Sheet feeding or delivering – Feeding – Multiple supplies
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-03-27
Walsh, Donald P. (Department: 3653)
Sheet feeding or delivering
Feeding
Multiple supplies
C271S003150, C271S003170, C271S008100, C271S009010, C271S009050, C700S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206360
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of selecting a specified paper cassette from a plurality of paper cassettes, and further relates to a printer where a paper cassette specified by information contained in print data is selected from a plurality of cassettes and the print paper is fed from the selected paper cassette to a print engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional printer is constructed such that a plurality of paper cassettes are provided and print paper of a specified size is fed from a corresponding paper cassette in accordance with print information indicative of paper size. The printer is connected to a network so that many unspecified users can have access thereto.
In order for the users to easily pick out their print results, the paper stackers and paper-discharging mechanism of the printer are moved laterally on a job-to-job basis in order to sort stacks of print results.
The laterally movable discharge stacker and paper-discharging mechanism complicate printer operation and are further detrimental to reliable operation of the printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a printer such that printing results are efficiently sorted without using a complicated paper-discharging mechanism when the print results are discharged to the paper discharging stacker.
Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable printer of simple construction.
A printer according to the present invention is constructed such that pages of print paper are fed from a cassette selected from a plurality of paper cassettes. The printer comprises a print information memory, paper information memory, cassette information memory, cassette selector, and data editor. The print information memory stores print information contained in print data therein. The print information includes a size of the print paper. The paper information memory stores a size of the print paper and an orientation of the print paper accommodated in a selected paper cassette.
The cassette information memory stores a cassette selection table which lists paper cassettes and sizes of print paper and orientations of the print paper accommodated in the corresponding cassettes. The cassette selector compares the print information stored in the print information memory and the paper information stored in the paper information memory. If the print information and the paper information differ with regards to the size of print paper, then the cassette selector refers to the cassette selection table so as to select a first paper cassette that accommodates print paper of a size specified by the print information and of a predetermined orientation. Then, the cassette selector replaces the content of the paper information memory by the size and orientation of print paper accommodated in the first paper cassette.
If the print information memory and the paper information are the same with regards to the size of print paper, then the cassette selector refers to the cassette selection table so as to select a second paper cassette which accommodates print paper of a size stored in the paper information memory and of an orientation that is different from that stored in the paper information memory.
The data editor edits the print data in accordance with the size and orientation of print paper accommodated in the selected paper cassette.
A method is used to select a paper cassette from a plurality of paper cassettes accommodated in a printer in accordance with print information contained in print data. The method comprises the following steps. A cassette selection table is provided which lists paper cassettes and sizes and orientations of print paper accommodated in the cassettes. Then, if a size of print paper specified by the print information is different from a size of print paper accommodated in a paper cassette most recently selected, a first paper cassette is selected which accommodates print paper of a size specified by the print information. If the print information specifies print paper of a same size as print paper accommodated in a paper cassette most recently selected, a second paper cassette is selected which accommodates print paper oriented in a way different from the cassette selected last time.
Further, the scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific example, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
Kanai Naoki
Kasuya Kazuhiko
Urata Ichiro
Beauchaine Mark J.
Oki Data Corporation
Rabin & Champagne PC
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
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