JPH045554B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printer device having a jam detection means.

Conventionally, various devices have been developed and proposed that output page information using, for example, electrostatic recording devices or inkjet recording devices using laser beams, optical fibers, etc., CRT displays, and the like.

For example, when recording a text, it stores text information that is input continuously line by line from a storage device such as magnetic tape (MT) or a disk.
By sequentially extracting this stored text information line by line, a character code is output for each line continuously in the direction of raster scanning such as a laser beam, and the necessary character signals are generated accordingly. It is used to record characters.

Conventional storage devices have a storage capacity of 1 after recording one page and when recording text information for the next page.
A recording device that can accommodate only one page has the disadvantage that it is not possible to record the next page immediately after the previous page has been recorded, making it impossible to perform continuous high-speed recording. Furthermore, if paper jams occur during continuous recording, several pages of text information may be missing or duplicated if the recording device does not have a recovery capability. If such a situation occurs, even if you remove the cause of the jam and restart recording, the output may not be in order.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printer device equipped with a jam detection means that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks. Specifically, a receiving means receives print code data from the main control section, a storage means stores the print code data, a conversion means converts the code data in the storage means into recording dot data, and the conversion means a recording means having a jam detecting means for performing recording based on the recording dot data converted by the recording dot data and detecting a paper jam, and receiving print code data by the receiving means and storing the print code data in the storage means. It has a first control section that stores a control program to control and a second control section that stores a control program that controls recording of the recording means, and the first control section and the second control section perform processing in parallel. The second control unit transmits to the first control unit enable information indicating that the recording unit is capable of recording and detection information regarding the number of jammed sheets based on the jam detection output of the jam detection unit, and The object of the present invention is to provide a printer device having a jam detection means characterized in that the control section executes control based on the possibility information and the detection information.

In this way, the first control section that controls the reception of print code data and the storage of the code data in the storage means and the second control section that performs recording control execute control operations in parallel. So,
High-speed data transmission and high-speed recording become possible.

In addition to simply executing parallel control, when a paper jam occurs in the recording means, the second control section transmits detection information regarding the number of jammed sheets to the first control section. The second control unit can be left to monitor the occurrence of jams, which increases the control throughput of the first control unit, eliminates the need to manage the number of jams, and makes it easier to manage the output order after a jam occurs. Become.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the system configuration will be explained using FIG. 1.
The system is composed of a host computer 150, a controller 151, and a laser beam printer 156.

The Centronics interface 152 is for the controller 151 to receive text information from the host computer.

The controller 151 is controlled by a controller control section 153 consisting of two microcomputers CPU1 and CPU2.

The CG controller 154 is for converting coded character data into a dot pattern for recording. The interface 155 is for outputting dot pattern data to a laser beam printer 156.

157 consists of a basic memory that can be completely erased, random access memory (RAM), and has two page memories (PRM) for storing one page's worth of text information and one line's worth of text information. It also has two line memories (LRM) for storing the dot patterns of some characters, and a table for converting text information specified by external code from the host computer into internal code. have.

The basic memory 158 is a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as
(referred to as ROM).

External memory (EXM) 159 to 162 is comprised of RAM and is an area for storing dot patterns such as kanji characters that are not normally used, and can be added as an option. Additionally, EXM1 has a table for converting external codes to internal codes.

Next, the processing method will be explained using the memory configuration formula shown in FIG. 2-1 and the general flowchart of CPU1 and CPU2 shown in FIG. 2-2.

The CPU 1209 and the CPU 2210 execute their respective processes asynchronously, and synchronize by handshaking by exchanging flags during data transfer.

First, the CPU 1209 registers the character dot pattern (font) in the font data RAM 204 that stores the dot pattern and EXM1 to EXM4, converts the external code (ASCII, etc.) corresponding to the registered character into an internal code, and prints the page. It is stored in the memory 1 (PRM1) 202 and one page worth of text information is created.

It also handles various types of errors.

First, registration of dot patterns (fonts) will be explained.

After being reset, CPU1 initializes and receives data from the host computer. This data is sent in the form of commands that follow a certain format. CPU1 analyzes this data, determines the command, and performs processing according to the command. When a command to register dot pattern data is received, the font data RAM 204 or EXM 15 is
Write dot patterns in numbers 9 to 162, and write addresses in which the dot patterns of each character are registered in the table. After the registration is complete, one page of text information is sent from the host computer 150. I received this article information
The CPU 1 analyzes the information (code), refers to the table created at the time of dot pattern registration, creates an internal code, and writes one page of information to the page memory PRM 1202 according to the format specified by the command in advance. Font data ROM20
Since we have already created a table for the characters in 3, we will access that table. When one page's worth of text information has been created in this way, the one page's worth of information is transferred from PRM1 to PRM2 using DMA (direct memory access). however,
CPU1 and CPU2 are processing asynchronously, so
Before performing DMA transfer, CPU1 notifies CPU2 that DMA transfer will be performed, and waits until CPU2 is ready. Then, DMA transfer is performed for the first time only after the preparation of CPU2 is completed. CPU1 and CPU2
Handshake between them is via control port 20, which can be commonly accessed by CPU1 and CPU2.
This is done by exchanging flags in step 8.

When the CPU 1 finishes transferring one page of text information to the CPU 2, it also receives the next page's information from the host computer 100 and performs processing to create a new page of text information in the PRM1.

On the other hand, the CPU 2210, which has received one page of text information in the page memory RPM 2207, stores one line of information in the line memory LRM 206 in order to output the information to the laser beam printer.

One page of text information contains character data, ruled line data, and instructions, so CPU2 extracts these three types of data from page memory PRM2 and converts them into a format that can be output to a laser beam printer. and line memory LRM206
write to.

After the CPU 2 repeats the process of creating one line of information for the number of lines and outputs one page of information, it waits for the next page's information to be transferred.

Further details of the apparatus are provided below.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an outline of a recording device using a laser beam.

In FIG. 3, 301 is a laser oscillator;
2 is a reflecting mirror, 303 is a modulator, 304 is a beam expander, 305 is a rotating polygon mirror, 307 is a .theta. lens, 308 is a photosensitive drum, and 311 is a recording paper.

A laser beam oscillated by a laser oscillator 301 is guided to an input aperture of a modulator 303 via a reflecting mirror 302. The reflecting mirror 302 is inserted to bend the optical path in order to reduce the space of the apparatus, and can be removed if unnecessary.

For the modulator 303, an acousto-optic modulation element using a known acousto-optic effect or an electro-optic element using an electro-optic effect is used.

In the modulator 303, the laser beam is modulated in intensity according to the input signal to the modulator 303.

In addition, when the laser oscillator 301 is a semiconductor laser, a gas laser, etc. that can perform current modulation, or an internally modulated laser that incorporates a modulation element in the oscillation optical path, The modulator 303 is omitted and the beam is guided directly to the beam expander 304.

The beam diameter of the laser beam from the modulator 303 is expanded by a beam expander while remaining a parallel beam. Furthermore, the laser beam whose beam diameter has been expanded is incident on a polyhedral rotating mirror 305 having one or more mirror surfaces. The polyhedral rotating mirror 305 is mounted on a shaft supported by a high-precision bearing (for example, an air bearing) and is driven by a motor 306 that rotates at a constant speed (for example, a hysteresis synchronous motor, a DC servo motor). As a result, the horizontally swept laser beam 312 is imaged as a spot on the photosensitive drum 308 by the imaging lens 307 having f/θ characteristics.
In a general imaging lens, when the incident angle of a ray is θ, the image forming position f on the image plane has the following relationship: γ=f・tanθ−(1) (f: focal length of the imaging lens) As in this embodiment, the incident angle of the laser beam 312 reflected by the fixed polyhedral rotating mirror 305 to the imaging lens 307 changes linearly with time. Therefore, the moving speed of the imaged spot position on the photosensitive drum 308, which is the image surface, changes non-linearly and is not constant. That is, the moving speed increases at the point where the angle of incidence increases. Therefore, when a row of spots is drawn on the photosensitive drum 303 by turning on the laser beam at regular time intervals, the spacing between the spots will be wider at both ends than at the center. To avoid this phenomenon, the imaging lens 307
is designed to have the characteristic γ=f・θ−(2).

Such an imaging lens 7 is called an f/θ lens.

Furthermore, when collimated light is imaged into a spot by an imaging lens, the minimum diameter of the spot dmin is dmin=fλ/A-(3) where f: focal length of the imaging lens λ: wavelength of the light used A : Given by the entrance aperture of the imaging lens; if f and λ are constant, a smaller spot diameter dmin can be obtained by increasing A. The beam expander 304 mentioned above is used to provide this effect. Therefore, the necessary
If dmin is obtained by the beam diameter of the laser oscillator, the beam expander 304 is omitted. The beam detector 318 includes a small entrance slit and a fast response time photoelectric conversion element (e.g.
PIN diode). Beam detector 318
detects the position of the swept laser beam 312, and uses this detection signal to determine the start timing of the input signal to the modulator 303 for providing desired optical information on the photosensitive drum. As a result, errors in the division accuracy of each reflective surface of the polyhedral rotating mirror 305 and synchronization deviations of horizontal signals due to uneven rotation can be greatly reduced, and a high-quality image can be obtained. The tolerance range of accuracy required for the drive motor 306 is increased, and the drive motor 306 can be manufactured at a lower cost.

As described above, the deflected and modulated laser beam 312 is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 308, visualized by a known electrophotographic processing process, and then transferred and fixed onto the recording paper 311 and output as a hard copy.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a control block diagram of the laser beam printer of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

In the figure, 100 is a magnetic tape (MT), 101 is an interface for exchanging information signals with the MT 100, 102 is a first control unit, 1
03 is a data selector that switches data address bus lines, etc.; 104 is a page storage device that stores text information for one page; 105 is a second control unit that converts the contents of the first storage device into columns; and 106 is a data selector. , 107 and 107' are first and second column storage devices each having one column of information obtained by column conversion of the input text information by the second control unit 105. 108 is a data selector, 109 is a character generator, and this output signal 303S is input to the modulator 303 in FIG. 3, so that character information is formed on the photosensitive drum 308. 318S is the signal from the beam detector.

FIG. 5 shows an input format for text information, and FIG. 6 shows a state in which text information is recorded on recording paper. An arrow 11 in FIG. 5 indicates an input direction, and input is made along the direction of the arrow 11. Arrow 12 in FIG. 6 indicates the output direction to the recording medium (main scanning direction), and arrow 13 indicates the moving direction of the recording medium (sub-scanning direction).

Now, when text information is continuously input line by line, the information is received by the interface 101 and supplied to the first control unit 102. In this case, the first control section 102 controls the data selector 103 and directs the page storage device 104 toward the first control section 102 . Then, the supplied text information for each line is sequentially stored in one storage device 104. As a result, one page of text information is stored in the page storage device 104 in a format corresponding to the input format shown in FIG. When all text information for one page is stored in the page storage device 104, the first
The control unit 102 switches the data selector 103 to connect the second control unit 105 and the page storage device 104, and instructs the second control unit 105 to start printing. Then, the photosensitive drum 308 starts rotating, and the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive drum 308 is charged by the charger. In parallel with this, the second control unit 105 performs a column conversion operation (described later) from the text information in the page storage device 104 to perform one column's worth of information ("Kan", "X" in the example of FIGS. 5 and 6). ”, “1”, “A”) are transferred to the first column storage device 107'. In this case, the data selector 106 is connected to the second control unit 105 and the first column storage device 10.
7, the data selector 108 couples the character generator 109 and the second column storage 107'. The character generator 109 inverts the data selectors 108 and 106 in response to the first detection signal from the beam detector 318 in the recording device, so that the character generator 109 and the first column storage device 107 are coupled.
The second control unit 105 and the second column storage device 107' are coupled. Naturally, the first
The column storage device 107 completely stores the information of the first column of character information. At the same time, character generator 1
From 09 onwards, an interrupt is generated in the second control unit 105.

At the same time as these processes, the character generator 109 transfers the last line character (in this example, "Kan") among the characters to be recorded in the first column of the recording paper (text information) from the first column storage device 107. ) and select the corresponding character (“Kan”)
The dot information signal 303S of the first column is output from the character generator 109. This signal 303S modulates the modulator 303 and exposes a latent image corresponding to the dot information in the first column of the last row of characters among the characters to be recorded in the first column of the recording paper (text information). Formed on drum 308. Next, among the characters to be recorded as the first column of text information on the recording paper, the character in the second line from the last line (in this example, “X”)
The first column of dot information is output from the character generator 109, which modulates the modulator 303 to form its latent image on the photosensitive drum. This operation is performed by creating a latent image of each character (“Kan”, “X”, “1”, “A”) to be recorded in the first column of the recording paper (text information) for the dot information in the first column. This process is repeated until all the latent images of the characters in the first column of the recording paper (text information) are completely formed. For example, if the characters are formed by a 16 x 32 dot matrix, regardless of the number of characters in the first column of text information.
Repeated 16 times.

While this scanning is repeated 16 times, the second control unit 105 receives the second text information due to the previous interruption.
Each character to be recorded as a column is recorded in the page recording device 1.
04, the data are sorted while performing column conversion operations, and transferred to the second column storage device 107'. It goes without saying that this operation must be performed reliably during 16 scans. When the character generating device 109 finishes forming all the character information in the first column storage device 107 as a latent image in this way, that is, when the 16 scans are completed, the data selectors 106 and 108 are reversed again, and at the same time the second control section 105 generates an interrupt.

This time, the character generator 109 and the second column storage device 1
07' is coupled, the second control unit 105 and the first column storage device 107 are coupled, and the above repetition is executed.

As this repetition progresses, 1 in the page storage device 104
The second control unit 105 generates a completion signal to the first control unit 102 at the time when all of the text information for a page has been converted into a latent image.

If copying is required, the first control unit 102 instructs to start printing again and repeats the same process.

FIG. 7 shows another example of the control block diagram.

In FIG. 5, parts having the same functions as those in FIG. 4 are given the same numbers. Reference numerals 203 and 203' designate data selectors for switching bus lines for data addresses, and reference numerals 204 and 204' designate first and second page storage devices that each store one page's worth of text information.

Now, when text information is input consecutively line by line,
The information is received by the interface 101 and provided to the first control unit 102'. At this time, the first control section 102' controls the data selector 203, and the first control section 102' controls the data bus 21 from the first control section 102'.
1 and the data bus 212, and the text information is connected to the first
Written to page storage 204. Meanwhile, at this time, the data selector 203' connects the bus line 214 from the second page storage device 204' and the bus line 216 to the second control section 105'.

The text information on the first page input line by line in this manner is sequentially stored in the first page storage device 204 in a form corresponding to the input format shown in FIG.

All text information for one page is stored in the first page storage device 204
, the first control unit 102' switches the bus line selection of the data selector 203', and the data selector 203' selects the bus lines 215 and 216.
1 stored in the first page storage device 204.
The page information is output to the second control section 105'.
The second control unit 105' executes the column conversion operation described in FIG. On the other hand, the first control section 102' is completely free from the time when the control of the recording device is transferred to the second control section 105' until the recording is completed.
The page storage device 204' is also in an idle state. Therefore, the first control section 102'
3' connects bus lines 215 and 216, and at the same time, data selector 203 connects bus lines 211 and 213. As a result, at the same time as the first page information stored in the first page storage device 204 is output, the first control unit 102' outputs the second page information to the second page storage device 204' via the interface 101. It becomes possible to memorize.

When the reception of the text information of the second page is completed and the recording completion is confirmed from the second control unit 105', the data selectors 203 and 203' are switched again, and the second page memory The device 204' and the first control section 102' are coupled to the first page storage device 204, and a print instruction is issued to the second control section 105', and this operation is repeated.

Since data writing and reading can be performed in parallel in this way, efficient data transfer and continuous recording without waiting time are possible.

The column conversion method performed by the second control units 105, 105' will be described. page storage devices 104, 204,
Text information is input line by line to 204' as described above. Here, it is assumed that a maximum of 132 characters are input per line (this number of characters is Imax) and a maximum of 66 lines per page (this number of lines is Jmax). Therefore, the format of the input page information is as shown in FIG. Each block BK in FIG. 8 is organized by character, and the numbers within the block BK indicate the order in which they are input. This input information is stored in the page storage devices 104, 204, 20
4', for example, as shown in FIG. 9, they are stored in order starting from the first row.

To convert this into columns, Cn=(66-V)・132+W...(1) V: Number of columns after column conversion 1, 2,..., 66 W: Number of rows after column conversion 1, 2, ...132 Cn: Numerical numbers 1, 2, ..., 8712 in block BK In other words, the numerical number Cn in block BK is applied to row W and column V after column conversion. Therefore, first, set W = 1 and output V by changing it from 1 to 66, then set W = 2, change V from 1 to 66 and output, and repeat this until W = 66, as shown in Figure 10. It can be output as shown in .

If we extend this to a general formula, Cn=(Jmax−V)・Imax+W……(2) holds true. According to equation (2) W=1 V=1, 2, 3,..., Jmax W=2 V=1, 2, 3,..., Jmax 〓 〓 W=Imax V=1, 2, 3,..., Jmax Column conversion can be performed by outputting in this order.

With such a configuration, the first control section 10
2,102' converts the input code to internal code,
Since information is stored in the page storage units 104, 204, and 204', and the second control unit performs column conversion, an efficient control system can be formed.

For example, if you want to input kanji or special shapes,
JIS C 6228-1975 “Extension method for information exchange codes”
When input from an external source using a code system that conforms to
Just interpreting this meaning is a considerable burden.
Furthermore, column conversion operations are performed and the page storage device 104,
If information is stored in (204, 204'), it will take a considerable amount of time from the start of code input until the print instruction is issued, which is undesirable in terms of overall efficiency (throughput). In this embodiment, regardless of whether it is in portrait or landscape mode, the pages are stored in the order of the codes input to the page storage device, so pages can be stored in the minimum amount of time, and when page storage is completed, the print state immediately returns. Since the column conversion is performed through gaps in the recording system where there is sufficient time, the overall efficiency (throughput) is improved. Furthermore, by having a plurality of page storage devices, reception of text information for the next page is completed before recording of the previous page is completed, so that the maximum throughput can be obtained.

Note that when column conversion is not required (recording in vertical mode), the second control unit 105, 105' converts the information input row by row into the page storage devices 104, 204, 204' as it is, row by row. column storage device 107,1
Transfer to 07'. That is, column storage devices 107, 10
7' stores information for one line. The vertical and horizontal mode signals are transmitted through the interface 101 and the first control unit 10.
The signal is input from the MT 100 to the second control unit 105, 105' via 2, 102'. Second control unit 10
5, 105' determines whether or not to perform column conversion by determining the vertical and horizontal mode signals.

The output device has been explained above, and FIG. 11 shows a more easily understandable version. In FIG. 11, the processing procedure begins with the host computer 6.
One page of text information is output from 01, and the interface 602 synchronizes with the microcomputer of the first control unit (CPU1) to store the received text information in the first page storage device. Upon receiving one page of text information, the CPU 1606 collects the information in the first page storage device 603 and transfers it to the second page storage device 604.

The second control unit (CPU2) 607 outputs the information in the second page storage device 604 to the recording device 605, and the recording device outputs a character code for each line, generates a necessary character signal according to it, and performs recording. .

CPU1 and CPU2 execute processing asynchronously and are synchronized only when transferring data between page storage devices, so when CPU2 is outputting information from the second page storage device 604 to the recording device 605, CPU1 is Parallel processing for importing data from the computer 601 to the first page storage device 603 can be performed. The CPU 1 mainly registers characters and stores text information in the first page storage device 603 according to the format.
The CPU 2 controls the recording device 605 and outputs the text information in the second page storage device to the recording device line by line.

As described above, CPU2 controls the recording device.
In addition to these basic controls, control in the CPU1 and CPU2 includes error detection and associated error processing.

These errors include errors related to software and farm (SYNTAX) managed by CPU1.
ERROR, CG MEMORY FULL), hardware errors (PARITY ERROR, HARD
There is also a JAM ERROR (paper jam in the printer) that is managed by the CPU 2 related to the present invention.

Regarding errors detected by the CPU 2, in this embodiment, the CPU 2 notifies the host computer of the error information via the CPU 1.

There are three types of jam errors as shown in FIG.
If JAM is currently being output to 5, select JAM, if it is the one before that, select JAM.
A signal indicating the number of jammed sheets is transmitted from CPU2 to CPU1, such as JAM1 and JAM2 if two sheets were previously jammed. In Fig. 12, 1 is a paper feed cassette, 2 is a paper output tray, 3 is a fixing device, 4 is a photosensitive drum, 5 is a developing device, 6 is a semiconductor laser, 7 is an optical deflector, and 8 is an F/θ lens. be.

The processing when a jam occurs is explained using the flowchart in Figure 13. First, when a jam occurs in the storage device, the CPU 2 that controls the recording device
detects that a jam has occurred and notifies CPU1 of the error information (711). At this time, after the jam is released, a special print, such as a black solid (BLACK
In order to output (PRINT), halftone dots (MESH), or character output, CPU2 requests CPU1 to turn on the special print (712).

Upon receiving the error information, CPU1 analyzes the information, and if it is a jam error, it notifies the host computer of the error information through the interface, sends a signal to the hardware to turn on the special print generator, and 1st at that time
The contents of the page storage device are not transferred to the second page storage device, but wait for retransmission of data from the host computer. If the host computer processes the received error information appropriately, even if a jam occurs, it is possible to obtain output in the correct order without having to start over from the beginning.

When the cause of the jam is removed and the machine is restarted, the special print generator 534 shown in FIG. 14 is turned on by the CPU 1, so that a print depending on the special print generator can be obtained as a character output signal. The operation of other parts of FIG. 14 is detailed in Japanese Patent Application No. 1983-47105.

Since the signal is controlled within a special print generator, prints of solid black, halftone dots, characters, etc. can be obtained. For example, if the signal is constantly set to "1", a black print (BLACK PRINT) will be output, and it is also possible to output a special pattern or a message informing an error.

After outputting one special print (714), CPU2 immediately instructs CPU1 to turn off the special print (715). Upon receiving the instruction, the CPU 1 turns off the special print generator 534 and returns to normal processing.
As described above, by outputting a special print when a jam occurs, the present invention makes it possible to call attention to and check whether there is an error in the output order, duplication, or omission before and after the jam.

In this example, an electrophotographic recording device using a laser beam was used as the output device, but
Electrophotographic devices that use OFT (optical fiber tube) or needle electrodes instead of laser beams, as well as inkjet and CRT (cathode ray tubes)
It can be implemented for any output method such as.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an overall system configuration diagram, Figure 2-1 is a memory configuration diagram of the system, Figure 2-2 is a system flowchart, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a recording device using a laser beam, and Figure 4 is the first recording device in Fig. 3.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the input form of text information, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which text information is recorded in horizontal mode, and FIG. Control block diagram, Figures 8 to 10 are diagrams for explaining the column conversion method, Figure 11 is a block diagram of the system configuration, and Figure 12 shows the jam state in a recording device using a laser beam. Figure, 13th
The figure is a flowchart of jam processing CPU1 and CPU2, the first
FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a character generating device that outputs a special print.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Receiving means for receiving print code data from the main control section; Storage means for storing the print code data; Conversion means for converting the code data in the storage means into recording dot data; a recording means having a jam detecting means for performing recording based on the recording dot data converted by the converting means and detecting a paper jam; and receiving print code data by the receiving means and storing the print code data in the storage means. a first control section storing a control program for controlling storage of the recording means; and a second control section storing a control program for controlling recording of the recording means, the first control section and the second control section being arranged in parallel. the second control unit transmits to the first control unit enable information indicating that the recording means is capable of recording and detection information regarding the number of jammed sheets based on the jam detection output of the jam detection means; A printer device having a jam detection means, wherein the first control unit executes control based on the possibility information and the detection information.