JPH07172000A - Printing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a printing apparatus and a control method thereof that can confirm the setting contents of the apparatus at one time. [Structure] When a key provided on the operation panel 1-8 is operated to instruct confirmation of the setting contents of the apparatus, the setting contents are printed in the same hierarchical structure diagram according to the hierarchical structure of the setting items.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a control method therefor, and more specifically, a printing apparatus and a control method for printing a visible image based on print data sent from a host apparatus on a predetermined recording medium and outputting it. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in this type of apparatus, especially a laser beam printer, various settings are made by using a key switch provided on an operation panel while looking at a menu displayed on a display unit such as an LCD. It is common.

While only a limited number of key switches are arranged on the operation panel, the number of items to be set (for example, selection of emulation mode and selection of landscape or portrait processing of recording paper). , Interface settings, etc.) are more than that.

Therefore, normally, a main menu is displayed on the display unit, and a desired item is first selected from the main menu. Then, a sub-menu for the selected item is displayed, and the item in the sub-menu is selected, which is a method of giving the item a layered structure.

[0005]

However, when trying to confirm the contents set by such an item selection method,
The same operation as the setting procedure is performed to display the items at the end of the hierarchical structure, and the work is troublesome, and there is a problem that what kind of setting contents as a whole cannot be immediately judged.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a control method therefor capable of confirming setting contents at one time.

In order to solve this problem, the printing apparatus of the present invention has the following structure. That is, each setting of the operating environment is specified in a hierarchical structure, and the setting is performed in a printing device that prints a visible image based on print data from a higher-level device on a predetermined recording medium according to the content of each specified item. An instruction means for instructing confirmation of the content and a control means for printing the set content in a hierarchical structure when the instruction means is instructed are provided.

Further, the control method of the printing apparatus of the present invention includes the following steps. That is, a method for controlling a printing apparatus in which each setting of the operating environment is designated in a hierarchical structure and a visible image based on print data from a higher-level device is printed on a predetermined recording medium according to the contents of each designated item In the above, there is provided an instructing step for instructing confirmation of setting contents, and a step of controlling to print the set contents in a hierarchical structure when the instructing step is instructed.

[0009]

In the structure of the present invention, when an instruction to confirm the setting contents is issued, the setting contents are printed in a hierarchical structure.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing apparatus according to the embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 1-1 is a host computer which is a generation source of print data, and 1-2 is a printer main body of the embodiment. Reference numeral 1-3 denotes a buffer unit for temporarily storing the received print data, and 1-4 stores hierarchical structure data, a program relating to print processing and environment setting (FIG. 3 described later), and further font data. ROM.
A RAM 1-5 stores current setting item data of the printer, which is connected to a backup power supply (not shown) and stores and retains the contents even when the power of the apparatus main body is turned off. Reference numeral 1-6 is a CPU that controls the entire printing apparatus, and performs print processing in accordance with the programs stored in the ROM 1-4 described in the embrace and the contents set in the RAM 1-5. Reference numeral 1-7 is a printer engine section for actually printing, and 1-8 is a panel section for operating means, which is an L for displaying various messages and menus.
In addition to the cursor keys for selecting either the CD display section or the displayed menu, a selection key 1-8-a for selecting the current item as shown in FIG. 2 and a stop key 1-for stopping the selection operation 8-b.

The structure and operation of the printer engine section 1-7 will be described with reference to FIG. The laser beam printer of this embodiment can register a character pattern and a fixing form (form data) from a host computer.

In the figure, reference numeral 740 denotes an LBP main body, which inputs and stores character information (character code) supplied from an externally connected host computer, form information, macro commands, and the like. A corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created in accordance with the above, and an image is formed on the recording paper which is a recording medium. A printer control unit 701 controls the entire LBP 740 and analyzes character information and the like supplied from a host computer, and includes each circuit configuration shown in FIG. The control unit 701 mainly converts the corresponding character pattern of character information into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 702. The laser driver 702 is a circuit for driving the semiconductor laser 703, and switches on / off the laser light 704 emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 according to an input video signal. Laser light 7
Reference numeral 04 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 705 to scan on the electrostatic drum 706. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 706. The latent image is developed by the developing unit 707 around the electrostatic drum 706 and then transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is LBP740.
Stored in a removable paper cassette 708 attached to
It is taken into the apparatus by the paper feed roller 709 and the delivery rollers 710 and 711, and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 706. Then, the electrostatic drum 706 is operated by the developing unit 707.
The toner image attached on the top is transferred to the recording paper that has been conveyed. After that, the recording paper is conveyed toward the fixing device 712, the toner is fixed, and finally discharged by the discharge roller 713.

In the above-mentioned structure, the procedure for making various settings in the apparatus main body is to display the hierarchical structure menu and operate the cursor keys or the selection key 1-8-a shown in FIG. The general operation is the same.

Therefore, in the embodiment, the processing procedure when the operation for confirming the setting contents is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S1, the operation panel 1-8
"Printer setting status grasp" which is the item in it
If is selected, the process proceeds to step S2 and the RAM 1-5
A message prompting you to print the setting items stored in is displayed, and the operator selects the selection key 1-8-a.
Alternatively, one of the stop keys 1-8-b is selected.

If it is desired to cancel, the cancel key 1
Printing can be stopped by pressing -8-b. If the selection key 1-8-a is pressed and a print instruction is received, the process advances to step S3 to print the hierarchical structure diagram and the diagram in which the current setting position is marked, and then to step S4. finish.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the print output result. As shown in the figure, the current setting item is printed so that it can be distinguished from the item that is not set.

As a result of the above, according to this embodiment, it becomes clear at a glance what kind of setting is currently made in the hierarchical structure menu. Therefore, in order to confirm each current setting item, it is unnecessary to reach the hierarchy of the item.

In the above example, all the outputs of the hierarchical structure diagram are dealt with, but the outputs of only the related layers including the current set value part may be used. Also, as long as it has a hierarchical structure,
It is not limited to this.

Further, the case of printing in which the hierarchical structure diagram and the current set value are combined is dealt with, but the case of printing only the hierarchical structure diagram is also acceptable.

Further, in the above example, the hierarchical structure diagram of the selection items is printed when the instruction to print the setting contents is given, but it may be carried out at the time of test printing.

In this embodiment, one item of the menu is provided with a print item having a hierarchical structure, but it is also possible to deal with it by one operation using a dedicated key or button completely different from this.

In this embodiment, the case where the hierarchical structure is printed is dealt with, but it may be returned to the host computer and displayed on the host. In this case, the interface between the host computer and this device may be bidirectional.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case of the operation by the operation panel is dealt with, but when the predetermined command is received from the host computer, the step S3 of FIG. 3 may be executed, or the hierarchical structure is adopted. The data may be returned to the host computer.

Although the present embodiment deals with the case of outputting the present set value, the previous set value may be outputted if the previously set item and set value are stored.

The laser beam printer has been described as an example in the embodiment, but any type of printer may be easily inferred from the above description. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the laser beam printer.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the setting contents are printed in a hierarchical structure, it is possible to check the current individual setting contents in comparison with other items, so that the setting environment as a whole is It becomes obvious.

[0031]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a part of an operation panel in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation processing procedure when confirming setting contents in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a print example of setting contents in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration cross-sectional view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 Host computer 1-2 Printer main body 1-3 Buffer 1-4 ROM 1-5 RAM 1-6 CPU 1-7 Printer engine section 1-8 Panel section 1-8-a Panel operation section selection button 1- 8-b Panel operation section cancel button

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus which hierarchically designates each setting of an operating environment and prints a visible image based on print data from a higher-level device on a predetermined recording medium according to the contents of each designated item. 2. A printing apparatus comprising: an instruction unit for instructing confirmation of setting contents; and a control unit for printing the set contents in a hierarchical structure when the instruction unit is instructed. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instructing unit gives an instruction by a key provided on the apparatus main body. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instructing unit is implemented by a host device transmitting predetermined command data. 4. A printing apparatus for hierarchically designating each setting of an operating environment and printing a visible image based on print data from a higher-level device on a predetermined recording medium according to the content of each designated item. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising: an instructing step for instructing confirmation of setting contents; and a step of controlling to print the set contents in a hierarchical structure when the instructing step is instructed. Control method. 5. The method for controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the instructing step is instructed by a key provided on the apparatus main body. 6. The method for controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the instructing step is performed by the upper level apparatus transmitting predetermined command data.