JP2008213303A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a printing apparatus that does not display an error even when there is no color toner when received print data is data to be printed in monochrome (data that does not need to be printed in color).
A printing apparatus is a device that determines whether or not each print data in print data requires color printing at an intermediate code level, and finds print data that requires color printing. Unless otherwise, the apparatus is configured as a device that does not check the remaining amount of color toner.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of color printing and monochrome printing.

  In recent years, in a color printing apparatus that is commercially available, when any color toner (C, M, Y toner) runs out during color printing, each page that has not been printed may be printed in monochrome. Although there is a color printing device that can be used, this color printing device (hereinafter referred to as a conventional device) can be used even if any of the color toners disappear (as shown in FIG. 8). If the user instructs to print CMYK compressed page data from the print data and print each page that has not been printed in black and white (after the error message indicating that the color toner has run out), K-compressed page data necessary for printing each page that has not been printed is converted into post-conversion processing (for CMYK compressed page data, decompression processing, CMYK → K color conversion processing, It has a device for generating a process) for performing the process.

  Since the conventional apparatus is configured such that the CPU performs the post-conversion processing from the viewpoint of cost performance, the monochrome printing speed of the conventional apparatus in the above case is normal monochrome printing (from print data to K This is slower than the printing speed at which compressed page data is generated.

  Further, if the processing with the above contents is performed from the first page, all pages may be printed by post-conversion processing. For this reason, when the conventional apparatus receives print data (not explicitly indicated that monochrome printing is to be performed), it first checks the remaining amount of each color toner, and there is no color toner. If the received print data is received (even if the received print data is data that can be printed in monochrome or print data for form registration that does not require printing), the actual processing for the print data is not started. , The device is configured to display an error.

  Accordingly, a first problem of the present invention is that when received print data is data to be printed in monochrome (data that does not need to be printed in color), printing that does not display an error even if there is no color toner. The device is to provide.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing monochrome printing of each page that has not been printed at a higher speed.

  In order to solve the first problem, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a print execution unit capable of performing color printing based on CMYK page data and monochrome printing based on K page data, and print contents for one page. A page data generation unit that receives print data including one or more print data defined in a page description language and generates CMYK page data or K page data based on the received print data, and a page data generation unit When the page data generating unit receives the print data, the page data generating unit sequentially supplies the page data to the print data. For determining whether the data is color data to be printed in color or monochrome data to be printed in monochrome If the print data is color data and the print data is color data, the remaining amount of each color toner in the print execution unit is checked. If all the color toners remain, the intermediate code is changed to CMYK. When page data is generated and the print data is monochrome data, the process of generating K page data from the intermediate code is repeated in the first operation mode for each page of print data in the print data. In the first operation mode, once CMYK page data is generated, print data for one page is converted into an intermediate code and CMYK page data is generated from the intermediate code. The operation in the second operation mode is repeated for the CMYK page data generation processing to be performed for each page of print data in the print data. The structure is a means for beginning, has.

  That is, the printing apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for determining whether or not each print data in the print data requires color printing at an intermediate code level, and a page (print data) that requires color printing. Unless this appears, the apparatus does not check the remaining amount of color toner. Therefore, this printing device displays an error message when it receives print data that does not need to be printed in the absence of any color toner (existing color printing device). It can be said that it is a user-friendly device rather than a user.

  When realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention, the page data generation means may be a means for generating non-compressed data type page data or a means for generating compressed data type page data. (The print execution means may be a means that requires page data of an uncompressed data type or a means that requires page data of a compressed data type).

  Further, when realizing the printing apparatus of the present invention, the first operation mode of the page data generation means is to perform monochrome printing or replenish color toner when any color toner does not remain. When the user is instructed to perform monochrome printing, after generating K page data from the intermediate code, the operation mode shifts to the second operation mode, and the second operation of the page data generating means is performed. When the mode is changed as a result of the user instructing to perform monochrome printing, the K page for converting print data for one page into an intermediate code and generating K page data from the intermediate code The data generation processing should be in an operation mode that repeats for each page of print data in the print data. Can.

  Further, the page data supply unit checks the remaining amount of each color toner of the print execution unit before supplying the CMYK page data to the print execution unit, and if any color toner does not remain, monochrome printing is performed. When the user is inquired about whether to perform color printing or to replenish color toner and instructed to perform monochrome printing, the CMYK page data already generated by the page generation means is converted into K page data and printed. The second operation mode of the page data generation unit is an operation mode in which the CMYK page data generation process is not started while an inquiry is made by the page data supply unit. After instructing the data supply means to perform monochrome printing, the print data for each page is printed. If as in the operating mode in which a state of performing a K page data generation processing for data, so that the printing device can also solve the second problem described above can be realized (manufacture).

  Further, as the page data supply means, when the received print data includes a predetermined command, the print data is generated as intermediate code data without checking the remaining amount of color toner. If data storage is used, the received print data can be printed in monochrome or print data that does not need to be printed (print data for form registration, saved for later printing) In the case of print data), a printing apparatus that does not display an error even if there is no color toner can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus that includes an operation panel 11, a control unit 12, and a print engine 13. Further, the printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that is used by being connected to several PCs (one in the figure) in which the printer driver 40 is installed.

  An operation panel 11 provided in the printing apparatus 10 is a unit provided in a casing of the printing apparatus 10 as an interface unit with the user. The operation panel 11 is a unit composed of an LCD, a plurality of push button switches, and the like.

  The print engine 13 has a function of performing color printing of the contents indicated by the CMYK compressed page data (collection of compressed data of image data of each color) from the control unit 12 and the K compressed page data (K image) from the control unit 12. This is a possible unit having a function of performing monochrome printing of the content indicated by (compressed data). The print engine 13 is a unit including an empty sensor for detecting whether or not each toner is remaining.

  The control unit 12 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM (flash ROM), a memory control ASIC 15, an IO control ASIC, various PC interface circuits (circuits for communicating with the PC / printer driver 40 such as a network interface circuit), and the like. This is a unit for operating the printing apparatus 10 as a printer capable of form overlay printing.

  The control unit 12 is the same as the existing control unit in hardware. For this reason, although detailed description of each component of the control unit 12 is omitted, the memory control ASIC 15 used in the control unit 12 is a band development result (a kind of RGB image data) of the intermediate code for one page on the RAM. ASIC having a built-in image processing circuit 18 capable of generating CMYK compressed page data or K compressed page data on RAM (processing for generating on the RAM a type of compressed page data designated by the CPU) It has become.

  The printer driver 40 generates print data including one or more pieces of data (hereinafter referred to as print data) whose print contents for one page are defined in a page description language (for each page) and transmits the print data to the printing apparatus 10. It is a program to do. The print data generated and transmitted by the printer driver 40 is data in a format in which a predetermined job start command is followed by several sets of print data, a page break command, and a job end command.

  Further, the printer driver 40 generates and prints print data (including only one print data) including a form registration command when a predetermined setting (setting for instructing form registration) is made. The program is transmitted to the apparatus 10.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. The printer driver 40 for the printing apparatus 10 can transmit print data including a command for instructing monochrome printing. Hereinafter, the printing apparatus 10 for print data that does not include the command will be described. Only the operation will be described.

  When receiving a job monitoring command, the control unit 12 in the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment starts the page data generation process according to the procedure illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, and prints by this page data generation process. When the request is issued, the unit is configured (programmed) to start the page data supply process of the procedure shown in FIG.

  That is, the control unit 12 is a unit that operates as follows when a job start command is received.

  In this case, the control unit 12 first performs processing (step S101) of setting initial values to various variables (F_FIRST, F_CONVERT, F_FORM_REG, F_AFTER, F_IR_AFTER, F_WAIT). Note that F_WAIT and F_IR_AFTER in which “0” is set in the process of step S101 are variables whose values are rewritten by a page data supply process (FIG. 6) described later, not the page data generation process.

  After completing the process of step S101, the control unit 12 performs a process of setting “0” to F_RGB and F_DATA (step S102).

  Thereafter, the control unit 12 determines whether or not the value of F_WAIT is “1” (step S103). If the value of F_WAIT is not “1” (step S103; NO), the value of F_AFTER Is determined to be “1” (step S104). Further, when the value of F_WAIT is “1” (step S103; YES), the control unit 12 sets the value of F_WAIT to a value (“0”) other than “1” (step S103; NO). After waiting, the determination in step S104 is performed.

  When the value of F_AFTER is “1” (step S104; YES), the control unit 12 starts the process of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the value of F_AFTER is not “1” (step S104; NO), the control unit 12 sets F_AFTER, F_FIRST, and F_CONVERT to “1” only when the value of F_IR_AFTER is “1”. 3 is started after the process of setting "" (steps S105 and S106).

  The control unit 12 that has started the process of FIG. 3 first determines whether the information to be processed this time is a command or print data (step S111). Then, if the information to be processed this time is the print data (step S111; YES), the control unit 12 starts the process of FIG. 4, and the print data should first be subjected to color printing. While performing processing for determining whether the data is data or data to be subjected to monochrome printing, processing for converting the print data into an intermediate code and storing it in the RAM (step S121) is performed.

  Thereafter, the control unit 12 sets the F_RGB to “1” only when the print data is determined to be color-printed by the process of step S121 (steps S122 and S123), A process of setting “1” to F_DATA (step S124) is performed. Although not shown in the figure, the processing in step S124 is performed in F_DATA only when the print data is either data to be subjected to color printing or data to be subjected to monochrome printing. The process is to set 1 ″.

  And the control part 12 which finished the process of step S124 starts the process after step S111 (FIG. 3) again.

  In addition, when the information to be processed is a command this time (FIG. 3; step S111), the control unit 12 determines whether the command is a form registration command, a page break command, or a job end command. Is determined (step S112).

  If the command to be processed this time is a form registration command (step S112; form registration), the control unit 12 performs a process of setting “1” in F_FORM_REG and F_AFTER (step S113). The processing after step S111 is started again.

  In addition, when the command to be processed this time is a job end command (step S112; job end), the control unit 12 performs page data generation processing (step S112; job end) for the print data received this time (no processing). The processing of FIGS. 2 to 5 is terminated.

  Further, when the command to be processed this time is a page break command (step S112; page break), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the value of F_FORM_REG is “1” (step S114). If the value of F_FORM_REG is “1” (step S114; YES), the print data on the RAM (data stored in the process of step S121) is stored as form data on the ROM. Registration processing (step S115) is performed. Then, the control unit 12 ends the page data generation process for the currently received print data.

  On the other hand, when the value of F_FORM_REG is not “1” (step S114; NO), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the value of F_DATA (see step S124 in FIG. 4) is “1” (step S114). S116). Then, when the value of F_DATA is not “1” (step S116; NO), the control unit 12 starts the processing after step S111, and when the value of F_DATA is “1” (step S116). YES), it is determined whether or not the value of F_RGB is “1” (FIG. 5; step S141).

  When the value of F_RGB is not “1” (step S141; NO), the control unit 12 performs band expansion on the intermediate code on the RAM and generates K compressed page data on the RAM from the expansion result (step S1). S149) and a process of issuing a print request (details will be described later) of the generated K-compressed page data this time (step S151) are performed, and then the processes after step S104 (FIG. 2) are started.

  Further, when the value of F_RGB is “1” (step S141; YES), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the value of F_FIRST is “0” (step S142). When the value of F_FIRST is not “0” (step S142; NO), the control unit 12 performs band expansion on the intermediate code on the RAM, and generates CMYK compressed page data on the RAM from the expansion result. The process (step S150) to perform is performed. Then, the control unit 12 performs a process of issuing a print request for the generated CMYK compressed page data (step S151), and then starts the processes after step S104 (FIG. 2).

  On the other hand, when the value of F_FIRST is “0” (step S142; YES), the control unit 12 sets “1” to F_FIRST (step S143) and then each color toner (C, M, Y toner). ) (The output of the empty sensor for each color toner) is detected (step S144).

  When each color toner remains (step S145; NO), the control unit 12 performs band expansion on the intermediate code on the RAM and generates CMYK compressed page data on the RAM from the expansion result (step S145: NO). Step S150) and a process of issuing a print request for the generated CMYK compressed page data (Step S151) are performed, and then the process after Step S104 (FIG. 2) is started.

  Further, when any remaining amount of color toner is “0” (step S145; YES), the control unit 12 continues to perform color printing when “replenish color toner and press a predetermined button”. If a predetermined button is pressed without replenishing color toner, a message indicating that monochrome printing is started is displayed on the LCD of the operation panel 11 and then the predetermined button on the operation panel 11 is pressed. The error display process (step S146) that waits to be started is started.

  When the error display processing is completed (when a predetermined button is pressed), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the color toner is replenished (step S147), and the color toner is replenished. In the case (step S147; YES), the processing after step S150 is started. Further, when the color toner is not replenished (step S147; NO), the control unit 12 sets “1” in F_CONVERT (step S148), and then starts the processing after step S150.

  When receiving a job start command, the control unit 12 is a unit that executes a page data generation process having the above contents. Further, when a print request is issued by the page data generation process, the control unit 12 waits for the print engine 13 to be in a predetermined state, if necessary, and then performs the page data of the procedure shown in FIG. It is a unit for starting supply processing (a unit for queuing print requests).

  That is, when a print request is issued by the page data generation process, the control unit 12 first has page data designated as a process to be processed by the issued print request (hereinafter referred to as processing target page data). Then, it is determined whether or not the data is K compressed page data (K data in the figure) (step S201).

  If the processing target page data is K compressed page data (step S201; YES), the control unit 12 supplies the processing target page data (K compressed page data) to the print engine 13 (step S210). ), The page data supply process (the process of FIG. 6) is terminated.

  On the other hand, when the processing target page data is CMYK compressed page data (step S201; NO), the control unit 12 determines the remaining amount of each color toner (C, M, Y toner) (output of each color toner empty sensor). ) Is detected (step S202). Then, when each color toner remains (step S203; NO), the control unit 12 performs a process (step S210) of supplying processing target page data (in this case, CMYK compressed page data) to the print engine 13. Then, the page data supply process is terminated. In addition, the control unit 12

  Further, when any remaining amount of color toner is “0” (step S145; YES), the control unit 12 sets “1” in F_WAIT (step S204) and then performs the above-described processing. Error display processing (step S205) having the same contents is performed. Then, when the error display processing is completed (when a predetermined button is pressed), the control unit 12 sets “0” in F_WAIT (step S206), and then checks whether or not the color toner is replenished. Is determined (step S207).

  Then, when the color toner is replenished (step S207; YES), the control unit 12 performs a process (step S210) of supplying the processing target page data (in this case, CMYK compressed page data) to the print engine 13. Then, the page data supply process is terminated. In addition, when the color toner is not replenished (step S207; NO), the control unit 12 performs a process of setting “1” to F_IR_AFTER (step S208). Thereafter, the control unit 12 converts each CMYK compressed page data on the RAM (processing target page data and each CMYK compressed page data for which a print request has already been issued) into K compressed page data and supplies the K compressed page data to the print engine 13. This page data is supplied after the processing (processing for decompressing CMYK compressed page data for each CMYK compressed page data, performing CMYK → K color conversion, compressing, and supplying to the print engine 13: step S209). The process ends.

  As is apparent from the above description, the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the received print data is print data that does not need to be printed in color (F_RGB = 0) or print data for form registration (F_FORM_REG = In the case of 1), the apparatus performs printing without checking the remaining amount of color toner (steps S114 and S145 in FIG. 5 and steps S202 and S203 in FIG. 6). Therefore, this printing apparatus 10 displays an error message when it receives print data that does not need to be color printed or print data for form registration without any color toner. It can be said that it is a user-friendly device than the color printing device.

  Further, the printing apparatus 10 stops generating CMYK compressed page data by the page data generation process when any of the color toners is exhausted during the processing of the print data to be subjected to color printing (step S203; YES). In step S204, step S103), when the user desires to continue printing by monochrome (step S207; NO), generation of K-compressed page data by page data generation processing is started (step S208, step S105, (See S106). In other words, the printing apparatus 10 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 7 when any of the color toners disappears during the processing of print data to be color-printed and the user desires to continue printing by monochrome conversion. The post-conversion processing (processing for decompressing CMYK compressed page data, performing CMYK → K color conversion processing, and compressing it) is performed only on CMYK compressed page data generated before the color toner runs out. .

  Accordingly, it can be said that the printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that completes printing in the above-described case in a shorter time than the existing color printing apparatus (FIG. 8).

<Deformation>
The above-described printing apparatus 10 can perform various modifications. For example, if the printing apparatus 10 is a device having a function of storing print data in the device and receives print data (so-called reserve job data) to be stored in the own device, The print data can be modified into a device that performs the same processing as the print data for firmware registration. In addition, the printing apparatus 10 is a printer that uses a print engine 11 that needs to supply uncompressed data type page data (the controller 12 supplies uncompressed data type page data to the print engine 11). It can also be transformed.

1 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart of page data generation processing executed by a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of page data generation processing executed by a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of page data generation processing executed by a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of page data generation processing executed by a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of page data supply processing executed by a control unit in the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the printing operation of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the printing operation of the conventional color printing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing apparatus, 11 Operation panel, 12 Control part, 13 Print engine 15 Memory control ASIC, 18 Image processing circuit

Claims (4)

Print execution means capable of executing color printing based on CMYK page data and monochrome printing based on K page data;
Page data generating means for receiving print data including one or more print data in which print contents for one page are defined in a page description language, and generating CMYK page data or K page data based on the received print data;
Page data supply means for sequentially supplying each page data generated by the page data generation means to the print execution means,
The page data generating means
When the print data is received,
The print data for one page is converted into an intermediate code while performing processing for determining whether the print data is color data to be color printed or monochrome data to be monochrome printed, and the print data Is the color data, the remaining amount of each color toner of the print execution unit is checked. If all the color toners are left, CMYK page data is generated from the intermediate code, and If the print data is the monochrome data, the process of generating K page data from the intermediate code without checking the remaining amount of each color toner of the print execution means is performed for each one of the print data. It is a means for starting the operation in the first operation mode that is repeated for the print data for the page, and
After the CMYK page data is once generated in the first operation mode,
Second operation mode in which CMYK page data generation processing for converting print data for one page into intermediate code and generating CMYK page data from the intermediate code is repeated for each page of print data in the print data A printing apparatus, characterized in that the printing apparatus is a means for starting the operation of the printer. The first operation mode of the page data generation means is
If any color toner does not remain, the user is inquired whether to perform monochrome printing or color toner replenishment, and if the user is instructed to perform monochrome printing, the intermediate code reads K After generating page data, it is an operation mode to shift to the second operation mode,
The second operation mode of the page data generation means is
When the mode is shifted as a result of an instruction from the user to perform monochrome printing, K page data generation processing for converting print data for one page into an intermediate code and generating K page data from the intermediate code The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is an operation mode in which the above is repeated for each page of print data in the print data. The page data supply means
Before the CMYK page data is supplied to the print execution unit, the remaining amount of each color toner of the print execution unit is checked. If any color toner does not remain, either monochrome printing or color toner When the user is inquired about whether to perform replenishment and instructed to perform monochrome printing, each CMYK page data already generated by the page generation unit is converted into K page data and supplied to the print execution unit Means to
The second operation mode of the page data generating means is
While the inquiry by the page data supply unit is being performed, the operation mode is such that the CMYK page data generation process is not started, and after the user instructs the page data supply unit to perform monochrome printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is in an operation mode in which the K page data generation process is performed for each page of print data. The page data supply means
When the received print data contains a predetermined command, it is a means for generating the intermediate encoded data of the print data without checking the color toner remaining amount and storing the generated data The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer.