JP2001277664A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an easy-to-use printing device that can select and use an appropriate printing mode depending on whether next data is received during a predetermined time after reset processing. To provide. A printing device (P) can print data transmitted from a computer (1) by selecting one of a plurality of printing modes. When the reset key 7a is pressed, the CPU 3 deletes the data and initializes the print mode (S6). If the next data is not received within a predetermined time after the reset key 7a is pressed (S5: NO), the CPU 3 cancels the selected print mode while the next data is not received during the predetermined time. Is received (S5: YES), the print mode selected before the reset operation is continued.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of printing data transmitted from a host device by selecting any one of a plurality of printing modes, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of printing a plurality of printing modes. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which improves usability when selecting and using an optimum printing mode among the modes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printing device capable of printing data transmitted from a host device such as a computer or a word processor, there is a page printer, for example. This page printer can generate one page of print image data using a character generator or the like when text data is received, for example, and perform printing using an image forming unit such as an electrophotographic system. As such a page printer, there is a printer that uses a page description language obtained by extending a print control code. When the page printer uses the page description language to create print image data, it can deform graphic characters and the like in addition to simple character printing. As typical page description languages, for example, Post Script (a page description language developed by Adobe Inc. and capable of high-resolution printing), HP-PCL (a page description language adopted by Hewlett-Packard Inc.) and LIPS (page description language adopted by CANON) and the like.

However, printers that use these page description languages preferentially use page description languages adopted by their own companies, and therefore often cannot correctly print data transmitted in page description languages adopted by other companies. Further, some page printers in recent years have a plurality of emulation functions (a function for realizing equivalent functions in a different system and maintaining compatibility) for the convenience of the user. Some recent page printers are provided with a plurality of page description languages and a plurality of emulation functions, thereby further increasing user convenience. In that case, the page printer analyzes the page description language or the like of the received data, selects an emulation function corresponding to the page description language, and sets an appropriate print mode.

[0004]

Incidentally, during the printing operation of such a page printer, the user sometimes presses a reset key to perform a reset process of the printing operation. In that case, the page printer:
In general, a mode in which the print data currently being printed is discarded, the print mode that is currently being executed is initialized, and the print mode is returned to the print mode set in advance as a default. However, if the next data received after the reset processing is the print data following the print data received before the reset processing, the print It may be different from the mode. In such a case, since the initialized print mode is different from the print mode selected before the reset process, there is a problem that correct printing cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problem, and selects an appropriate print mode depending on whether the next data is received during a predetermined time after reset processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing device which is excellent in usability.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of printing modes from data transmitted from a host device. In a printing device capable of performing printing, a reset operation member for erasing transmitted data and initializing a print mode, and receiving no next data within a predetermined time after a reset operation is performed by the reset operation member In this case, a control means is provided for continuing the print mode selected before the reset operation when the next data is received during a predetermined time while canceling the selected print mode.

According to the printing apparatus of the first aspect,
The data transmitted from the host device can be printed by selecting one of a plurality of print modes. When the next data is not received within a predetermined time after the reset operation by the reset operation member is performed, the control unit cancels the selected print mode and, on the other hand, releases the next data during the predetermined time. Is received, the print mode selected before the reset operation can be continued. Thus, it is possible to provide an easy-to-use printing apparatus that can select and use an appropriate printing mode depending on whether the next data is received during a predetermined time after the reset processing.

[0008] According to the printing apparatus of the second aspect,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data analysis execution unit that executes data analysis of the transmitted data when the next data is received during a predetermined time. The data analysis executing means analyzes data received in the selected print mode before the reset processing. According to the printing apparatus of the second aspect, the data analysis execution means performs data analysis of the transmitted data. Therefore, by grasping the transmitted data, a break in a page of the received data, a print job, etc. Can be determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the discarding means for discarding invalid data transmitted while the data analysis executing means executes data analysis is provided. It is characterized by having. According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect, the discarding unit discards invalid data until a break in a page or a break in a print job is found while executing data analysis by the data analysis executing unit. By printing valid data, unnecessary printing can be prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means continues the printing mode selected before the reset operation, and thereafter, during a predetermined time, If no data is received, the print mode continued up to that point is canceled.
According to the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect, even if the printing mode selected before the reset operation is continued, if the next data is not received within a predetermined time, the control means selects and continues before the reset operation. Since the print mode is released, it is possible to determine which of the plurality of print modes the newly received data is.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on a specific embodiment. First, the configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a printing apparatus P according to the present embodiment.

The printing apparatus P according to the present embodiment is a page printer, and as shown in FIG.
Interface 2, CPU 3, RAM 4, ROM 5,
A reception buffer 6, an operation panel 7, an image recording unit 8, a timer circuit 9, and the like are provided. And the printing device P
The CPU 3 functioning as a control means is configured as a core, and the CPU 3 includes the interface 2, the CPU 3, and the R
AM 4, ROM 5, reception buffer 6, operation panel 7, image recording unit 8, and timer circuit 9 are electrically connected. Here, the ROM 5 functioning as a storage means is a read-only nonvolatile memory, and stores a drive control program of the printing apparatus P, character generator data including outline font data, an image forming operation program, and the like. ing.

In this case, the printing device P is a page printer, and the interface 2 is connected to the computer 1 as a host device. The printer P can use any one of a plurality of emulation functions (eg, PCL-4 emulation mode, unique mode, etc.), and a program for executing any one of these emulation functions. To ROM5
And a program for executing data analysis of the transmitted data is stored in the ROM 5. Since the printing device P has a plurality of emulation functions and further has a program for analyzing the page description language and the like of the received data in the ROM 5, the CPU 3 selects an optimum emulation function and performs appropriate printing. Set the mode.

A RAM 4 functioning as a storage means.
Is a volatile memory that can store data for driving and controlling the printing apparatus P and also store data for image formation by the image recording unit 8. In addition, RAM
Reference numeral 4 may be, for example, a temporary storage memory such as a flash memory in addition to a rewritable nonvolatile memory. Then, the CPU 3 can temporarily store the data transmitted from the computer 1 in the reception buffer 6 via the interface 2 and then store the data in a predetermined reception data area in the RAM 4. In this case, if the data stored in the reception buffer 6 and the reception data area in the RAM 4 is determined to be invalid data by the CPU 3,
3 is erased under control.

The CPU 3 can express high-quality graphic characters and the like by using any one of the above-described emulation functions. And R
Since data stored in a predetermined reception data area in the AM 4 can be created as print image data for one page by using character generator data and the like stored in the ROM 5, a predetermined print data area in the RAM 4 can be created. Can store print image data. However, when using any one of a plurality of emulation functions, the CPU 3 needs to appropriately select an emulation function corresponding to the received data. In this case, in a standby state such as when there is no received data, and none of the plurality of emulation functions. Then, for example, when data in the unique mode is received, the received data is analyzed and determined, and the emulation function in the unique mode is selected. Then, the image recording unit 8 can print the print image data stored in a predetermined print data area in the RAM 4 by an electrophotographic method or the like by the selected emulation function.

The operation panel 7 has a number-of-prints setting key, a paper selection key, a print mode setting key (not shown), and a reset key 7a for performing a reset process during a printing operation. Have been. In this case, the reset key 7a functions as a reset operation member, and when the reset key 7a is pressed during the printing operation, the CPU 3 can erase the received data and initialize the selected print mode. The timer circuit 9 is a circuit for detecting time and time. In other words, the timer circuit 9 can determine whether or not to receive the next data for a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds) after the reset key 7a is pressed. When the print mode selected in
Thereafter, it is used to determine whether to receive the next data during a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds).

Next, control processing executed by the CPU 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the CP of the present embodiment.
It is a flowchart showing the control process which U3 performs.
Here, if the CPU 3 does not receive the next data within a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds) after the reset operation by pressing the reset key 7a, the CPU 3 cancels the selected print mode. When the next data is received for a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds), the print mode selected before the reset operation is continued. In this case, during printing operation control (printing operation), the user presses the reset key 7
When a is pressed, a reset key operation process is executed (step 1 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as S)). In this case, it is assumed that, for example, the unique mode is selected as the print mode selected before the reset operation.

When the user presses the reset key 7a during the printing operation control (printing operation) in the unique mode, the CPU 3 acquires the time data of the current time (T0) (S2). For example, if the user sets the reset key 7
If a is pressed, for example, at time 0:00, C
The PU 3 acquires the data at that time from the timer circuit 9. Then, the CPU 3 acquires the time data of the current time (T1) (S3). If the current time (T1) is, for example, time 0: 1, the CPU 3 acquires the data at that time from the timer circuit 9. Then, the CPU 3 determines whether or not the difference between the time data (T1−T0) is a timeout (S4). This determination is made, for example, at the time when the reset key 7a of the operation panel 7 is pressed (for example, T = 0 minutes 0
This is performed by detecting whether or not the time (in this case, 1 second) from the current time (for example, T1 = 0 minutes 1 second) to a current time (for example, 1 second) exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds). If the time (1 second in this case) from when the reset key 7a is pressed to the current time does not exceed a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4: NO), the CPU 3 determines whether or not there is received data. A judgment is made (S5). Specifically, the CPU 3 makes the determination by detecting whether or not the reception data is stored in the reception buffer 6. When the time until the current time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4: Y
ES), the CPU 3 clears the print mode of the selected unique mode (S6), and releases the print mode of the selected unique mode.

If the CPU 3 determines that there is no received data (S5: NO), it returns to S3 and acquires time data of the current time (T1) again. Thereby, C
The PU 3 determines whether or not to receive the next data within a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds) after the reset operation is performed by pressing the reset key 7a (S5). If the next data is not received (for example, about several tens of seconds) (S5: NO), the above steps are repeated (S3, S4, S5). Here, when the CPU 3 determines that the next data has been received within a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds) after the reset operation is performed by pressing the reset key 7a (S5: YES), the CPU 3 receives the next data. The received data is read out from the buffer 6 and analyzed, and invalid data during that time is discarded (S
7). This is a CP functioning as a data analysis execution unit.
While U3 analyzes the data in the received data, it discards invalid data until it finds a break in the print job or the beginning of the next print job, thereby preventing unnecessary data from being printed. That's why.

Next, the CPU 3 determines whether or not the job has ended (S8). In this case, the CPU 3
It is determined whether there is a signal indicating the end of the job in the unique mode, for example, a job end signal “$ X” (S8). When the job end signal “$ X” is included in the received data and it is determined that the job is ended (S8: YES), the CPU 3 clears the print mode (S9). This is because the print mode being executed is ended because the end of the job is detected while the CPU 3 executes the data analysis. Also,
There is no JOB end signal “$ X” in the received data,
When judging that it is not the end (S8: NO), the CPU 3 judges whether or not the job is started (S10). The CPU 3 determines whether a signal indicating the start of the job in the unique mode, for example, the job start signal “ESC% 012345” is included in the received data (S10).

Then, the job start signal "ESC% 012"
345 ”does not exist and it is determined that the job is not started (S
10: NO), the CPU 3 determines whether or not there is received data (S12). Here, when it is determined that there is received data in the RAM 4 and the receiving buffer 6 (S12: YE
S), returning to S7, the CPU 3 reads the received data from the reception buffer 6, performs data analysis, and discards invalid data during the data analysis. When determining that there is no received data (S12: NO), the CPU 3 returns to S2 and acquires time data of the current time (T0) again.
For example, if the time is 0 minutes and 3 seconds, the CPU 3 acquires the data at that time from the timer circuit 9. then,
The CPU 3 acquires time data of the current time (T1) (S3). If the current time (T1) is, for example, 0 minutes and 4 seconds, the CPU 3 stores the data at that time in the timer circuit 9.
To get from.

Then, the CPU 3 determines the time data difference (T
It is determined whether 1-T0) is timed out (S4).
This determination is made, for example, from the last time (for example, 0 minutes and 3 seconds) when there is no received data to the current time (for example, T1).
= 0 minutes 4 seconds) by detecting whether or not the time (1 second in this case) exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds). If the time until the current time (1 second in this case) does not exceed a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) after determining that there is no received data (S4: NO),
CPU 3 determines whether or not there is received data (S
5). Specifically, the CPU 3 makes the determination by detecting whether or not the reception data is stored in the reception buffer 6.

If the time until the current time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4: YES),
The CPU 3 clears the print mode of the selected unique mode (S6), and releases the print mode of the selected unique mode. As a result, the CPU 3 repeats the above steps until a next data is received within a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds) after determining that there is no received data (S3, S4, S5). . Therefore, even if the CPU 3 (control means) continues the print mode selected before the reset operation and does not receive the next data within a predetermined time, the CPU 3 (control means) cancels the print mode selected and continued before the reset operation. Thereafter, it is possible to determine which of the plurality of print modes the data received is. J
If it is determined that OB has started (S10: YES), C
PU3 executes the print mode which is the unique mode (S3).
11), the process proceeds to the next data receiving process (S13).

As described in detail above, the data transmitted from the computer 1 of the present embodiment is transmitted by the printing apparatus P which can select any one of a plurality of printing modes and print the data. A reset key 7a (reset operation member) for erasing data and initializing a print mode, and receiving next data for a predetermined time (for example, about several tens of seconds) after the reset operation by the reset key 7a is performed. If not, the selected print mode is canceled, whereas if the next data is received during a predetermined time, the CPU 3 (control means) that continues the selected print mode before the reset operation is provided. Depending on whether or not the next data is received during a predetermined time after the processing, an appropriate print mode can be selected and processed, resulting in excellent usability.

It is conceivable to reset the printing in the computer 1 before performing the reset operation using the reset key 7a. In this case, the computer 1
After the data transmission via the interface 2 is stopped, the reset operation by the reset key 7a is performed in the printing apparatus P. Therefore, after the reset operation, the data received before the reset and discarded (erased) by the reset operation Is not received. According to the flowchart of FIG.
Acquires time data of the current time (T0) (S2),
The time data of the current time (T1) is acquired (S3), and it is determined whether or not the difference (T1−T0) of the time data is a timeout (S4). If the time from when the reset key 7a is pressed to the current time does not exceed the predetermined time (S4: NO) and it is determined that there is no received data (S5: NO), the process returns to S3. Then, the time data of the current time (T1) is acquired again. Then, by repeating the above-described modes (S3, S4, S5), if the time until the current time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4: YES), the CPU 3 sets the selected unique mode to the original mode. The print mode is cleared (S6), and the print mode of the selected unique mode is released. As a result, the printer enters a standby state in which none of the print modes is selected.

It is conceivable that the user resets printing in the computer 1 after performing a reset operation using the reset key 7a. In this case, while the computer 1 is transmitting data via the interface 2, the reset key 7 a
Is performed, the data subsequent to the data received before the reset and discarded (erased) by the reset operation is received for a predetermined time after the reset operation.

In this mode, according to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the CPU 3 acquires the time data of the current time (T0) (S2), acquires the time data of the current time (T1) (S3), and acquires the time data. It is determined whether or not the difference (T1-T0) is a timeout (S4). If the time from when the reset key 7a is pressed to the current time does not exceed the predetermined time (S4: NO) and it is determined that there is received data (S5: YES), the CP
U3 reads the received data from the reception buffer 6, analyzes the data, and discards invalid data during that time (S7). Next, the CPU 3 determines whether or not the job ends (S8), and determines that the job has not ended (S8).
8: NO), the CPU 3 determines whether or not the job has started (S10). When it is determined that the job is not started (S1
0: NO), the CPU 3 determines whether or not there is received data (S12).

If it is determined that there is received data in the receiving buffer 6 (S12: YES), the process returns to S7,
The CPU 3 reads out the received data from the reception buffer 6, analyzes the data, discards invalid data during that time, NO in S8, NO in S10, and YES in S12.
Is repeated, and it is determined that there is no received data (S
12: NO), the time data of the current time (T1) is acquired (S3), and it is determined whether or not the difference (T1-T0) of the time data is a timeout (S4). Then, NO in S3 and S4 and NO in S5 are repeated, and the time until the current time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4:
YES), the CPU 3 clears the print mode of the selected unique mode (S6), and releases the print mode of the selected unique mode. However, before the time until the current time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4:
If it is determined that there is received data in the receiving buffer 6 (S5: YES), the CPU 3 reads out the received data from the receiving buffer 6 and performs data analysis.
Invalid data during that period is discarded (S7). Next, CP
U3 determines whether or not the job has ended (S8). If it is determined that the job has not ended (S8: NO), the CPU 3 determines whether or not the job has ended.
It is determined whether or not B has started (S10).

It is conceivable that the user does nothing in the computer 1 after performing the reset operation by the reset key 7a. In this case, reset key 7
a after performing the reset operation by the computer 1
However, since the data is transmitted via the interface 2, the data is transmitted until the JOB end signal is transmitted. In this case, according to the flowchart of FIG. 2, the CPU 3 acquires the time data of the current time (T0) (S2), acquires the time data of the current time (T1) (S3), and obtains the difference of the time data (S3). It is determined whether or not (T1−T0) has timed out (S4). If the time from when the reset key 7a is pressed to the current time does not exceed the predetermined time (S4: NO) and it is determined that there is received data (S5: YES), the CP
U3 reads the received data from the reception buffer 6, analyzes the data, and discards invalid data during that time (S7). Next, the CPU 3 determines whether or not the job has ended (S8), and if it determines that the job has ended (S8).
8: YES), the CPU 3 clears the print mode (S
9).

However, when it is determined that there is received data in the receiving buffer 6 before the time until the current time exceeds a predetermined time (for example, several tens of seconds) (S4: NO) (S5:
YES), the CPU 3 reads out the received data from the reception buffer 6, performs data analysis, and discards invalid data during that time (S7). Next, the CPU 3
It is determined whether or not the job is to be ended (S8). If it is determined that the job is not to be ended (S8: NO), the CPU 3 determines whether or not to start the job (S10). When the reset key 7a is pressed during the printing operation control (printing operation) in the original mode, the data is received for a predetermined period of time. The print mode is cleared in S6. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the printing device P is a page printer capable of executing any one of a plurality of page description languages (for example, Post Script, HP-PCL, LIPS, etc.) in which a print control code is extended. A program for executing one of the modes may be further stored in the ROM 5. A program for analyzing a plurality of page description languages is provided in the ROM 5, and
If the CPU 3 can analyze the page description language or the like of the received data, the CPU 3 can select an optimum page description language and set an appropriate print mode. In the measurement of the time data difference (T1−T0), the difference between the reset time and the current time is obtained. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this mode. The operation may be started, or the determination as to whether or not a timeout has occurred may be made by interrupt wait control. Further, as a printing apparatus, for example, an electrophotographic page printer is adopted, but the invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, a normal printer may be used. A page printer using a head or the like may be used.
In the embodiment, as a plurality of print modes,
The PCL-4 emulation mode, unique mode, and the like were employed, but it is clear that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Further, a reset operation member other than the reset key 7a may be employed.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus capable of printing data transmitted from a host device by selecting any one of a plurality of printing modes. A reset operation member for erasing the transmitted data and initializing the print mode, and when the next data is not received within a predetermined time after the reset operation by the reset operation member is performed, the selected print mode is selected. In contrast, when the next data is received during a predetermined time, control means for continuing the print mode selected before the reset operation is provided. Depending on whether or not the next data is received, processing can be performed in an appropriate print mode, and the usability is excellent.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the next data is received during the predetermined time, the data analysis means for executing the data analysis of the transmitted data is provided. When the means grasps the transmitted data, it is possible to determine a page break and a print JOB break of the received data.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the data analysis executing means is provided with a discarding means for discarding invalid data transmitted during execution of the data analysis, the data analysis executing means performs the data analysis. Unnecessary printing can be prevented by performing analysis and discarding invalid data until a page break or a print JOB break is found.

Further, according to the invention as set forth in claim 4, when the printing mode selected before the resetting operation is continued, and when the next data is not received within a predetermined time after that, the control means determines whether or not the printing has been performed. Since the continuous print mode is released, it is possible to determine which of the plurality of print modes the newly received data is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a print control process of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 P Printer 1 Computer 3 CPU 4 RAM 5 ROM 7 Operation Panel 8 Image Recorder 9 Timer Circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which can print data transmitted from a host device by selecting one of a plurality of printing modes, and erases the transmitted data and initializes the printing mode. A reset operation member, and when the next data is not received within a predetermined time after the reset operation by the reset operation member is performed, the selected print mode is released, and A printing apparatus comprising: a control unit that, when data is received, continues a print mode selected before a reset operation. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a data analysis execution unit that executes data analysis of the transmitted data when the next data is received during a predetermined time. Printing device. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a discarding unit for discarding invalid data transmitted while the data analysis executing unit executes the data analysis. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit continues the print mode selected before the reset operation, and thereafter, when the next data is not received within a predetermined time, the control unit continues until the selected print mode is received. A printing device for canceling a continuous printing mode.