saving process is completed in step S36, the user is requested to exchange the head in step S38, and FIG. 6 is displayed. FIG. 6 shows a head replacement 62 and an ink tank replacement 65. Some printers require only replacement of the ink tank, while others require replacement of each head. In the example, both are adapted. 6 includes a new head 63 and an old head 64. When the new head 63 is selected, a screen shown in FIG. 7A is displayed. When the old head 64 is selected, the screen shown in FIG. The screen shown in FIG. 7B is displayed. In the replacement of the ink tank, there are a color 66 and a monochrome 67 as shown in FIG. As in the case of the head, the color 66 and the monochrome 67 have a selection of a new ink tank or an old ink tank. When a new ink tank is selected, the screen of FIG. 8A is displayed. Conversely, when the old ink tank is selected, the screen shown in FIG. 8B is displayed. When the head is not replaced, the user may be able to print by changing the color designation of a document or figure created by the user. For example, the ABCDE characters in FIG. 10 are initially designated in red, but cannot be printed due to a lack of magenta ink. Therefore, in such a case, this AB
Printing can be performed by changing the designation of the CDE character to a color other than magenta.

By storing the ink remaining amount information of each head as described above, the ink can be used effectively. Red and magenta cannot be used when the ink of magenta given as an example is not enough.However, if a user creates a certain part of a document or figure using a color other than the above, this head is naturally effective. Can be used for That is, printing can be performed according to the remaining amount of each ink. The same can be said for a monochrome head.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show examples of the remaining amount of ink in a graph showing a guide of the amount of remaining ink. Insufficient ink has been used for documents with many characters and figures that have lost ink during printing and waste paper and postcards, but have been used for postcards with relatively few characters and figures. This head can be used effectively.
The display examples shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are displayed when the user presses the ink remaining amount key or the like, and are obtained by the following formula. (Ink remaining amount / (ink remaining amount FULL (100% State)) × 100 This information is shown in a graph for each of Y, M, C, and K (black).

To further explain, according to the present invention, when printing is performed by using a head for discharging ink, the remaining amount information of the ink is compared with the used amount of the ink to be output. As a result of the comparison performed by the CPU, the user is notified of whether or not printing is possible or not with respect to the remaining amount of ink (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Is related to the remaining ink amount information for avoiding the problem. From the time of a new head (100% ink remaining) to the present, the amount of ink used can be determined by storing the number of dots used in printing each time in the memory. The remaining amount of the ink can be determined by subtracting the used amount from the FULL state. In addition, the amount of ink to be output from now on can be estimated from the figures, documents, images, and the like created by the user, because all of the converted amounts are converted into dots in image development. For example, when printing the character "A", first, the image is developed, and is converted into a bit pattern format and stored in a buffer as shown in FIG.
As can be seen from FIG. 9, the character "A" is created by a set of black dots. When printing this character, ink is ejected in a dot unit to a portion where black data exists. Therefore, it is possible to know in advance how much and what ink is required from this buffer. In short, the amount of ink used is known at this point.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the conventional problem of wasting ink, paper, and time can be solved by providing the user with the remaining ink information, and it is determined that printing is impossible. The use of the head or the ink tank for a postcard, a label, or the like having relatively little data provides an effect that printing can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing steps.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing steps.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams showing examples in which the remaining amount of ink is displayed in a graph.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of ink management statuses; FIGS.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a management status.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of a management status; FIGS.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams showing display examples of a management status.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a display example of a character bit pattern format.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a document creation example.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a case where ink runs out during printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body (CPU) 2 ROM 3 Image data buffer 4 Ink remaining amount calculation part 5 DOT equivalent ink usage amount calculation part 6 Comparison part 7, 8 Printable / non-printable display part

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a printing apparatus having a head for ejecting ink, a calculating means for calculating an ink usage amount corresponding to output data in advance, and comparing the calculated usage amount with the remaining amount of ink, enables printing. A print control device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the printing is possible; an ink remaining amount notification unit that displays the information to notify the user; and a display unit that displays whether printing is possible or not. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the ink discharge heads has an individual number, and storage means for storing the number in a main body or a memory of the printer. 3. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the ink tanks has an individual number, and storage means for storing the number in a main body or a memory of the printer. 4. The printing method according to claim 1, wherein the ink remaining amount informing means displays the remaining amount of the ink corresponding to the number of the ink ejection head or the ink tank which is individually owned, and notifies the user of the number. Control device. 5. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for assigning a number to the head or ink tank before removing the previously used head and storing the number in a memory of the main body or the printer. By storing it in the memory, you can efficiently print the head or ink tank used previously according to the remaining amount of ink (use it for documents or postcards with relatively few characters and graphics)
Printing control device that enables