JP5609511B2 - printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs printing while receiving print data.

  Conventionally, as a printer that performs printing while receiving print data, for example, a printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 below, prints according to the amount of data in a buffer memory that temporarily stores received data from a host system. Some change the speed.

  In such a printing apparatus, sequential printing control is performed to start a printing operation when a certain amount of printing data less than one sheet of printing paper is accumulated.

JP-A-62-169677

  However, when performing sequential printing control that starts a printing operation when a certain amount of print data is accumulated, there are cases where printing must be paused when the data reception speed becomes slower than the printing speed. In order to restart the printing operation in such a case, it is necessary to wait until a certain amount of print data is stored again. If such a case occurs frequently, white lines and print density unevenness may occur. There was a risk of causing a decrease in print quality.

  In particular, when print data is received via a low-speed wireless communication interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared communication when high-speed printing is possible, the above-described risk of quality deterioration becomes significant.

  In the case of a printing apparatus that does not perform the sequential printing control as described above but prints after storing one sheet of printing paper from the viewpoint of shortening the printing time, one sheet. Although printing does not stop during printing of a minute amount of printing paper and there is no risk of causing the above-described deterioration in quality, the time from the start of receiving print data to the start of printing operation is relatively long May be. In other words, the user often feels that it takes a long time from when the printing is instructed on the host side until the printer actually starts moving, which may cause stress.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and is a printer that performs printing while receiving print data, and changes the print speed to be adjusted so that the pause of printing is reduced. It is an object to provide a printer.

The invention according to claim 1 made to solve this problem is a printer that performs printing while receiving print data, and is received by the data receiving unit that receives the print data and the data receiving unit A buffer memory for storing a print image of print data, a print mechanism for printing the print image stored in the buffer memory on a print medium and also transporting the print medium, and controlling the print speed of the print mechanism And a speed calculation unit that determines a printing speed of the printing mechanism, and the speed calculation unit performs the following processes (a) to (b): (a) the buffer memory A printing speed is determined based on a current data amount stored in the data reception speed and a current reception data speed at the data receiving unit, and (b) a printing speed at which the printing mechanism is determined by the process of (a). To speed The drive control unit controls via the so becomes closer, the printer includes an acquisition unit that acquires a limiting element for limiting the maximum printing speed of the printing mechanism, the speed calculation portion, the (a) ~ Instead of each process of (b), the following processes (1) to (5) are executed, and (1) a first maximum printing speed is calculated based on the limiting factor acquired by the acquisition means, 2) Calculate a second maximum printing speed within a predetermined time based on the current amount of data stored in the buffer memory and the current received data speed at the data receiver, and (3) the process of (1) Compare the first maximum printing speed calculated in step 2 with the second maximum printing speed calculated in step (2), and (4) the slower maximum printing speed by comparison in step (3). (5) The driving is performed so that the printing speed of the printing mechanism is closest to the target value determined in the process of (4). Controlled via the control unit, the printer, the (2) process further comprising an input unit for setting the predetermined time used in, characterized by.

The invention according to claim 2 is the printer according to claim 1 , wherein the limiting element acquired by the acquisition unit includes a print density of printing, a temperature of the printing mechanism, and a current printing of the printing mechanism. At least one of the speed and the contents of the print image stored in the buffer memory is included.

  That is, in the printer of the present invention, the printing speed is determined by the speed calculation unit based on the current data amount stored in the buffer memory and the current reception data speed in the data receiving unit, and is closest to the determined printing speed. Thus, since the printing speed of the printing mechanism is controlled via the drive control unit, the printing speed can be changed to an adjusted printing speed so as to reduce the pause of printing.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a block diagram for explaining printing speed control of the printer. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining printing speed control by a drive control unit provided in the printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a printing speed control program executed by the printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a printing speed control program executed by the printer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a printing speed control program executed by the printer.

[1. Example of use of the present invention]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a usage example of a printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to the host device 101 via the connection cable L.

  The printer 1 according to the present embodiment is a so-called mobile printer, and prints on cut paper or continuous paper. In the example of FIG. 1, continuous paper 2 is set in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. The printer 1 according to the present embodiment may be a so-called stationary printer.

The interface between the printer 1 and the host device 101 according to the present embodiment includes a wireless connection in addition to the connection cable L (wired connection) illustrated in FIG. As connection methods, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), infrared communication, USB (Univesal Serial Bus)
Serial communication (for example, RS-232C).

  In the example of FIG. 1, the host device 101 is a so-called stationary personal computer. In addition to the personal computer shown in FIG. 1, the host device 101 includes, for example, a notebook-size personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, and the like.

[2. Internal configuration of the present invention]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the printing speed control of the printer 1 according to this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a data reception unit 11, a print image buffer 12, a drive control unit 13, a motor head 14, an input unit 15, and the like.

  The data receiving unit 11 receives print data and the like. As described above, the data receiving unit 11 has a wired connection and a wireless connection. In this embodiment, the data receiving unit 11 is wired via a connection cable L (see FIG. 1). It is a connection.

  The print image buffer 12 is a buffer memory that stores print images of print data received by the data receiving unit 11. A print image of the print data is stored in the print image buffer 12 at the current reception data rate in the data reception unit 11.

  The drive control unit 13 is a control device that performs printing speed control of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. The drive control unit 13 transmits the current data amount from the print image buffer 12, while transmitting the printed data amount to the print image buffer 12.

  The motor head 14 includes a conveyance motor and a print head. In other words, the motor head 14 prints the print image stored in the print image buffer 12 on the continuous paper 2 with the print head while receiving the control of the printing speed by the drive control unit 13 and transports the continuous paper 2. It is a printing mechanism performed by a conveyance motor. The temperature of the motor head 14 is acquired by the drive control unit 13 as the environmental temperature of the motor head or the like.

  The input unit 15 is for the user to set setting data such as print density and predetermined time. The input unit 15 informs the drive control unit 13 of the print density and the predetermined time set by the user.

  Note that the print density and the predetermined time set by the user in the host device 101 may be transmitted to the drive control unit 13 via the data receiving unit 11. Further, default values are prepared for the print density and the predetermined time.

  The printer 1 according to the present embodiment is not illustrated, but includes basic hardware for operating the printer 1 itself such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a ROM (Read-Only Memory). Wear wear. With these basic hardware, a control program represented by a flowchart described later is executed.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the printing speed control by the drive control unit 13. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the drive control unit 13 includes a speed calculation unit 21, a drive unit 22, and a temperature sensor 23.

  The speed calculation unit 21 executes a speed calculation process shown in FIG. For this purpose, the current data amount is transmitted from the print image buffer 12, the print density and a predetermined time are transmitted from the input unit 15, and the current print speed determined as the target value is acquired. As for the currently received data speed, a value measured by the print image buffer 12 is transmitted to the speed calculator 21.

  The drive unit 22 drives the motor head 14 (the conveyance motor and the print head) so as to be closest to the current printing speed determined as the target value by the speed calculation unit 21. Further, the drive unit 22 transmits the printed data amount to the print image buffer 12 as a result of driving the motor head 14 (the conveyance motor and the print head).

  The printed data amount transmitted to the print image buffer 12 is used when calculating the current data amount of the print image buffer 12 and is subtracted from the received data amount of the print image buffer 12 to obtain the print image buffer 12. Twelve current data amounts are calculated.

  The temperature sensor 23 detects the temperature of the motor head 14 (the conveyance motor or the print head). The detected environmental temperature is acquired by the speed calculation unit 21 as the environmental temperature.

[3. Operation of the present invention]
Next, the operation of the printer 1 according to this embodiment will be described. 4 to 6 are flowcharts for explaining a printing speed control program executed by the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, first, in S11, data reception and reception speed measurement processing are performed. Specifically, the received data is received by the data receiving unit 11. Also, the current received data rate is measured at regular intervals. The measurement target is the speed at which the print image of the print data is accumulated in the print image buffer 12. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S12.

  In S12, it is determined whether printing is necessary. In this determination, for example, if there is a print instruction in the received data in S11, it is assumed that printing is necessary. If printing is not necessary (S12: NO), the process proceeds to S14 below. On the other hand, if printing is necessary (S12: YES), the process proceeds to the printing process of S13, and the print data included in the received data of S11 is printed.

  For that purpose, it progresses to S21 of FIG. 5, and a motor drive is performed. Specifically, the transport motor constituting the motor head 14 is driven to start transporting the continuous paper 2. Thereafter, the speed calculation process of S22 is performed. In the speed calculation process of S22, first, the process of S101 of FIG. 6 is performed.

  In S101, the maximum speed Vdmax is acquired from a database in which limiting factors such as print density are considered. In addition to the print density, the limiting element takes into account the temperature of the motor head 14 (the conveyance motor and print head) detected by the temperature sensor 23 and the current printing speed acquired in S104 or S105 below. This is because, for example, in printing with a high print density, the heating time for the print head of the motor head 14 becomes long, so it is necessary to slow down the print speed. Therefore, it is necessary to slow down the printing speed, and when the temperature of the print head of the motor head 14 is lowered, it is necessary to slow down the printing speed in order to increase the heating time of the print head of the motor head 14. This is because the printing speed must be controlled. Even if the contents of the print image stored in the print image buffer 12 (for example, a text document with a light print load or a still image with a heavy print load), the voltage of the motor head 14, etc. are considered. Good. As for the print density, a default value may be used instead of the density set by the input unit 15. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S102.

In S102, the maximum speed Vrmax is acquired from the current data amount, the current received data speed, the current printing speed, and the like. Specifically, the current data amount is represented by “Dbuf”, the current received data speed is represented by “Vrcv”, the current printing speed is represented by “Vprn”, and the predetermined time set by the input unit 15 is “t”. In the following expression (1), the maximum speed Vrmax is obtained.
Formula (1) Vrmax = (Dbuf + Vrcv × t) / t

  When the current data amount Dbuf is represented by the number of lines (line) and the predetermined time t is represented by the number of seconds (sec), the unit of the maximum speed Vrmax is “line / sec”. For the predetermined time t, a default value may be used instead of the time set by the input unit 15.

  Thereafter, when the process proceeds to S103, it is determined whether or not the maximum speed Vdmax acquired in S101 is smaller than the maximum speed Vrmax acquired in S102. If the maximum speed Vdmax acquired in S101 is smaller than the maximum speed Vrmax acquired in S102 (S101: YES), the process proceeds to S105, where the maximum speed Vdmax acquired in S101 is the current speed. Substituted in the printing speed Vprn. On the other hand, when the maximum speed Vdmax acquired in S101 is not smaller than the maximum speed Vrmax acquired in S102 (S101: NO), the process proceeds to S104 and the maximum speed acquired in S102. Vrmax is substituted into the current printing speed Vprn. That is, the slower one of the maximum speed Vdmax acquired in S101 and the maximum speed Vrmax acquired in S102 is substituted for the current printing speed Vprn.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to S23 of FIG. In S23, head control is performed. Specifically, the print heads constituting the motor head 14 are controlled so as to be closest to the current print speed Vprn acquired in the speed calculation process of S22. In this way, the speed at which the current data amount Dbuf disappears is slowed by controlling the print head constituting the motor head 14 to be closest to the current print speed Vprn. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S24.

  In S24, it is determined whether or not there is print data. This determination is based on the current data amount Dbuf. Here, when there is print data (S24: NO), the process returns to S21, and the processes after S21 are performed again. With respect to the process of S21 performed again, specifically, the transport motor constituting the motor head 14 is controlled so as to be closest to the current printing speed Vprn acquired in the speed calculation process of S22. . In this way, the speed at which the current data amount Dbuf disappears is slowed by controlling the transport motor constituting the motor head 14 to be closest to the current printing speed Vprn. On the other hand, if there is no print data (S24: YES), the process proceeds to S14 in FIG.

  In S14, system processing is performed. In this processing, processing relating to a power key (not shown) and various sensors is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S15.

  In S15, it is determined whether or not to turn off the power. If the power is not turned off (S15: NO), the process returns to S11 and the processes after S11 are repeated. On the other hand, when the power is turned off (S15: YES), the printing speed control program shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 6 is terminated.

[4. Summary]
That is, in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the speed calculation unit 21 determines the current print speed based on the current data amount Dbuf accumulated in the print image buffer 12, the current reception data speed Vrcv in the data reception unit 11, and the like. Vprn is determined as a target value (S22), and the print head and the conveyance motor that constitute the motor head 14 use the drive unit 22 of the drive control unit 13 so as to be closest to the determined current printing speed Vprn (target value). (S23, S21), the printing speed can be changed so as to be adjusted so that the pause of printing becomes smaller.

  Accordingly, the print speed of the print head or the conveyance motor constituting the motor head 14 is gently changed according to the current data amount Dbuf stored in the print image buffer 12 and the current received data speed Vrcv in the data receiving unit 11. Since printing can be continued while dropping, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of white line and print density unevenness due to temporary suspension of printing, and the print quality can be improved.

  Furthermore, by changing the print speed so that the number of print pauses is reduced, not only the print pause time but also the print speed acceleration time when printing resumes and the print speed when printing stops Since the deceleration time is also shorter, the overall printing time from the start to the end of printing can be shortened.

  Note that, as the current reception data rate Vrcv at the data reception unit 11 is slower, the effect of improving the print quality is increased. Therefore, unlike the present embodiment, the data reception unit 11 is configured with Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared communication. Even when a low-speed wireless communication interface such as the above is used, it is preferable.

  In the printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the current data amount Dbuf stored in the print image buffer 12, the current reception data speed Vrcv in the data receiving unit 11, and the like, that is, “currently stored. The current print speed Vprn (target value) while considering both the “data amount (current data amount Dbuf)” and the “data amount that will be accumulated (current reception data rate Vrcv × predetermined time t in equation (1))” ) Is determined, the accurate current print speed Vprn (target value) is determined even if the current reception data speed Vrcv can vary greatly due to the data reception unit 11 receiving the compressed data as print data. Can be made. In this respect, unlike the present embodiment, the data reception unit 11 may perform wireless communication (for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or infrared communication) in which the currently received data rate Vrcv may fluctuate greatly. The same.

[5. Others]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the meaning.
For example, the current print speed Vprn is determined by the speed calculation unit 21 based only on the current data amount Dbuf accumulated in the print image buffer 12 and the current received data speed Vrcv in the data receiving unit 11, and the determined current print Even if the print head and the transport motor constituting the motor head 14 are controlled via the drive control unit 13 so as to be closest to the speed Vprn, the above-described effects can be exhibited.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 2 Continuous paper 11 Data receiving part 12 Print image buffer 13 Drive control part 14 Motor head 15 Input part 21 Speed calculation part 23 Temperature sensor t Predetermined time Dbuf Current data amount Vdmax Maximum speed Vrmax Maximum speed Vprn Current printing speed

Claims (2)

A printer that prints while receiving print data,
A data receiving unit for receiving the print data;
A buffer memory in which a print image of the print data received by the data receiving unit is stored;
A printing mechanism that prints the print image stored in the buffer memory on a print medium and also transports the print medium;
A drive controller for controlling the printing speed of the printing mechanism;
A speed calculation unit that determines a printing speed of the printing mechanism,
The speed calculation unit performs the following processes (a) to (b):
(a) determining a printing speed based on a current data amount stored in the buffer memory and a current reception data speed in the data receiving unit;
(b) controlling via the drive control unit so that the printing speed of the printing mechanism is closest to the printing speed determined in the processing of (a) ,
The printer
Obtaining means for obtaining a limiting element for limiting a maximum printing speed of the printing mechanism;
In place of the processes (a) to (b), the speed calculation unit executes the processes (1) to (5) below,
(1) calculating a first maximum printing speed based on the limiting factor acquired by the acquisition unit;
(2) calculating a second maximum printing speed within a predetermined time based on a current data amount stored in the buffer memory and a current reception data speed in the data receiving unit;
(3) Compare the first highest printing speed calculated in the process (1) with the second highest printing speed calculated in the process (2);
(4) The slower maximum printing speed is determined as the target value by comparison in the processing of (3),
(5) Control via the drive control unit so that the printing speed of the printing mechanism is closest to the target value determined in the process of (4),
The printer
Provided with an input unit for setting a predetermined time used in the process of (2) ,
Printer characterized by. The printer according to claim 1,
The limiting element acquired by the acquisition unit includes at least one of printing density of printing, temperature of the printing mechanism, current printing speed of the printing mechanism, or contents of the print image stored in the buffer memory. A printer characterized in that one is included .

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