JP3281465B2 - PRINTING APPARATUS, ITS CONTROL METHOD, AND ITS STATUS DISPLAY METHOD - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, its control method and its status display method , and more particularly, to a printing apparatus for recording an image based on print data output from a host apparatus on a predetermined recording medium and its control. Method and status display
It is about the law .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some recent printing apparatuses are compatible with various printer languages. In general, a mode in which print data is processed in a printer language unique to the apparatus itself is called a native mode, and a mode in which print data is processed based on print data in another printer language (a plurality of print languages may be used) is called an emulation mode.

In many cases, these modes are switched by, for example, a switch (for example, a dip switch or an operation panel) provided in a printing apparatus. However, the contents of the print data are analyzed to determine which printer language data is used. It has also been proposed to switch based on the determination result.

[0004]

In the former case, if the wrong mode is selected, the intended operation cannot be obtained at all, and the latter case has the same problem that it cannot be completely judged correctly. Will be.

[0005] In any case, for example, while the printing apparatus is performing a printing process in a process that does not correspond to the print data to be originally processed, if the operator proceeds without knowing that, there is no possibility. Meaningful printing is performed, and resources are wasted.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has been made in consideration of the problem that a recording medium provided in a printing apparatus is provided.
Notify the upper-level device which paper source to feed paper is selected.
Printing on the intended recording medium
Printing apparatus and its control method, and to either a can be easily grasped
It is intended to provide a method for displaying the state .

[0007] In order to solve this problem, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, print data is received, the recording of an image based on the print data on a recording medium
A printing apparatus for, during the processing of the print data, the indicia
The recording medium on which the image based on the printing data is recorded is fed.
Selection means for selecting that paper source, selected by said selection means
And a notifying unit for notifying the host device of information indicating the selected paper feed source .

[0008] The control method of the printing apparatus of the present invention is as follows.
Is provided. That is, receiving the print data,
Record an image based on the print data on a recording medium
A method of controlling a printing apparatus, wherein during processing of print data,
The recording medium on which the image based on the print data is recorded is supplied.
A selection step of selecting a paper by the paper feed source, the selection scan
Information indicating the paper source selected in the step is reported to the upper-level device.
Notification step.

The status display method of the present invention is described below.
Process. That is, the print data is received and the
Printing device for recording an image based on printing data on a recording medium
Status display method to display the paper source selected at
The print data selected during the processing of the print data.
Paper source where the recording medium on which the image based on the image is recorded is fed
Receiving a notification of information indicating the upper device,
In response to the notification, the paper source selected by the printing device is
Information on the display screen of the host device.
And

[0010]

In the configuration or steps of the present invention,
While processing print data, select the paper source
When selected, information indicating the selected paper feed source is notified to the host device .

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 shows a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) applied to this embodiment.
This LBP is capable of registering a character pattern and registering a fixing format (form data) from a data source (not shown) (an upper device such as a host computer). Further, the LBP of the present embodiment can perform print processing (emulation function) based on a plurality of printer languages, and these can be switched by an instruction from an operation panel described later. When the power is turned on, a predetermined printer language is selected.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1000 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code), form information, macro instructions, and the like supplied from an externally connected host computer, and stores the information. , A corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on recording paper as a recording medium. Reference numeral 1012 denotes an operation panel on which switches for operation and an LCD display are arranged, and 1001 denotes an LBP1
This is a printer control unit that controls the entire 000 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from the host computer. The control unit 1001 mainly converts a character pattern corresponding to character information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 1002. The laser driver 1002 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 1003, and switches on and off a laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 according to an input video signal. The laser beam 1004 is swung right and left by the rotary polygon mirror 1005 to scan on the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. This latent image is developed by a developing unit 1007 around the electrostatic drum 1006 and then transferred to a recording sheet. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is a paper cassette 100 mounted on the LBP1000.
8 and feed roller 1009 and transport roller 1
010 and 1011 take in the device and are supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006. Then, the developing device 1007
The toner image adhered on the electrostatic drum 1006 is transferred onto the conveyed recording paper. After that, the recording paper is conveyed in the direction of the fixing device 1012, where the toner is fixed, and finally discharged by the discharge roller 1013 to the outside.

The recording paper can be supplied from a manual insertion slot 1014 in addition to the paper cassette 1008. When the paper is manually fed, a sensor (not shown) provided on the conveyance roller detects this, stops the movement of the conveyance rollers 1010 and the like, and takes in the recording paper from the manual feed port 1014.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control system of the LBP (particularly, the printer control unit 1001) of the present invention.

The printer control unit 1001 inputs a character code and an empty information 211 such as an external character font, form information, or macro registration information sent from the higher-level device 201 which is a source of image information, and inputs the information in page units. Is controlled to print character information.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an input means (input / output interface) for inputting various information from the host device 201 and notifying the host device of information from the printing device. That is, the data flow is bidirectional. Reference numeral 203 denotes a reception buffer for temporarily storing various information input through the input unit 202. Reference numeral 204 denotes a notification buffer for temporarily storing notification information from the printing apparatus to the host apparatus. Reference numeral 205 denotes a CPU that controls the entire apparatus and functions as a processing unit that performs various processes described below. C
The PU 205 has a built-in ROM 206.
The OM 206 also stores programs and the like shown in a flowchart described later, and font data.

Reference numeral 207 denotes a page buffer for analyzing information stored in the reception buffer 203 and storing data (intermediate data) before generating a bit image. A frame buffer 208 stores at least one page of pattern information developed into a character pattern for a print image. An output interface 209 generates a video signal corresponding to the pattern information from the frame buffer 208 and sends it to the printing unit 210. The printing unit 210 is as described with reference to FIG. 1, and actually records an image on a recording sheet based on a video signal transmitted from the printer control unit 1001.
Discharge.

[Explanation of Processing Contents] First, before explaining the processing contents in the printing apparatus of the embodiment, a processing procedure in a general printing apparatus will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S301, print data receiving processing (S301) is performed, and then the next step S302 is performed.
Then, the input data is analyzed in the print language specified by the operator in advance. Then, the process proceeds to step S303, and the process proceeds to a bitmap developing process of the print data based on the analysis result.

Thereafter, the flow advances to step S304 to perform print output processing based on the developed bitmap image. If it is determined in step S305 that there is data to be printed next, the processing from step S301 is repeated. At this time, if the operator does not give an instruction to change the processing target printer language, the processing is performed based on the same printer language. Thus, when it is determined that there is no data to be processed, the above-described series of processing ends.

Next, the processing contents of the printing apparatus of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, and will be described first.

First, print data reception processing is performed in step S401, and pre-analysis processing is performed in the next step S402. In this process, an area for storing the result of the automatic determination is secured. After that, the process proceeds to step S403 to perform a print language switching process, and activates a print language emulation unit that processes the input data group (calls an emulation program). Then, the process proceeds to step S404 and proceeds to step S40.
Analysis processing is performed by the print language analysis routine determined in step 3, and intermediate data is generated in the page buffer 207.

In step S405, a bitmap image is developed in the frame buffer 208 based on the generated intermediate data. Then, the process proceeds to step S406 to output the bitmap image developed in the frame buffer 208 to the printing unit 210 as a video signal.

Thereafter, in step S407, it is determined whether or not there is unprocessed print data in the reception buffer 203. If it is determined that there is unprocessed print data, the process of step S401 is repeated.

Next, the pre-analysis processing in step S402 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

First, in step S501, it is determined whether the information notification flag (1301 in FIG. 13) of the automatic processing result is ON. The area including the information notification flag is secured at a predetermined address in a RAM (not shown) in the CPU 205, and ON / OFF is set by the operation panel.

If this flag is OFF (meaning that automatic notification is not performed), the process returns to the main routine without doing anything.

On the other hand, if this flag is ON, the flow advances to step S502 to determine whether or not the input data is the head of the job. If not, the process is terminated and the process returns to the main routine. If it is the head of the job, the process proceeds to step S503 to secure an automatic processing result storage area on the internal RAM. Then, the area secured in step S504 is initialized, and the pre-analysis processing ends.

Next, the discrimination of the print language and the emulation start switching process in step S403 shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In steps S601 to S605, print data of a predetermined data amount (stored in the reception buffer 203) is analyzed to determine which printer language the print data sent from the host computer is based on. Judgment is made, and the analysis process (emulation) for the corresponding printer language is started according to the result. If it is determined that the print language does not match any of the print languages, a control program of a print language predetermined by an operator (using an operation panel) is started (step S606).

Next, in step S607, a print language information request flag is determined. This can be done by turning on / off this flag from the operation panel. However, in the embodiment, when a predetermined command is sent from the host computer, the flag is turned on (when an information request command is received).
Alternatively, it is turned off (when an information request release command is received).

If this flag is OFF, that is, if the host computer has not requested an information request, the process is terminated. If the request has been made, the flow advances to step S608 to write the print language name in the automatic processing result storage area secured in the pre-analysis processing. In the next step S609, the selected print language is notified to the host device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of the analysis processing in step S404 shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the processing will be described. In the following description, ON / OFF of the selection result information request flag may be set from the operation panel. However, in the embodiment, it is set according to whether there is a request / cancel command from a higher-level device.

Step S701 shows an analysis process not related to the automatic process in this embodiment. Further, in the present flow, a paper feed port and font selection are shown as an example of automatic processing, but it is assumed that other automatic processing installed in the printing apparatus is processed in the same manner.

In step S702, a paper feed port in which a paper size matching the paper size specified by the received data is set is selected. Next, the process proceeds to step S703 to select a paper feed port selection result information request flag (13 in FIG. 13).
03), and if not requested, the flow proceeds to S706. If the request has been made, the process proceeds to step S704, where the selected paper supply port name is written in the automatic processing result storage area secured in the pre-analysis processing, and in step S705, the selected paper supply port is notified to the upper apparatus.

In this way, some selection processing is performed, and the selection result is repeatedly notified or not notified to the higher-level device according to the content of the selection result information request flag.

For example, when the processing has proceeded to step S706, the following is performed.

First, in step S706, a font is selected from character attributes such as the character pitch, character size, and character style indicated by the received data. Next, the process proceeds to step S707 to determine the font selection result information request flag (1304 in FIG. 13). If not, the process proceeds to the next analysis process. If the request has been made, the process proceeds to step S708, where the selected font name is written in the automatic processing result storage area secured in the pre-analysis processing, and in step S709, the selected font name is notified to the host device.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, when the operator of the higher-level device wants to know how the printing apparatus is performing a process, he or she gives a predetermined instruction (this allows the printing device to perform printing). By issuing various information notification request commands to the apparatus), the operation contents (selection contents) of the printing apparatus sent one after another can be confirmed on the screen.

Various methods are conceivable for displaying the status of the printing apparatus on the display screen of the host apparatus. For example, the latest state may be displayed in a fixed display area on the screen, or when there is a change in information to be sent, the message is scrolled and past message contents are displayed. It might be possible to make comparisons. In any case, the host device may notify the operator of the status of the printing device.

<Explanation of the Second Embodiment> The above embodiment (first embodiment)
In the second embodiment), an example in which the result is notified to the host device every time the automatic processing is performed is described. However, in the second embodiment, when the printing processing in the selected emulation mode ends, An example in which automatically processed information is collectively notified to a higher-level device will be described.

The structure of the apparatus is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted here.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the second embodiment.

First, print data reception processing is performed in step S801, and pre-analysis processing is performed in the next step S802. In this process, an area for storing the result of the automatic determination is secured. After that, the process proceeds to step S803 to perform a print language switching process, and activates a print language emulation unit that processes the input data group (calls an emulation program). Then, the process proceeds to step S804 and proceeds to step S80.
Analysis processing is performed by the print language analysis routine determined in step 3, and intermediate data is generated in the page buffer 207.

In step S805, the bitmap image is developed in the frame buffer 208 based on the generated intermediate data. Then, the process proceeds to step S806 to output the bitmap image developed in the frame buffer 208 to the printing unit 210 as a video signal.

Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S807,
It is determined whether or not the processing of the currently selected emulation (target printer language interpretation processing) has been completed. If it is determined that the processing has been completed (for example, if the emulation has been switched to another emulation), the process advances to step S808 to transfer the currently selected content stored in the automatic processing area to the host device.

Then, in the next step S809,
The above processing is repeated until it is determined that a series of processing is completed.

The flow charts of FIGS. 9 and 10 need not be described. Since the selected content is transferred to the host device in step S808 of the main process, the process of transferring to the host device in FIGS. 6 and 7 in the first embodiment described above is eliminated.

<Explanation of Third Embodiment> In the second embodiment, the automatic processing information is notified to the host device. However, the contents of the automatic processing result are printed as shown in the following flow chart. Can also be output to In this case, in order to prevent waste of the print medium, it is possible to select whether or not to output the print medium.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the main processing in the third embodiment. In the case of the present embodiment, in step S1108, the automatic processing information print instruction (13 in FIG. 13)
02) is determined. If there is no print instruction, step S1
Proceed to 110. If there is an instruction, the contents of the automatic processing information storage area are output to the print medium (S1109), and the process proceeds to S1110.

It is to be noted that, instead of outputting to recording paper, it may be displayed on an LCD display or the like provided on the operation panel.

<Explanation of the Fourth Embodiment> In addition to the above-described embodiments, an error that can be canceled occurs in the analysis processing, expansion processing, and output processing in the main processing of each embodiment, and the error is automatically canceled. In this case, the automatic processing information can be left as shown in the following flow.

FIG. 12 shows an interrupt routine when a releasable error occurs.

The error is automatically canceled (step S120).
1), the released error information (error type, etc.) is stored in the automatic processing information storage area (step S1202). Then, the released error information is notified to the host device (step S1203), and the process returns to the main process.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to notify the operator of the result determined by the automatic processing of the printing apparatus via a higher-level device or a print medium, and the operator can transfer the transferred data group. You can check what kind of automatic processing is being performed on Therefore, even if the printing apparatus makes an erroneous determination, the operator can confirm the cause and can perform a normal printing operation on the printing apparatus. This eliminates waste of printing media and waste of time due to misjudgment of the printing apparatus.

In the embodiment, the laser beam printer has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to various devices such as an LED printer and a printer of a type in which a recording head performs a scanning motion to print.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or to an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, printing can be performed.
Which paper slot to feed the recording media of the device is selected
Notifying the host device of the
Whether the printing was performed on the recording medium of
You can easily understand.

[0061]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural sectional view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation content of a general printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of a pre-analysis process in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of a print language discrimination switching process in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of an analysis process in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of a print language discrimination switching process in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of an analysis process in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the contents of a main process in the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of an interrupt process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a flag indicating the presence or absence of a request for automatic processing information in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 201 Upper device as data source 202 Input means 203 Reception buffer 204 Notification I / F buffer 205 CPU 206 ROM in which control program is written 207 Page buffer 208 Frame buffer 209 Output interface unit 210 Printing unit

Claims (29)

(57) [Claims] 1. A receiving print data, a printing apparatus which makes recording on a recording medium an image based on the print data, during the processing of the print data, an image based on the print data
Selecting means for selecting a paper source from which a recording medium to be recorded is fed; and information indicating the paper source selected by the selecting means.
A notification device for notifying the position device . 2. The host device is a host computer.
The notifying unit is configured to select the paper source selected by the selecting unit.
Output to the host computer
The printing device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies each time the selecting unit selects a paper source . 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit notifies each time the processing of the print data ends. 5. A request for selection result information from a host device.
Determining means for determining whether or not there is a request for the selection result information.
In response to the request, the notifying means is controlled by the selecting means.
Notification of the selected paper source to the host device
The method according to claim 1, wherein:
Printing equipment. 6. A storage unit for storing information indicating a paper source selected by the selection unit , wherein the notification unit includes:
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information stored in the storage unit is notified. 7. A paper source that can be selected by said selection means.
Note that this includes a paper cassette or manual feed slot.
7. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein
Place. 8. A paper source notified by said notifying means.
Information to be displayed is displayed on a display screen of the host device.
The mark according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that:
Printing equipment. 9. The printer according to claim 9, wherein the printer is a laser beam printer.
Claims 1 to 8, wherein the control unit der Rukoto
A printing device according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. An image based on print data is recorded on a recording medium.
And a printing unit for recording the information in the printer.
The printing device according to any one of to -8. 11. The printing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the selection unit is configured to specify the print data.
Paper loaded with paper that matches the paper size
11. A paper source is selected.
The printing device according to claim 1. 12. A method of controlling a printing apparatus for receiving print data and recording an image based on the print data on a recording medium, wherein the image based on the print data is processed during processing of the print data.
A selection step of selecting a paper source to which a recording medium to be recorded is fed; and information indicating the paper source selected in the selection step,
A notification step of notifying the position device . 13. A request for selection result information from a host device.
A determination step of determining whether or not there is a request for the selection result information.
In response to the request, in the notifying step, the selecting means
Notify the host device of the information indicating the paper source selected by
The control method according to claim 11, wherein the control is performed. 14. A paper feed that can be selected in said selecting step.
Originally, include a paper cassette or a manual feed slot.
The control method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein: 15. A paper feed source notified in said notifying step.
Is displayed on the display screen of the host device.
The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein
Control method. 16. In the selecting step, the print data is
If paper that matches the specified paper size is loaded
13. The paper source that is present is selected.
16. The control method according to any one of the fifteenth aspects. 17. Receiving print data and receiving the print data
Select the printing device that records the image based on the image on the recording medium
A status display method for displaying the selected paper source, based on the print data selected during the processing of the print data.
Indicates the paper source from which the recording medium on which the image
Receiving the notification of the print information by the higher-level device; and, in response to the notification, determining a paper source selected by the printing device.
Information on the display screen of the host device.
And a status display method. 18. A paper cassette that can be selected is a paper cassette.
And a manual feed slot is included.
7. The status display method according to 7. 19. A paper source selected by the printing apparatus.
Request to the printing device.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of sending.
Is the status display method described in 18. 20. The host device, comprising : a host computer;
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein
State display method according to one of the above. 21. Receiving print data, the print data
A printing device for recording an image based on
According to the analysis of the received print data.
Feeding a recording medium on which an image based on data is recorded
Selection means for selecting based on the information indicating the paper feed source that has been selected by the selection means, the upper
Notification means for notifying the position device.
Printing device. 22. The host device is a host computer.
And the notifying unit is configured to feed the sheet selected by the selecting unit.
Information indicating the source is output to the host computer.
22. The printing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein: 23. A request for selection result information from a higher-level device is received.
Determining means for determining whether or not there is a request for the selection result information.
In response to the request, the notifying means is controlled by the selecting means.
Notification of the selected paper source to the host device
The method according to any one of claims 21 and 22, wherein
The printing device according to the above. 24. A paper source selected by said selecting means.
Storage means for storing information indicating
Is Umate broadcast summarizes the information stored in said storage means
24. The method according to claim 21, wherein
6. A printing device according to claim 1. 25. A sheet feeder selectable by the selector
Originally, include a paper cassette or a manual feed slot.
The method according to any one of claims 21 to 24, characterized in that:
Printing device. 26. A paper feed source notified by said notification means.
Is displayed on the display screen of the host device.
The method according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein
Printing device. 27. The printing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the selection means is configured to specify the print data.
Paper loaded with paper that matches the paper size
27. A paper source is selected.
The printing device according to claim 1. 28. Receiving print data, the print data
Of a printing device for recording an image based on the image on a recording medium
The print data according to the received print data analysis process.
Feeding a recording medium on which an image based on data is recorded
A selection step of selecting a paper source, and information indicating the paper source selected in the selection step.
And a notifying step of notifying the position device.
How to control. 29. Receiving the print data, the print data
Select the printing device that records the image based on the image on the recording medium
Status display method for displaying the fed paper source, wherein the printing device is selected according to the analysis processing of the received print data.
Recording medium on which an image based on the print data is recorded.
Notification of information indicating the paper source from which the body is fed,
Receiving, and according to the notification, the paper source selected by the printing device
Information on the display screen of the host device.
And a status display method.