JPH0465274A - Electrophotographic printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a photosensitive material drum to be prevented from useless operation in the case where a printing data of which edition processing of a second page on and after requires long time exists by a method wherein a drum motor is stopped by processing when reception of the next page is not completed on completion of printing of a first page or when edition of the next page is not completed. CONSTITUTION:In the case where either of a reception process of a next page or an edition process of the next page is not completed, its printing is judged to require time for reception processing or edition processing, and rotation of a drum motor is stopped. At that time, a procedure thereafter is switched to a mode in which printing paper is supplied by completion of edition processing. Then, though reception processing is completed, the printing paper is not supplied until edition processing of the next page is completed. Further, in the case where both of the reception process of the next page and the edition process of the next page have been completed, its printing is judged not to require time for reception processing or edition processing, and the procedure thereafter is switched to a mode in which the printing paper is supplied by start of the reception processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electrophotographic printer that can shorten the rotation time of a photosensitive drum when printing page by page.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in an electrophotographic printer, a charged photoreceptor drum is irradiated with a light source to form an electrostatic latent image on its surface, and toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image for development. After that, the toner image is transferred to a recording medium.

Then, the print data input from the terminal is converted into image data, and exposure is performed using the image data to form a static 1tWI image on the photosensitive drum.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a conventional electrophotographic printer.

In the figure, an electrophotographic printer 1 includes a control section 3 that receives print data from a terminal 2, and a printing section 4 that performs printing. The control unit 3 includes an external connection ink face unit 5 consisting of a Centronics interface, etc.
, a reception buffer 6, a microprocessor 7, a font memory 8, and an image memory 9.

Here, the print data from the terminal 2 is supplied to the reception buffer 6 via the external connection interface section 5.

Further, a printing paper supply section 11a for automatically supplying standard printing paper 24 is provided at the bottom and right side of the printing section 4.
, llb are provided respectively.

Also, inside the printing section 4, there is a photoreceptor drum 12 having a photoreceptor surface formed on its outer periphery, a charger 27 that uniformly charges the photoreceptor surface, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to print image data on the photoreceptor surface. A light emitting diode array 13 for forming, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a fixing device 16 are provided. A discharge section 17 is provided on the left side of the printing section 4 to discharge the printing paper 24 after printing.

The printing section 4 also includes a microprocessor 18 that communicates with the control section 3 and controls the entire printing section 4;
A cover open switch 19 is provided to detect whether or not the cover is opened.

Furthermore, between the control section 3 and the printing section 4, there is a bidirectional serial interface 20 for communication between the two, and a signal line for transferring and controlling print data formed from dot image data. It is connected via a video interface 21 that it has.

The electrophotographic printer 1 configured as described above operates as follows.

When print data is input from a host computer (not shown) through the terminal 2 and external connection interface section 5, the electrophotographic printer takes the print data into the reception buffer 6.Next, the microprocessor 7 inputs the print data into the print data. The included character code is read and the font memory 8 is referenced to create print image data. This printing image data is written into the image memory 9.

In the image memory 9, for example, print image data for one page of printing paper is edited and stored.

If the print data taken into the reception buffer 6 is image data, the microprocessor sensor 7 writes it as it is to a predetermined address in the image memory 9.
In the case of business graphic printing, etc., print data is sent from the host computer in the form of graphic commands, so the microprocessor 7 edits and calculates the image data and writes it directly into the image memory 9.

When the analysis and editing of the printing image data is completed in this manner, the printing paper 24 is conveyed from one of the printing paper supply units 11a and 11b.

In parallel with this, image data for printing is supplied by the microprocessor 7 to the light emitting diode array 13 via the video interface 21, the light emitting diode array 13 is driven, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the outer periphery of the photoreceptor drum 12. be done. When the photosensitive drum 12 rotates in the direction of the arrow 12a, this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 14 and transferred onto the printing paper 24 by the transfer device 15. The printing paper 24 is fixed in the fixing device 16 and then discharged to the discharge section 17 .

In this way, information based on the print data received by the host computer is printed on the printing paper 24.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart for explaining paper supply timing of a conventional electrophotographic printer, FIG. 6 is a detailed diagram for explaining paper conveyance in a printing section, and FIG. 7 is a printing paper conveyance timing chart.

In FIG. 7, R+ (i=1.2...) is the receiving process for page i, and E+ (i=1.2...) is the editing process for page i.

Steps (1) to (2) First, when print data is sent from the host computer, the microprocessor 7 determines whether or not it is print data at the stage where it is stored in the reception buffer 6 of the control section 3.

Step 0 ■ Furthermore, the above serial interface 2
It is determined whether or not there is a paper supply enable signal sent from the printing section 4 via the serial interface 20, and if possible, a paper supply command is sent via the serial interface 20. When the microprocessor 18 of the printing unit 4 receives the paper supply command,
As shown in FIG. 6(a), the homping roller motor 25
is turned on, and the printing paper 24 is fed from the paper supply units 11a and 11b.
Start taking out.

Printing paper 2 taken out from paper supply units 11a and llb
4 is detected by the large opening sensor (S, ) 26, and is shown in FIG.
It is transported to the position of the register clutch 27 as shown in b). At the same time, the homping roller motor 25
is turned off and sends an actual printable signal to the control unit 3 via the serial interface 20.

Step @ During this time, the control unit 3 performs the receiving process for the page, and when the receiving process for one page is completed, it next starts the editing process.

Step ■～o When the editing process for one page is completed,
It is determined whether or not the printing section 4 is capable of actual printing. If actual printing is possible, an actual printing start command is sent to the printing section 4, and actual printing processing such as transfer of dot image data is started. Step [
If the reception of one page is completed before the paper supply ready signal is sent from the printing unit 4 in the phase], editing processing starts immediately from step @, but the paper supply ready signal is not sent after entering the editing processing. When it comes, the paper supply command is sent to the printing section 4.
Send to.

Step 0: Upon receiving the actual printing start command, the printing unit 4 turns on the register roller clutch 27 and restarts paper conveyance. As shown in FIG. 6(c), time 1. After the elapse of time, a request for print data is made to the control section 3 for writing print data onto the photoreceptor drum 12. From the control unit 3 to the light emitting diode array 13
When dot image data is sent via the video interface 21, it is written on the photoreceptor drum 12, and the dot image data is sequentially written on the photoreceptor drum 12 in synchronization with the conveyed paper. . The photosensitive drum 12 rotates, and the transfer device 15 is transferred in the order in which writing is performed.
The image is transferred onto the printing paper 24 by the following steps, and the transfer of the page is completed. When the transfer of the page is completed and the printing paper 24 passes the population sensor (S.) as shown in FIG. 6(d), the register roller clutch 27 is turned off and the printing paper for the next page is supplied. Enter t$bei.

(Problem H to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above-mentioned conventional electrophotographic printer, when printing print data that requires a long time for editing processing, it is necessary to Since the body drum continues to rotate, the degree of abrasion of the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photosensitive drum increases significantly, and the deterioration of the developer inside the developing device increases, resulting in a shortened lifespan of these consumables.

The present invention solves the problem of the conventional electrophotographic printer described above, and the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photosensitive drum is worn out significantly due to unnecessary rotation of the photosensitive drum.
To provide an electrophotographic printer in which the life of these consumables is not shortened due to significant deterioration of developer inside a developing device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) To this end, the present invention includes a control unit that receives print data from an external device and performs editing processing for printing page by page, and a control unit that performs printing using an edited image deck. In a printing apparatus having a printing unit that performs printing, when the actual printing of one page is completed, means is provided for determining whether or not the reception processing of the next page and the editing processing of the next page have been completed.

If either the next page reception process or the next page editing process is not completed, it is determined that the reception process or Ifi process is time-consuming printing, and the rotation of the drum motor is stopped. . At this time, the mode is switched to a mode in which printing paper is supplied after the editing process is completed.

In addition, if both the next page reception process and the next page editing process have been completed, it is determined that the reception process or editing process does not take much time, and the subsequent pages are printed by starting the reception process. The mode is set to switch to paper feeding mode.

In the mode in which printing paper is supplied upon completion of the editing process described above, the drum motor is restarted and printing paper is supplied when the editing process is completed, and in the mode in which printing paper is supplied in response to the start of reception processing, the print data is The paper is fed when it is received.

(Function) According to the present invention, as described above, there is a control section that receives print data from an external device and performs editing processing for printing page by page, and a printing section that performs printing using image data that has undergone editing processing. In a printing apparatus having a printer, means is provided for determining whether or not reception processing for the next page and editing processing for the next page are completed when actual printing of one page is completed.

If either the reception process for the next page or the editing process for the next page is not completed, it is determined that the reception process or the editing process is time-consuming printing, and the rotation of the drum motor is stopped. . At this time, the mode is switched to a mode in which printing paper is supplied after the editing process is completed.

In addition, if both the next page reception process and the next page editing process have been completed, it is determined that the reception process or editing process does not take much time, and the subsequent pages are printed by starting the reception process. The mode is set to switch to paper feeding mode.

In the mode in which printing paper is supplied upon completion of the editing process, the drum motor is restarted and printing paper is supplied when the editing process is completed. Therefore, while this mode continues, printing paper will not be supplied until the editing process for the next page is finished, even if the receiving process is finished.

On the other hand, in a mode in which printing paper is supplied by starting reception processing, paper is supplied at the time when print data is received.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic printer showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, an electrophotographic printer 51 includes a control section 53 that receives print data from the terminal 2 and a printing section 54 that performs printing. The control unit 53 includes an external connection interface unit 5 including a Centronics interface, a reception buffer 6, a microprocessor 7,
A font memory 8 and an image memory 9 are provided.

Here, the print data from the terminal 2 is supplied to the reception buffer 6 via the external connection interface section 5.

Further, a printing paper supply unit 11 for automatically supplying standard printing paper 24 is provided at the bottom and right side of the printing unit 54.
a and llb are provided respectively.

Further, inside the printing section 54, a photoreceptor drum 12 having a photoreceptor surface formed on its outer periphery, a charger 27 that uniformly charges the photoreceptor surface, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to print image data on the photoreceptor surface. A light emitting diode array 13 for forming, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a fixing device 16 are provided.

A discharge section 17 is provided on the left side of the printing section 54 to discharge the printing paper 24 on which printing has been completed.

The printing section 54 is also provided with a microprocessor 18 that communicates with the control section 53 and controls the printing section 54 as a whole, and a cover open switch 19 that detects whether or not the cover of the printing section 54 is opened.

Further, between the control section 53 and the printing section 54, there is a bidirectional serial interface 20 for communication between the two, and a bidirectional serial interface 20 for transferring print data formed of dot image data.
It is connected via a video interface 21 having signal lines for control.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart for explaining paper supply timing, and FIG. 3 is a paper conveyance timing chart.

In the figure, R+ (i=1.2...) is the i-page reception process, and E! (+-1, 2, . . . ) is the i-page editing process.

Steps ~@ First, when print data is sent from the host computer, the microprocessor 7 determines whether or not it is print data at the stage where it is stored in the reception buffer 6 of the control section 3.

Step [Phase]■ Furthermore, it is determined whether or not there is a paper supply enable signal sent from the printing unit 4 via the serial interface 20, and if possible, a paper supply command is sent via the serial interface 20. . When the microprocessor 18 of the printing unit 4 receives the paper supply command, it turns on the hopping roller motor 25 as shown in FIG. 6(a) and starts taking out the printing paper 24 from the paper supply units 11a and llb. do.

Printing paper 2 taken out from paper supply units 11a and llb
4 is detected by the inlet sensor (s, ) 26 and shown in FIG.
As shown in b), it is transported to the position of the register roller clutch 27. At the same time, the hopping roller motor 25 is turned off and an actual print enable signal is sent to the control unit 3 via the serial interface 20.

Step (2) During this time, the control unit 3 performs the receiving process for the page, and when the receiving process for one page is completed, it then starts the editing process.

Step [phase] ~ @ When the editing process for one page is completed, the printing unit 4 determines whether or not actual printing is possible, and if actual printing is possible, sends an actual printing start command to the printing unit 4. , starts actual printing processing such as dot image data transfer. In step [phase], if the reception of one page is completed before the paper supply ready signal is sent from the printing unit 4, editing processing starts immediately from step @, but after entering the editing processing, the paper supply ready signal is not sent. When received, a paper supply command is sent to the printing unit 4.

Step 0 When the printing unit 4 receives the actual printing start command, it turns on the register roller clutch 27 and restarts paper conveyance. As shown in FIG. 6(c), time 1. When , the light emitting diode array 13 is sent from the control unit 3 to the control unit 3 for writing print data to the photosensitive drum 12 and requests print data.
When dot image data is sent via the video interface 21, it is written on the photoreceptor drum 12, and the dot image data is sequentially written on the photoreceptor drum 12 in synchronization with the conveyed paper. . The photosensitive drum 12 rotates, and the transfer device 15 is transferred in the order in which writing is performed.
The image is transferred onto the printing paper 24 by the following steps, and the transfer of the page is completed. When the transfer of the page is completed and the printing paper 24 passes the population sensor (S.) as shown in FIG. 6(d), the register roller clutch 27 is turned off and the printing paper for the next page is supplied. Get ready.

Step [phase]~@ After the actual printing process is completed, when the printing section 54 prepares to supply printing paper for the next page,
The microprocessor 18 makes an inquiry to the microprocessor sensor 7 as to whether the editing of the next page has been completed. In response to the inquiry as to whether the editing process for the next page has been completed, the microprocessor 7 determines whether or not the editing for one page has been completed in the same way as for the previous page.
If editing has been completed, preparations are made to supply printing paper for the next page without stopping the drum motor. Furthermore, if the editing is not completed, a drum motor stop command is sent to the microprocessor 18.

The microprocessor 18 enters a drum motor stop sequence based on the command to stop the drum motor. If the next page data has not been received, editing is obviously not completed. In this case, it is determined in step [phase] whether or not the reception process has been completed, and processing is performed to stop the drum motor.

From now on, keep this mode and use this to step [phase]
The paper supply determination in step (3) and the paper supply command sending process in step (2) are invalidated. In addition, if the editing time for the next page is less than a certain time, the paper supply mode is entered by starting reception, and the paper supply judgment in step ■ and step [
stock] invalidates the paper supply command sending process.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments,
Various modifications are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the reception of the next page is not completed when the printing of the first page is completed,
Or, since the drum motor is stopped when the editing of the next page is not completed, if there is print data that requires a long time to edit after the second page, the printing of the previous page is completed. Since the photoreceptor drum sometimes stops, unnecessary operation of the photoreceptor drum can be prevented, and the number of sheets that can be printed within the life of the photoreceptor drum can be increased.

Furthermore, if the developing device, fixing device, etc. are configured to rotate with the operation of the photosensitive drum motor, the life of these units can also be extended.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic printer showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an operation flow chart for explaining paper supply timing, Fig. 3 is a paper transport timing chart, and Fig. 4 is a conventional electronic photo printer. Schematic configuration diagram of a photo printer,
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the paper supply timing of a conventional electrophotographic printer, FIG. 6 is a detailed drawing for explaining paper conveyance in the printing section, and FIG. 7 is a printing paper conveyance timing chart. 2...Terminal, 6...Receiving buffer, 7.18...
- Microprocessor, 53...control unit, 54...
Printing Department. Patent Applicant: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Agent, Patent Attorney: Makoto Kawai (1 other person) The present invention's rounded printing 11 is also shown. LT Bow-sha S Grinta's Pussy Master Ryūnai January (
ffi Fig. 4 Fig. 5 ((1”) Paper supply fragility (IA) voice (ceramic, entering 0hi (So) school book (C) j
- Mark J11 beginning of the inscription ■ Inputting the color of the instep 1 Explanation of the thread exit Fig. 6

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A printing device having a control unit that receives print data from an external device and performs editing processing for printing page by page, and a printing unit that performs printing using the edited image data, a) means for determining whether or not the next page reception process and next page editing process have been completed when the actual printing of one page is completed; (b) the above-mentioned next page reception process and next page editing process; If either of the processes is not completed, the rotation of the drum motor is stopped, and after that, the mode is switched to supplying printing paper upon completion of the editing process, and either of the above-mentioned next page reception process and next page editing process is performed. (c) In the mode in which printing paper is supplied upon completion of editing processing, the drum is switched to a mode in which printing paper is supplied upon completion of editing processing. An electrophotographic printer characterized by having means for supplying paper at the time when print data is received in a mode in which printing paper is supplied when the motor is restarted and printing paper is supplied when reception processing is started.