JP2006072576A - Printing apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent useless printing by allowing a user to select only valid printing conditions when using previously used printing conditions again.
When a printer driver 2 of a host PC 1 wants to execute using a previous registered printing condition registered in a printer device 20 again this time, the user receives a notification from the printing condition setting unit 5 to that effect. The printing condition extraction unit 24 of the printer device 20 requests the current state detection acquisition unit 25 to present the state detection information that is the detection result of the current device state. The print condition extraction unit 24 compares the state detection information with the corresponding registered print condition and compares them, and automatically determines whether the user can set this time and is valid or cannot be set and is invalid. The printing condition extraction unit 24 outputs the extracted valid / invalid current printing conditions, and in the case of the first embodiment, displays them on the display unit 7 (displayed on the monitor 17 screen) provided on the host PC 1 side. The user is allowed to designate and select a desired registered printing condition.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, and a copying machine, and further relates to an image forming system in which the image forming apparatus is connected to a host computer that is a host apparatus.

In recent years, network printer systems in which one or a plurality of host PCs are connected to a printer device via a network and the printer device is shared and used in such a network environment have become widespread. In such a system, it is troublesome and troublesome for the user to set the printing conditions one by one on the host PC for each printing, and an erroneous setting may cause an output error. In order to avoid such a problem, a system configured to register and hold printing conditions set on the host PC side on the printer apparatus side is well known. For example, in the printer device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-228561, when the printing conditions used up to the previous time are registered in the printer device and printing is executed again under the same conditions this time, the corresponding registration registered in the printer device. A configuration is disclosed in which print data is generated from image data using the printing conditions to be printed, and printing is possible.
JP-A-9-131948

  However, in the case of the printer apparatus disclosed in the above publication, problems to be solved remain in the following points. When the previous printing conditions registered in the printer device are used in the current printing, the printing conditions are often changed to a registered but unsettable state for some reason. That is, even if it is registered, there are cases where it cannot be actually set and is invalid. In the printer device of the above publication, the user selects a print condition to be set in the current printing regardless of whether the print condition is valid or invalid. As a result, if the printing conditions are selected and set despite being invalid, printing is not intended by the user at the time of execution, and printing media such as recording paper and toner are wasted. Moreover, there is an inconvenience that requires time and effort by re-setting.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to prevent useless printing by allowing the user to select only valid printing conditions when the previously registered printing conditions up to the previous time are used again. Another object is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention employs the following configuration.
<Configuration>
In an image forming apparatus that performs printing based on printing conditions, a printing condition storage unit that stores a plurality of printing conditions corresponding to a printing state, a device state acquisition unit that acquires a device state of the device,
A printing condition determination unit that determines each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit and a printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit based on the printing state, and the printing condition based on the printing condition determination result And a printing condition output unit that outputs information on the information.

The printing condition storage unit is characterized by associating a plurality of condition elements corresponding to a printing state into a set of printing conditions, and storing a plurality of sets of the printing conditions.
The printing condition determination unit includes a printing condition determination unit that determines a printing condition corresponding to the device state that can be printed with each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit.
A deletion unit that deletes invalid printing conditions from the printing condition storage unit is provided.
The printing condition determination unit includes an unprintable condition determination unit that determines a printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit that can be printed with each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit. And

  In an image forming system including an information processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that prints print data transmitted by the information processing apparatus based on a print condition, a condition element input unit that inputs a condition element corresponding to a print state, and a plurality of Associating the condition elements into a set of printing conditions, storing a plurality of sets of printing conditions, a device state acquiring unit for acquiring the device state of the image forming apparatus, and storing in the printing condition storage unit A printing condition determination unit that determines a printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit based on each printing condition being performed and the apparatus state, and outputs information related to the printing condition based on the printing condition determination result A printing condition output unit; a selection unit that selects a printing condition output by the printing condition output unit; and the printing data is printed based on the condition selected by the selection unit. .

The printing condition storage unit is characterized by associating a plurality of condition elements corresponding to a printing state into a set of printing conditions, and storing a plurality of sets of the printing conditions.
The information processing apparatus includes the condition element input unit and the selection unit.
The information processing apparatus includes a data acquisition request unit that makes a data acquisition request before transmitting print data, and the image forming apparatus receives the data acquisition request based on the print condition determination result from a print condition output unit. The information processing apparatus includes a data return unit that outputs information related to printing conditions to the information processing apparatus, and the information processing apparatus displays on the display unit based on an output result of the printing condition output unit.

The printing condition determination unit includes a printable condition determination unit that determines a printing condition corresponding to the device state that can be printed with each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit.
The printing condition determination unit includes a non-printable condition determination unit that determines a printing condition that can be printed with each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit.
The image forming apparatus further includes a deletion unit that deletes invalid printing conditions from the printing condition storage unit.

  In the image forming apparatus and the image forming system according to the present invention, the user has decided to use the printing conditions stored in the image forming apparatus in advance, but at least one execution state relating to printing cannot be performed in the image forming apparatus. When invalid, only the valid print condition is notified to the information processing apparatus together with invalid presentation information. Therefore, it is not only impossible to select an invalid condition, but it is possible to notify the user that what setting is invalid in order to set a new printing condition. As a result, useless printing can be prevented.

  Embodiments of an image forming apparatus and an image forming system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating the image forming system according to the first embodiment. The printer system 20, which is an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, is connected to at least one host PC (personal computer) 1 as a host apparatus, and the printing system 100 is configured as an image forming system. The connection method between the host PC 1 and the printer device 20 may be any method such as USB (Universal Serial Bus: high-speed serial bus standard) or parallel connection, or LAN (Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network). .

  In FIG. 1, the host PC 1 includes a printer driver 2, an application unit 3, an image data unit 4, a display unit 7, and a selection setting unit 8. The display unit 7 and the selection setting unit 8 are used for displaying information and for allowing the user to select or set the displayed information.

The display information includes a previously existing print condition, and in this case, the user can select one of the previously existing print conditions. For example, such display information can be displayed using a condition selection screen.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a condition selection screen displayed on the display unit of the host PC 1 according to the first embodiment. The condition selection screen 9 includes a condition list portion 9a for indicating printing conditions received from the printer device 20, a selection portion 9b including two selection buttons, an enter button 9c, and a cancel button 9d. By using this condition selection screen 9, the user can perform selection.

Further, the display information is item information or the like, and in this case, the user can set a new print condition. For example, such display information can be displayed using a condition setting screen.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a condition setting screen displayed on the display unit of the host PC 1. The condition setting screen 30 has three portions 30a, 30b and 30c. In these portions, item information such as paper size, paper feeding method, paper thickness, double-sided printing, and the like is shown.

Corresponding to these item information, the user can set a new printing condition. Item information such as the paper size (for example, standard A3), the paper feeding method (for example, automatic), the printing mode (for example, duplex printing), the paper thickness (for example, normal), etc. Can include a plurality of printing elements. When the user performs selection or setting, the selection setting unit 8 shown in FIG. 1 outputs correspondence information to the printing condition setting unit 5.

  The printer driver 2 analyzes image data such as a document or graphic created by the user in the image data unit 4 using the application unit 3, and converts the image data into bitmap data as print data that can be printed. Then, the data is transmitted to the printer device 20.

The printer driver 2 includes a print condition setting unit 5 and a print command generation unit 6. The print condition setting unit 5 processes image data and is used to process setting information output from the selection setting unit 8 for setting print conditions for the image data. The print command generation unit 6 is used to generate print command information including print conditions and print data and send it to the printer device 20.

The printer device 20 includes a printing condition registration unit 21, a printing data generation unit 22, a printing unit 23, a printing condition extraction unit 24, and a current state detection acquisition unit 25.
The print data generation unit 22 is used to generate print data based on print command information from the host PC 1 side, and the print unit 23 performs printing based on the print data from the print data generation unit 22. It is used for.

The printing condition registration unit 21 is used to register printing conditions from the host PC 1, and the current state detection acquisition unit 25 is used to detect each execution state related to printing in order to obtain each information detection information.

  The execution state indicates whether paper (for example, standard A3 size) exists, whether the paper feeding method is automatic, whether the printing mode is duplex printing, or whether the paper thickness is normal. Show. Accordingly, each status detection information is used to check whether each corresponding condition element included in the printing condition can be executed in order to determine whether one printing condition is satisfied.

The printing condition extraction unit 24 determines whether each printing condition registered in the printing condition registration unit 21 is valid based on the corresponding state detection information, and determines the valid printing condition and the invalid printing condition. It is used to extract effective print conditions in distinction and to generate one piece of invalid presentation information. The extracted valid printing conditions and invalid presentation information are transmitted to the host PC 1 side by a control unit (not shown in FIG. 1) such as a CPU.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram specifically illustrating the configuration of the host PC according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 3, the CPU 10, RAM 11, hard disk device 12, hard disk interface (I / F) 13, keyboard 14, mouse 15, input device interface 16, monitor 17, monitor interface 18, and printer interface 19 are connected via the bus B. Each is shown as being interconnected. These constitute the printer driver 2, the application unit 3, the image data unit 4, the display unit 7 and the selection setting unit 8 in FIG. 1, and provide other functions, for example, other functions such as a control function. Have.

The hard disk device 12 stores an operation program, a control program, various data such as image data, and the CPU 10 uses the RAM 11 and executes these programs and processes data in order to perform overall control. Accordingly, the CPU 10, RAM 11, hard disk 12, hard disk interface 13, and printer interface 19 constitute the printer driver 2, application unit 3, and image data unit 4. The CPU 10, the monitor 17, and the monitor interface 18 constitute the display unit 7 and the selection setting unit 8.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram specifically illustrating the configuration of the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In FIG. 4, a CPU 31, a RAM 32, a program ROM 33, an NV-RAM 34, a drive unit 35, a drive unit interface 36, an operation panel 37, an operation panel interface 38 and a host interface 39 are connected to each other via a printer bus 40. Each is shown as These not only constitute the printing condition registration unit 21, the print data generation unit 22, the printing unit 23, the printing condition extraction unit 24, and the current state detection acquisition unit 25 shown in FIG. It also has the function of

The program ROM 33 stores various programs and data, and the CPU 31 uses the RAM 32 and the like to perform overall control, and executes the program to process the data. Accordingly, the CPU 31, RAM 32, program ROM 33, NV-RAM 34, and the like constitute a printing condition registration unit 21, and the CPU 31, RAM 32, program ROM 33, and the like constitute a print data generation unit 22 and a printing condition extraction unit 24, and a driving unit. 35, the drive unit interface 36, and the like constitute the printing unit 23 and the current state detection / acquisition unit 25.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the drive unit of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment.
The drive unit 35 includes a paper feeding device 35a, a conveyance device 35b, a toner supply device 35c, a photosensitive device 35d, a transfer device 35e, a fixing device 35f, a duplex printing detection control unit 35g, a duplex printing interface 35h, and a plurality of sheet detection sensors 50. Including.

The plurality of paper detection sensors 50 are used to detect the paper size, paper thickness, and the like in each paper tray as the execution state, and the double-sided print detection control unit 35g sets the possibility of double-sided printing as the execution state. Used to detect. In other words, in order to obtain the above-described state detection information, self-diagnosis of the printer device 20 is realized. Although some other detection means are not shown in the drawing, these detection means are used to detect other printing functions for the paper feeding method and the possibility of layout.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the current state detection acquisition unit of the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 6, the current state detection acquisition unit 25 includes a plurality of paper detection sensors 50, a double-sided print detection control unit 35g, a double-sided printing interface 35h, and a drive unit interface 36. The current state detection acquisition unit 25 uses the plurality of paper detection sensors 50, the double-sided printing detection control unit 35g, the double-sided printing interface 35h, the drive unit interface 36, and the other detection control means described above to determine each execution state for printing. The state detection information corresponding to each execution state is obtained, and the state detection information is further sent to the printer bus 40 shown in FIG.

The printing condition extraction unit 24 receives the state detection information. Note that the printing condition extraction unit 24 includes one state detection information table, and the state detection information table can be updated when the state detection information is received.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state detection information table in the embodiment.
In the state detection information table, five items are shown corresponding to each tray or paper feeder. These five items are size, paper feeding method, thickness, layout state, and duplex printing state, respectively. The item data, for example, “A3”, “empty”, “automatic”, “normal”, “On”, or “Off”, corresponds to one of the state detection information, and one execution state for each printer. Indicates.

  As described above, since all the state detection information is used to determine whether or not each printing condition registered in the printing condition registration unit 21 is valid, each item data, that is, based on the condition element, Printing conditions can be determined.

  FIG. 8 shows a printing condition table in the first embodiment. This table is stored in the printing condition registration unit 21 and includes a paper size, a paper feeding method, a paper thickness, a layout type, and a printing mode as five items constituting the printing conditions. Each record composed of five items indicates one printing condition, and each item data indicates the above-described condition element. For example, the record No. 1 has item data “A4”, “automatic”, “normal”, “normal”, “single side”, which are A4 size and normal thickness paper, normal layout type, automatic paper feeding The method and printing conditions using single-sided printing are shown.

<Operation of Example 1>
Next, the operation of the image forming system of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart.
FIG. 9 is a first part of a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a second part of the flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

  First, in FIG. 9 of the main process flowchart, when the user inputs a print command at the host PC 1, the CPU 10 is activated to control the display unit 7 and other units, and controls the display unit 7 on the monitor screen (step S1). : S1). Subsequently, the display unit 7 displays a use selection screen (step: S2), and asks whether or not to use the previous use printing conditions registered in the printer device 20 (step: S3).

FIG. 11 shows a use selection screen 51 displayed on the display unit 7 of the host PC 1 in the first embodiment. The use selection screen 51 is provided with a “Yes” button 51a and a “No” button 51b.
For example, when the user selects and clicks the “No” button 51b, the process proceeds to step S17 in the flowchart of FIG.
When the user selects and clicks the “Yes” button 51 a, the input signal is sent to the printer driver 2, and the current state detection / acquisition unit 25 checks all items in order to check whether the execution state in the printer device 20 has changed. Is detected (step: S4). The change here means that the execution state is impossible, and if there is no change (No), the printer device 20 has the previous valid condition and invalid condition stored in step S12 described later. Are transmitted to the host PC 1 side (step S5). The host PC 1 displays those printing conditions on the condition selection screen 9 in FIG. 2 (step: S6), and proceeds to step S14 in order to select and use one of these printing conditions.

In this example, for example, the current state detection / acquisition unit 25 detects a change that all A4 size and normal thickness sheets are used up for all the paper feed trays (step: S4). In this case, as a change in the execution state, the current state detection acquisition unit 25 acquires state detection information including “empty” data corresponding to this change.
Then, the current state detection acquisition unit 25 transmits the state detection information and the correspondence information to the printing condition extraction unit 24 (step: S7).

When receiving the state detection information including “empty”, the printing condition extraction unit 24 changes the state detection information table (FIG. 7) based on the state detection information (step: S8). For this reason, the item data “A4” (see FIG. 7, in the second tray) is “empty”.

  Further, the printing condition extraction unit 24 determines whether each printing condition registered in the printing condition table in FIG. 8 is valid or invalid based on this state detection information. It is determined whether or not the execution state, that is, the corresponding condition element is included (step: S9). That is, if it is determined that any printing condition includes a corresponding condition element, this printing condition becomes invalid.

In the print condition table (FIG. 8), in this example, the print condition No. 1 and No. 5 (ie, record No. 1 and No. 5) include corresponding condition elements “A4” (corresponding to the size item) and “normal” (corresponding to the thickness item), but currently such paper Since they are used up, they can no longer be used. Therefore, these two printing conditions are invalid.

As a result of such determination, the printing condition extraction unit 24, for example, records no. 1 and No. The invalid print condition is distinguished from the valid print condition so that an invalid mark such as “*” is added as the invalid print condition for No. 5 (step S10).

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a printing condition table to show the distinguished valid and invalid printing conditions.
As shown in FIG. 1 and No. An invalid mark “*” is attached to 5.

The print condition extraction unit 24 not only extracts valid print conditions, but also generates invalid presentation information based on the state detection information (step: S11).
In this example, the printing condition No. 2 and No. 3 and no. 4 and no. 6 is extracted, and the invalid presentation information can consist of “Notification: There is no A4 size normal thickness paper now”. These valid printing conditions and the invalid presentation information are sent to the host PC 1 by the printing condition extraction unit 24, and the valid conditions and invalid conditions are stored (step S12).

Upon receiving these valid printing conditions and invalid presentation information, the host PC 1 receives the valid printing conditions and invalid presentation information from the printing condition extraction unit 24 using the condition selection screen 9 shown in FIG. The valid print condition and invalid presentation information are displayed on the condition selection screen 9 indicated by (Step: S13).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a condition selection screen for indicating valid conditions.
As shown in FIG. 14, the display unit 7 has one condition selection screen 9 ′, the condition selection screen 9 ′ is a condition list portion 9a for indicating valid conditions, and invalid information for indicating invalid presentation information. The presentation unit 9e is included, and the user can make a selection based on these valid conditions and invalid presentation information (step S14).

If the user selects any valid condition, as described above, the printer driver 2 sends the selected print condition and print data to the printer apparatus 20 as print command information (step S15).
When the printing conditions and printing data are received, the printer device 20 performs printing (step S16).

On the other hand, when the user does not select the displayed printing condition, the display unit 7 subsequently displays the condition setting screen 30 shown in FIG. 12, and asks the user whether to make a new setting (step: S17). . At this time, if the user does not want a new setting (No), the process ends. If a new setting is desired (Yes), the user can newly set a desired printing condition (step S18).

  In this embodiment, since A4 size and normal thickness paper is used up, if the user wants to use A4 size paper, he can use thick paper (see “Tray 4th” in FIG. 7). ).

When setting new printing conditions, the display unit 7 displays a registration decision screen (step: S19) and asks whether or not to register in the printer device 20 (step: S20).
FIG. 15 shows a registration decision screen on the display unit 7, which is provided with a “Yes” button 62 indicating that the user intends to register, and a “No” button 63 that does not register. When registering (Yes), the printer driver 2 transmits registration determination information, new printing conditions, and printing data to the printer device 20 in step S21. The printing condition registration unit 21 of the printer device 20 stores and registers the information from the printer driver 2 (step: S22). If not registered (No), non-registration information indicating the intention to that effect, new printing conditions, and printing data are transmitted (step: S23).

<Effect of Example 1>
As described above, in this embodiment, the user has decided to use the printing conditions stored in the printer device in advance on the host PC side, but at least one execution state relating to printing is impossible on the printer device side. That is, when invalid, only valid print conditions are displayed on the host PC side together with invalid presentation information.
Therefore, it is not only impossible to select an invalid condition, but it is possible to notify the user that what setting is invalid in order to set a new printing condition. As a result, useless printing can be prevented.

<Configuration of Example 2>
In this example, the printer unit 20 is newly provided with a deletion unit 112. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The description which attaches | subjects a code | symbol and overlaps is omitted.

  FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image forming system according to the second embodiment. As shown in the figure, the printing system 110 in this case includes the host PC 1 and the printer device 111 of the first embodiment. The printer device 111 is different from the first embodiment in that a deletion unit 112 is provided in addition to the printing condition registration unit 21, the printing data generation unit 22, the printing unit 23, the printing condition extraction unit 24, and the current state detection acquisition unit 25. Is a point.

  The deletion unit 112 is connected to both the printing condition registration unit 21 and the printing condition extraction unit 24. When the print condition extraction unit 24 distinguishes between the valid print condition and the invalid print condition so that the print condition registration unit 21 can register the new print condition set by the user thereafter, the deletion unit 112 sets the invalid print condition as the print condition. The information is deleted from the registration unit 21.

<Operation of Example 2>
Next, FIG. 17 shows a flowchart (part 1) of the second embodiment, and FIG. 18 shows a flowchart (part 2). In this example process, steps S1 to S10 and steps S12 to S23 in the operation flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are the same. The explanation to be omitted is omitted.

  In this example, after the printing condition extraction unit 24 classifies the valid printing condition and the invalid printing condition, for example, the invalid printing condition is marked with an invalid mark “*” (step: S10), and in the next step S11 ′. Run it. In step S11 ′, on the other hand, the deletion unit 112 deletes the invalid print condition from the print condition table shown in FIG. 19 based on the deletion information output from the print condition extraction unit 24, for example, invalid mark information. Then, the printing condition extraction unit 24 extracts effective printing conditions, that is, reads out and creates information indicating that the state detection information is invalid. That is, the printing condition No. 1 and No. 5 is deleted and the printing condition No. 5 is deleted. 2, no. 3, no. 4 and no. 6 is read as shown in FIG. 13 of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 19 shows the print condition table after the invalid print condition is deleted in this example. As shown in this table, in this case, the original four printing conditions (according to the original printing conditions No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6) are registered in the printing condition table. The print condition extraction unit 24 transmits the valid print condition and the invalid print condition to the host PC 1 (step S: 12).

  The reason why the deletion unit 26 deletes the current printing condition determined to be invalid by the printing condition extraction unit 24 is that the memory capacity stored and stored in the printing condition registration unit 21 can be reduced accordingly.

<Effect of Example 2>
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the invalid printing condition is deleted, and therefore it is possible to suppress the useless use of the printing condition table. Therefore, it is possible to ensure that the user registers after setting a new printing condition.

<Configuration of Example 3>
In this example, each unit shown in the first and second embodiments is assigned the same reference numeral, and redundant description is omitted. FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing system according to the third embodiment. The printing system 120 according to the present invention includes at least one host PC 121 and a printer device 122 connected thereto. In FIG. 20, the CPU that controls the host PC 121 and the printer device 122 as a whole is not shown. The host PC 121 includes a printer driver 123, and includes an application unit 3, an image data unit 4, a display unit 124, and a selection setting unit 125.

  The display unit 124 and the selection setting unit 125 display various kinds of information and are used to process the selection setting information. The printer driver 123 includes a print condition condition setting unit 5, a print command generation unit 6, and a deletion determination unit 126.

  When the display unit 124 displays, for example, the invalid printing condition / selection setting unit 125 obtains input data indicating that the user desires to delete the invalid printing condition registered in the printer device 122, and displays the deletion instruction information. The deletion determination unit 126 executes control for deletion processing based on the deletion instruction information, and transmits the deletion information to the printer device 122.

  The printer device 122 includes a printing condition registration unit 21, a print data generation unit 22, a printing unit 23, a current state detection acquisition unit 25, a printing condition extraction unit 127, and a deletion unit 128. The printing condition extraction unit 127 has an extraction function having the same function as the printing condition extraction unit 24 provided in the first and second embodiments, and transmits invalid printing conditions to the printer device 122. When the printer device 122 receives the deletion information from the host PC 121 by the CPU (not shown), the deletion unit 128 executes a deletion operation based on the deletion information.

<Operation of Example 3>
Next, the operation and action of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the main process flowchart (No. 1) in FIG. 21 and the sub-process flowcharts (No. 2, 3) in FIG. 22 and FIG. Also in this example processing, the description common to the processing of the first and second embodiments is omitted.

The steps shown in steps S1 to S10, steps S13 to S16, and steps S18 to S23 in FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. Therefore, after distinguishing between the valid printing condition and the invalid printing condition, the printing condition extracting unit 127 adds an invalid mark “*” to the invalid printing condition (step: S10), and executes it in the next step S30. .
In step S30, the print condition extraction unit 127 extracts the valid print condition and the invalid print condition from the print condition table shown in FIG. 19 based on the invalid mark information, that is, reads, invalid presentation information regarding the state detection information. Is created (step: S30).
Then, the print condition extraction unit 127 transmits valid print conditions, invalid print conditions, and invalid presentation information to the host PC 121 (step: S31).

Valid printing conditions and invalid information are displayed on the display unit 124 (step: S13).
Then, when one of the effective printing conditions is selected, printing is executed (steps: S13 to S16). If none of the valid printing conditions is selected, the process proceeds to step S32. In step S32, the display unit 124 displays a screen that allows the user to select whether to newly set invalid print conditions or to execute deletion. If the user selects execution of new setting, the process proceeds to steps S18 to S23. When the user selects to delete the invalid printing condition, the display unit 124 displays a deletion determination screen (step: S33).

  FIG. 24 is a screen example illustrating a deletion determination screen for the display unit 124 of the host PC 121 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 24, the deletion determination screen displays an invalid printing condition No. 1 and no. 5 (see FIG. 13) is displayed (step: S33). By using such a deletion determination screen, the user can select one, two or more or all of the invalid printing conditions to be deleted (step: S34). Next, the selection setting unit 125 creates deletion designation information selected by the user (step: S35). Further, the deletion determination unit 126 creates deletion information for the deletion designation information and transmits it to the printer device 122 (step: S36). The deletion unit 128 is controlled by a CPU (not shown), and deletes one, two, or all of the invalid printing conditions selected by the user for the deletion information (step: S37).

<Effect of Example 3>
As described above, according to the third embodiment, since the invalid print condition to be deleted is selected by the user, the print condition frequently used by the user can be secured in the print condition table. Therefore, when the execution state changes to impossible, if the invalid print condition is changed to valid, the user can use it without setting it.

In the third embodiment, invalid print conditions are displayed on the host PC 121. Alternatively, the invalid printing condition can be displayed on the printer device 122 side. In that case, the printer apparatus allows the user to make a determination one by one, and the deletion unit 128 can delete them one by one.

  Further, according to the third embodiment, when the invalid current printing condition automatically determined by the printing condition extraction unit 24 of the printer device 20 is deleted by the deletion unit 26, whether or not it should be deleted is determined as a deletion determination unit. 126, since the user can visually check the valid current print condition and the invalid current print condition at a glance, even if it is invalid in this printing, if it is not intended to be deleted, it is not deleted. It can be left.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various other modes, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The condition selection screen displayed on the host PC display part of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the host PC according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a drive unit (printer engine) in the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a current state detection acquisition unit in the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. The state detection information table of Example 1. FIG. 10 is a printing condition table according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart (No. 1) according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart (No. 2) according to the first embodiment. The screen which asks the use of the printing conditions displayed on the display part of the host PC of Example 1. 7 is a condition setting screen displayed on the display unit of the host PC according to the first embodiment. 7 is a printing condition table registered in a printing condition registration unit of the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. 7 is a condition selection screen displayed on the display unit of the host PC according to the first embodiment. 7 is a registration determination screen displayed on the display unit of the host PC according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The operation | movement flowchart (the 1) of Example 2. FIG. Operation | movement flowchart (the 2) of Example 2. FIG. 10 is a printing condition table according to the second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart (No. 1) according to the third embodiment. Operation flowchart of embodiment 3 (part 2) Operation flowchart of embodiment 3 (part 3) The deletion judgment screen of Example 3.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host PC (host device)
2 Printer Driver 3 Application 4 Image Data 5 Print Condition Setting Unit 6 Print Command Generation Unit 7 Display Unit 8 Selection Setting Unit 10 CPU
11 RAM
12 Hard Disk Device 13 Hard Disk Device Interface 14 Keyboard 15 Mouse 16 Input Device Interface 17 Monitor 18 Monitor Interface 19 Printer Interface 20 Printer Device (Printing Device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Print condition registration part 22 Print data generation part 23 Print part 24 Print condition extraction part 25 Present condition detection acquisition part 30 Condition setting screen 33 Program ROM
34 NV-RAM
35 Drive unit (printer engine)
35g Double-sided printing detection control unit 35h Double-sided printing interface 36 Drive unit interface 37 Operation panel 39 Host interface 40 Printer bus 50 Paper detection sensor

Claims (12)

In an image forming apparatus that performs printing based on printing conditions,
A printing condition storage unit for storing a plurality of printing conditions corresponding to the printing state;
A device status acquisition unit for acquiring the device status of the device;
A printing condition determination unit that determines each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit and a printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit based on the printing state;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing condition output unit that outputs information on the printing condition based on the printing condition determination result.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print condition storage unit associates a plurality of condition elements corresponding to a print state to form a set of print conditions, and stores a plurality of sets of the print conditions.   The print condition determination unit includes a print condition determination unit that determines a print condition corresponding to the device state that can be printed with each print condition stored in the print condition storage unit. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a deletion unit that deletes invalid printing conditions from the printing condition storage unit.   The printing condition determination unit includes an unprintable condition determination unit that determines a printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit that can be printed with each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. In an image forming system comprising: an information processing apparatus; and an image forming apparatus that prints print data transmitted by the information processing apparatus based on printing conditions.
A condition element input unit for inputting a condition element corresponding to the print state;
A printing condition storage unit that associates a plurality of the condition elements into a set of printing conditions, and stores a plurality of sets of the printing conditions;
An apparatus state acquisition unit for acquiring an apparatus state of the image forming apparatus;
A printing condition determination unit that determines a printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit based on each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit and the apparatus state;
A printing condition output unit that outputs information related to the printing condition based on the printing condition determination result;
A selection unit for selecting the printing conditions output by the printing condition output unit;
An image forming system, wherein the print data is printed based on a condition selected by the selection unit.   The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the printing condition storage unit associates a plurality of condition elements corresponding to a printing state to form a set of printing conditions, and stores a plurality of sets of the printing conditions.   The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the information processing apparatus includes the condition element input unit and the selection unit. The information processing apparatus has a data acquisition request unit that makes a data acquisition request before sending print data,
The image forming apparatus includes a data return unit that outputs information on the print condition to the information processing apparatus based on the print condition determination result from the print condition output unit when receiving the data acquisition request,
The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the information processing apparatus performs display based on an output result of the print condition output unit on a display unit.   The print condition determining unit includes a printable condition determining unit that determines a print condition corresponding to the device state that can be printed with each print condition stored in the print condition storage unit. Item 7. The image forming system according to Item 6.   The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the printing condition determination unit includes an unprintable condition determination unit that determines printing conditions that can be printed with each printing condition stored in the printing condition storage unit. . The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a deletion unit that deletes invalid printing conditions from the printing condition storage unit.

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