Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Detail of medium positioning
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2002-10-15
Evans, Arthur G. (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Detail of medium positioning
C358S001130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06466326
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printer capable of effecting so-called collation printing, as well as to a collation printing method.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-254365, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional printer; for example, a page printer, interprets print data entered from a host computer and produces image data for printing purpose on a page-by-page basis. The printer then inputs a per-page print request to an engine control section. In response to the thus-input print request, the engine control section activates a print engine to thereby perform a printing operation.
More specifically, the print requests are stored in a print queue in the sequence of issuance, and the print requests are transferred to the engine control section in the sequence of storage. After completion of printing of one page, the engine control section issues a print completion report. In response to the print completion report issued by the engine control section, the print request for which printing has been performed is deleted from the print queue, thereby freeing a memory block. A print request relating to a subsequent page or a print request relating to another print job is stored in the thus-released memory block.
The above printer according to the conventional art issues print requests to thereby perform printing operations in the sequence in which the print requests are received from the host computer. The print requests for which printing has been performed are immediately discarded, thereby releasing memory blocks one after another. Even a print job involving a large quantity of data can be subjected to printing through use of a comparatively small amount of memory. Such a printer reserves available memory by immediately discarding the print requests for which printing has been performed and hence enables so-called copy printing (or stack printing) but is incapable of performing so-called collation printing. Therefore, the printer is poor in terms of ease of use.
Reference is now made to an example in which a print job consisting of a total of three pages; i.e., pg. 1, pg. 2, and pg. 3. In copy printing, each of the pages is continuously printed in only the number corresponding to the number of copies; for example, pg. 1 is printed in the number corresponding to the number of copies, then pg. 2 is printed in the number corresponding to the number of copies, and then pg. 3 is printed in the number corresponding to the number of copies. In contrast, in collation printing, a set of pages arranged in accordance with page numbers, such as a set comprising pg. 1, pg. 2, and pg. 3, is produced in only the number corresponding to the number of copies. In the case of copy printing, immediately after printing of a certain page in the number corresponding to the number of copies, the print request relating to the page becomes unnecessary. The print request relating to the page that has been printed is immediately discarded, thus freeing the memory block. However, in the case of collation printing, print requests relating to all the pages must be retained until completion of printing a set of pages in the number corresponding to the number of copies.
As mentioned previously, collation printing involves an increase in the amount of memory used and hence is little affected by the conventional printer. Further, collation printing requires efforts, such as re-arrangement of sheets that have been printed or repetitions of entry of a print job into the printer in the number corresponding to the number of copies, thus resulting in poor ease-of-use. When pseudo-collation printing is performed; i.e., where a print job is repeatedly transmitted in the number corresponding to the number of copies in such a way as to be invisible to the user. Although the amount of memory required is small, much time is required for transmitting print data. In addition, the print requests relating to all the pages must be repeatedly generated in only the number corresponding to the required number of pages, thus significantly increasing the print time.
It is also conceivable that the amount of memory provided for the printer is increased and that collation printing is performed by reserving a memory block of a predetermined size in advance for collation printing purposes. In this case, however, the printer must determine whether or not a print request corresponds to collation printing. If the print request corresponds to collation printing, there must be performed special processing such as reservation of a memory block of a predetermined size, with the result that memory control becomes complicated and manufacturing costs are increased.
In general, the printer cannot perceive beforehand the amount of memory required for effecting collation printing, and hence the memory block reserved for collation printing may become insufficient or may be greatly in excess of that which is required. Even if the printer is informed in advance of the total number of pages relating to the print job, the amount of memory required by print requests relating to individual pages differs according to print requirements such as print resolution, gradation, and contents (e.g., the amount of graphic data). Accordingly, the printer cannot perceive the amount of memory required for effecting collation printing until print requests relating to all the pages are actually prepared. If the memory block, which has been reserved beforehand, is insufficient, collation printing results in failure, thus subjecting the user to inconvenience. In contrast, if the memory block is of greater size than is necessary, the amount of unused memory increases, thereby diminishing an opportunity to receive another print job. Particularly, in the case of a network printer shared among a plurality of users, if a certain user reserves a memory block greater than that is required in order to perform collation printing, the memory location for storing a print job issued by another user becomes insufficient, thereby resulting in the probability of a drop in overall printing efficiency of the network print system.
It is also conceivable that in order to improve the efficiency of use of memory, the host computer notifies the printer in advance of information about the total number of pages and the resolution and gradation of individual pages so that the printer can perform special processing, such as making a forecast about the amount of memory required by the printer to perform collation printing. Addition of special processing such as that mentioned previously results in complication of a control mechanism, as well as in an increase in manufacturing costs. Since the printer actually prepares print requests, reserving an appropriate amount of memory required for effecting collation printing on the basis of only the information stored in the host computer is difficult. Hence, a sufficient margin of memory block must be ensured.
Some copiers may effect collation printing. Both a copier and a printer process image data and have a commonality in terms of subjecting a recording medium to printing. However, the copier first reads image data regarding all the pages to be subjected to collation printing and commences collation printing. Unless failures, such as paper jams, otherwise arise, collation printing, once started, will not end in failure for reasons of insufficient memory during the course of printing. In the case of a copier, the amount of image data regarding all the pages to be subjected to collation printing is determined at the time of collation printing.
In contrast, the printer does not perform collation printing by generation of print requests relating to all the pages to be subjected to collation printing but is required to start subjecting print data to collation printing in the sequence of receipt. More specifically, the printer is required to receive print data from the host computer as well as to produce print
Evans Arthur G.
Seiko Epson Corporation
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
LandOfFree
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