JPH02169288A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to printers such as laser printers and printers.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in printers such as laser printers and dot printers, after power is turned on, each board is first reset, then the memory is initialized, and finally the printing mechanism system is initialized, such as paper feed. In the case of a motor or a laser printer, initialization processing is performed on the heater of the fixing section, and on condition that these are all completed, the printer is set to a state in which it can receive data from the host computer.

Therefore, on the host computer side, even if data is sent, it will not be received by Printer II from the time the printer is powered on until all the above-mentioned initialization processing is completed, so data cannot be sent to the printer after that time has elapsed. Ta.

3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in conventional printers, data is not transmitted from the time the printer is turned on until all the above-mentioned initialization processes are completed. Since the printer also does not receive the data, the operator has to wait for the sending operation during that time.

Among the initialization processes, the time required to initialize the printing system is much longer than the time required to initialize the memory. For example, in a laser printer, the time required to initialize the memory is approximately 5. However, it often takes about 30 seconds or more to raise the temperature to a certain level, particularly when preheating the printer in the fixing section.

Therefore, for at least 35 seconds after the power is turned on,
Since the operator has to wait for the data to be sent, work efficiency is extremely poor.This means that, including the time it takes to send data from the host computer afterwards, the data sent from the host computer to the printer cannot be printed by the printer. It will take even more time to do so.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve these conventional problems, shorten the time from when the power is turned on until data can be received, reduce operator waiting time, and improve work efficiency. The purpose is to provide printers.

[Hands for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving transmitted data and storing it in a storage means, a first initializing means for initializing the storage means after power is turned on, and a printing mechanism. a second initializing means for initializing the system; and a starting means for setting the receiving means in a receiving state and starting the second initializing means on the condition that the storage means has been initialized by the first initializing means. The present invention is characterized in that the printing mechanism system is configured to be capable of receiving data during initialization processing.

[Operation] When the power is turned on, first, the storage means is initialized by the first initialization means. When the initialization of the storage means is completed, the receiving means is enabled to receive data, and the second initializing means initializes the printing rR weft thread system.

Therefore, since the printing mechanism system can receive data during the initialization process, the time from when the power is turned on until data can be received is at least the time required for the printing Ill thread system initialization process compared to conventional printers. can only be shortened. This means that since the time required to initialize the printing mechanism system is much longer than the time required to initialize the storage means, the overall time can be significantly reduced.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a laser printer will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the printer of this embodiment. In the figure, 11 is a CPU. The CPU 11 has RO
M12, RAM13, display tube 14, online key 15
, a reset key 16, and a power LED 17, an engine 19 as a printing mechanism system is connected via an interface 18, and a host computer 21 is connected via an interface 20.

The ROM 12 stores a program that controls the operation of the CPU II. The RAM 13 is provided with a receive buffer for storing received data. Also,
The engine 19 includes various motors for the photosensitive drum, paper feed, etc., and a printer in the fixing section.

In addition, here, mainly the CPU II and ROM
12 constitutes the following means.

That is, receiving means receives data transmitted from the host computer 21 in a receivable state and stores it in the receiving buffer of the RAM 13, a first initializing means initializes the RAM 13 after power is turned on, and a first initializing means initializes one engine. The second initializing means includes a starting means for enabling the receiving means to receive data on the condition that the RAM 13 has been initialized by the first initializing means and for starting the second initializing means.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 2.

When the power is turned on, the CPU II executes processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, step (
(hereinafter abbreviated as ST) 1, each boat is reset, and then, in ST2, the RAM 13 is initialized, for example, allocated, and then the process proceeds to ST4.

In ST4, a reception ready state is set on the condition that the initialization process of the RAM 13 has been completed in ST2. In other words, the state is made such that the processes 5T12 to 5T14 in FIG. 2 can be executed. Therefore, up to ST2, the state is unreceivable, but after ST4, it becomes receivable.
If there is a reception interrupt shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 after ST4, the data transmitted from the host computer 21 can be read and stored in the reception buffer of the RAM 13.

Next, the process proceeds to ST5, where the engine 19 is initialized. Here, various motors are driven and the heaters in the fixing section are preheated. Finally, in ST6, it is determined whether or not there is received data. If there is, the received data is processed, ie, printed, in ST7.

On the other hand, if there is a reception interrupt during these processes, CPU1
1 executes processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, at 5TII, it is determined whether the reception is possible. From the time the power is turned on until the initialization process of the RAM 13 is completed, that is, from the time the power is turned on to the ST
Since reception is not possible up to 2, if a reception interrupt occurs during this period, the process directly returns to the flowchart shown in FIG.

If the initialization process of the RAM 13 is completed and it is set to a receivable state in ST4, the process advances to 5TI2 and it is determined whether there is data. If there is no data, the process returns to the flowchart shown in FIG. If there is data, 5
Read data at T13 and RA the data at 5T14
After storing it in the receiving buffer of M13, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

Therefore, data from the host computer 21 can be received even during the initialization process of one engine. Moreover, if data is received during this time, the received data can be printed immediately at ST7 after the initialization process of the engine 19 is completed.

In this way, according to this embodiment, after the power is turned on,
Initialize RAM13, and
Since the engine 19 is set to a receivable state on the condition that the initialization process of No. 3 is completed and initialization of the engine 19 is started, data from the post computer 21 can be received during the initialization process of one engine.

This means that the time from when the power is turned on until data can be received can be shortened compared to conventional printers by at least the time required to initialize one engine, reducing the operator's waiting time. Work efficiency can be improved.

Furthermore, since the time required to initialize the engine 19 is much longer than the time required to initialize the RAM 13, the overall time can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, if data is received during the initialization process of the engine 19, the received data can be printed immediately after the initialization process of the engine 19, so the time until printing starts can be shortened. .

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, after the power is turned on, the storage means is initialized by the first initialization means, and on condition that the storage means is initialized, the reception means is brought into a state capable of receiving data. At the same time, since the second initializing means for initializing the printing system 81 is activated, the printing system can receive data during the initialization process. Therefore, the time from when the power is turned on until data can be received is
Compared to conventional printers, at least the time required for initializing the printing mechanism system can be reduced, so the operator's waiting time can be reduced and work efficiency can be improved.

11.12... CPU and ROM, (receiving means, first and second initializing means, starting means) 13... RAM (storage means), 19... Engine (printing mechanism system).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) receiving means for receiving transmitted data and storing it in the storage means; a first initializing means for initializing the storage means after power is turned on; and a second initializing means for initializing the printing mechanism system; activating means for enabling the receiving means to receive data on the condition that the storage means has been initialized by the first initializing means and activating the second initializing means, wherein the printing mechanism system performs the initializing process. A printer characterized in that the printer is configured to be able to receive data inside the printer.