JPH11221931A - Print control method and apparatus, recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing control apparatus adapted to avoid a state of ink shortage in the middle of printing by correctly estimating a count of printable sheets at a printing apparatus on the basis of a measured count of dots from the printing apparatus. SOLUTION: A printing request for one trial sheet of printing data is output to a printing apparatus. A count of dots measured by the printing apparatus according to the printing data is obtained at a measured data take part 14. An ink consumption amount detection part 15 converts the measured count of dots to an ink consumption amount based on the printing data. A print sheet operation part 16 estimates a count of printable sheets at the printing apparatus on the basis of the ink consumption amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus for controlling printing, such as a printer, and more particularly to a technique for accurately grasping the remaining ink amount and accurately predicting the number of printable sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an ink-jet printer, when ink runs out during printing, ink used for printing up to that time and printing paper are wasted. When performing color printing, the burden on the user due to running out of ink during printing is particularly large. As a countermeasure, conventionally, print data is developed inside a print control device realized by a host computer, and the resulting dots are represented by C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). Each color is counted, and the number of dots required for printing, that is, the amount of ink required for printing is simulated in advance. Then, as a result of the simulation, when it is determined that the current ink remaining amount is less than the amount that can complete the printing, the printing control apparatus transmits the application (A) before printing.
A warning was issued to the P) side.

On the other hand, a dot counter for measuring the number of dots is provided inside the printer, and this count value is returned to the host computer to display the current ink remaining amount.

[0004]

As described above, conventionally, a function for simulating the amount of ink required for printing is provided on the print control device side, so that the design man-hour of the print control device is not increased. It increases greatly compared to the case. When the print control device is a printer driver realized by a computer-readable program, the program size also increases. Further, since print data is generated by performing color conversion, halftone generation, and the like by software, there is a problem that a large amount of memory resources of the host computer are consumed and the speed is reduced.

Further, even if there is a function of developing print data at high speed by hardware between the printer side or between the host computer and the printer, it has not been possible to perform a simulation using this function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved print control method capable of easily detecting the remaining amount of ink and estimating the number of printable sheets without increasing the number of design steps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus suitable for implementing the above-described print control method and a recording medium for implementing the above-described print control method on a general-purpose computer.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a print control method for transmitting print data to a printing apparatus which measures the number of dots corresponding to a predetermined number of print data. The number of measured dots measured by the printing apparatus is acquired according to the print data thus obtained, and is converted into the ink consumption of the printing apparatus. Then, the number of printable sheets in the printing apparatus is predicted based on the converted ink consumption.

Preferably, the measurement of the number of dots is performed in a state where ink consumption is limited. Further, when the dots to be formed based on the print data include those having different diameters, the ink consumption is a value obtained by converting the number of measured dots into the number of dots having a common diameter.

A printing control apparatus according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus having means for measuring the number of dots corresponding to print data of a predetermined number of sheets. A print request unit that sends the print data; a measurement value acquisition unit that acquires the number of measurement dots measured by the printing apparatus according to the print data sent by the print request unit; It is provided with a print number predicting means for converting the amount of ink consumption based on the print data and estimating the number of printable sheets in the printing apparatus based on the ink consumption amount.

Another printing control apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus having means for measuring the number of dots corresponding to a predetermined number of print data in a state in which ink consumption is restricted, wherein A print request unit that sends the print data and the ejection restriction request to the apparatus; and a measurement that acquires the number of measurement dots measured by the printing device in response to the print data and the ejection restriction request sent by the print request unit. A value acquisition unit configured to convert the acquired number of measured dots into an ink consumption based on the print data, and to predict a printable number of sheets by the printing apparatus based on the ink consumption. Is done.

Further, the recording medium of the present invention can be read by a computer capable of communicating with a printing apparatus having means for measuring the number of dots corresponding to a predetermined number of print data while limiting ink consumption. And a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing the computer to execute the following processing.

(1) processing for transmitting the print data and the ejection restriction request to the printing apparatus; (2) the number of measured dots measured by the printing apparatus in response to the transmitted print data and the ejection restriction request (3) a process of converting the obtained measured number of dots into an ink consumption based on the print data, and (4) a prediction of the number of printable sheets by the printing apparatus based on the converted ink consumption. Processing to do.

When the dots to be formed based on the print data include those having different diameters, the program corrects the obtained consumption by a value obtained by converting each dot into a dot having a common diameter. It is what the computer executes.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which a print control device according to the present invention is a printer driver realized on a host computer will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, FIG. 1 shows an example of a printing system to which the present invention is applied. The printing system includes a host computer 1 on which the printer driver of the present embodiment is mounted,
The printing apparatus 2 is configured to be connected via a cable.

The printing device 2 is, for example, an ink jet printer capable of performing color printing, and includes a host computer 1.
When a print data is received from the printer, a predetermined print process is executed to form an image on print paper. This printing device 2 has a mechanism for separating dots of different diameters,
It is provided with a dot counter for measuring the total number of dots corresponding to a print request, that is, an ink consumption amount, and a mechanism for measuring the number of dots while restricting ink ejection.
If the device has a function of detecting the dot diameter and correcting the number of dots, the ink consumption can be measured more accurately.
The measurement of the number of dots in a state in which the ink ejection is restricted is realized by, for example, updating the dot counter only by performing the waveform drive for the head (actuator) but not performing the actual ink ejection based on the mask data. Is done.

The host computer 1 executes, controls, and monitors a program through a predetermined system program. Specifically, a CPU (Central processing Uniform) arranged on a system board (not shown)
t), RAM (Randum Access Memory), ROM (Read
Only Memory) and a built-in or external hard disk (HD) 3, and the CPU appropriately reads a required program from the HD 3 and executes a required process. The HD 3 stores an application program (hereinafter, AP), a print control program for realizing the printer driver of the present embodiment, and the like.

The host computer 1 also includes a display device 4 having a monitor screen, a data input device 5 for inputting various setting information, a CD-ROM drive, and an FD.
A media reading device 6 including the communication device D and a communication control device 7 serving as a connection interface with a private network are connected. The display device 4 is configured to display a predetermined dialog window in response to an instruction of a system program, an AP, a print control program, or the like. The data input device 5 is a keyboard, mouse, or other pointing device.

The print control program is usually
It is recorded and distributed on a flexible disk (FD) or CD-ROM in a form readable by the host computer 1, and when the printing apparatus 2 is used, the host computer 1 is connected via the media reading device 6 or the communication control device 7. By reading, it is installed on the HD3.

Next, a printer driver realized by the host computer 1 reading the print control program will be described.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the printer driver 10 according to the present embodiment. 1, the printer driver 10 includes a print management unit 11, a dot measurement request output unit 13, a measurement data acquisition unit 14, and an ink consumption detection unit 1.
5, a functional block of the number-of-prints predicting unit 16 and the spool file 12. It should be noted that, in actuality, a drawing processing unit for drawing various dialogs and windows serving as user interface screens, a communication management unit for transmitting and receiving various data to and from the printing apparatus 2 are also provided. Since well-known ones can be used, only the functions necessary for carrying out the present invention will be described here.

The print management unit 11 develops print data based on a print request from the AP or the data input device 5 into an image, converts the developed data into a control code in a format readable by the printing device 2, and converts the data into a spool file. 12, and is usually called a print manager.

The dot measurement request output unit 13 transmits a request for measuring the number of dots for print data for a predetermined number of sheets, for example, one page, to the printing apparatus 2 based on an instruction from the AP or the like. At this time, a discharge restriction request for restricting ink discharge is also transmitted as necessary.

The measurement data acquisition unit 14 acquires the number of dots measured by the dot counter of the printing apparatus 2 in response to the transmission of the dot measurement request. Is converted into the ink consumption based on the print data. The print number predicting unit 16 predicts how many prints based on the print data are possible from the ink consumption amount corresponding to one print data and the ink remaining amount in the printing apparatus 2.

After the request for measuring the number of dots, the following two methods can be adopted as a method of detecting the ink consumption and the remaining amount of ink.

In the first embodiment, separately from the ink consumption based on the print request, data representing the ink remaining amount is periodically acquired from the printing apparatus 2 and the currently obtained ink consumption is obtained from the current ink remaining amount. By dividing the amount, the number of printable sheets is calculated. This embodiment is adopted when the dot counter of the printing apparatus 2 is configured to count the number of dots each time the printing process is executed.

The second mode is a mode adopted when only data representing the remaining amount of ink can be obtained from the printing apparatus 2. That is, prior to the current print request, data indicating the remaining ink amount is obtained, and the remaining ink amount based on the current print request is subtracted from the remaining ink amount to detect the amount of ink consumption. Then, the number of printable sheets is predicted based on the difference between the remaining amounts of ink.

The number of printable sheets is notified to the AP through the print management unit 11. If the printable number is less than one as a result of estimating the printable number, the print management unit 11 generates warning data and notifies the AP of this.

Next, a printing control method using the printer driver 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
6 is a sequence chart showing transmission and reception of data and the like between a printer driver P, a printer driver 10, and a printing apparatus 2, and a process associated therewith.

First, the AP outputs print data for trial hitting (A1). The print data for trial printing is data for performing color printing on one sheet. The printer driver 10 outputs the print data for trial printing and an ejection restriction request for restricting ink ejection to the printing device 2 (D1).

In the printing apparatus 2, the number of dots corresponding to print data and the like is measured by an internal dot counter. This is defined as the number of measured dots (P1). The number of measured dots is notified to the printer driver 10 (P2).

The printer driver 10 receiving this notification
Converts the number of measured dots into the amount of ink consumed by the printing apparatus 2 (D2), calculates the remaining amount of ink (total number of dots) on the printing apparatus 2 side (D3), and prints the same printing content with the printing apparatus 2. Calculate the number of sheets that can be printed when printing with (2) (D
4). If the number of printable sheets is less than one, a warning is output (D5: Yes, D6). Thus, the AP performs a necessary warning process (A2). If one or more sheets can be printed, the number is notified to the AP (D5: Yes, D7). Thus, the AP notifies the operator of the number of prints and performs preparation processing for actual printing (A3).

Next, a description will be given of an example of a configuration in which the number of printed sheets is more accurately predicted.

FIG. 4 shows the printer driver 20 in this case.
FIG. Here, a dot diameter detecting unit 17 is newly provided.

This dot diameter detecting section 17 is provided by the print managing section 1.
When 1 is developed into image data, the number of dots and the dot diameter included in the image data are detected. In addition,
Although individual dot diameters may be detected, it is convenient to determine the number of dots for each group of the same diameter and to determine the ratio between them.

The dot diameter can be obtained indirectly from the gradation expression data included in the print data, that is, the data when the printing apparatus 2 is to separate dots of a plurality of diameters. Here, for convenience, normal dots that are reference diameters and microdots that are about half the reference diameter are used as dot diameters. Normal dots are used when performing high-speed printing of, for example, text, and microdots are used, for example, when performing high-gradation expression of a photograph or the like. The frequency of the head drive signal waveform used in the printing apparatus 2 for normal dots is about 28.8 [kHz], and the frequency of the drive signal waveform for microdots is about 14.4 [kHz].
When the ink is actually ejected, the weight of the ejected ink droplet (25 degrees Celsius) is about 11.3 ng for normal dots and about 6.2 ng for microdots according to actual measurement. It is about 2: 1.

When the dot diameter detector 17 is provided as described above, the configuration of the ink consumption detector 15 shown in FIG. 2 is partially changed as follows.

That is, when the print management section 11 develops image data, the total number of dot diameters detected by the dot diameter detection section 17 is received (D21), and the total number of microdots is converted into a normal dot diameter. (D2
2). Then, the number of measured dots is corrected with the converted value (D23). For example, the number of measured dots is 1400,
If the breakdown is 400 normal dots and 1000 microdots, 500 microdots
The number of measurement dots is converted into 900 normal dots, and the number of measured dots is corrected to 900. However, the conversion of the dot diameter may be performed on the printing apparatus 2 side, and the printer driver 20 may acquire only the result. In this way, the amount of ink consumption can be detected more accurately, so that the number of printable sheets can be accurately grasped on the AP side as compared with a case without this function.

As described above, the printer drivers 10 and 20 of the present embodiment use the functions of the printing apparatus 2 such as the dot counter to obtain the measured value of the number of dots corresponding to the print data for trial printing. Therefore, when estimating the number of printable sheets, only arithmetic processing based on the measured value is sufficient. Therefore, the number of design steps and the structure of a program can be simplified as compared with a conventional print control device (printer driver) having a function of simulating ink consumption.

Also, since the number of printable sheets can be accurately predicted, it is possible to reliably avoid a situation in which ink runs out during printing. In addition, when the printable number is estimated, the printing apparatus 2 is made to restrict the ink ejection, so that it is possible to prevent the consumption of ink for the estimation and to use the ink effectively.

When the dots to be formed based on the print data include those having different diameters, the ink consumption is corrected by converting each dot to a dot having a common diameter, so that printing is possible. The number of sheets can be accurately predicted.

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the number of dots corresponding to the ink consumption can be obtained from the printing apparatus, so that the consumption of memory resources of the host computer can be saved. In addition, there is an effect that the processing speed is increased.

Also, since the remaining amount of ink in the printing apparatus can be accurately detected, the number of printable sheets can be predicted.
It is possible to avoid running out of ink during printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the print control apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a processing procedure diagram of the print control apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a print control apparatus according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a processing procedure diagram added when the print control apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG. 4 is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 host computer 2 printing device 3 hard disk 4 display device 5 data input device 6 media reading device 7 communication control device 10 printer driver (print control device 11 print management unit 12 spool file 13 dot measurement request output unit 14 measurement data acquisition unit 15 ink Consumption detector 16 Printed number calculator 17 Dot diameter detector

Claims (9)

[Claims] The print data is sent to a printing device that measures the number of dots corresponding to print data for a predetermined number of print data, and the number of dots measured by the printing device is measured according to the sent print data. A print control method comprising: acquiring and converting the amount of ink consumed by the printing apparatus; and estimating the number of printable sheets by the printing apparatus based on the converted amount of ink consumption. 2. The print control method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the number of dots is performed in a state where ink ejection is restricted. 3. The print control method according to claim 1, wherein the predicted number of printable sheets is the number of print sheets that can be printed based on the same print data. 4. The ink consumption is a value obtained by converting the number of measured dots into the number of dots having a common diameter when dots to be formed based on the print data include those having different diameters. 2. The print control method according to claim 1, wherein: 5. An apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus comprising means for measuring the number of dots corresponding to print data of a predetermined number, comprising: a print request unit for sending the print data to the printing apparatus; A measurement value acquisition unit that acquires the number of measurement dots measured by the printing apparatus according to the print data sent by the print request unit; and converting the acquired measurement dot number into an ink consumption amount based on the print data. A print number estimating unit for estimating the number of printable sheets by the printing apparatus based on the ink consumption. 6. An apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus comprising means for measuring the number of dots corresponding to a predetermined number of print data in a state in which ink ejection is restricted, wherein the print data and the print data are provided to the printing apparatus. Print request means for sending an ejection restriction request; measurement value acquisition means for acquiring the print data sent by the print request means and the number of measurement dots measured by the printing apparatus in response to the ejection restriction request; A print control unit configured to convert the number of dots into an ink consumption based on the print data, and to predict a printable number of sheets in the printing apparatus based on the ink consumption. . 7. When the dots to be formed based on the print data include those having different diameters, the calculating means corrects the ink consumption by a value obtained by converting each dot into a dot having a common diameter. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein
The printing control device according to the above. 8. A computer readable by a computer capable of communicating with a printing apparatus having means for measuring the number of dots corresponding to print data for a predetermined number of sheets in a state in which ink consumption is restricted, and A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing a process is recorded. (1) a process of transmitting the print data and the ejection restriction request to the printing device; and (2) acquiring the number of measured dots measured by the printing device in response to the transmitted print data and the ejection restriction request. Processing, (3) processing of converting the acquired number of measured dots into ink consumption based on the print data, and (4) processing of estimating the number of printable sheets in the printing apparatus based on the converted ink consumption. 9. The program according to claim 1, wherein when the dots to be formed based on the print data include those having different diameters, the acquired consumption is corrected by a value obtained by converting each dot into a dot having a common diameter. 9. The recording medium according to claim 8, wherein said recording medium causes said computer to execute processing.