JP4338931B2 - Ink jet printer and printing control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a print processing device for printing out the print data from the host computer, in particular, an ink jet printer having a relatively small storage means capacity relates to a printing control method for performing multiple portions printout of the same content Is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the rapid spread of personal computers and the like in recent years, print data created there is often output by a print processing apparatus, and the amount of printing is increasing. In addition, there is a print processing apparatus that does not have a sufficient capacity storage means that cannot store print data for one page depending on the print data requested for printing from the relationship between the function of the print processing apparatus and the price, In the case of this print processing device, the host computer sends all the pages to be printed one by one to the print processing device, and the print processing device does not repeatedly use the print data transmitted, Was printing.
[0003]
Furthermore, due to improvements in printer engine technology, the amount of printing per print is also large. With the increase in the speed of the print processing device, only a part is printed when multiple copies are printed, and the remaining copies are copied by a copying machine. Without performing such an operation, all the copies are output by the print processing apparatus. In addition, there is an invention that performs high-speed printing of double-sided printing processing, such as an ink jet printer described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-261911.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the print processing apparatus configured as described above outputs a plurality of sets of print data, it requires processing time for an application program running on the host computer, and print data is exchanged between the print processing apparatus and the host computer. There is a problem that a communication processing time is required to perform the number of copies of a plurality of copies.
[0005]
The present invention is directed to solving the above-described problems of the prior art, and quickly ends the processing time of an application program for a plurality of copies, and print data between the print processing apparatus and the host computer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer that reduces the number of communication processes for sending and receiving and improving the efficiency of printing processes and a printing control method therefor.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, an ink jet printer according to claim 1 of the present invention is an ink jet printer that prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical pages are continuously transmitted from a host computer. A printer comprising storage means for storing print data for printing a plurality of copies, and detection means for detecting whether the capacity of one page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means. When performing partial printing, based on the detection by the detection means, print data in which a plurality of identical pages are continuously transmitted is sequentially printed via the storage means, or the storage means is already stored among the plurality of identical pages. It is possible to switch whether to print by repeatedly using one stored in the .
[0007]
Further, in the ink jet printer according to claim 1, when the detecting means detects that the capacity of one page does not exceed the capacity of the storage means, the plurality of identical pages are already stored in the storage means. one non-print data which is capable of destroying a.
[0008]
Still further, in the ink jet printer according to claim 1, when the detecting means detects that the capacity of one page does not exceed the capacity of the storage means, it is already stored in the storage means among a plurality of the same pages. It is possible to request to stop transmission of print data other than one stored .
[0009]
Further, in the ink jet printer according to claims 1 to 3, when a page having a capacity not exceeding the capacity of the storage means and a page having a capacity exceeding the capacity of the storage means coexist, the capacity not exceeding For a page, one of a plurality of the same pages already stored in the storage means is repeatedly used for printing, and for a page with a larger capacity, print data in which a plurality of the same pages are continuously transmitted is sequentially printed. Can do.
[0010]
Further, when performing double-sided printing of print data, the inkjet printer according to claim 5 prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are transmitted continuously from the host computer. An ink jet printer comprising: storage means for storing print data for printing a plurality of copies; and detection means for detecting whether the capacity of one double-sided page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means. When printing a plurality of copies of data, based on detection by the detection means, print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are continuously transmitted via the storage means are sequentially printed, or a plurality of identical double-sided pages are printed. Of these, it is possible to switch whether printing is performed by repeatedly using one already stored in the storage means .
[0011]
Still further, in the ink jet printer according to claim 6, when the detecting unit detects that the capacity of one double-sided page does not exceed the capacity of the storage unit, it is already out of a plurality of identical double-sided pages. Print data other than one stored in the storage unit can be discarded.
[0012]
Further, in the ink jet printer according to claim 7, when the detection unit detects that the capacity of one double-sided page does not exceed the capacity of the storage unit, the plurality of same double-sided pages are already stored. It is possible to request stop of transmission of print data other than one stored in the means .
[0013]
Furthermore, in the ink jet printer according to claim 5, the detection unit detects that the capacity of the same double-sided page exceeds the capacity of the storage unit, and the capacity of the single-sided page out of the same double-sided page. If it is detected that the capacity does not exceed the capacity of the storage means, for one-sided pages with a capacity not exceeding, the one-sided pages already stored in the storage means among a plurality of identical double-sided pages are repeatedly used and printed. With respect to the single-sided page, print data in which the single-sided page is continuously transmitted among a plurality of the same double-sided pages can be sequentially printed.
[0014]
A printing control method for an ink jet printer according to claim 9 is a printing control method for an ink jet printer that prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical pages are continuously transmitted from a host computer. When printing a plurality of copies, the print data is stored in the storage means, and it is detected whether the capacity of one page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means. Based on the detection, print data in which a plurality of identical pages are successively transmitted via the storage means is sequentially printed, or one of the plurality of identical pages already stored in the storage means is repeated. It is characterized by switching between using and printing.
[0015]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control method for an ink jet printer, wherein when performing double-sided printing of print data, a plurality of identical double-sided pages are successively printed from a host computer. Is a print control method for an inkjet printer that prints a plurality of copies by storing print data in a storage means for printing a plurality of copies, and detecting whether the capacity of one-sided page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means When printing a plurality of copies of the print data, based on the detection, print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are continuously transmitted via the storage means are sequentially printed, or a plurality of identical double-sided pages are printed. Of these, it is possible to switch whether printing is performed by repeatedly using one already stored in the storage means .
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a print processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a print processing apparatus, 2 is a host computer that creates print data by an application program, and sends the print data to the print processing apparatus 1 together with a print request, and 3 is between the print processing apparatus 1 and the host computer 2. Are connecting means comprising an information signal line for transferring print data and control data, and a network signal line such as a LAN.
[0020]
The print processing apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 receives print data and the like from the host computer 2 via the communication I / F 4 that is an interface with the connection unit 3. In order to output the received print data, the control 5 performs control such as processing for developing bitmap data into image data and driving processing such as feeding and feeding of printing paper, and the like, and the CPU 5a and each read by the CPU 5a. It has a ROM 5b in which a control program for performing the operation is stored, and a RAM 5c used as an execution area for each process.
[0021]
Further, there are a printer engine 6 that prints out the bitmap-developed image data, and a storage unit 7 that is used for storing information that outputs print data for one print sheet (one sheet) in a plurality of print processes. . FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the printing operation of the print processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present embodiment. The operation will be described with reference to FIG.
[0022]
Print data desired by the user is created by an application program running on the host computer 2, and the created print data is transmitted to the print processing apparatus 1 together with a print request instruction (S1). The print data for one page of the first copy received via the communication I / F 4 of the print processing apparatus 1 is temporarily stored in the storage unit 7 and the RAM 5c for printing processing (S2), and bitmap development processing is performed. Then, it is created as image data, sent to the printer engine 6 and output to printing paper (S3).
[0023]
In printing the second copy, it is confirmed whether the previous print request is a print request for a plurality of copies (S4). When the print request is for a plurality of copies (Yes in S4), confirmation is performed by means for detecting whether or not all of the received print data for one page has been stored in the storage unit 7 (S5). When all the print data can be stored in the storage unit 7 (Yes in S5), the print data stored in the storage unit 7 is called and the print data of the same page from the host computer 2 is received and discarded (S6). ), And using this print data, the print output process is performed in the same manner as the process S3 (S7).
[0024]
Further, in the process S5, when all of one page of print data cannot be stored in the storage unit 7 (No in S5), a print data request is transmitted to the host computer 2 to print out the next number of copies. The print data that is the same page as the previous print data is received (S8), and the process S7 is executed.
[0025]
Next, it is confirmed whether all the processes for the number of copies requested for printing have been completed (S9). When all the copies have been output (Yes in S9), it is further confirmed whether or not printing of all the print data requested for printing has been completed (S10). When the completion of all print output processes is confirmed (Yes in S10), the print request process from the host computer 2 is terminated.
[0026]
In the process S9, when all the outputs for the number of copies have not been completed (No in S9), the process proceeds to the process S5 to perform the printing process for the remaining number of copies, and the printing process for the remaining number of copies is executed. In addition, in the process S10, when all the print request processing (print output for all pages) is not completed (No in S10), the host computer 2 is notified of the completion of print output for the requested number of pages. Then, the next print data transmission is requested (S11), the process proceeds to the process S2, and the above-described processes are repeated for the received print data.
[0027]
As described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2, in the first embodiment, when the print request for the print data created in the host computer 2 prints a plurality of copies by single-sided printing in units of pages, the control unit 5 The first print data is received via F4 and stored in the storage unit 7 while the stored print data is sequentially called to the control unit 5 to print the first copy. When it is detected that all the print data of the first copy is stored in the storage unit 7 when the printing of the first copy is completed, the second and subsequent prints are already stored in the storage unit 7. The image data that has been bitmap-developed from the print data is sent to the printer engine 6 by the number of copies, and the second and subsequent copies of the same page of print data are received and discarded by the communication I / F 4. Further, when the first copy is not completely stored in the storage unit 7 when the first copy is completed, the control unit 5 sends the second and subsequent copies from the host computer 2 via the communication I / F 4. Print data is sent to the printer engine 6 and the second and subsequent copies are printed.
[0028]
As a result, the processing time corresponding to the number of copies in the print data received from the host computer 2 can be shortened, and the processing of the application program for performing the print processing for a plurality of copies can be released early.
[0029]
Further, when the print data stored in the storage unit 7 can be stored for one page or cannot be stored, the above processing is performed for each page of the received print data. Similar effects can be obtained by switching.
[0030]
Further, in the above processing, when the first copy of the print processing apparatus 1 is completed, as a means for stopping transmission of the next number of print data, when requesting the second copy of print data from the host computer 2, It is notified from the host computer 2 by notifying whether or not the print data for one page has been stored in the storage unit 7, for example, by notifying that the printing of the final number of copies has been completed when notifying the end of printing of the corresponding number of copies. You may make it stop transmitting the printing data of the 2nd copy. As a result, communication processing between the print processing apparatus 1 and the host computer 2 can be reduced by transmitting print data for the second and subsequent copies, and communication processing for occupying a line in a connection form via a network such as a LAN can be reduced.
[0031]
For example, as a means for stopping transmission of print data, a request for transmission of print data of the same page to be transmitted for each page when printing a plurality of copies and the next page after printing all the copies of the corresponding page The print data transmission request can be distinguished from the print data transmission request and transmitted to the host computer 2.
[0032]
Next, in Example 2 of the present embodiment, the target of the print data stored in the storage unit 7 in Example 1 is one page of single-sided printing, but in Example 2, double-sided printing is performed. The print data of one sheet (front and back two pages) was used. That is, in the second embodiment, in order to perform double-sided printing, the print data stored in the storage unit 7 corresponds to one sheet on the front and back (one page on two sides), either one on the front or back (one page on one side). In this case, it is possible to store one sheet instead of one page in the first embodiment, and further, whether or not one page half (one of the front and back) of one sheet can be stored, and can be stored in the storage unit 7 By using the stored print data, the processing for transferring print data can be reduced, and the efficiency of application program processing and communication processing can be improved.
[0033]
Further, even in the case where the print data requested to output a plurality of copies is processed by mixing single-sided printing and double-sided printing, the processing described in the first and second embodiments is performed, so that one sheet is obtained. In the print data that can be stored in the storage unit 7 in units of one page, the efficiency of each process described above can be achieved by using the print data that can be stored in the storage unit 7.
[0034]
Next, in the third embodiment of the present embodiment, print data to be received is printed not in units of one sheet and one page, in the case where the storage unit 7 has a larger storage capacity than the first and second embodiments. Check whether all the print data of the requested print job or multiple pages can be stored, and if it can be stored, use this to perform the print processing, and print data for the number of copies It is possible to reduce the number of times of transmission / reception and to improve the efficiency of the application program and communication processing in the printing processing of a plurality of copies as described above.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when single-sided printing and double-sided printing are mixed, print data stored in units of print jobs, double-sided sheets, and single-sided pages can be stored in the storage unit. By reusing data, the number of processes for transferring print data between the print processing apparatus and the host computer can be reduced, and the efficiency of application program processing and communication processing can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a print processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the print processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print processing apparatus 2 Host computer 3 Connection means 4 Communication I / F
5 Control unit 5a CPU
5b ROM
5c RAM
6 Printer Engine 7 Storage Unit

Claims (10)

An inkjet printer that prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical pages are continuously transmitted from a host computer,
Storage means for storing the print data for printing a plurality of copies;
Detecting means for detecting whether the capacity of one page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means;
When printing a plurality of copies of the print data, based on the detection by the detection means, the print data in which a plurality of the same pages are successively transmitted via the storage means are sequentially printed, An ink jet printer which switches whether printing is performed by repeatedly using one of the same pages already stored in the storage unit . When the detection unit detects that the capacity of the one page does not exceed the capacity of the storage unit, discarding print data other than one of the plurality of identical pages already stored in the storage unit The inkjet printer according to claim 1. When the detection unit detects that the capacity of the one page does not exceed the capacity of the storage unit, the transmission of print data other than one of the plurality of the same pages already stored in the storage unit is stopped. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet printer is required. When a page with a capacity not exceeding the capacity of the storage means and a page with a capacity exceeding the capacity of the storage means are mixed,
The page of the capacity not exceeding is repeatedly printed using one of the plurality of the same pages already stored in the storage means ,
4. The ink jet printer according to claim 1, wherein the print data in which the plurality of the same pages are continuously transmitted is sequentially printed for the pages having the capacity exceeding the capacity. 5. An inkjet printer that prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are continuously transmitted from a host computer when performing double-sided printing of print data,
Storage means for storing the print data for printing a plurality of copies;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the capacity of one double-sided page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means;
When printing a plurality of copies of the print data, on the basis of detection by the detection means, the print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are successively transmitted via the storage means, or An inkjet printer that switches whether printing is performed by repeatedly using one of the plurality of identical double-sided pages already stored in the storage unit . If the detection means detects that the capacity of the one-sided page does not exceed the capacity of the storage means, discards print data other than one of the plurality of identical double-sided pages already stored in the storage means The inkjet printer according to claim 5, wherein: When the detection unit detects that the capacity of the one-sided page does not exceed the capacity of the storage unit, transmission of print data other than one of the plurality of identical double-sided pages already stored in the storage unit The inkjet printer according to claim 5, wherein a stop is requested. When it is detected by the detection means that the capacity for the same double-sided page exceeds the capacity of the storage means, and it is detected that the capacity of a single-sided page of the same double-sided page portion does not exceed the capacity of the storage means,
For the single-sided page with a capacity not exceeding, the one-sided page already stored in the storage means among the plurality of identical double-sided pages is repeatedly used for printing
The inkjet printer according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein, for the other one-sided page, print data to which the one-sided page is continuously transmitted among the plurality of identical double-sided pages is sequentially printed. A printing control method for an inkjet printer that prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical pages are continuously transmitted from a host computer,
Storing the print data in a storage means for printing a plurality of copies;
Detecting whether the capacity of one page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means;
When printing a plurality of copies of the print data, based on the detection, print data in which a plurality of the same pages are continuously transmitted is sequentially printed via the storage unit, or the plurality of the same pages A method for controlling the printing of an ink jet printer, wherein printing is performed by repeatedly using one already stored in the storage means . When performing double-sided printing of print data, a print control method for an inkjet printer that prints a plurality of copies by sequentially printing print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are continuously transmitted from a host computer,
Storing the print data in a storage means for printing a plurality of copies;
Detecting whether the capacity of one-sided page of the print data exceeds the capacity of the storage means;
When printing a plurality of copies of the print data, based on the detection, print data in which a plurality of identical double-sided pages are continuously transmitted via the storage means is sequentially printed, or the plurality of identical data A method for controlling printing of an ink jet printer, wherein printing is performed by repeatedly using one of double-sided pages already stored in the storage unit .

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