JP2004106282A - Printer and copy system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which can be manufactured without using a large capacity memory and can finish interruption printing and interrupted printing at a high speed. <P>SOLUTION: The printer is arranged such that when start of processing a second type job data is designated during processing of first type job data, data receiving rate of an NW-I/F circuit 21a for receiving the first type job data is altered to a lower rate and then the second type job data is processed by utilizing the free area of a memory at that moment in time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of interrupting a print in progress and performing another print, and a copy system having functions as a network printer and a copier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, among printing devices that are commercially available, there is a printing device that can interrupt a print (print job) being executed and perform another print.
[0003]
Hereinafter, the operation of the existing printing apparatus having such a function will be described using the printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 6 as an example.
[0004]
The printing apparatus 100 is an apparatus that is used by being connected to a copy control apparatus connected to a scanner and a network, and also receives an instruction from the copy control apparatus during processing of print job data from a host apparatus on the network. This is an apparatus that can start processing of print job data (that is, copy processing).
[0005]
When the printing apparatus 100 is instructed by the copy control apparatus to immediately process the print job data supplied by the own apparatus during processing of the print job data from the host apparatus (hereinafter, interrupt processing). This is a device in which the following processing is performed inside.
[0006]
In the printing apparatus 100 to which the interrupt printing is instructed, first, processing to discard font data and the like prepared in the memory (RAM) at the start of processing of print job data from the host apparatus, and restart processing of the print job data By performing the process of saving data necessary for the execution, an empty area is secured in the memory. Then, in the printing apparatus 100, a process of generating a printed matter according to the print job data (interrupt job data in the figure) supplied from the copy control apparatus is performed by using the free space, The state is returned to a state where the processing of the print job data from the host device can be restarted, and the processing of the print job data is actually restarted.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the printing apparatus is configured to perform the above operation, a finite-capacity memory can be effectively used (a printing apparatus capable of performing interrupt printing without mounting a large-capacity memory can be realized). . However, in the printing apparatus configured to perform the above operation, it takes time to prepare for starting the interrupt printing and to restart the printing interrupted by the interrupt. The printing apparatus 100 requires a relatively long time to complete the interruption printing and the printing interrupted by the interruption. Further, in a system in which the printing apparatus 100 is combined with a scanner and a copy control apparatus, it takes a relatively long time to restart the interrupted copy and the printing interrupted by the interrupt.
[0008]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing interrupt printing, which can be manufactured without using a large-capacity memory, and in which interrupt printing and printing interrupted by interrupt can be completed at high speed. , To provide.
[0009]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a copy system in which interrupt copying and printing interrupted by the interrupt can be completed at high speed.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a printing apparatus capable of performing printing based on first-type job data and printing based on second-type job data by printing on a memory and a sheet. And a first processing unit for processing the received first-type job data by using the memory to cause the print-execution unit to print the content corresponding to the first-type job data. And a second processing unit for processing the received second type job data using the memory, thereby causing the print execution unit to print the content corresponding to the second type job data. When the start of the processing of the second type job data is instructed during the operation, the operation of the first processing means is stopped, and then the operation of the second processing means is started. , The first processing means Keep constituting the storage area of memory used to store temporary data and control means for instructing to the free space as comprising.
[0011]
That is, this printing apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention) performs interrupt printing (based on the second type job data instructed to start processing during the operation of the first processing unit). During printing, the device does not perform processing for saving the contents of the memory. Accordingly, the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention requires less time to prepare for interrupt printing and to prepare for restarting printing interrupted by the interrupt than the existing printing apparatus. The device functions as a device that completes printing interrupted and printing interrupted by interruption at high speed.
[0012]
In addition, the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention provides a print execution unit that processes a first type job data using a memory, a print execution unit for performing printing on paper, and a memory. A first processing unit that prints the content according to the first type job data; and a second type job data that is processed by using the memory, so that the print execution unit can print the content according to the second type job data. A second processing unit for performing printing, and waiting for reception of the first-type job data and the second-type job data, and when the first-type job data is received, the first-type job data is transferred to the first processing unit. And when the second type job data is received, the first type job data and the second type job data for causing the second processing means to process the second type job data are received in parallel. Possible interface means and When the reception of the second type job data by the interface unit is started during the operation of the first processing unit, the reception speed of the first type job data by the interface unit is changed to a lower speed, and the second processing unit The process for the second type job data which has been started to be received by the interface means is started, and when the free space of the memory is insufficient, the storage area of the memory used for storing the temporary data to the first processing means. And a control unit for instructing that the area be a free area.
[0013]
This printing apparatus also does not perform processing for saving the contents of the memory during interrupt printing (printing based on the second-type job data started to be received by the interface means during operation of the first processing means). It has become. Therefore, this printing apparatus is also interrupted by interruption printing and interruption as a result that the time required for preparation for interruption printing and preparation for resuming printing interrupted by interruption is shorter than that of the existing printing apparatus. It will function as a device that completes the printing quickly. Further, when the printing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is implemented, it is necessary to stop the transmission of the first print job data by the apparatus that transmits the first print job data. Since the apparatus does not require such processing, it can be said that the apparatus is an easy-to-manufacture printing apparatus.
[0014]
In realizing the printing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, an auxiliary storage device such as an HDD is added, and the control means is provided to the first processing means when there is insufficient memory space. Commanding spooling of the generated data to the auxiliary storage device. After that, when the free space of the memory is insufficient, the first processing means is notified of the storage area of the memory used for storing the temporary data. It is possible to employ a means for instructing a free area.
[0015]
Since the two copy systems of the present invention are systems using the printing apparatuses according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the interrupted copy and the printing interrupted by the interrupt can be performed at high speed. It will act as a complete copy system.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0018]
As illustrated, the printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus including a control unit 11, a control panel 12, and a printing mechanism unit 13 as main components. The printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus used by being connected to a network and a copy control apparatus connected to a scanner, similarly to the printing apparatus 100 (see FIG. 6).
[0019]
The printing mechanism unit 13 included in the printing apparatus 10 is a mechanism for actually executing printing on paper. The printing mechanism 13 includes a paper feeding device, a paper transport mechanism, a print engine, and the like. The control panel 12 is an interface between the user and the printing apparatus 10. The control panel 12 includes a plurality of buttons for designating operation contents of the printing apparatus 10, some LEDs for displaying an operation state of the printing apparatus 10, and the like. It is composed of a liquid crystal panel.
[0020]
The control unit 11 receives print job data received from a host device on the network (hereinafter referred to as first type job data) or print job data received from a copy control device (hereinafter referred to as second type job data). This is a unit that causes the printing mechanism unit 13 to print the contents corresponding to the print job data based on the print job data. The control unit 11 includes a network interface circuit 21a, a host interface circuit 21b, a CPU 22, a RAM 23, a memory control unit 25, a ROM 26, an interface circuit unit 27, and the like.
[0021]
In the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment and a printing apparatus 10 according to a second embodiment described below, a portion of the control unit 11 other than the RAM 23 is configured by the first processing unit according to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention. 6. The first processing means and the second processing means according to claim 2 and 5, wherein portions of the control section 11 except for the RAM 23, the network interface circuit 21a, and the host interface circuit 21b correspond to the two processing means and the control means. 6. The printing mechanism unit 13 and the RAM 23 correspond to a printing execution unit and a memory, respectively, according to the present invention, and the network interface circuit 21a and the host interface circuit 21b correspond to the apparatus corresponding to the control unit. It is a device corresponding to the interface means in the invention of the above.
[0022]
The network interface circuit 21a is a circuit for communicating with a host device on a network, and the host interface circuit 21b is a circuit for communicating with a copy control device. The ROM 26 is a nonvolatile memory in which programs and font data are stored. The CPU 22 is a control circuit that controls each unit in the control unit 11 according to a program.
[0023]
The RAM 23 is a memory used as a work area for processing for causing the printing mechanism unit 13 to perform printing in accordance with the print job data received by the network interface circuit 21a / host interface circuit 21b. The RAM 23 is also a memory from which programs in the ROM 26 are read.
[0024]
The memory control unit 25 performs a process of transferring data from the network interface circuit 21a / host interface circuit 21b to the RAM 23 in accordance with an instruction of the CPU 22 (a program read on the RAM 23), and a print engine in the printing mechanism unit 13 from the RAM 23. This is a circuit that performs processing to transfer data to The interface circuit unit 27 is a unit (a set of interface circuits) used by the CPU 22 to exchange information with the control panel 12 and the transport mechanism in the printing mechanism unit 13.
[0025]
The printing apparatus 10 is an apparatus in which the control unit 11 performs control as schematically shown in FIGS.
[0026]
That is, the control unit 11 normally includes a first processing module for causing the printing mechanism unit 13 to perform printing based on the first type job data, as schematically shown in FIG. A second processing module for causing the printing mechanism unit 13 to perform printing based on the first type job data and a second type of job data while monitoring the reception of the first type job data / second type job data. It is working. When the first type job data or the second type job data is received, the first processing module or the second processing module causes the printing mechanism unit 13 to perform printing based on the received print job data. The processing is performed in such a manner that the free area of the RAM 23 is freely used.
[0027]
If the copy control device instructs the start of the processing of the type 2 job data while the processing of the type 1 job data is being performed (the interrupt print request and the type 2 job data are In this case, the second processing module reduces the data reception speed of the network interface circuit 21a to near the limit at which a timeout error occurs in the host device, as schematically shown in FIG. Is performed. Thereafter, as schematically shown in FIG. 4, the second processing module performs processing for causing the printing mechanism unit 13 to perform printing based on the second type job data by using the free space at that time in the RAM 23. Perform in the form of
[0028]
If the free space of the RAM 23 becomes insufficient during this process, the second processing module instructs the first processing module to release a releasable storage area (an area used for storing temporary data). Thereafter, the processing is continued by using the storage area released by the first processing module receiving the instruction. If a shortage of memory occurs after instructing the first processing module to release the releasable storage area, the second processing module performs processing for saving the first processing module (first processing in the system program). (A process of requesting to save the processing module).
[0029]
Then, when the processing of the second type job data is completed, the second processing module returns the data reception speed of the network interface circuit 21a to the normal speed, and issues an interrupt print request (after the completion of the processing of the first processing module). Returns to the state of waiting for the second type job data) to be received.
[0030]
<Second embodiment>
The printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. For this reason, hereinafter, using the reference numerals used in the description of the first embodiment, the printing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described, focusing on the differences from the printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. Will be described.
[0031]
The printing device 10 according to the second embodiment is a device in which an HDD is added to the printing device 10 according to the first embodiment.
[0032]
Further, the printing apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment is executed by first and second processing modules having the same functions as the first and second processing modules executed in the printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. Device. However, the second processing module executed in the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment functions as schematically shown in FIG.
[0033]
That is, when the second processing module runs out of free space in the RAM 23 during the processing of the second type job data for which interrupt printing has been requested, the second processing module sends the already generated data and the data to be generated from this to the first processing module. Of the HDD to be spooled. Then, the second processing module instructs the first processing module to release a releasable storage area when the free space of the RAM becomes insufficient after the spool instruction. Note that the second processing module, after instructing the first processing module to release the releasable storage area, executes a process for evacuating the first processing module when the memory shortage occurs. (A process of requesting to save the first processing module).
[0034]
As described above, the printing apparatus 10 according to each embodiment is an apparatus that does not perform processing for saving the contents of the memory (RAM 23) during interrupt printing. Therefore, in the printing apparatus 10 of each embodiment, preparation for interrupt printing and preparation for resuming printing interrupted by the interrupt are completed in a shorter time than the existing printing apparatus, and as a result, The printing apparatus 10 according to each embodiment operates as an apparatus that completes interrupt printing and printing interrupted by the interrupt at high speed. Further, a system in which the printing apparatus 10 according to each embodiment is combined with a scanner and a copy control apparatus functions as a copy system in which interrupt copying and printing interrupted by the interrupt are completed at high speed.
[0035]
<Modification>
Each of the printing devices 10 described above can perform various modifications. For example, at the time of interrupt printing, the operation of the first processing module may be completely stopped. However, in such a case, when the memory becomes insufficient, the operation of the first processing module must be started. Therefore, it is desirable to adopt a configuration as in the embodiment. In addition, each of the printing apparatuses 10 described above is an apparatus that receives print job data in an image data format (print job data generated based on image data generated by a scanner) as the second type job data. The printing device 10 may be modified to a device that receives print job data (in a high-level language) that is not in the image data format. Although the interrupt request can be accepted during the reception of the print job data, the printing apparatus 10 may be realized in such a manner that two types of print job data cannot be received in parallel. Also, it goes without saying that a printing apparatus having the same function as the printing apparatus 10 of each embodiment may be realized by adopting a module configuration different from that described above.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment; FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment. Explanatory diagram of a use mode of a printing apparatus used for explaining an existing interrupt printing procedure.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing device, 11 control part, 12 control panel 13 printing mechanism part

Claims (5)

A printing apparatus capable of performing printing based on first-type job data and performing printing based on second-type job data,
Memory and
Print execution means for performing printing on paper,
First processing means for processing the received first-type job data using the memory, thereby causing the print execution means to print the content corresponding to the first-type job data;
A second processing unit for processing the received second type job data by using the memory, thereby causing the print execution unit to print the content according to the second type job data;
When the start of the processing of the second type job data is instructed during the operation of the first processing means, the operation of the second processing means is started after the operation of the first processing means is stopped; And control means for instructing the first processing means to set the storage area of the memory used for storing temporary data to a free area when the free space of the memory is insufficient. Printing device. A printing apparatus capable of performing printing based on first-type job data and performing printing based on second-type job data,
Memory and
Print execution means for performing printing on paper,
First processing means for processing the first type job data using the memory, thereby causing the print execution means to perform printing of the content corresponding to the first type job data;
A second processing unit configured to process the second type job data using the memory so as to cause the print execution unit to print the content according to the second type job data;
Waiting for the reception of the first-type job data and the second-type job data, and when the first-type job data is received, the first-type job data is processed by the first processing means. When the second type job data is received, the first type job data and the second type job data can be received in parallel to cause the second type processing unit to process the second type job data. An interface means;
When the reception of the second type job data by the interface unit is started during the operation of the first processing unit, the reception speed of the first type job data by the interface unit is changed to a lower speed, And causing the second processing means to start processing the second type job data which has been started to be received by the interface means. If there is not enough free space in the memory, temporary data is sent to the first processing means. And a control unit for instructing that a storage area of the memory used for the storage of the memory be a free area. Further comprising an auxiliary storage device,
When the free space of the memory is insufficient, the control unit instructs the first processing unit to spool the generated data to the auxiliary storage device, and thereafter, runs out of the free space of the memory. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the case of performing the setting, the first processing unit is instructed to set a storage area of the memory used for storing temporary data to be a free area. A copy system including a printing device, a scanner, and a copy control device,
The printing device,
A device connected to a network and the copy control device,
Memory and
Print execution means for performing printing on paper,
A first processing unit configured to process the first type job data received from the host device on the network by using the memory, thereby causing the print execution unit to print the content corresponding to the first type job data; When,
A second processing unit that processes the second type job data received from the copy control device using the memory, thereby causing the print execution unit to perform printing of the content according to the second type job data;
When the start of the processing of the second type job data is instructed during the operation of the first processing means, the operation of the second processing means is started after the operation of the first processing means is stopped; Control means for instructing the first processing means to make the storage area of the memory used for storage of temporary data an empty area when the free space of the memory is insufficient. Yes,
The copy control device,
A device connected to the scanner,
A copy system having a function of generating the second type job data based on the image data generated by the scanner and transmitting the generated job data to the printing apparatus. A copy system including a printing device, a scanner, and a copy control device,
The printing device,
A device connected to a network and the copy control device,
Memory and
Print execution means for performing printing on paper,
First processing means for processing the first-type job data using the memory to cause the print execution means to print the content corresponding to the first-type job data;
A second processing unit for processing the second type job data using the memory so as to cause the print execution unit to print the content according to the second type job data;
It waits for reception of the first type job data from the host device on the network and the second type job data from the copy control device, and when the first type job data is received, the first type job data When the first type of job data is processed by the first processing means and the second type of job data is received, the first type of job data is processed by the second type of processing. Interface means capable of receiving the second type job data in parallel;
When the reception of the second type job data by the interface unit is started during the operation of the first processing unit, the reception speed of the first type job data by the interface unit is changed to a lower speed, And causing the second processing means to start processing the second type job data which has been started to be received by the interface means. If there is not enough free space in the memory, temporary data is sent to the first processing means. Control means for instructing that the storage area of the memory used for storage is a free area,
The copy control device,
A device connected to the scanner,
A copy system having a function of generating the second type job data based on the image data generated by the scanner and transmitting the generated job data to the printing apparatus.

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