JPH11198488A - Printer and control thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of performing recovery processing or collating treatment by the use of an external memory device such as a low capacity RAM or a hard disk, and a method for controlling the same. SOLUTION: The printing data received by a printing data receiving means 12 is stored in a printing data memory part 171 of an RAM 17 or an external memory device 20 and, when recovery processing or collating treatment is performed, the stored printing data is read to be converted to image data and, as necessary, blank processing is performed to transmit the image data of a desired page to a printer 30 to perform printing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus capable of performing a recovery process, a collate process and the like without storing image data, and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing apparatus that performs printing based on print data transferred from a higher-level device such as a personal computer often has a recovery processing function to cope with a failure that occurs for some reason. . In the recovery process, the print data transferred from the host device is expanded into image data and printed, and the RAM in the printing device is printed.
(Random access memory) and the developed image data are stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk, and when an output error occurs due to a failure, printing is performed based on the stored image data. This eliminates the need to perform retransmission, thereby reducing the burden on the user and improving the processing speed.

[0003] Also, when collating (collating) processing is performed based on print data transferred from a higher-level device, the developed image data is stored in a RAM or an external storage device before printing.

However, recently, there has been a great demand for a printing apparatus capable of performing color printing. Compared with monochrome image data, color image data is C (cyan), M ( A color image represented by four colors of magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black) is four times the data amount even if it is simply calculated, and several tens times the data amount in consideration of the resolution and the number of bits per pixel. Becomes

Accordingly, in a printing apparatus capable of performing color printing, an external storage device such as a RAM or a hard disk in the printing apparatus occupies a large weight in terms of cost and performance.

[0006]

As described above, in a conventional printing apparatus, particularly in a printing apparatus capable of performing color printing, a RAM, a hard disk, or the like inside the printing apparatus necessary for performing recovery processing and collation processing. The external storage device occupies a large weight in terms of cost and performance, and there is a problem that the printing device becomes difficult to handle unless recovery processing or collation processing is performed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing recovery processing and collation processing by using an external storage device such as a low-capacity RAM and a hard disk, and a control method thereof.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data receiving means for receiving print data transferred from a host apparatus, and a print data receiving means for receiving print data received by the print data receiving means. A printing apparatus comprising: image data conversion means for converting data into image data; and printing means for performing printing based on the image data converted by the image data conversion means, wherein the print data received by the print data reception means is provided. Print data storage means for storing the print data, and status monitoring means for monitoring the status of the printing means. When the status monitoring means determines that the printing means has caused an abnormal output, the image data conversion means Converts the print data stored in the print data storage unit into image data, And performing the recovery process to be printed by stage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further comprises an empty processing unit for discarding a part of the image data converted by the image data converting unit. Preferably, the empty processing means discards image data before a desired page from the image data converted by the image data converting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the print data receiving section further includes a collate copy number acquiring means for acquiring the number of copies to be collated from the print data received by the print data receiving means. When performing the collate processing, the image data conversion means converts the print data stored in the print data storage means into image data according to the number of copies obtained by the collate copy number obtaining means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data receiving means for receiving print data transferred from a host device, and an image data converting means for converting the print data received by the print data receiving means into image data. A print data storage means for storing print data received by the print data receiving means; and a print data storing means for storing print data received by the print data receiving means. A collating copy number acquiring means for acquiring the number of copies to be subjected to the collating process from the print data received by the receiving means, wherein the image data conversion is performed according to the number of copies acquired by the collating copy number acquiring means when performing the collating process. Means for converting the print data stored in the print data storage means into image data It is characterized in.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print data receiving means for receiving print data transferred from a host device, and an image data converting means for converting the print data received by the print data receiving means into image data. And a printing unit for performing printing based on the image data converted by the image data converting unit, wherein the print data received by the print data receiving unit is stored, and Monitoring the status, and performing a recovery process of converting the stored print data into image data and printing by the printing unit when the monitoring unit determines that the printing unit has caused an abnormal output. And

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, when performing the recovery processing, the image data before a desired page is converted from the stored print data. It is characterized by being discarded.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, the number of copies to be subjected to the collating process is acquired from the print data received by the print data receiving means, and the number of copies is determined by the number of times corresponding to the acquired number of copies. The stored print data is converted into image data and printed.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, the print data receiving means for receiving the print data transferred from the host device, and the image data converting means for converting the print data received by the print data receiving means into image data. And a printing unit for performing printing based on the image data converted by the image data converting unit, wherein the print data received by the print data receiving unit is stored, and The number of copies to be collated is obtained, and the stored print data is converted into image data and printed by the number of times corresponding to the obtained number of copies.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a printing apparatus and a control method therefor according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 1
Comprises a printer controller 10, an external storage device 20, and a printer 30. The printer controller 10 receives print data transferred from a higher-level device (not shown), converts the received print data into image data, and sends the image data to the printer 30.
Control the operation of. The external storage device 20 is a storage device such as a hard disk, and stores information required by the printer controller. The printer 30 prints image data sent from the printer controller 10.

The printer controller 10 has a CPU (cen) for controlling the entire printer controller 10.
(Tral processing unit) 11, print data receiving means 12 for receiving print data transferred from a higher-level device (not shown), a control program 131 for operating the CPU 11, and font data 132 necessary for converting print data into image data. R stored
OM (read only memory) 13, external storage device control means 14 for controlling external storage device 20, printer control means 15 for controlling printer 30, printer status monitoring means 1 for monitoring the operation state of printer 30, etc.
6. RAM (random) for temporarily storing information, etc.
access memory) 17.

The RAM 17 has a print data storage unit 171 for storing print data when performing a recovery process or a collate (collation) process, a page memory 172 for storing image data, and the number of collate units set during the collate process. Number of collation copies storage section 173 for storing the number of pages currently being processed (page number)
4. A recovery mode storage unit 175 for storing the recovery mode setting, a print collate copy number storage unit 176 for storing the collate copies normally output from the printer 30, and a print page for storing the number of pages normally output from the printer 30 The number storage unit 177 and the like are configured.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection configuration between a host device and a printing device. In FIG. 2A, the printing apparatus 1-
1 is directly connected to the network 3-1,
-1 to 2-3 can be received via the network 3-1.

In FIG. 2B, the printing device 1
-2 is connected to the host device 2-4 and can receive print data only from the host device 2-4. The higher-level device 2-4 can also receive print data transferred from another higher-level device (not shown) via the network 3-2 and send it to the printing device 1-2.

Here, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing the recovery process will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing the recovery process.

When the printing apparatus 1 receives print data from the host apparatus, it starts operating (step 1001).
The print data received by the print data receiving means 12 is sent to the CPU
11 analyzes (step 1002). In the following description, the CPU 11 operates based on the control program 131 unless otherwise specified.

Next, the number N of pages currently being processed stored in the number-of-pages storage 174 is set to 1, and
The number P of normally output print pages stored in 77 is set to 0
(Step 1003).

Here, the recovery mode is turned on with the print data analyzed in step 1002 (recovery processing is performed).
(In step 1004, YE
S) The print data is stored and stored in the print data storage unit 171 (step 1005). If the recovery mode is instructed to be turned off (NO in step 1004), the print data is not stored.

Next, the process proceeds to step 1006. Since no page has been printed yet (NO in step 1006), the process proceeds to step 1007, where the data of the page number N (= 1) is imaged. The data is converted into data and drawn on the page memory 172 (step 100).
7). The image data drawn in the page memory 172 is transferred from the printer control means 15 to the printer 30 (step 1008). When the transfer of the image data is completed, the page number N is incremented (step 1008).
9), clear page memory 172 (step 10)
10).

On the other hand, the printer 30 that has received the image data performs printing based on the image data, and notifies the printer status monitoring unit of the output result as a status.

When the printer status monitoring means 16 receives a status indicating that the output result is normal from the printer 30 (YES in step 1011), the printer status monitoring means 16 changes the print page number P to a value obtained by adding 1 (step 1012). ),
Returning to step 1006, the process for N (= 2) pages is started. The processes from step 1006 to step 1012 are repeated until the print data ends, that is, until all pages have been printed (NO in step 1006). When the print data ends (YES in step 1006), the printing apparatus 1 The processing operation ends (Step 1020).

In step 1011, when the printer permanent monitoring unit 16 receives a notification from the printer 30 that the output result is abnormal (N in step 1011).
O), when the recovery mode set in the recovery mode storage unit 175 is off or when an error in which the recovery process is impossible (for example, a failure of the printer 30) (NO in Step 1013), the processing operation is stopped (Step 101).
4) If the recovery mode is on and the recovery process is possible (YES in step 1013), the recovery process is performed.

In the recovery process, first, the print data stored in the print data storage unit 171 is read (step 10).
15) The page number N stored in the page number storage unit 174 is set to 1 (step 1016). Next, until the page number N exceeds the print page number P (step 10).
17; NO, the print data of the number N of pages is converted into image data and discarded (not drawn in the page memory 172); the empty process (step 1018); and the increment of the number of pages N (step 1019) are repeated. If N exceeds the number of print pages P (Y at step 1017)
ES), the flow returns to step 1006, the normal processing is performed, and when the print data ends (Y in step 1006).
ES), the printing apparatus 1 deletes the print data stored in the print data storage unit 171 (step 102).
0), the processing operation ends (step 1021).

In the processing in steps 1018 and 1019, since the print data cannot convert only an arbitrary page to image data and must be converted from one page in order, the number of pages already printed (the number of print pages P Empty processing is performed for the amount of ()).

Next, the printing apparatus 1 for performing collation processing
Will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing the collation processing.

When the printing apparatus 1 receives print data from the host apparatus, it starts operating (step 2001).
The print data received by the print data receiving means 12 is sent to the CPU
11 analyzes (step 2002). In the following description, the CPU 11 operates based on the control program 131 unless otherwise specified.

Next, the number N of pages currently being processed stored in the number-of-pages storage section 174 is set to 1, and
The number of collate copies M stored in 73 is initialized to 1 and the number of normally output collate copies C stored in the print collate number storage 176 is initialized to 0 (step 2003).

If collate printing has been instructed with the print data analyzed in step 2002 (YES in step 2004), the number of collate copies M stored in the collate copy number storage 173 is changed to the designated value. The print data is set in the print data storage unit 171 (step 2006) and stored (step 2006). If collate printing is not instructed (N in step 2004)
O), print data is not stored.

Next, the process proceeds to step 2007. Since no page has been printed yet (NO in step 2007), the process proceeds to step 2008, where the data of page number N (= 1) is imaged. The data is converted into data and drawn on the page memory 172 (step 200).
8). The image data drawn in the page memory 172 is transferred from the printer control unit 15 to the printer 30 (step 2009). When the transfer of the image data is completed, the number of pages N is incremented (step 201).
0), clear page memory 172 (step 20)
11).

Then, returning to step 2007, N (=
2) Enter page processing. The processes from step 2006 to step 2011 are repeated until the print data is completed, that is, until printing of all pages is completed (step 2).
When the print data is completed (NO in 007) (step 2)
(YES in 007), the print collate copy number C stored in the print collate copy number storage unit 176 is changed to a value obtained by adding 1 (step 2012).

Next, if the difference between the number of collate copies M and the number of print collate copies C is not 0 (NO in step 2013), the number of pages N is initialized to 1 (step 2014) and stored in the print data storage 171. The read print data is read (step 2015), and the process returns to step 2007.
The second copy is printed.

When these processes are repeated and printing is performed for the set number of copies, the difference between the number of collate copies M and the number of print collate copies C becomes 0 in step 2013 (step 20).
13 is YES), the printing apparatus 1 sends the print data
Delete the print data stored in the printer (step 2).
016), and terminate the processing operation (step 2017).

By the way, the value of the number of collated copies M is set to 1 in step 2003 when collate printing is not instructed (NO in step 2004), resulting in one printed copy. That's why.

Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing both the recovery process and the collate process will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of the operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing the recovery processing and the collation processing.

When the printing apparatus 1 receives print data from the host apparatus, it starts operating (step 3001).
The print data received by the print data receiving means 12 is sent to the CPU
11 analyzes (step 3002). In the following description, the CPU 11 operates based on the control program 131 unless otherwise specified.

Next, the number N of pages currently being processed stored in the number-of-pages storage section 174 is set to 1, and the number-of-printed-pages storage section 1 is set to 1.
The number P of normally output print pages stored in 77 is set to 0
Then, the number M of collate copies stored in the collate copy number storage unit 173 is initialized to 1, and the number C of normally output collate copies stored in the print collate copy number storage unit 176 is initialized to 0 (step 3003).

Here, the recovery mode is turned on with the print data analyzed in step 3002 (recovery processing is performed).
(In step 3004, YE
S) The print data is stored and stored in the print data storage unit 171 (step 3005). If the recovery mode is instructed to be turned off (NO in step 3004), the print data is not stored.

If collate printing has been instructed with the print data analyzed in step 3002 (YES in step 3006), the number of collate copies M stored in the collate copy number storage 173 is set to the designated value. Then, the print data is stored in the print data storage unit 171 (step 3008), and if collate printing is not instructed (N in step 3006).
O), print data is not stored. However, if the print data is stored in step 3005, step 3
008 is not stored.

Next, the process proceeds to step 3009. Since no page has been printed yet (NO in step 3009), the process proceeds to step 3010, where the data of the page number N (= 1) is imaged. The data is converted into data and drawn on the page memory 172 (step 301).
0). The image data drawn in the page memory 172 is transferred from the printer control unit 15 to the printer 30 (step 3011). When the transfer of the image data is completed, the number of pages N is incremented (step 301).
2) Clear page memory 172 (step 30)
13).

On the other hand, the printer 30 that has received the image data performs printing based on the image data, and notifies the printer status monitoring means of the output result as a status.

Here, when the printer status monitoring means 16 receives a status indicating that the output result is normal from the printer 30 (YES in step 3014), the printer status monitoring means 16 changes the print page number P to a value obtained by adding 1 (step 3015). ),
Returning to step 3009, processing for N (= 2) pages is started. The processing from step 3009 to step 3015 is repeated until the print data is completed, that is, until printing of all pages is completed (NO in step 3009). When the print data is completed (YES in step 3009), the process proceeds to step 3023. .

When the printer permanent monitoring means 16 receives a notification from the printer 30 that the output result is abnormal in step 3014 (N in step 3014)
O), when the recovery mode set in the recovery mode storage unit 175 is off or when an abnormality in which the recovery process cannot be performed (for example, a failure of the printer 30) (NO in Step 3016), the processing operation is stopped (Step 301).
7) If the recovery mode is on and the recovery process is possible (YES in step 3016), the recovery process is performed.

In the recovery process, first, the print data stored in the print data storage unit 171 is read (step 30).
18) The page number N stored in the page number storage unit 174 is set to 1 (step 3019). Next, until the page number N exceeds the print page number P (step 30).
(NO at 20), the print data of the page number N is converted into image data and discarded (not drawn in the page memory 172), the empty processing (step 3021), and the increment of the page number N (step 3022) are repeated. If N exceeds the number of print pages P (Y in step 3020)
ES), the flow returns to step 3009, the normal processing is performed, and when the print data ends (Y in step 3009).
ES), and proceed to step 3023.

When the print data is completed (YES in step 3009), the number of print collate copies C stored in the print collate copy number storage unit 176 is changed to a value obtained by adding 1 (step 3023).

Next, if the difference between the number of collate copies M and the number of print collate copies C is not 0 (NO in step 3024), the number of pages N is initialized to 1 (step 3025) and stored in the print data storage 171. The read print data is read (step 3026), and the process returns to step 3009.
The second copy is printed.

When these processes are repeated and printing is performed for the set number of copies, the difference between the number of collate copies M and the number of print collate copies C becomes 0 in step 3024 (step 30).
24, YES), the printing apparatus 1
Delete the print data stored in the printer (step 3
027), the processing operation ends (step 3028).

The print data stored in the recovery process or the collate process may be stored in the external storage device 20 instead of in the print data storage unit 171, and a plurality of print data may be stored in the external storage device. In this case, an arbitrary page can be reprinted without transferring print data from a higher-level device.

According to the present invention, the stored print data is converted into image data at the time of recovery processing or collate processing. Although a lot of time is required, the difference in processing time is small due to the recent increase in the speed of the CPU.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, received print data is stored in an external storage device such as a RAM or a hard disk, and the stored print data is read out when performing a recovery process or a collate process. The image data of the desired page is transferred to a printer for printing by converting the image data into image data and performing blank processing as necessary, so that the image data is stored in an external storage device such as a RAM or a hard disk. The storage capacity of an external storage device such as a RAM or a hard disk can be made smaller than that of a conventional printing device that stores and performs a recovery process and a collate process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a connection configuration between a host device and a printing device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing a recovery process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing a collation process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an operation of the printing apparatus 1 when performing a recovery process and a collate process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1-1, 1-2 printing device 2-1 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 host device 3-1, 3-2 network 10 printer controller 11 CPU 12 print data receiving means 13 ROM 14 external Storage device control unit 15 Printer control unit 16 Printer status monitoring unit 17 RAM 20 External storage device 30 Printer 131 Control program 132 Font data 171 Print data storage unit 172 Page memory 173 Collate copy number storage unit 174 Page number storage unit 175 Recovery mode storage unit 176 Print collation copy number storage unit 177 Print collation number storage unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] A print data receiving unit that receives print data transferred from a host device; an image data conversion unit that converts print data received by the print data reception unit into image data; A printing apparatus comprising: a printing unit that performs printing based on the converted image data; a print data storage unit that stores the print data received by the print data receiving unit; and a status monitor that monitors a status of the printing unit. Means, when the state monitoring means determines that the printing means has caused an abnormal output, the image data conversion means converts the print data stored in the print data storage means into image data. A printing apparatus for performing a recovery process for printing by the printing means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an empty processing unit configured to discard a part of the image data converted by the image data converting unit. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image data before a desired page in the converted image data is discarded. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a collate copy number acquiring means for acquiring the number of copies to be subjected to the collation processing from the print data received by the print data receiving means. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data conversion unit converts the print data stored in the print data storage unit into image data according to the number of copies. 4. A print data receiving means for receiving print data transferred from a host device, an image data converting means for converting print data received by the print data receiving means into image data, and an image data converting means. A printing apparatus comprising: printing means for performing printing based on the converted image data; print data storing means for storing print data received by the print data receiving means; print data receiving by the print data receiving means And a collating part number acquiring means for acquiring the number of copies to perform the collating processing from. When performing the collating processing, the image data converting means corresponds to the print data storing means according to the number of copies acquired by the collating part number acquiring means. Print data stored in a printer to convert the print data into image data Place. 5. A print data receiving means for receiving print data transferred from a higher-level device, an image data converting means for converting print data received by the print data receiving means into image data, and an image data converting means. A printing apparatus control method comprising: a printing unit that performs printing based on the converted image data. The printing method, comprising: storing print data received by the print data receiving unit; and monitoring a state of the printing unit. As a result, when it is determined that the printing unit has generated an abnormal output, a recovery process of converting the stored print data into image data and printing the image data by the printing unit is performed. . 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when performing the recovery processing, image data before a desired page among image data converted from the stored print data is discarded. Control method. 7. A method of obtaining the number of copies to be collated from the print data received by the print data receiving means, converting the stored print data into image data by the number of times corresponding to the obtained number of copies, and printing the image data. The control method for a printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: 8. A print data receiving means for receiving print data transferred from a host device, an image data converting means for converting print data received by the print data receiving means into image data, and an image data converting means. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that performs printing based on converted image data, wherein the print data receiving unit stores the print data received and obtains the number of copies to be subjected to a collation process from the print data. And converting the stored print data into image data and printing the image data by the number of times corresponding to the acquired number of copies.