JPH10297060A - Printer, method for printing operation, and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a connected external device to execute a desired operation even when a host computer does not instruct the operation. SOLUTION: When a laser beam printer is in a status that it can receive data, a menu list is indicated on an indication section. The laser beam printer moves from the status that it can receive data to a status that it cannot receive data (S1) and it selects one in a connected external device controlling menu in the menu list in order to instruct starting of transmission thereto (S2). Next, the laser beam printer generates a request of data transmission to the connected external device (S3). The connected external device executes the data transmission to the laser beam printer (S4→S5→S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing system, and more particularly, to a printing apparatus connected to an external connection device, a printing method, and
The present invention relates to a printing system including at least an external connection device and a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A printing system of a type in which an external connection device is connected to a printing device has been conventionally known. In this printing system, the external connection device instructs the start of transmission of print data. Since it does not have an instruction function to connect, the externally connected device is connected to the host computer, and the application software on the host computer is used to instruct the externally connected device to transmit print data to the printing device. , Data transmission from the external connection device to the printing device.

Therefore, in this type of conventional printing system, an external connection device must be used by connecting to a host computer, and the host computer is an essential component. For this reason, when an error occurs in a protocol setting or the like between the external connection device and the host computer and desired communication cannot be performed between the external connection device and the host computer, the setting status of the external connection device is grasped. However, there is a problem that the printing operation of the printing apparatus may be hindered.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and enables the setting status of an external connection device to be grasped without performing an operation instruction from a host computer and performing a desired operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus, a printing processing method, and a printing system that can perform printing.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus according to the present invention.
Display means for displaying a menu list for controlling the externally connected device in a printing device to which the externally connected device is connected, and instruction selecting means for instructing and selecting a specific menu from the menu list displayed on the display means And control means for controlling the external connection device based on the instruction selection means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print processing method for transmitting data from an external connection device to a printing device and performing a printing operation in the printing device. After displaying a menu list for controlling on the display unit provided in the printing apparatus, select a specific menu from the displayed menu list,
The external connection device operates based on the specific menu.

Further, in the printing system according to the present invention,
The invention according to claim 9 includes at least an external connection device and a printing device connected to the external connection device, wherein the printing device displays a menu list for controlling the external connection device; Instruction selecting means for instructing and selecting a specific menu from a menu list displayed on the display means, and the external connection device operates based on the instruction selecting means.

[0008] Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer as an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention. The laser beam printer 1 includes an operation panel 3 provided on the upper surface of an apparatus main body 2 and The print main unit 4 performs a predetermined print operation, and a print control device 5 that analyzes input character data and control data and controls the print operation of the print main unit 4.

The printing main unit 4 stores predetermined recording paper (cut paper) and supplies the recording paper via a paper feed cassette 7 having a paper feed roller 6 and an appropriate number of transport rollers 8. An electrostatic drum 9 to be irradiated, an optical system 10 for irradiating the electrostatic drum 9 with a laser beam, a developing device 11 containing toner of a predetermined color and disposed around the electrostatic drum 9, Fixing device 1 for fixing a toner image developed by developing device 11
2 and a paper discharge roller 1 for transferring document data and the like printed on the recording paper.
And a paper discharge unit 14 that discharges the image data to the outside of the apparatus via the printer 3.

The optical system 10 includes a semiconductor laser 15 for emitting laser light of a predetermined wavelength,
5, a laser driver 17 for driving the
And a reflecting mirror 1 that reflects the laser light that enters through the rotating polygon mirror 18 and supplies the laser light onto the electrostatic drum 9.
9 is provided.

In the laser beam printer 1 configured as described above, a video signal from the print control device 5 is input to the laser driver 17, and the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 15 is turned on / off in response to the video signal. Switch off. The laser light is swung right and left by the rotating polygon mirror 18 to scan on the electrostatic drum 9, and an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 9. The image is developed through the developing device 11. Then, the toner image adhered on the electrostatic drum 9 is transferred to the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette 7, and then the toner image is fixed on the recording paper by the fixing device 12, and the recording paper is discharged. Roller 1
The paper 3 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 14.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment (first embodiment) of a printing system according to the present invention. The printing system includes a data input device such as a host computer or an image input device. Reference numeral 20 is connected to the laser beam printer 1 via an external connection device 21, and an external storage device 22 is connected to the laser beam printer 1.

In the laser beam printer 1, an operation panel 3 having a display section 3a and an input section 3b, a power supply section 23 having a power switch, and a print main body section 4 are electrically connected to a print control device 5. .

The print control device 5 includes an input / output interface 24 for instructing a display unit 3a to display an operation result from the input unit 3a of the operation panel 3 and transmitting / receiving data to / from the external connection device 21; A print main unit interface 25 for controlling an interface operation with the unit 4; and an internal storage device 26 for storing an output information development area and an environment information storage area in which print information and the like are stored, an NVRAM and the like.
A RAM 27 for temporarily storing download data (menu data, font data, program data, etc.) and print data transmitted from the external connection device 21;
A ROM 28 in which predetermined information is stored in advance, and a CPU connected to each of the above-described components for controlling the respective components
29.

The ROM 28 includes a font ROM 30 in which font data and the like used when generating output information to the printing main unit 4 are stored, a program ROM 31 in which a predetermined document processing program is stored, A data ROM 32 for storing various information used by the input device 20 is provided. The CPU 29 outputs an image signal as output information to the printing main unit 4 connected via the printing main unit interface 25. The RAM 27 can be expanded through an expansion port (not shown) to expand the memory capacity, and a plurality of external storage devices 22 can be connected. That is, the external storage device 2
Reference numeral 2 stores font data, an emulation program for interpreting a printer control language of a different language, form data, and the like. A plurality of external storage devices 22 can be connected in addition to built-in fonts. Further, the external storage device 22 may have an NVRAM and may be configured to store the printer setting information from the operation panel 3.

In this embodiment, however, it is possible to instruct data transmission from the laser beam printer 1 to the external connection device 21. As a result, there is no data transmission instruction from the data input device 20 to the external connection device 21. In both cases, data can be transmitted from the external connection device 21 to the laser beam printer 1.

FIG. 3 shows the CPU 2 of the laser beam printer 1.
9 is a flowchart of a data transmission request processing routine executed in FIG.
Is stored in

When the laser beam printer 1 is in the data receivable state, the user operates the input unit 3b to display a menu list on the display unit 3a, and shifts from the data receivable state to the data receivable state (step S1). .

FIG. 4 shows a menu list stored in advance in the program ROM 31 and displayed on the display unit 3a.
The menu list displays the number of copies, the paper size, and an externally connected device control menu.

In step S2, transmission start is instructed and selected from the external connection device control menu in the menu list. As a result, the laser beam printer 1 shifts to a data printable state, and then issues a data transmission request to the external connection device 21 (step S3).

Next, in step S4, it is determined whether or not data has been received from the external connection device 21. If the answer is negative (No), the laser beam printer 1 waits for data reception, while If the answer is affirmative (Yes), the laser beam printer 1 receives the data (step S5), determines whether or not the data reception has been completed (step S6), confirms the end of the data reception, and performs processing. To end.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a data transmission processing routine executed by a control unit (not shown) of the external connection device 21.
M (not shown).

In step S11, it is determined whether or not a data transmission request from the laser beam printer 1 has been detected.
When a data transmission request is detected, data is transmitted to the input / output interface 24 of the laser beam printer 1 (step S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the transmission data has been completed (step S13).

As described above, in this embodiment, since the laser beam printer 1 makes a direct transmission request to the external connection device 21, the data input device 20 does not issue a transmission request to the external connection device 21 without issuing a transmission request. The connection device 21 can be controlled.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the menu list displayed on the display section 3a. In this modification, the external connection device control menu is for a serial interface, a parallel interface, and a TCP / IP (Transmission C).
ontrol Protocol / Internet Protocol). In this modification, the laser beam printer 1
Has a plurality of input / output interfaces 24, the external connection devices 21 can be individually controlled for each of the plurality of external connection devices 21 connected to each input / output interface 24.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, a LAN interface board (network board) 32 as an external connection device is used. Is detachably attached to the print control device 5 of the laser beam printer 1, and a LAN (Local Area Network) 33 as a network.
Are connected to a plurality of host computers (first to third host computers 34 to 36).

In the second embodiment, when the LAN interface board 32 detects a transmission request from the laser beam printer 1, the LAN interface board 32 transmits the unique setting value to the laser beam printer 1 as test printer data. Thus, the user can easily grasp the setting status of the LAN interface board 32 as the external connection device. That is, the operation of the LAN interface board 32 is not controlled by a plurality of host computers (first to third host computers 34 to 36) as in the related art, and the LAN interface board 3 is controlled by the laser beam printer 1.
2 is controlled, the first to third host computers 34 to 36 and the LAN interface board 32 are controlled.
Even if a problem occurs in communication with the LAN interface board 32, the setting status of the LAN interface board 32 as an external connection device can be easily grasped.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a printing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, an image input device 37 such as a scanner is used as an external connection device. Is shown, that is,
In the third embodiment, the image input device 37 serving as an external connection device is connected to the print control device 5 of the laser beam printer 1.
Therefore, even if the host computer is not connected to the network, image data can be directly input to the laser beam printer 1 via the network from the image input device 37 as an external connection device, and the printing system Simplification and cost reduction can be achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the external connection control menu is stored in the program ROM 30 in advance, but it is also preferable that the external connection control menu is stored in the external storage device 22 and downloaded from the external storage device 22 to the RAM 27 for use. .

Further, the output device is not limited to a laser beam printer, and it goes without saying that the output device can be similarly applied to an ink jet printer and other types of printers.

[0033]

As described above in detail, according to the printing apparatus, the print processing method, and the printing system of the present invention, the operation of the externally connected device can be controlled without an instruction from the host computer. The setting status of the connection device can be easily grasped.

Specifically, a menu list for controlling the externally connected device is displayed on the display device of the printing apparatus, and a command from the host computer is required by selecting and instructing a specific menu from the menu list. Not
The external connection device can be easily controlled by the printing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an internal structural view of a laser beam printer as an embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment (first embodiment) of a printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a transmission request processing routine that is a print processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu displayed on a display unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a transmission processing routine that is a print processing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the menu.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a printing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 laser beam printer (printing device) 3a display unit (display unit) 21 external connection device 24 input / output interface (input / output unit) 29 CPU (control unit) 32 LAN interface board (external connection device) 37 image input device (external connection) apparatus)

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A printing device to which an external connection device is connected, a display means for displaying a menu list for controlling the external connection device, and a specific menu from the menu list displayed on the display means. Instruction selecting means for selecting,
Control means for controlling the external connection device based on the instruction selection means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of input / output units, wherein said display means is capable of displaying a menu specific to an external connection device connected to said input / output units. Printing device. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external connection device is detachably mounted. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the external connection device is constituted by an image input device, and the image input device is connected via a predetermined communication network. 5. A print processing method for transmitting data from an external connection device to a printing device and performing a printing operation in the printing device, wherein a display unit provided in the printing device displays a menu list for controlling the external connection device. , A specific menu is selected from the displayed menu list, and the external connection device operates based on the specific menu. 6. A menu unique to an external connection device connected to a plurality of input / output units is displayed.
Print processing method as described. 7. The print processing method according to claim 5, wherein the external connection device is detachably mounted on a printing device. 8. The print processing method according to claim 5, wherein the external connection device is an image input device. 9. A display comprising at least an external connection device and a printing device connected to the external connection device, wherein the printing device displays a menu list for controlling the external connection device, and the display means And a command selecting means for selecting and selecting a specific menu from a menu list displayed on the means, wherein the external connection device operates based on the command selecting means. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus includes a plurality of input / output units, and the display unit is capable of displaying a menu specific to the external connection device connected to the input / output units. Item 10. The printing system according to Item 9. 11. The printing system according to claim 9, wherein the external connection device is detachably attached to the printing device. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the external connection device comprises an image input device, and the image input device and the printing device are connected via a predetermined communication network. Printing system.