JP3777698B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus that can print out print data that has been printed as needed, and to a serial printer that can recover and print unprinted pages in reprinting after a paper jam or the like during a series of printings. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when printing a plurality of copies of the same page in a printing apparatus that executes predetermined printing based on print data transmitted from a host computer, the printer side prints the required number of copies of the print data transmitted from the host. Some have a function of printing a plurality of copies. Such a function is realized in, for example, a laser beam printer. Such a multiple-copy printing function is advantageous in that the host computer can be released earlier than in the case where the same print data is sent from the host computer for multiple copies.
[0003]
FIG. 8 shows schematic functional blocks of the laser beam printer. As shown in FIG. 8, the printer 100 stores a reception buffer 120 that accumulates data including print data received from the host computer H via the interface 110, and an intermediate code generated from the data stored in the reception buffer 120. Intermediate code buffer 130, image buffer 140 that stores a print image generated from the intermediate code, intermediate code is generated from print data stored in reception buffer 120, and printing is performed from the intermediate code stored in intermediate code buffer 130. For example, when a plurality of copies of the same page are to be printed, the image buffer 140 has Send stored data to printing mechanism 160 multiple times It can be dealt with by.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even with a laser beam printer as described above, an instruction to print a plurality of copies must be made before printing, and print data that has already been printed is sequentially erased. The stored print image cannot be printed.
[0005]
On the other hand, serial printers such as inkjet printers currently on the market usually have a structure as shown in FIG. 9 in order to reduce costs. As shown in FIG. 9, the serial printer 200 includes a reception buffer 220 that stores data including print data received from the host computer H via the interface 210, and interprets the data in the reception buffer 220 to print the print data. The control unit 250 that transmits to the control unit 260 and the print mechanism 260 that executes printing based on the print data transmitted from the control unit 250. The print data stored in the reception buffer 220 is sequentially stored every predetermined number of lines. It is sent to the printing mechanism 260 for processing.
[0006]
Therefore, the print data that has been printed cannot be printed again, and when the same page is printed in a plurality of copies, the host computer H needs to send a plurality of copies of the print data. Furthermore, in such a serial printer, if an accident such as a paper jam occurs during a series of printing, at least the printing of the page on which the paper jam occurred cannot be recovered, and the print data of the corresponding page is again stored. Must be sent from the host computer.
[0007]
In view of such circumstances, the present invention may notify a printer operator of a printing apparatus that can execute printing by reusing print data that has been printed, and if the backup memory does not function effectively. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device that can be used .
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problems, a reception buffer for accumulating data received from a host computer, a control means for processing the data accumulated in the reception buffer, and print data transmitted by the control means A printing mechanism for executing printing while sequentially receiving the print data, a memory means for sequentially receiving in parallel the print data transmitted from the control means to the printing mechanism, and storing the latest print data, and storing in the memory means Data output means for transmitting the necessary portion of the printed data to the printing mechanism and executing printing, and display means for displaying a copy preparation mode ON indicating that the memory means functions effectively The display unit is configured to copy the copy level when the memory unit is full and print data for one page is not stored in the memory unit. Turn off display mode on, in printing apparatus characterized by.
[0009]
In the first aspect, since the print data transmitted to the printing mechanism is simultaneously stored in the memory means, printing is interrupted after printing or during printing, and the data output means uses the print data in the memory means. Can be printed. Further, when the backup memory does not function effectively, it is possible to notify the printer operator to that effect.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.
[0023]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of a backup memory.
[0024]
The printing apparatus (printer) according to the present embodiment has an existing structure. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 is connected to a host computer H via an interface 11, and the interface 11 receives data. A buffer 12 is connected. The printer 10 includes a print control unit 15 configured by a computer and a print mechanism 16 whose operation is controlled by the print control unit 15. The print control unit 15 and the print mechanism 16 are connected via an interface (not shown). Connected. Further, the printer 10 includes a power switch 18 and an operation panel 19.
[0025]
Here, the print control unit 15 is formed in a controller including a CPU, and comprehensively controls the printer 10 based on a control program or the like stored in a ROM (not shown) or an external memory. Further, a backup memory 17 composed of a RAM or the like is added to the print control unit 15. When the data from the host computer H is received, the print control unit 15 sequentially reads the data from the reception buffer 12 to form print data for each line, and transmits this to the printing mechanism 16 to send the printing mechanism 16 to the printing mechanism 16. It operates and executes printing, but at the same time, print data is stored in the backup memory 17. The backup memory 17 has a predetermined capacity, for example, a capacity capable of storing a minimum of normal one page of print data, and sequentially stores (accumulates) print data transmitted from the print control unit 15. After the capacity is full, old data is deleted and updated.
[0026]
FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the backup memory 17. The data stored in the backup memory 17 is stored, for example, from the top to the bottom of FIG. 2. After the data becomes full, it is overwritten again from the top to the bottom, or cleared from the data of the old page. Accumulated.
[0027]
In addition, the print control unit 15 includes a data output unit 15a. The data output means 15a executes a process of taking out the print data stored in the backup memory 17 in a predetermined procedure and sending it to the printing mechanism 16. As will be described later, according to the state of the printer at the time of processing, Each process of “Reprint” that recovers a paper jam during printing and “Copy Print B” that executes copy printing in a standby state Execute.
[0028]
In this embodiment, in order to execute processing based on these functions, in order to notify the operator that “copy printing A” and “copy printing B” processing can be performed in the operation panel 19, a copy preparation mode on display is performed. 19a. The copy preparation mode on display 19a may be a simple pilot lamp or a message to that effect on the liquid crystal panel. As a result, if printing is in progress, a plurality of pages being printed are further printed (execution of “copy printing A”), and after printing is completed, the last page of the completed printing is reprinted (“ It can be confirmed that each of “execution of copy printing B” can be performed. The copy preparation mode on display 19a is not necessarily provided.
[0029]
Further, the operation panel 19 has a copy button 19b for executing the processes of “copy printing A” and “copy printing B”. By pressing the copy button 19b, it is possible to repeatedly print only the page being printed, or to reprint the designated page after printing is completed, depending on the situation. When the copy button 19b is pressed and printing is currently being performed, the number of copies to be printed can be specified, or only one sheet can always be printed with a single button operation. Good. If the copy button 19b is pressed in a state where printing is completed, the last page may be automatically printed, or how many pages of print data are stored in the backup memory 17 It may be possible to display whether or not there is a page and specify the page and the number of copies to be printed. The copy button 19b may be valid only when the copy preparation mode is on. In this case, the copy button 19b indicates that copying cannot be performed when the copy button 19b is pressed when the copy preparation mode is off. You may make it display.
[0030]
FIG. 3 shows a processing flow of the printing apparatus of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, assuming that the printing apparatus is in a standby state, when data is received (step S1: YES), data reception is executed (step S2). If no data is received, but an instruction for copy printing B is given, that is, if the copy button 19b is pressed (step S3: YES), copy printing B is executed (step S4).
[0031]
(Reception processing)
FIG. 4 shows a data reception process flow in step S2. As shown in FIG. 4, the copy preparation mode is normally turned on in the standby state (step S11). Here, the copy preparation mode ON is a state in which the backup memory 17 functions effectively, and at the same time when the copy preparation mode flag 20 is turned ON, the operation panel is used to notify the printer operator that the state is in this state. The 19 copy preparation mode on display 19a is turned on.
[0032]
If there is data in the reception buffer 12 (step S12: YES), after receiving and processing the data (step S13), it is determined whether or not the copy preparation mode is on by the copy preparation mode flag 20 (step S14). If the copy preparation mode is on (step S14: YES), it is confirmed that the backup memory 17 is not full (step S15: NO), print data is stored in the backup memory 17 (step S16), and then printing is performed. Data is transmitted to the printing mechanism 16 and printing is executed (step S17).
[0033]
If the backup memory 17 is full (step S15: YES), it is determined whether there is a page break in the data stored in the backup memory 17 (step S18). If there is (step S18: YES), the data before the break is erased (step S19), and the print data is stored in the backup memory 17 (step S16). That is, in the example of the backup memory 17 shown in FIG. 2, only the first page data before the page break 17a is erased.
[0034]
On the other hand, if there is no page break in the data stored in the backup memory 17 (step S18: NO), it means that the print data for one page could not be stored in the backup memory 17, so copy. The preparation mode flag 20 is turned off (step S20), and at the same time, the copy preparation mode on display 19a on the operation panel 19 is turned off in order to inform the printer operator that the printer is in that state, and then the backup memory 17 is entirely stored. The data is cleared (step S21), the process proceeds to step S17, and the print data is not stored in the backup memory 17 until there is a next page break.
[0035]
Such a printing process is continued without any printing failure due to a paper jam or the like (step S22: NO), and when it is not a page break (step S23: NO). If printing fails (step S22: YES), a reprinting process described later is executed (step S24).
[0036]
On the other hand, if a page break occurs (step S23: YES), it is first determined whether or not the copy button 19b is pressed (step S25). If the copy button 19b is pressed (step S25). S25: YES), copy printing A is executed (step S26). If the copy button 19b has not been pressed (step S25: NO), it is determined in step S27 whether or not there is continued data. If there is (step S27: YES), after the copy preparation mode is turned on (step S28), the process returns to step S12.
[0037]
Here, the copy button 19b is provided on the operation panel 19 in this embodiment, and when pressed during printing, prints only one page currently being printed or a desired number of copies. This is useful when you want to reprint only a specific page, such as when you need only a specific page or when the recording medium is printed while being fed diagonally. .
[0038]
(Reprint)
FIG. 5 shows a processing flow of reprinting in step S24 when printing fails. As shown in FIG. 5, when printing fails, first, the data processing is interrupted (step S31), and an instruction to resume printing is awaited (step S32: NO). If there is an instruction to resume (step S32: YES), it is determined whether or not the copy preparation mode is on (step S33). If the copy preparation mode is on (step S33: YES), the data output means 15a. Then, the data after the page break in the backup memory 17 is transmitted to the printing mechanism 16, thereby recovering the page that failed to be printed (step S34), and the data processing is resumed in step S35. As a result, the page that failed to be printed is reprinted in a state where it has been completely recovered, and the operator does not need to issue a reprint command from the host.
[0039]
On the other hand, if the copy preparation mode is not on (step S33: NO), the data processing is resumed. In this case, since the last page that failed to be printed has not been recovered, the operator needs to re-print by sending the print data of the page again from the host. In this case, the fact that reprinting could not be performed may be displayed on the operation panel 19 or a host display (not shown).
[0040]
(Copy printing A)
FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of copy printing A executed in step S26 described above when the copy button 19b is pressed during printing. As described above, when the copy button 19b is pressed during printing, copy printing A is executed when there is a subsequent page break. In copy printing A, as shown in FIG. 6, first, the data processing is interrupted (step S41), and the data output means 15a prints the data of the last page in the backup memory 17 (step S42). Thereafter, the copy counter is decremented by 1 (step S43). When the copy counter is not 0 (step S44: NO), steps S42 and S43 are repeated, and when the copy counter becomes 0 (step S44). : YES), the data processing is resumed (step S45).
[0041]
This flow shows a case where a specified number of pages can be printed by operating the copy button 19b. It is assumed that the copy button 19b is valid only when the copy preparation mode is on. Therefore, when the copy button 19b is valid even when the copy preparation mode is off, it is necessary to first determine whether the copy preparation mode is on when copy printing A is executed. At this time, if the copy preparation mode is off, a display may be made to inform the operator that copy printing is not possible.
[0042]
If all the print data of the currently printed page cannot be stored in the backup memory 17, copy printing A cannot be performed. However, as described above (FIG. 4, step S18: NO), copying is not possible. The preparation mode is turned off (FIG. 4, step S20), and the process does not shift to copy printing A.
[0043]
This copy printing A function is effective, for example, when it is desired to print a plurality of copies of a specific page of a printed matter having a large number of pages. In addition, even when printing fails due to running out of ink or a paper jam, it can be recovered by copy printing A, which can be performed only manually by the operator, but can replace the above-described reprinting function.
[0044]
(Copy printing B)
FIG. 7 shows a processing flow of copy printing B executed in step S4 described above when the copy button 19b is pressed or an instruction for copy printing B is transmitted from the host after printing. As described above, when the copy button 19b is pressed after printing is completed or copy printing B is instructed by transmission from the host, the data output means 15a causes the print data of the designated page to remain in the backup memory 17. If it does not remain (step S51: NO), the process ends. If it remains (step S51: YES), the process proceeds to step S52. In step S52, the data of the designated page is transmitted to the printing mechanism 16 to execute printing, and then printing is continued until printing of the designated number of copies is completed (step S53: NO and step S52). When printing is completed, the process ends (step S53: YES).
[0045]
This flow shows a case where a designated page in the backup memory 17 can be printed by the designated number of copies in accordance with an instruction of copy printing B. Further, it is assumed that the copy print B instruction is valid only when the copy preparation mode is on. Accordingly, when the copy printing B is valid even when the copy preparation mode is off, it is first necessary to determine whether the copy preparation mode is on when the copy printing B is executed. . At this time, if the copy preparation mode is off, a display may be made to inform the operator that copy printing is not possible.
[0046]
Using this copy printing B function, for example, if you want a plurality of copies of one page of printed matter, after performing a test print of only one sheet, the desired number of copies is then executed without sending print data from the host. be able to.
[0047]
(Other)
In the embodiment described above, the copy preparation mode is always automatically turned on, and the various functions described above are automatically prepared. Of course, the copy preparation mode is set, for example, from the operation panel or the like. You may enable it to turn on and off manually by input or the like.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention as described in detail in embodiments, it can perform printing by using the print data printed completed again. Further, when the backup memory does not function effectively, it is possible to notify the printer operator to that effect. Further, when the copy preparation mode is on and the backup memory functions effectively, it is possible to print a plurality of copies of only a specific page. Furthermore, when the copy preparation mode is on and the backup memory functions effectively, it is possible to recover without retransmitting the print data when a print failure such as a paper jam occurs .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a structure of a backup memory.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of processing in a standby state according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of reception processing according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of reprint processing according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a copy print A process according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a copy print B process according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a serial printer according to a conventional technique.
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a laser printer according to a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 11 Interface 15 Print control part 15a Data output means 16 Printing mechanism 17 Backup memory 20 Copy preparation mode flag 19 Operation panel

Claims (1)

A receive buffer for storing data received from the host computer;
Control means for processing the data stored in the reception buffer;
A printing mechanism for executing printing while sequentially receiving print data transmitted by the control means;
Memory means for sequentially receiving in parallel the print data transmitted by the control means to the printing mechanism and always storing the latest print data;
Data output means for executing printing by transmitting a necessary portion of print data stored in the memory means to the printing mechanism ;
Display means for displaying copy preparation mode on indicating that the memory means functions effectively, and
The display means turns off the display of the copy preparation mode on if print data for one page is not stored in the memory means when the memory means is full;
A printing apparatus characterized by that.

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