JPH11119932A - Printer and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent printing throughput form being degraded due to temporary stop/restart, when a printing mode is switched. SOLUTION: An input unit 10 receives a print job, stores page data in a storage unit 11, receives the sequence of page ID showing storage place and further reports job data which contains the printing instruction of the printing job and the sequence of the storage page ID to a control unit 12. The control unit 12 adds the job data to a job queue 121 and a batch queue 122. In this case, the batch queue 122 is retrieved with the attribute of the print job as a key, and when there is a batch having the same attribute, output information is added to that batch. When data having the same attributes do not exist, a new batch is added to the end of an output order list. At outputting, the control unit 12 extracts data from the head of the batch queue 122 and applies them to an output unit 13 as an output instruction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing technique, and more particularly to a technique for avoiding a decrease in print throughput due to a temporary stop / restart when a print mode is switched.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a printing apparatus performs printing, a printer is activated for each input page, and
One page was printed and the printer was stopped. Therefore, when printing a plurality of pages, the printer is started and stopped by the number of pages. Alternatively, when printing a document consisting of a plurality of pages, the printer is started, then the pages included in the document are printed continuously, and the printer is stopped. When printing a plurality of documents by this method, the printer is started and stopped by the number of documents. In the case of this method, if a document includes pages having a plurality of attributes, that is, pages having different printing attributes such as paper size and paper tray, or double-sided / single-sided or color / monochrome, Each time the printer changes, the printer is paused, the mode is switched to the print attribute, the printer is restarted, and the next page is printed.

[0003]

Some printers take a long time to stop. For example, an electrostatic copying printer requires a polygon mirror, a photosensitive drum, and a developing device to operate at a constant speed during printing, and it takes time for the motor that drives these to start rotating and reach a constant speed. . Further, since the fixing portion is fixed on the paper by melting the toner with heat, it needs to be kept at a high temperature during operation. It may take time to heat this to the operating temperature by the heater. Also, when the motor is temporarily stopped, it is necessary to wait for the motor to completely stop.

[0004] If the start / stop is performed for each page or for each document, it takes a long time to start / stop the printer as described above, so that the time required for printing becomes longer as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing technique for controlling the order of printing so as to minimize the pause and restart of a printer during printing in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. I do.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to avoid having to start and stop the printer as much as possible, the printing order of the page data is changed so that the page data having the same attribute is collected and output. To do it. Therefore, the printing apparatus of the present invention includes an input unit for inputting a print job including page data and a print instruction, receives and accumulates page data from the input unit, and stores a column of a page ID indicating a storage location of the page data. Control means for receiving print job data including the column of the page ID and the print instruction and issuing an output instruction including a print mode designation and the column of the page ID; Output means for receiving the output instruction from the control means, reading page data from the storage means using the page ID, and performing printing based on the designation of the print mode, wherein the control means A job queue for storing information about
A batch queue for storing output batch information indicating the output instruction, and when the job data is input, add a job to the job queue and search the batch queue using the attribute of the job data as a key Then, output information including the column of the page ID is added to batches having the same attribute.

In this configuration, output information is stored in the output batch of the batch queue for each attribute, and printing is performed for each print mode according to an output instruction for each output batch.
It is possible to reduce waste of time caused by switching between print modes.

[0008]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printing apparatus.
1, the printing apparatus includes an input unit 10, a storage unit 11, a control unit 12, and an output unit 13.
It is comprised including.

[0010] When a print job including page data and a print instruction is input, the input unit 10 stores the page data in the storage unit 11, and on the other hand, a page ID indicating the storage location of the page data in the storage unit 11.
Receive the column. Next, the input unit 10 notifies the control unit 12 of job data including a print instruction of the print job and a column of the stored page ID.

The control unit 12 includes a job queue 121 (FIG. 5) for storing information for each print job, and a batch queue 12 for storing output batch information indicating an output instruction.
2 (FIG. 5), and adds the job data received from the input unit 10 to these queues 121 and 122. First, job data is added to the end of the job queue 121 that stores information for each print job. next,
Using the attributes of the print job as a key, the batch queue 12
Then, if there is a batch having the same attribute, the output information including the column of the accumulated page ID is added to the batch. If there is no data with the same attribute, a new batch is added to the end of the output order list. Here, the print attributes include paper size, color / monochrome, double-sided / single-sided, and the like.

When the output unit 13 is ready for printing, the control unit 12 takes out the data from the head of the batch queue 121 and gives it to the output unit 13 as an output instruction consisting of a column of print attributes and page IDs to instruct printing. .

The output unit 13 receives the page data from the storage unit 11 using the received page ID sequence according to the instruction of the control unit 12, and prints the page data with the specified print attribute. When printing of the designated page data is completed, the output unit 13 notifies the control unit 12 of the end.
Notify. The control unit 12 deletes the data for which printing has been completed from the batch queue 122,
1 records that printing has been completed.

As the page data to be printed, a raster image corresponding to the number of pixels and the number of gradations of the printing unit is used. An example of this raster image is shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 is an example of monochrome page data, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are examples of color raster images.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the job queue 121 and the batch queue 122. The job queue 121 is held as a data structure of the control unit 12 in a list structure. Elements of the job queue 121 are called jobs. The job is a job I uniquely assigned to identify the job.
D, a print instruction, a column of a user name instructing the print, a name of the client machine instructing the print, a page ID indicating a storage location in the storage unit 11, and a batch ID indicating a batch corresponding to this job.

The batch queue 122 is also held as a data structure of the control unit 12 in a list structure. An element of the batch queue 122 is called a batch. A batch includes a batch ID uniquely assigned to identify the batch, a print mode of the batch, and a list of page strings. The print modes include color / black and white, paper size, single side / double side, and the like.

The page sequence has the number of copies to be printed, the order of printing, the column of page ID, and the ID of the job containing this page sequence.

FIG. 6 illustrates operations related to the job queue 121 and the batch queue when a new print job is input. FIG. 6 can be easily understood by itself, and thus detailed description is omitted. For details, refer to a specific example (FIG. 7) described below.

FIG. 7 shows the job queue 1 in the state of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a case where a new print job is added to the print job 21 and a batch queue 122. Here, for simplicity, only the paper size is considered as the print mode (attribute).
Whatever the paper size of the newly added print job, the new job is added to the end of the list structure in the job queue 121. As shown in FIG.
2 includes batches A4 and A3. If the paper size of the newly added print job is A4, the page sequence of this job is the last in the page sequence list of the batch of A4 like the batch queue 1. Added to the tail. If it is A3, it is added to the end of the page sequence list of the batch of A3 like the batch queue 2. A4 is neither A4 nor A3. For example, in the case of B4, a new batch of B4 is created like the batch queue 3 and added to the end of the list structure of the batch queue.

FIG. 8 shows a more detailed configuration of the printer device. In FIG. 8, the printer controller is a CPU 2
0, ROM 21, RAM 22, communication interface 2
3. A computer system including the printer interface 24, that is, a personal computer or a workstation. A printer 27 is connected to the printer interface 24. Further, it may have a disk interface 25 and a disk device 26 connected thereto, that is, a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device.

The CPU 20 communicates with the ROM 2 via a bus 28.
1, a RAM 22, a communication interface 23, a printer interface 24, a disk interface 25, etc., for exchanging data with them,
The above components are controlled by executing a program stored in the OM 21 or the RAM 22.

The CPU 20 inputs data from outside using the communication interface 23, and
(FIG. 1). The storage unit 11 (FIG. 1)
An AM (semiconductor memory) 22 may be used, or a disk (a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device) may be realized by connecting the disk interface 25 and the disk device 26.

When the RAM 22 is used as the storage unit 11, the printer interface 24 performs DMA (Direct Memory Access) from the RAM 22, acquires page data, and transmits the page data to the printer device 27. Thereby, an output unit is realized. Or CP
The U20 may read the page data from the RAM 22, write the page data to the printer interface 24, and the printer interface 24 may transmit the page data to the printer device 27.

When a disk is used as the storage unit 11, the disk interface 25 copies page data to the RAM 22 by DMA, and the printer interface 24 performs DMA (direct memory access) from the RAM 22 to acquire page data, Transmit to the device 27. Thereby, an output unit is realized.

If a semiconductor memory is used, access can be performed at high speed and a high-speed printing unit using electrophotography or the like can be supported. On the other hand, if a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, or the like is used, there is an advantage that much page data can be stored.

The control unit 12 (FIG. 1)
It is realized as a program executed by.

FIG. 9 shows a color copying machine using electrostatic copying technology as an example of the output unit. Referring to FIG. 9, a color copier includes a CCD (Ch) for inputting an original on a platen.
arge Coupled Device (not shown), IPS (Image Pr) for image processing
processing subsystem, not shown), an ROS unit 50 that converts an image into a laser beam to expose the photosensitive drum, and a photosensitive drum 5 that forms an electrostatic latent image
1. A rotary developing unit 52 capable of switching a developing machine to be used by providing a developing machine for developing a latent image on a photosensitive drum with toner for four colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan; Transfer drum 5 for winding paper as a recording medium and transferring toner to the paper
3. A fixing device 54 for heating and pressing the toner on the paper to melt it and fix it on the paper, and a cleaner 55 for removing the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 51 without being transferred.

When this copying machine is used as an output unit 13 of a printing apparatus, the operation is as follows. First, the operation in the color mode will be described. The sheet is conveyed from the sheet tray and wound around the transfer drum 53.
The page data sent from the transmission means is divided into four times of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, and is exposed, fixed, and transferred. First, black data is sent from the output unit. Data enters the output unit from the IPS and is converted to light by a laser diode,
The photosensitive drum 51 is scanned and exposed by 50. At the same time, the rotary developing unit 52 performs development using a black developing machine. The developed toner is transferred to the paper on the transfer drum 53. As a result, an image including only the black component is formed on the sheet.

When the black exposure, fixation, and transfer are completed, the rotary developing unit 52 rotates to switch the developing machine to yellow, and yellow data is transmitted from the transmission unit to perform the same exposure, fixation, and transfer. Thereafter, magenta and cyan exposure, fixing, and transfer are sequentially performed in the same manner.
When the transfer of the four colors is completed, a full-color unfixed image is formed on the sheet.

Finally, the sheet is sent from the transfer drum 53 to the fixing device 54, where it is fixed and discharged. by this,
The printing of the color page is completed.

In the black and white mode, only the black data is sent from the transmission unit, and only the black developing device is used. When the black exposure, fixing, and transfer are completed, a black and white unfixed image is formed on the sheet, so the sheet is sent from the transfer drum 53 to the fixing device 54, where it is fixed and discharged. Thus, printing of the black and white page is completed.

As described above, the mechanical operation differs between the color mode and the monochrome mode. Specifically, in the color mode, the rotary developing machine operates in black, yellow, magenta,
The four drums of cyan are mechanically switched and used, and the transfer drum rotates four times during the printing of one page, whereas in the black-and-white mode, the rotary developing machine is only black and no switching is required, and the transfer drum is one page. Only one rotation during printing.

Since the mechanical operation differs depending on the mode, the mode cannot be switched instantaneously. When switching modes, it is necessary to pause, switch modes, and then restart. Therefore, it takes time to switch the mode.

In this embodiment, since printing is performed collectively for each mode, mode switching can be reduced, and the total printing time can be shortened.

[Second Embodiment] Next, an example in which the user gives an instruction to the printing apparatus using the user interface unit will be described. The user interface unit only needs to be able to display and operate a print job, and various display modes can be adopted.

First, a case where the user looks at a list of print jobs will be described. When a print job list display is requested by the user, the job attributes are displayed in a format readable by the user from the top of the job queue.
The job attributes include the name of the document to be printed, the requester of the print, the name of the machine that requested the print, the arrival time, the status of the job, the number of pages, the print attributes, and the like.

Next, an example will be described in which the user cancels a print job waiting to be printed so that the corresponding job is not printed. The user designates a print job to be canceled using the user interface unit. This may be done by selecting from a list of print jobs created as described above or by using a job ID. The control unit 12 controls the job queue 1
21 to find the designated print job. If a job exists, the status of the job is changed from waiting for printing to cancelling. Next, the batch queue 122 is searched for a batch having the job ID of this job. If a batch is found, delete the page sequence corresponding to the job. As a result, when there is no more page sequence included in the batch, the batch itself is also deleted from the batch queue.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 10 shows an example having a decompression unit 14 for a compressed image and a compressed image as page data. In this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by corresponding reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. In FIG. 10, an output unit 13 acquires page data from a storage unit 11 using a page ID, and
Is used to generate image data and print.

With this configuration, since the amount of image data is reduced, a low-speed unit can be used as the input unit 10 or the storage unit 11. For example, a magnetic disk can be used instead of a semiconductor memory,
The cost can be reduced or the storage capacity can be increased.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By changing the printing order of the page data so as to combine the page data having the same attribute, the frequency of cycle down is reduced and the required printing time is shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example (black and white) of page data according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example (color) of page data according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example (color) of page data according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job queue and a batch queue according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations related to a job queue and a batch queue according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a print job is added to the job queue and the batch queue of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a printing apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a color copying machine using an electrostatic copying technique.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment having a decompression unit for a compressed image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 input unit 11 storage unit 12 control unit 13 output unit 121 job queue 122 batch queue

Claims (8)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting a print job including page data and a print instruction; a storage unit for receiving and storing page data from the input unit; and returning a column of page IDs indicating a storage location of the page data. Control means for receiving job data including the column of page IDs and the print instruction and controlling output by issuing an output instruction including designation of a print mode and the column of page IDs; An output unit for receiving an output instruction, reading page data from the storage unit using the page ID, and performing printing based on the designation of the print mode, wherein the control unit stores information for each print job. And a batch queue for storing information of the output batch indicating the output instruction, and receiving the job data. Then, a job is added to the job queue, the batch queue is searched using the attribute of the job data as a key, and output information including the column of the page ID is added to batches having the same attribute. Printing equipment. 2. Attributes of the job data include a paper size used for printing, a paper tray, color / monochrome, two-sided /
2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one side and a combination thereof are used. 3. A user interface unit for receiving a user's instruction and transmitting the instruction to a control unit. The user can check a print state, cancel a print, change a print order, set a priority order, and change a print attribute. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus can be instructed. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a raster image separated for each output color is used as page data.
Or the printing device according to 3. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for expanding a compressed image, and using the compressed raster image as page data. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for decompressing a compressed image, using a raster image divided into rectangular areas and compressed for each of the divided rectangular areas as page data. Or the printing apparatus according to 5. 7. An input unit for inputting a print job including print data and a print instruction, a storage unit for storing print data input from the input unit at a corresponding address, information on the address and the print instruction And control means for controlling printing by receiving an output instruction including a print mode designation and the address information, and receiving the output instruction from the control means and using the address information. Output means for reading out print data from the storage means and performing printing based on the designation of the print mode, wherein the control means represents a job queue for storing information for each print job; and It has a batch queue for storing output batch information, and when the above job data is input, the job is stored in the job queue A printing apparatus that searches the batch queue using the attribute of the job data as a key, and adds output information including information of the address to a batch having the same attribute. 8. An input step of inputting a print job including print data and a print instruction; a storage step of storing the print data input in the input step at a corresponding address; information on the address and the print instruction; And a control step of controlling printing by receiving an output instruction including a print mode designation and the address information, and receiving the output instruction and receiving the output instruction and using the address information. An output step of reading out the print data stored in the step and performing printing based on the designation of the print mode. The control step includes the steps of, when inputting the job data, storing information of a corresponding print job in a job queue. And storing the job data when the job data is input. A sub-step of searching the batch queue using the attribute of the key as a key; and a sub-step of additionally storing output information including the address information in a corresponding output batch in the job queue when the search is hit. If no hit is found, a sub-step of forming a new output batch corresponding to the attribute in the job queue and accumulating the output information including the address information; Performing a print mode output instruction.