JP2003341199A - Scanning device, control method of the device, information processing system including the device, program for executing the method, and computer for executing the program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To enable a function of a scanning device, such as printing, to be executed without having to worry about the operation sound of a scanning device, such as a printing device, around. SOLUTION: A driving unit for introducing a medium such as printing paper into the apparatus, a driving unit for scanning a functional element such as a print head in a predetermined direction, a driving unit for transporting the medium, and the like are driven more than usual. A mode is provided in which the apparatus operates quietly by driving at a reduced speed. Further, when the mode is set to such a mode, there is provided a means (S204) for setting so that the volume of a buzzer for notifying the abnormality of the apparatus becomes low.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which prints image data by relatively scanning a print medium and a printing unit which is a functional element for executing a print function when image data is supplied. The present invention relates to a scanning device such as an image scanner that reads image information by relatively scanning an information carrying medium (original) and a reading means that is a functional element that executes a reading function, and particularly in a state where the operation sound is relatively quiet. The present invention relates to a scanning device which can be set to an operable mode and which is provided with a sound output means such as a buzzer for notifying the abnormality of the device. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the device, an information processing system including the device, and a program for executing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the price of computers and scanning devices has been reduced, and it has become widely used not only in offices but also in homes and individuals, and along with this, the usage environment has become diverse. . Under these circumstances, there is an increasing need to consider the surrounding environment when using a scanning device, such as a printing device, which emits a relatively large operating noise.

For example, the operating noise of the printing apparatus which is not noticeable in the daytime, the feeding operation noise of the print medium (paper) and the conveying operation noise when the surroundings are in a quiet state such as at night,
Also, the scanning operation sound of the print head and the print operation sound may be very noticeable. Also, the problem of operating noise is not limited to such nighttime use. This is because, for example, in a library, a school, or a similar usage environment, quietness is particularly required during the opening hours and classes, so that the operation sound of the printing apparatus may be disturbed.

Since the loudness of the operating noise of the printing apparatus has a correlation with the printing speed, it is possible to reduce the operating noise by reducing the printing speed. Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a printing device that can be set to a mode (silent mode) in which relatively quiet printing operation is performed by lowering the printing speed as compared to the normal time (Japanese Patent Application 2).
No. 001-282399, Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-305801
issue).

[0005]

By the way, there is a device provided with a voice output means such as a buzzer for relatively strongly alerting the user. For example, in a printing apparatus, when the print medium runs out, when the print medium is not fed or conveyed properly, or when a printing agent (ink in an inkjet printing apparatus) is used.
There is a device that sounds a buzzer to warn the user and notifies the user of the state of the device when the remaining amount of the device becomes very small so that prompt action can be taken.

Up to now, even in a printing apparatus capable of setting the silent mode, the volume of the sound output means such as the buzzer has not been taken into consideration. Therefore, even when the silent mode operation is performed in consideration of the surrounding environment, a loud sound is generated due to the operation of the audio output means, and there is a possibility that the original purpose of the silent mode may not be sufficiently fulfilled.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to adjust the volume of the audio output means in accordance with the setting mode of the device, thereby reducing the influence of sound on the surrounding environment.

[0008]

To this end, the present invention provides
In a scanning device for performing a predetermined function of the functional element by relatively scanning the functional element and a medium, the driving means for performing the scanning includes driving in a first driving mode (normal time), The drive control means capable of selectively setting the drive in the second drive mode (silent mode) in which the drive of the drive source is quieter than the drive in the first drive mode, and the abnormality of the device. Which is a voice output means for outputting a voice for notifying the user, and the voice drive means capable of adjusting the volume and the second drive mode are set, the first drive mode is set. And a volume adjusting means for adjusting the volume of the audio output means to be low.

Further, according to the present invention, in the control method of the scanning device for performing the predetermined function of the functional element by relatively scanning the functional element and the medium, the driving means for causing the scanning is the first aspect. A drive control step for selectively setting drive in the drive mode and drive in the second drive mode in which the drive of the drive source is quieter than that in the first drive mode; When the second drive mode is set, the first drive mode is set when the second output mode is set. And a volume adjusting step of adjusting the volume so that the volume is lower than that of the above.

Further, the present invention is a voice output means for performing a predetermined function of the functional element by relatively scanning the functional element and the medium and outputting a voice for notifying the abnormal condition, and adjusting the volume. An information processing system comprising: a scanning device having the audio output means capable of performing a scan; and a host device connected to the scanning device and transmitting / receiving information related to execution of the predetermined function, the scanning device performing the scanning. The driving means for this purpose selectively sets the driving in the first driving mode and the driving in the second driving mode in which the driving of the driving source is quieter than in the first driving mode. When the second drive mode is set, the volume of the audio output means is adjusted to be lower than that when the first drive mode is set. sound Characterized in that comprises an adjustment means.

In these, the drive control means sets the drive speed of the drive section in the second drive mode to be lower than the drive speed in the first drive mode. You can

Further, the drive means includes a drive section for introducing the medium into the apparatus, a drive section for causing the functional element to scan the medium in a predetermined direction, and the medium orthogonal to the predetermined direction. It can be at least one of the drive units for conveying in the direction.

Further, a buzzer can be used as the voice output means.

Further, in the above, the functional element may be a print head capable of executing a printing function by applying a printing agent to the medium. The print head is an inkjet print head that discharges ink as the printing agent,
The ink jet print head may have a heating element for generating heat energy that causes film boiling in the ink as energy used for ejecting the ink.

The present invention also resides in a control program for causing a computer to execute the above control method.

Further, the present invention resides in a storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute the above control method.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an example of a mechanical configuration of a printing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied, and here, an inkjet recording apparatus of a serial scan system is illustrated. Here, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration.

As the printing apparatus, a laser printer, a thermal transfer or thermal printer, a dot impact printer, an ink jet printer, or the like can be used. In this example, an ink jet printer, that is, an ink jet head is used. And Inkjet heads include those that use thermal energy or mechanical energy as the energy used to eject ink. In this example, thermal energy that causes film boiling in the ink in response to energization is used. The one having a generated electrothermal converter is used.

The ink jet printing apparatus according to this embodiment is equipped with a paper feed section, a transport section, a print section, a paper discharge section, etc., which are housed in the upper case 1 and the lower case 2. Hereinafter, these configurations will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the paper feeding unit 3 is attached to the main body of the apparatus at a predetermined angle from the horizontal plane, and the print medium set by stacking is discharged substantially horizontally after printing. Is configured. Further, below the paper feed unit 3, there is provided a paper feed port (not shown) for feeding the print medium substantially horizontally.

The paper feeding unit 3 includes a paper feeding roller 4 which is rotated by driving a paper feeding motor (pickup motor) (not shown).
The movable side guide 5, the pressure plate 6, the base 7, and a separation claw (not shown) are provided. Then, the print media loaded on the pressure plate 6 are fed to the transport unit 8 one by one by the separating claw and the paper feed roller 4.

The transport unit 8 is provided with a transport roller 9, a pinch roller 10, and a platen for regulating the print surface of the print medium to be flat. The print medium sent to the transport unit 8 is transported by the transport roller. It is nipped in the nip portion between 9 and the pinch roller 10. Also, the pinch roller 10
Is attached to the pinch roller holder 13 while being supported by the pinch roller shaft 55, and is pressed against the conveying roller 9 by the pinch roller spring 14, and is rotated by the rotation of the conveying roller 9 to convey the print medium. Is working.

The drive of the carry motor 18 is transmitted to the carry roller 9 through the intermediate gear 17 and the carry roller gear 16, and the print medium nipped between the carry roller 9 and the pinch roller 10 is transferred to the carry roller 9. The platen 11 is conveyed to the print start position by a predetermined amount according to the rotation. Then, the print head 19 prints based on predetermined image information.

The print head 19 prints an image by applying ink to the print medium conveyed by the conveying roller 9 and the pinch roller 10. As a printing means in this apparatus, an inkjet recording method is used in which ink is ejected from a print head to print. That is, the print head includes a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid path communicating with the discharge port, an energy acting portion that is provided in a part of the liquid path, and applies energy for discharging the liquid, and , And energy generating means for generating the energy.

Further, the print head 19 can have a head unit for ejecting black ink, cyan ink, magenta ink, and yellow ink, for example, and can print a color image.

The recovery system unit 32 includes a cap 15 and a pump unit (not shown), and the print head 1
When the ink discharge port forming surface (not shown) of FIG. 9 moves to a position facing the cap 15, the cap 15 is moved up by the driving of a recovery motor (not shown) and abuts so as to cover the ink discharge port forming surface of the print head 19. , Seal tightly. When the pump unit operates in this state by driving the recovery motor, the ink is drawn from the ink ejection port of the print head 19 to suck the ink, and the ejection performance of the print head 19 is recovered or maintained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the print unit 20 includes a carriage 21 for mounting the print head 19, and a guide for reciprocating the carriage 21 in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction (sub scanning direction). Axis 22,
A guide 2 that supports the upper portion of the carriage 21 and maintains the distance between the ejection port of the print head 19 and the print medium.
3, a timing belt 25 that transmits the drive of the carriage motor 24 to the carriage 21, an idle pulley 26 that stretches the timing belt 25 between a pulley attached to the motor 24, and a head drive signal for the print head 19 It has a flexible substrate and the like (not shown) for transmitting.

Then, the print head 19 moves the carriage 2 onto the print medium waiting at the print start position.
No. 1 is mounted and main scanning is performed, and ink is ejected in the process to print an image having a width corresponding to the ejection port array range. After one main scan, the print medium is conveyed by a predetermined amount according to the rotation of the conveyance roller 9, and after that, the print head 19 is again main-scanned to form an image on the print medium held on the platen 11. To print.
That is, image recording is performed over the entire surface of the print medium by alternately repeating main scanning of the print head 19 by movement of the carriage 21 and conveyance of a predetermined amount (sub-scanning) of the print medium by the conveying unit.

The printing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is
It is one of the printing apparatuses using a non-impact type printing method, and has an excellent advantage that high-density and high-speed printing operations can be performed with low noise.
However, in recent years, there is an increasing demand for higher speed printing operations, and the print head shown in the figure can sufficiently meet such requirements. However, main scanning (carriage scanning)
And the speed of sub-scanning (paper conveyance) is also accompanied,
The operating noise of the printer increases accordingly.

Therefore, the printing apparatus of this example is constructed so that it can operate in the silent mode, and the CPU 200 can be set no matter which print mode is set.
By appropriately setting the drive signals of the motors under the control of 6, it is possible to reduce the operating noise by lowering the scanning speed of the carriage, the feeding speed of the print medium (paper) and the conveying speed from the normal mode. It is possible.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of a control system of the printing apparatus shown in FIGS.

In the configuration shown in the figure, the CPU 101 creates print data for the printing apparatus, drives a motor for print control, controls ejection operation of the print head, analyzes commands transferred from the host apparatus, and inputs from the operation panel. It is an arithmetic unit that performs various settings according to the above. The ROM 102 stores software corresponding to the control procedure of the printing apparatus such as a processing procedure executed by the CPU 101, which will be described later, various data, font data used for the print data, and the like. Here, various data are used as they are as initial values, and the RAM 1
Some of them are expanded to 03 and processed by the CPU 101 to be used. Further, the font data designated as necessary is read out by the CPU 101 and RA
It is developed in M103 and is generated as print data. Since the number of mounted fonts and the types of mounted characters of this font data differ according to the specifications of the printing apparatus, the ROM 102
Although the internal storage capacity is different, for example, it is possible to support only one Mincho font.

In the RAM 103, the result of modifying the above font data by the specified modifying method is expanded,
This is used as print data. On the other hand, in the case of image data, similarly, the image data read by the CPU 101 is expanded on the RAM 103 in correspondence with the designated print position and used as print data. Further, the storage area of the RAM 103 is also used as a work memory necessary for executing a program and a reception buffer as a temporary storage location of input data from the interface (I / F) 104. Various status information is also arranged on this work memory, and an area for a flag indicating whether or not the silent mode is set is included therein.

The interface 104 is connected to the host device shown in FIG. 4, and is for receiving image data related to printing, a print instruction command and other data. The interface 104 of this example is IEEE-1.
The electrical specifications comply with 284, and two-way communication is possible because not only data is received from the host device but also the status of the printing device side is notified to the host device.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an EEPROM which is a non-volatile memory that retains necessary information even when the power of the apparatus is turned off. The contents of the retention include not only the setting state of the printer but also the number of print media and the remaining amount of the printing material. It may be the amount (remaining amount of ink in an inkjet printing apparatus) or the like. The printer status to be retained should be information such as font type, size of the set print medium, and function items such as automatic power ON / OFF according to the set non-operation time. You can

Reference numeral 106 is a motor controller, and CP
Under the control of U101, the carriage motor 24 that causes the print head to scan the same region of the print medium in the main scanning direction one or more times is driven and controlled. The printing operation during the scanning process is performed using the constant speed region of the motor. The motor controller 106 is also a conveyance motor (line feed motor) for conveying the print medium.
18 drive control is performed. The carriage motor 24 and the conveyance motor 18 can operate independently of each other. As described above, during normal printing, the carriage motor 24 causes the carriage or print head to perform main scanning one or more times, and then the conveyance motor 18 moves the print medium. An operation of carrying a predetermined amount is performed. Further, in this example, a sheet feeding motor (not shown in FIG. 2) for feeding the print medium is provided. Therefore, the motor controller 106 also functions as a controller for carrying the print paper from the paper feed port and driving the paper feed motor to a predetermined position where the driving force of the carry motor 18 is transmitted.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a print head controller, which performs heat processing of a print element (electrothermal converter in this example) of the print head, control of recovery processing for head maintenance, and processing such as ink amount detection. .

Reference numeral 108 is a C for fetching analog data such as the rotation speed of the motor in order to control the motor of each part.
It is an A / D converter provided in the PU 101, and has a function of converting analog data into an 8-bit digital value in approximately 5 μsec each time.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a bus line for connecting the above-mentioned respective parts, which comprises a control bus, an address bus and a data bus, and the CPU 101 controls each unit 102-107 using the bus line 109.

110 and 111 are power supply lines to each unit, and 112 is an operation / display panel, which can be provided on the upper part of the main body of the printing apparatus (upper case 1 in FIG. 1), for example. The operation / display panel 112 has, as an operation unit, a key for powering on, a recovery process activation key, a test print activation key,
A resume key for designating recovery from an error, a key for setting online / offline with the host device, and the like can be provided. Further, as the display unit, an LED or the like for receiving data or displaying the status of the power supply can be provided.

Further, the operation / display panel 112 is provided with a buzzer as an audio output means for notifying the user of an error or warning state of the device.
This buzzer turns on for 500 ms and off for 500 ms
The operation is performed once, and this operation is continuously performed a predetermined number of times according to the type of error or warning, so that the user can be notified of the type of error or warning. Further, this buzzer has a configuration in which two kinds of volume, large and small, can be selected. It is needless to say that the structure of the audio output means is not limited to such a buzzer. For example, a bell sound or a chime sound may be output, or a word may be uttered.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of a host device that supplies image data for printing to the printing device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and here is illustrated as a host computer that can be connected to the interface 104 of the printing device. Has been done.

The host computer 1000 has a CPU 1
001, ROM 1002, RAM 1003, system bus 1004, I / O controller (CRTC, HDC, FDC, etc.) 1005 for various input / output devices, external interface (I / F) 1006, hard disk drive (HDD) and floppy (registration External storage device (HDD / FD) such as trademark disk drive (FDD)
D) 1007, real time clock (RTC) 100
8, a CRT 1009, and an input device (KeyBoard / Mouse) 1010 such as a keyboard and a mouse.

The CPU 1001 is an external storage device 1007.
It operates based on an application program, a communication program, a printer driver, an operating system (OS), etc. read into the RAM 1003 from the above. When the power is turned on, the ROM 1002 is booted and the OS is loaded from the external storage device 1007 or the like into the RAM 1003. After that, the application program, the driver software, and the like are similarly loaded to function as a system. The external I / F 1006 sequentially transmits the print data spooled in the RAM 1003 or the external storage device 1007 (HDD) to the printing device 2000. Input device 10
Reference numeral 10 captures instruction data from the user into the host computer via the I / O controller 1005. R
The TC 1008 is for measuring the system time, and acquires and sets time information via the I / O controller 1005. The CRT 1009 is a display device and is controlled by the CRTC in the I / O controller 1005. These CRT 1009 and input device 10
A user interface is composed of 10 blocks.

The ink jet printing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is one of the printing apparatuses of the non-impact type printing system, and is excellent in that it can perform high-density and high-speed printing operation with low noise. Have advantages. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing demand for higher speed printing operations, and the print head shown in the figure can sufficiently meet such requirements. However, in the main scanning (carriage scanning) and the sub-scanning (paper conveyance), This is accompanied by an increase in speed, and the operating noise of the printing apparatus becomes louder accordingly.

Therefore, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is configured so that it can operate in the silent mode.
Under the control of 101, it is possible to reduce the operating noise by appropriately setting the drive signals of the motors of the respective parts so that the scanning speed of the carriage, the feeding speed of the print medium (paper) and the conveying speed are lower than those in the normal mode. It is possible. Further, in such a silent mode, a quieter operation can be performed by setting the volume of the buzzer to a low level.

The print operation in the silent mode will be described first.

In the above structure, when the printer 2000 is connected to the host computer 1000, a communication program corresponding to the printer 2000 and a printer driver for generating print data are installed at the first stage, and the printer 2000 is installed. At the time of printing an image using the printer, it is general that a predetermined setting is made using a utility screen of a printer driver. Then, on the utility screen, in addition to the process for performing a test print to check the ejection status of the inkjet head, the button for activating the print head cleaning process or the ejection recovery process, the drive mode and print mode setting process By arranging a button for activating, and clicking this button with a mouse or the like, a dialog box for setting each mode can be opened. Furthermore, as one of the dialog boxes, a silent setting dialog box can be provided, and "don't use the silent function" and "use the silent function" in the box.
By providing two types of options and assigning a radio button to each function, exclusive control can be performed so that any one of the two is selected.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an example of a processing procedure at the time of printing on the printer driver side and the printing apparatus side installed in the host computer 1000. This figure is used to explain the print processing in the embodiment of the present invention. An overview will be given.

The printer driver, which generates print data, sets a drive mode and a print mode when it receives a print start command generated from an application in response to a print instruction from the user (step SH1). In this setting process, when the user performed a selection operation for the drive mode and the print mode on the utility sheet or the mode setting dialog box, the processing for setting the selected mode was performed, and the operation was not performed. In this case, the process of setting the mode last set by the user or the default mode is performed.

Next, a print data generation process is performed (step SH3), and the printer 2 and the mode setting data are processed.
000 (step SH5). The print data generation process itself is the same as that performed by a conventional printer driver.

The printer 2000 waits for data reception from the printer driver (step SP1), and in response to the reception, sets drive data corresponding to the mode (step SP1).
3) and expansion and conversion of print data (step SP5), and print operation is executed (step SP).
7).

In the print operation, the motor drive control is performed according to the difference in the drive mode (silent mode or normal mode). For example, with respect to all or a required part of the carriage motor 24, the conveyance motor 18, and the sheet feeding motor, motor drive tables are prepared for each of the normal mode and the silent mode, and these drive tables are switched according to the mode. By referencing, the motor can be driven in each mode. That is, in the silent mode, a setting may be made such that a drive table capable of driving with a reduced rotation speed is selected and used so as to perform a quieter operation than in the normal mode.

The table used to perform drive control according to the mode may be provided on the computer 1000 side as the host device or on the printer 2000 side. In the former case, the corresponding drive data is read from the memory according to the mode setting by the user, the drive data is added when the print data is transmitted to the printer 2000, and the printer 20
00 may perform the printing operation based on the drive data. In the latter case, the required data table is stored in the ROM 2007 or the like and the computer 1
When the mode data is received from 000, the setting may be performed by referring to the table. Further, in the present embodiment, in such a silent mode, the volume of the buzzer is set to be low so that a quieter operation can be performed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the buzzer control procedure of this embodiment. First, if the print medium runs out, if the print medium is not properly fed or conveyed, or if the amount of remaining printing material (ink in the case of inkjet printing devices) is very low, the device error If a warning state occurs, the buzzer processing is started in step S200. Upon buzzer processing, messages are received from other tasks as necessary. It is assumed that the message includes in advance the number of times the buzzer has operated according to the state of an error, the setting information for the silent mode, and the like.

Then, in step S201, the buzzer count is acquired from the message, and in step S202, silent mode information is similarly acquired from the message. In this example, since the silent mode setting is selected by the command designation from the print driver of the host device as described above, the presence / absence information of the setting is stored in the RAM 10.
The task to notify the message is stored in the work area 3 and the information is copied into the message and then the message is transmitted in the buzzer processing.

In step S203, step S202
It is determined whether or not the information acquired in step 5 indicates the silent mode. If the silent mode is entered, the process proceeds to step S204, and if not, the control proceeds to step S205. Then, step S20
In No. 4, the silent mode is entered, that is, when a quiet operation is desired. Therefore, volume information is set so that the buzzer sound is reduced, while step S205 is performed.
Then, since the silent mode is not entered, the volume information is set to a normal volume sound.

In step S206, the buzzer count acquired in step S202 and the volume information determined in step S204 or S205 are set in the hardware for driving the buzzer. This hardware has, for example, 1 bit for selecting volume information and 5 bits for specifying the number of buzzers.
The bits can be provided in registers. Then, after setting the determined value in this register, in step S207, a buzzer operation is started by performing a dummy write operation in a start trigger generation register or the like prepared for generating an operation start trigger. Can be one.

Step S208 is a process for waiting for the end of the operation of the buzzer. Specifically, when the designated operation is completed, the hardware generates an electric signal, and the CPU 101
May activate interrupt processing in response to this signal. Then, in the interrupt process, by generating an event for buzzer end notification, the buzzer process end task waiting for the event is switched to the RUN state, and the end of the buzzer process can be recognized. After that, the buzzer process ends in step S209.

In the above embodiment, the mode setting is processed by the printer driver on the host computer side, but the process may be performed on the printer side. That is, for example, the printer may be provided with an input unit for mode selection, and the user may appropriately operate the input unit to set the mode. According to this
For example, a graphical user interface (GU
I) Even if the printing apparatus is connected to the host apparatus having no function, the same function can be easily realized.

The host device as the image data supply source may be in any form, and may be, for example, an image scanner or a digital camera in addition to the computer as described above.

Also, the program for performing the processing does not necessarily have to be built in the printer in advance, and may be appropriately supplied from the printer driver on the host device side. Furthermore, the program code of the software or the printer driver for realizing the function in the silent mode described above is supplied to the computer in the machine or system to which various devices including the printing device are connected, and the computer of the machine or system is supplied with the program code. It is also within the scope of the invention for the device to be operated by stored program code.

In this case, the program code itself realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the program code itself and the means for supplying the program code to the computer by communication or a storage medium are also within the scope of the present invention. included.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk or a CD-ROM, a hard disk, an optical disk,
A magneto-optical disk, CD-R, DVD, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer actually operates based on the instruction of the program code. A case is also included in which a part or all of the processing of (1) is performed and the functions of the present embodiment are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, This also includes a case where a CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the present embodiment.

In addition, the form of the print system, which is an information processing system, regardless of whether it is for personal use or for business or industrial use, image data of a computer, a scanner, a digital camera, or the like. In addition to one having a supply device and a printing device as an image output terminal, for example, a copier in which a scanner and a printing device are integrated, a facsimile device in which a data transmission / reception device and a printing device are integrated, and a printing device are integrated. It may be in the form of a word processor, an electronic typewriter, or a digital camera integrated with a printing device.

In addition, in the above example, the case where the printing device is used as the scanning device has been exemplified. However, since the operating noise is relatively large, it is desired to reduce the operating noise when used in a quiet environment. The present invention is not limited to this as long as it is an apparatus, and the application of the present invention is effective for an image scanner and an information processing system using the same, for example.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By reducing the operating speed of the scanning mechanism, it is possible to set to a mode in which the operation sound can be operated in a relatively quiet state, and a sound output means such as a buzzer for notifying the state of the device is provided. When the silent mode is set for the scanning device, the volume of the sound output means can be set to be low, so that the scanning device can be operated more quietly. Became.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a serial scan type inkjet recording apparatus as an example of a scanning apparatus to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration example of the printing apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of the printing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control system of a host device which can be connected to the printing device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 to form a printing system.

5 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure at the time of printing on the printer driver side in the host apparatus of FIG. 4 and on the printing apparatus side of FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a buzzer control procedure in the printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 paper feeder 8 Transport section 18 Conveyor motor 19 print head 24 carriage motor 21 carriage 101 CPU 102 ROM 103 RAM 104 Interface (I / F) 105 EEPROM 106 motor controller 112 Operation / display panel 1000 host computer 2000 printing device

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A scanning device for performing a predetermined function of a functional element by relatively scanning a functional element and a medium, wherein a driving means for causing the scanning is driven in a first driving mode, A drive control unit capable of selectively setting a drive in a second drive mode in which the drive of the drive source is quieter than that in the first drive mode; and an abnormality of the device is notified. A voice output unit for outputting a voice for adjusting the volume, when the second drive mode is set, when the first drive mode is set, And a volume adjusting unit for adjusting the volume of the sound output unit to be low. 2. The drive control means sets the drive speed of the drive section in the second drive mode to be smaller than the drive speed in the first drive mode. The scanning device according to claim 1. 3. The drive means includes a drive section for introducing the medium into the apparatus, a drive section for causing the functional element to scan the medium in a predetermined direction, and the medium orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The scanning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scanning device is at least one of driving units for conveying in a direction. 4. The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the audio output unit is a buzzer. 5. The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the functional element is a print head capable of performing a printing function by applying a printing agent to the medium. 6. The scanning device according to claim 5, wherein the print head is an inkjet print head that ejects ink as the printing agent. 7. The inkjet printhead comprises:
7. The scanning device according to claim 6, further comprising a heating element for generating thermal energy that causes film boiling in the ink, as energy used for ejecting the ink. 8. A method of controlling a scanning device for performing a predetermined function of a functional element by performing relative scanning between a functional element and a medium, wherein a driving unit for performing the scanning is set in a first driving mode. A drive control step of selectively setting drive and drive in a second drive mode in which the drive of the drive source is quieter than in the first drive mode; and for notifying an abnormality of the device. When the second drive mode is set, the sound output means for outputting the sound of
And a sound volume adjusting step of adjusting the sound volume so that the sound volume is lower than when the first drive mode is set. 9. A control program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 8. 10. A storage medium storing a control program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 8. 11. A sound output means for performing a predetermined function of the function element by relatively scanning the function element and a medium, and outputting a sound for notifying an abnormality, the sound volume being adjustable. An information processing system comprising: a scanning device having a voice output means; and a host device connected to the scanning device and transmitting / receiving information related to execution of the predetermined function, the driving means for performing the scanning. In addition, it is possible to selectively set the drive in the first drive mode and the drive in the second drive mode in which the drive of the drive source is quieter than the drive in the first drive mode. Drive control means and volume control means for adjusting the volume of the audio output means to be lower when the second drive mode is set than when the first drive mode is set. , The information processing system characterized in that it equipped.