JPH0443336Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to a printing device equipped with an automatic paper feeding mechanism, and particularly to print control suitable for printing a plurality of print data on different paper sizes.

[Background of the idea]

Conventional printing devices perform printing in the specified order of printing in response to requests for printing multiple print data, and do not take into account the increased number of paper changes when printing multiple print data of different paper sizes.

On the other hand, the paper size information detected by the paper size detection section is compared with the paper size information of the print data stored in the print data storage section, and if there is no paper of the paper size of the specified print data in the paper cassette, A system that displays a message to replace a mismatched paper cassette has been proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 103545/1983. This improves operability by notifying the operator when the machine is worn out and providing appropriate intervention guidance.

However, this device only instructs the user to replenish paper or replace the cassette when the relevant paper runs out or the relevant paper is not set. will be carried out. In other words, when an A4 size cassette and a B5 size cassette are installed, if A3 size is specified from the registration document, a message to exchange for A3 size paper will be issued, and either the A4 or B5 size cassette and the A3 size cassette will be replaced. exchange with. Next, after A3 size printing is completed, if the previously exchanged size is specified, the cassette of that size is replaced again with the installed cassette.

In this way, in the invention of the control method of the earlier application,
Each time the paper size requested for printing differs from the paper in the installed cassette, it is necessary to replace the cassette with the paper size requested for printing, and there is still room for improvement in work efficiency.

[Purpose of invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that improves operability by reducing the number of times the printing device replaces paper when printing a plurality of print data on different paper sizes.

[Summary of the idea]

The purpose is to provide a print data storage unit that stores print data of multiple documents with different specified paper sizes, a paper size detection unit that detects the size of paper set in a paper feed cassette for each paper size;
In a printing device equipped with a printing unit that performs printing and a display unit that displays the printing status on a display screen, the paper size information detected by the paper size detection unit is compared with the paper size information of the print data to be printed, and the specified If there is no paper of the paper size specified in the print data in the paper cassette, printing of that print data will be omitted and the next document whose paper size information matches the paper size set in the paper cassette will be printed. If there is a print control means that sequentially prints data, and if there is print data to be printed without printing, print data of a document that matches the paper size set in the paper feed cassette in sequence, and then print the data in the paper feed cassette. This is achieved by providing a paper feed cassette exchange message display control means for displaying the exchange message on the display screen.

[Example of idea]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example in which the present invention is implemented in a Japanese word processor. Reference numeral 1-1 denotes a paper feed cassette attachment section, on which two types of paper feed cassettes are attached. Reference numeral 1-2 denotes a paper feed cassette detection section, which detects the paper size of the paper feed cassette attached to the printing device using a read switch from a magnet on the bottom of the cassette. A register 1-3 stores the detected paper size of the paper feed cassette. A memory 1-4 stores print data designated for printing. 1-5 is a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) that stores the paper size detected by the paper size detection section in a register, and compares the paper size with the paper size of the print data stored in the print data storage memory. If the paper size is the same, it is output to the memory of the printing unit. If there is no data of the same size as the paper cassette in the print data storage memory, a paper cassette replacement message is output on the message display section. It also controls the printing section.

Reference numeral 1-6 denotes a memory for storing print data selected by the CPU, which are sequentially output to the print unit. 1-7
is a message display section, which displays messages such as replacing the paper cassette by lighting a lamp.
A printing section 1-8 prints the print data output from the memory.

FIG. 2 shows a paper size detection logic circuit, which uses three reed switches to detect the array of magnets (unique to each paper size) attached to the paper feed cassette to determine the paper size. Figure 3 shows an outline of the print data,
Reference numeral 3-1 is a section where the paper size of the print data is stored as paper size information, and 3-2 is a section where the contents of the print data are stored.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing of this embodiment, and 4-1 indicates that the print data numbers are added to the print data in the print data storage memory in the order of output.
The counter N for counting the print data number is initialized. At step 4-2, the paper size is read from the register storing the paper sizes of paper feed cassettes A and B, and at step 4-3, the print data number counter is incremented by one.

In 4-4, it is determined whether there is print data corresponding to the counter number. 4-5 reads print data equal to the counter number from the print data storage memory. 4-6, 4-7 are 4-
With the paper size of the paper cassette read in step 2, 4-
The paper size of the print data read in step 5 is determined. Print data having the same paper size as that of paper feed cassette A or B is output to the memory of the print section at 4-8, and printed at 4-9. 4-1 after printing
0 erases the printed print data from the print data storage memory. If the print data does not match the paper size of either paper cassette A or B, press 4-
At step 11, it is determined whether or not the data unprinted flag has been set, and if it has been reset, the flag is set at step 4-12. Then, regardless of whether there is printing or not, it returns to the print data counter in 4-3.
If the print data corresponding to the counter number is not in the print data storage memory, it is determined in 4-13 whether the data unprint flag is set, and if it is set, the CPU sends the paper to the message display section in 4-14. Outputs a signal to display a cassette replacement message. The message display unit identifies the signal and lights up the lamp on the message display panel corresponding to the message indicating paper cassette replacement, requesting the operator to replace the paper cassette. 1-15
Now, reset the data unprinted flag.

According to this embodiment, in response to a print request for multiple data on different paper sizes, the paper size currently set in the paper cassette is given priority for printing, regardless of the order of print specifications, so the paper cassette can be replaced. (Paper replacement) can be minimized. In addition to the message to replace the paper cassette, the message display section of the above embodiment can also display messages such as the paper size of the paper cassette that is not loaded and the paper size of the paper cassette that is currently set. There is also a method of making the operator aware of the interruption by displaying a message and using audible means such as a buzzer. In addition to the paper size detection method, in addition to detection using a reed switch, there is also a mechanical
There is also a method of detection by turning it off.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, the present invention includes a print data storage unit that stores print data for multiple documents with different specified paper sizes, and a paper size detection unit that detects the size of paper set in the paper feed cassette for each paper size. In a printing device that is equipped with a printing unit that performs printing, and a display unit that displays the printing status on a display screen, the paper size information detected by the paper size detection unit and the paper size information of the print data to be printed are compared and specified. If there is no paper in the paper cassette that matches the paper size of the specified print data, printing of that print data will be omitted and the next document whose paper size information matches the paper size set in the paper cassette will be printed. If there is print data to be printed without printing, the print control means sequentially prints the print data of the document that corresponds to the paper size set in the paper feed cassette, and then prints the print data sequentially. Since a paper cassette exchange message display control means is provided for displaying a paper cassette exchange message on the display screen, the number of paper cassette exchanges can be reduced and a printing device with good handling properties can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example in which the present invention is applied to a printing device for a Japanese word processor, Figure 2 is a logic circuit diagram for paper size detection, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of print data, and Figure 4 is a bookmarker. 2 is a flowchart showing processing in an example. 1-1...Paper cassette attachment part, 1-2...
...Paper size detection unit, 1-3...Register for storing detected paper size, 1-4...Memory for storing print data, 1-5...Central processing unit (CPU) for judgment and control, 1 -7...Message display section that displays messages.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] A print data storage unit that stores print data for multiple documents with different specified paper sizes, and a paper size detection unit that detects the size of paper set in the paper feed cassette for each paper size. In a printing device equipped with a printing unit that performs printing and a display unit that displays the printing status on a display screen, the paper size information detected by the paper size detection unit is compared with the paper size information of the print data to be printed, and the specified If there is no paper in the paper cassette with the paper size of the specified print data, printing of that print data will be omitted and the next document whose paper size information matches the paper size set in the paper cassette will be printed. If there is a printing control means that sequentially prints the print data, and if there is print data that should be printed without printing, the print control means sequentially prints the print data of the document that matches the paper size set in the paper feed cassette, and then feeds the paper. A printing device characterized in that it is provided with paper feed cassette exchange message display control means for displaying a cassette exchange message on the display screen.