Typewriting machines – Including control of format by programmed-control-system
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-09
2004-06-22
Chau, Minh H (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including control of format by programmed-control-system
C400S061000, C400S062000, C400S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06752548
ABSTRACT:
This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-133709 filed on May 9, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a printer and a print system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most of printers each including a plurality of paper feeders in recent years enable the user to specify the paper feed to be used for printing or specify automatic selection of the paper feeder (without directly specifying the paper feeder) for printing.
Specifically, such a printer is an apparatus, upon reception of print data specifying the paper feeder to be used, for checking that paper of the size specified for use in the print data is set in the paper feeder specified for use and then using paper in the paper feeder for printing, and upon reception of print data specifying automatic selection of the paper feeder, for searching for the paper feeder setting paper of the size and type (or only size) specified for use in the print data among the plurality of paper feeders included in the printer and using paper in the found paper feeder for printing. Further, if the used paper feeder becomes empty of paper after the printer starts printing upon reception of print data specifying automatic selection of the paper feeder, the printer can also switch the paper feeder used for printing to any other paper feeder setting paper of the size and type specified for use in the print data being processed and continue printing.
To make possible the described operation, the printer is configured so that the user can set information indicating the size and type of paper set in each paper feeder, which will be hereinafter referred to as paper size and paper type. Some printers eliminate the need for the user to set the paper size because each paper feeder is provided with a mechanism for detecting the paper size (a mechanism for detecting the paper size from the paper press position, which will be hereinafter referred to as paper size detection mechanism). Some printers require that the user should set the paper size only for each paper feed provided with no paper size detection mechanism because only some paper feeders are provided with a paper size detection mechanism.
If print data processing is interrupted because information set concerning paper in the printer in the related art (paper size, paper type) contains information not representing the size or type of paper actually set in the paper feeder (if a paper-out error, etc., occurs), the printer is an apparatus hard to restart the processing (intricate work being involved).
Specifically, when the paper size set for a paper feeder X (provided with no paper size detection mechanism) is “B5” although paper actually set in the paper feeder X is “A4,” upon reception of print data specifying use of the paper feeder X and printing on “A4”-size paper, the printer in the related art interrupts processing for the print data assuming that a size mismatch error has occurred.
When the size mismatch error has occurred, the printer in the related art is an apparatus which requires that the user should perform print stop work and again set the correct paper size for the paper feeder X before again printing
Further, upon reception of print data specifying automatic selection of the paper feeder and printing on “A4”-size paper in the state described above, the printer in the related art does not use the paper feeder X and uses any other paper feeder for which setting of “A4”-size paper is set (or the paper size detection mechanism detects “A4”-size paper being set) and which includes paper to start printing. If such a paper feeder runs out during the printing, the printer interrupts processing for the print data assuming that a paper-out error occurs. If such a paper feeder does not exist from the beginning, the printer interrupts processing for the print data assuming that a paper-out error occurs.
If print data processing is interrupted in such a mode, the printer in the related art enables the user to add paper to any other paper feeder than the paper feeder X for continuing the printing, but cannot use paper in the paper feeder X to continue the printing unless the printing is once stopped.
The printer in the related art (for checking paper type match) is an apparatus in which a similar problem can also occur concerning the paper type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a printer and a print system that can easily restart print data processing interrupted because information concerning paper is not precisely set.
To the end, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a printer for receiving print data containing a specification value specifying specifications of paper to be used for printing and operating, the printer including paper storage means being capable of storing paper of various specifications; print execution means for printing on paper stored in the paper storage means; specification setup value storage means for storing a specification setup value; specification setup value change means for storing a specification setup value specified by the user in the specification setup value storage means; and print control means for monitoring reception of print data, upon reception of print data, determining whether or not the specification value contained in the print data and the specification setup value stored in the specification setup value storage means match, if they match, starting print control processing of causing the print execution means to print in response to the print data, if they do not match, interrupting the print control processing, waiting for the specification setup value change means to change the specification setup value in the specification setup value storage means, and if the specification setup value in the specification setup value storage means is changed to the value matching the specification value contained in the print data, restarting the print control processing.
That is, the printer according to the first aspect of the invention starts to print after checking that the specifications concerning paper to be used, specified in the print data and the specifications concerning paper, stored in the printer (set by the user) match. If they do not match (although the user sets paper of specifications different from those set so far in paper storage means, the user forgets about changing the specifications in the specification setup value storage means to the correct specifications), the user can change the specification setup value in the specification setup value storage means and if the specification setup value in the specification setup value storage means is changed to the correct value, the printing is continued. Therefore, the printer can function as a printer that can easily restart print data processing interrupted because the information concerning paper is not precisely set.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a printer for receiving print data containing a specification value specifying specifications of paper to be used for printing and operating, the printer including a plurality of paper storage means each being capable of storing paper of various specifications; paper presence/absence detection means for detecting the presence or absence of paper in each of the plurality of paper storage means; print execution means being capable of printing on paper stored in any of the plurality of paper storage means to print on paper specification setup value storage means for storing a specification setup value for each of the plurality of paper storage means; specification setup value change means for changing the specification setup value in the specification setup value storage means concerning the paper storage means specified by the user to user-specified specification value; and print control means for waiting for print data to be received, upon reception of print data, repeating print control processing of finding the paper storage m
Chau Minh H
Seiko Epson Corporation
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
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