U.S. patent application number 12/382310 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for image forming apparatus and computer program product.
This patent application is currently assigned to RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED. Invention is credited to Nobuyuki Iwata, Hajime Kubota, Daisuke Masui, Hideaki Matsui, Yutaka Matsumoto, Tsuyoshi Sakuma.
Application Number | 20090230607 12/382310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41062162 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090230607 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Masui; Daisuke ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Image forming apparatus and computer program product
Abstract
An image forming apparatus selects a printing sheet of a size
according to a printing condition when printing an image. The image
forming apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a target
printing sheet on a feed source that can feed recording sheets of a
plurality of sizes.
Inventors: |
Masui; Daisuke; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Matsumoto; Yutaka; (Saitama, JP) ;
Iwata; Nobuyuki; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Sakuma;
Tsuyoshi; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Matsui; Hideaki;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Kubota; Hajime; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 8910
RESTON
VA
20195
US
|
Assignee: |
RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
|
Family ID: |
41062162 |
Appl. No.: |
12/382310 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
271/8.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 2511/414 20130101;
B65H 7/20 20130101; B65H 2511/415 20130101; G03G 15/6508 20130101;
B65H 2511/10 20130101; B65H 2551/00 20130101; B65H 2511/10
20130101; B65H 2220/01 20130101; B65H 2511/414 20130101; B65H
2220/01 20130101; B65H 2511/415 20130101; B65H 2220/01
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
271/8.1 |
International
Class: |
B65H 5/26 20060101
B65H005/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 14, 2008 |
JP |
2008-066008 |
Feb 2, 2009 |
JP |
2009-021597 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus that selects a printing sheet of a
size according to a printing condition when printing an image, the
image forming apparatus comprising: a setting unit that sets a
target printing sheet on a feed source that can feed recording
sheets of a plurality of sizes.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a receiving unit that receives a size of the target
recording sheet, wherein the setting unit sets the target recording
sheet based on the size received by the receiving unit.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising: a detecting unit that detects a width of a recording
sheet that can be fed by the feed source; and an obtaining unit
that obtains a size of a recording sheet that can be fed by the
feed source, based on the width detected by the detecting unit,
wherein when the obtaining unit obtains a plurality of sizes, the
receiving unit receives the size of the target recording sheet from
among the sizes obtained by the obtaining unit.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further
comprising a storing unit that stores therein the width detected by
the detecting unit, wherein when a width of a recording sheet newly
detected by the detecting unit differs from the width stored in the
storing unit, the setting unit sets recording sheets of all sizes
obtained by the obtaining unit as the target recording sheet.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further
comprising a storing unit that stores therein the width detected by
the detecting unit and the size of the target recording sheet from
among sizes obtained by the obtaining unit in association with each
other, wherein when a width of a recording sheet newly detected by
the detecting unit matches with the width stored in the storing
unit, the setting unit sets a recording sheet of a size stored in
association with the width newly detected by the detecting unit as
the target recording sheet.
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising an receiving unit that receives an orientation of the
target recording sheet, wherein the setting unit sets the target
recording sheet based on the orientation received by the receiving
unit.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a receiving unit that receives a combination of width
and orientation of all target recording sheets; a storing unit that
stores therein the combination of width and orientation of all
target recording sheets; and a detecting unit that detects a width
of a recording sheet, wherein the setting unit sets the target
recording sheet based on a combination of width and orientation
including the width detected by the detecting unit from among
combinations of width and orientation of all target recording
sheets stored in the storing unit.
8. A computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium
having computer-readable program codes embodied in the medium for
selecting a printing sheet of a size according to a printing
condition when printing an image, the program codes when executed
causing a computer to execute: setting a target printing sheet on a
feed source that can feed recording sheets of a plurality of
sizes.
9. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the
program codes further causes the computer to execute receiving a
size of the target recording sheet, wherein the setting includes
setting the target recording sheet based on the size received at
the receiving.
10. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the
program codes further causes the computer to execute: detecting a
width of a recording sheet that can be fed by the feed source; and
obtaining a size of a recording sheet that can be fed by the feed
source, based on the width detected at the detecting, wherein when
a plurality of sizes is obtained at the obtaining, the receiving
includes receiving the size of the target recording sheet from
among the sizes obtained at the obtaining.
11. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the
program codes further causes the computer to execute storing the
width detected at the detecting, wherein when a width of a
recording sheet newly detected at the detecting differs from the
width stored at the storing, the setting includes setting recording
sheets of all sizes obtained at the obtaining as the target
recording sheet.
12. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the
program codes further causes the computer to execute storing the
width detected at the detecting and the size of the target
recording sheet from among sizes obtained at the obtaining in
association with each other, wherein when a width of a recording
sheet newly detected at the detecting matches with the width stored
at the storing, the setting includes setting a recording sheet of a
size stored in association with the width newly detected at the
detecting as the target recording sheet.
13. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the
program codes further causes the computer to execute receiving an
orientation of the target recording sheet, wherein the setting
includes setting the target recording sheet based on the
orientation received at the receiving.
14. The computer program product according to claim 8, wherein the
program codes further causes the computer to execute: receiving a
combination of width and orientation of all target recording
sheets; storing the combination of width and orientation of all
target recording sheets; and detecting a width of a recording
sheet, wherein the setting includes setting the target recording
sheet based on a combination of width and orientation including the
width detected at the detecting from among combinations of width
and orientation of all target recording sheets stored at the
storing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to and incorporates
by reference the entire contents of Japanese priority document
2008-066008 filed in Japan on Mar. 14, 2008 and Japanese priority
document 2009-021597 filed in Japan on Feb. 2, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a technology for forming an
image in an image forming apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In recent years, many image forming apparatuses such as
printers are equipped with a function of selecting a feed tray
(hereinafter, "feed-tray selection function") suitable in feeding a
paper sheet of a paper size identical to the paper size specified
in a printing condition for printing print data. In the case of
using a roll paper to feed a paper sheet for printing the print
data, the feed-tray selection function selects the feed tray loaded
with the suitable roll paper according to the length in a main
scanning direction of the original from which the print data is
obtained. Thus, the paper size of the original is detected in
landscape orientation. However, if the length in a sub-scanning
direction of the original is smaller than the minimum sheet
conveying length determined in advance with respect to the selected
roll paper, then the roll paper is cut into a paper sheet at the
minimum conveying length. As a result, there is a risk that a paper
sheet of irregular size is fed for printing the print data.
[0006] To guard against such a problem, Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2005-007694 discloses a technique for cutting a roll
paper into a paper sheet of a paper size that is identical to the
paper size of the scanned original or identical to the paper size
specified in a printing condition received from a host personal
computer (PC). Such a configuration facilitates the selection of a
suitable feed tray that can feed a paper sheet of a specified paper
size. Moreover, in case the length in the sub-scanning direction of
a paper sheet cut from a roll paper is smaller than the minimum
sheet conveying length of the roll paper, then the feed tray loaded
with that roll paper can be ignored while selecting a suitable feed
tray. This feature helps in feeding paper sheets of a standard size
for printing the print data.
[0007] However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-open No. 2005-007694, whether a feed tray should
be considered or ignored during the selection of a suitable feed
tray needs to be determined independently for each feed tray.
Moreover, because a roll paper can be cut into paper sheets of a
plurality of paper sizes, a feed tray loaded with a roll paper can
be selected for feeding paper sheets of a plurality of paper sizes.
In that case, it is difficult to limit the use of a feed tray for
feeding paper sheets only of a particular paper size if demanded so
by the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to at least
partially solve the problems in the conventional technology.
[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided an image forming apparatus that selects a printing sheet
of a size according to a printing condition when printing an image.
The image forming apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a
target printing sheet on a feed source that can feed recording
sheets of a plurality of sizes.
[0010] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer program product including a
computer-usable medium having computer-readable program codes
embodied in the medium for selecting a printing sheet of a size
according to a printing condition when printing an image. The
program codes when executed cause a computer to execute setting a
target printing sheet on a feed source that can feed recording
sheets of a plurality of sizes.
[0011] The above and other objects, features, advantages and
technical and industrial significance of this invention will be
better understood by reading the following detailed description of
presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary printing system
that includes a printer according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer shown in FIG.
1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an exemplary
modular configuration of a computer program stored in a program ROM
shown in FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exemplary table that includes information
necessary in paper sheet selection;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence operations
in paper sheet selection according to the first embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary paper
selection setting screen used to specify a paper size of target
paper sheets for selection;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 4 according to the paper size
specified from the paper selection setting screen;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence of
operations in updating the table shown in FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 9 is an exemplary table in which paper width of a
plurality of feed papers and paper sizes of paper sheets feedable
from each paper width are placed in a corresponding manner;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 4 when a roll paper of A4-width is
replaced by a roll paper of A3-width;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an exemplary table in which a roll paper width of
each roll paper loaded in the past and a paper size of target paper
sheets for selection are stored in a corresponding manner;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence of
operations in setting target paper sheets for selection when a roll
paper is newly loaded;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary page
orientation setting screen used to specify a page orientation of
target paper sheets for selection;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 4 according to the page
orientation specified from the page orientation setting screen;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining the updated
table after a roll paper 1 of A4-width shown in the table in FIG.
14 is replaced with a roll paper 1 of A0-width;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary combination
setting screen used to specify combinations of paper width and page
orientation of target paper sheets for selection with respect to
each loadable roll paper width;
[0028] FIG. 17 is an exemplary table of all loadable roll paper
widths and the combinations of paper width and page orientation of
target paper sheets for selection corresponding to each loadable
roll paper width;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 17 according to the combinations
of paper width and page orientation specified from the combination
setting screen; and
[0030] FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence of
operations in setting target paper sheets for selection when a roll
paper is newly loaded or when the combinations of paper width and
page orientation of target paper sheets for selection are
changed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described
in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The
present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments.
Although the exemplary embodiments are described with reference to
a printer as an image forming apparatus, the exemplary embodiments
are also applicable for any image processing apparatus such as a
facsimile machine, a scanner, a copier, and a multifunction product
(MFP) that performs the functions of facsimileing, scanning,
printing, and copying.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary printing system
that includes a printer 101 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. In the printing system, the printer 101 is
connected to a host PC 102 arranged in plurality via a network 103
such as Internet. The printer 101 receives print data from the host
PC 102, converts the print data into video data, and prints the
video data on a recording medium.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printer 101. The printer
101 includes a controller 201, an operation panel 202, and a
printer engine 203.
[0034] The operation panel 202 includes a display unit (not shown)
and a switch unit (not shown). The display unit is used to display
information regarding different states of the printer 101 to the
user. The user can instruct printing or deletion of particular
documents from among a list of stored documents displayed on the
display unit. The switch unit allows the user to specify various
printing conditions such as a printing mode, a printing font, and
paper size of the paper sheet to be used for printing. When the
user specifies printing conditions or instructs printing/deletion
of particular documents, the operation panel 202 converts the
user-specified information into control signals and sends the
control signals to the controller 201.
[0035] The controller 201 receives control signals from the
operation panel 202 (or from the host PC 102 via the network 103)
and, based on the control signals, converts the print data received
from the host PC 102 into video signals that represent video data.
The controller 201 then sends the control signals and the video
signals to the printer engine 203.
[0036] The printer engine 203 selects a paper sheet of the
user-specified paper size and performs printing on the selected
paper sheet. The printer engine 203 includes a feed tray unit 203a,
a feeding unit 203b, a printing unit 203c, a discharging unit 203d,
and a catch tray 203e.
[0037] The feed tray unit 203a includes a plurality of paper feed
trays (not shown) in each of which a certain type of feed paper
(e.g., roll paper or cut paper) can be loaded. For example, a roll
paper 1 can be used to feed a paper sheet of a plurality of paper
sizes such as a paper sheet of A4-width short edge feed (SEF)
orientation and a paper sheet of A5-width long edge feed (LEF)
orientation. A roll paper 2 can be used to feed a paper sheet of a
plurality of paper sizes such as a paper sheet of A3-width SEF
orientation and a paper sheet of A4-width LEF orientation. A cut
paper 1 can be used to feed a paper sheet of A4-width LEF
orientation. A cut paper 2 can be used to feed a paper sheet of
B5-width LEF orientation. When feeding a paper sheet from a roll
paper, a cutter (not shown) in the feed tray unit 203a cuts, under
the control of the controller 201, the roll paper into a paper
sheet of standard paper size feedable from that roll paper. The
feed tray unit 203a detects the paper width of a roll paper and the
paper size of a cut paper and outputs the detection result to the
controller 201. Meanwhile, although the following description is
given under the assumption that the roll paper 1 or the roll paper
2 is cut into paper sheets of a plurality of paper sizes for
printing, it is also possible to cut the cut paper 1 and the cut
paper 2 into paper sheets of a plurality of paper sizes for
printing.
[0038] The feeding unit 203b selects a paper sheet according to an
instruction from the controller 201 and feeds the selected paper
sheet to the printing unit 203c. The printing unit 203c uses the
video signals and the control signals received from the controller
201 and forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive
member (not shown) by implementing a predetermined recording method
such as electrophotographic recording, develops the electrostatic
latent image to obtain a developed image, transfers the developed
image on the fed paper sheet, and fixes the transferred image to
the paper sheet by applying heat and pressure. Subsequently, the
discharging unit 203d discharges the paper sheet to the catch tray
203e.
[0039] The controller 201 has a modular configuration of a host
interface (I/F) 204, a program read only memory (ROM) 205, a font
ROM 206, a panel I/F 207, a central processing unit (CPU) 208, a
random access memory (RAM) 209, a nonvolatile RAM (NV-RAM) 210, and
a printer engine I/F 211 interconnected via a bus 212.
[0040] The host I/F 204 functions as an interface in transmitting
control signals and print data from the host PC 102 to the printer
101 and transmitting status signals from the printer 101 to the
host PC 102.
[0041] The panel I/F 207 functions as an interface in transmitting
the control signals from the operation panel 202 to the controller
201. The printer engine I/F 211 functions as an interface in
transmitting control signals and video signals from the controller
201 to the printer engine 203 and transmitting status signals from
the printer engine 203 to the controller 201. The font ROM 206 is
used to store a variety of fonts used in printing.
[0042] The NV-RAM 210 is used to store data that needs to be
retained even when the printer 101 is switched OFF.
[0043] The RAM 209 is a volatile memory that loses stored data when
the printer 101 is switched OFF. The RAM 209 is used as a work
memory during the processing performed by the CPU 208, as a buffer
for administering on a page-by-page basis the data received form
the host PC 102 and temporarily storing the data, and as a bitmap
memory for converting the data stored in a buffer into actual
printing patterns and storing video data.
[0044] It is assumed that a computer program executed in the
printer 101 is stored in the program ROM 205 in advance. Instead,
the computer program can be provided in the form of an installable
or executable file on a computer-readable storage device such as a
compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a flexible disk (FD), a
compact disk recordable (CD-R), and a digital versatile disk
(DVD).
[0045] Alternatively, the computer program can be stored in a
computer connected over a network such as the Internet and can be
downloaded in the NV-RAM 210 as necessary. Furthermore, the
computer program can also be distributed over a network such as the
Internet.
[0046] The CPU 208 centrally controls operations of the printer 101
in entirety and executes the computer program stored in the program
ROM 205, which is the primary storage unit in the printer 101, to
perform data processing of a variety of data (print data, control
signals) received from the host PC 102.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an exemplary
modular configuration of the computer program stored in the program
ROM 205.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, the computer program includes a page
description language (PDL) analysis module 301, a job control
module 302, and a service-providing module group 308. The
service-providing module group 308 includes a network
administration module 303, a memory control module 304, a print
control module 305, a system administration module 306, and an
operation-panel control module 307. The modules in the
service-providing module group 308 collectively respond to a
request from an upper-layer module (job control module 302) by
communicating with each other and sharing the workload for
performing basic operations of the printer 101.
[0049] The PDL analysis module 301 analyzes PDL data (print data)
obtained from the host PC 102 and accordingly generates a print
image (video data). More particularly, the PDL analysis module 301
receives PDL data from the network administration module 303 via
the job control module 302 and generates a print image on a memory
(e.g., RAM 209), which is secured by the memory control module 304,
via the job control module 302. At the time of generating the print
image, the PDL analysis module 301 obtains configuration
information of the printer 101 from the system administration
module 306 via the job control module 302. The configuration
information of the printer 101 includes, e.g., information
regarding attached/detached status of the feed tray unit 203a and
the catch tray 203e and information regarding paper sizes of paper
sheets feedable by each feed paper set in the paper feed trays.
[0050] The job control module 302 controls PDL processing in
entirety and issues necessary requests to the modules in the
service-providing module group 308 according to the demands of the
PDL analysis module 301. More particularly, the job control module
302 instructs the network administration module 303 to output PDL
data received from the host PC 102 and then sends the PDL data to
the PDL analysis module 301. Similarly, the job control module 302
instructs the system administration module 306 to output the
configuration information of the printer 101 and sends the
configuration information to the PDL analysis module 301. Moreover,
the job control module 302 instructs the memory control module 304
to secure necessary amount of memory (e.g., RAM 209) for storing
the print image generated by the PDL analysis module 301.
Furthermore, the job control module 302 instructs the print control
module 305 to print the print image generated by the PDL analysis
module 301.
[0051] The memory control module 304 performs memory control of
internal memory units (RAM 209, NV-RAM 210) of the printer 101 and
memory control of an external storage device. More particularly,
according to a request from the job control module 302, the memory
control module 304 performs allocation/deallocation of the internal
memory units or allocation/deallocation of the external storage
device.
[0052] The print control module 305 controls printing of the print
image that is generated by the PDL analysis module 301 and stored
in an internal memory unit or in the external storage device under
the memory control of the memory control module 304. For example,
the print control module 305 issues various requests such as a
paper feeding request, a paper discharging request, and a finishing
processing request. Moreover, the print control module 305 also
detects errors in printing and notifies the job control module 302
of the errors.
[0053] The network administration module 303 administers the
network 103, processes control signals and print data received from
the host PC 102 via the network 103, and administers the
transmission of status signals from the printer 101 to the host PC
102 via the network 103. More particularly, the network
administration module 303 administers a communication protocol such
as a file transfer protocol (FTP) or a line printer remote (LPR)
protocol that is necessary to receive data from the host PC 102 via
the network 103, receives the data via the network 103 by using the
communication protocol, and sends the received data to the job
control module 302.
[0054] The operation-panel control module 307 controls the displays
on the display unit of the operation panel 202 and administers the
user operations on the operation panel 202. Based on a request
issued by another module, the operation-panel control module 307
displays the current state of the printer 101 on the operation
panel 202 or displays a menu screen (not shown) from which the user
can change the printer settings administered by the system
administration module 306, or an error screen (not shown) that
notifies the user of an error and prompts the user to take
necessary action. When the user presses a button (not shown)
displayed on the menu screen or on the error screen, the
operation-panel control module 307 recognizes the button press
action and notifies the other modules of the button press
action.
[0055] The user is allowed to select a desired paper size as the
printing condition by pressing a corresponding button displayed in
the menu screen. The operation-panel control module 307 recognizes
the button press action and receives the user-specified paper size.
Meanwhile, instead of allowing the user to select a paper size from
the operation panel 202, the printer 101 can be configured to allow
the user to specify a desired page orientation as the printing
condition. Moreover, instead of configuring the operation-panel
control module 307 to receive the paper size specified via the menu
screen of the operation panel 202, it is also possible to configure
the network administration module 303 to receive a paper size from
the control signals sent by the host PC 102.
[0056] The system administration module 306 administers the
configuration information and the status of the printer 101. The
configuration information of the printer 101 includes information
regarding the attached/detached status of the feed tray unit 203a
and the catch tray 203e and the details about the feed papers set
in the paper feed trays. For example, the details about the feed
papers include feed paper names, order of priority for the feed
papers in selecting a paper sheet for printing, a combination of
paper width and page orientation of paper sheets feedable by each
feed paper, and paper sizes of paper sheets feedable by each feed
paper. The status of the printer 101 indicates the current mode of
the printer 101 (e.g., a printing mode or a stand-by mode) or
indicates whether an error such a paper-jam error or a paper-out
error has occurred in the printer 101. The system administration
module 306 notifies the other modules of the configuration
information and the status of the printer 101 and administers the
user-made changes in the customizable printer settings. Herein, it
is assumed that the order of priority for the feed papers is set in
ascending order of the length of a sheet conveying path through
which a paper sheet fed by each feed paper is conveyed. However, if
a particular feed paper is determined in advance to have the
highest priority in feeding a paper sheet, then the system
administration module 306 uses that feed paper irrespective of the
length of the corresponding sheet conveying path.
[0057] With respect to each feed paper that can feed paper sheets
of one or more paper sizes, the system administration module 306
sets paper sheets of particular paper sizes as target paper sheets
for selection, from among which a paper sheet is actually selected
for the printing job. More particularly, the system administration
module 306 refers to the configuration information for the paper
sizes of paper sheets feedable by each feed paper and determines
which of those paper sheets are target paper sheets for selection
(hereinafter, "target paper sheet setting").
[0058] The system administration module 306 holds information
necessary for selecting a paper sheet for printing (hereinafter,
"paper sheet selection") in the form of a table and selects a paper
sheet for printing according to the information in the table. FIG.
4 is an exemplary table that includes the information necessary in
paper sheet selection. In the table shown in FIG. 4, the
information regarding the feed paper names, the order of priority
for the feed papers in paper sheet selection, the combination of
paper width and page orientation of paper sheets feedable by each
feed paper, the paper sizes of paper sheets feedable by each feed
paper, and the target paper sheet setting for each feed paper is
placed in a corresponding manner. The system administration module
306 generates the table shown in FIG. 4 by using the information
regarding the user-specified paper size, which is received by the
operation-panel control module 307 from the operation panel 202,
and the configuration information of the printer 101. In the table
shown in FIG. 4, the paper sheets indicated by a status "target"
are the target paper sheets for selection, while the paper sheets
indicated by a status "non-target" are the paper sheets that are
not the target paper sheets for selection (hereinafter, "non-target
paper sheets for selection").
[0059] For example, the paper sheet of A4-size feedable by the roll
paper 1 is a target paper sheet for selection indicated by the
status "target". Thus, if A4-size is mentioned in the PDL data
received by the PDL analysis module 301 from the host PC 102, then
the roll paper 1 can be selected to feed a paper sheet of A4-size.
On the other hand, the paper sheet of A5-size feedable by the roll
paper 1 is a non-target paper sheet for selection indicated by the
status "non-target". Thus, if A5-size is mentioned in the PDL data
received by the PDL analysis module 301 from the host PC 102, then
the roll paper 1 cannot be selected to feed a paper sheet of
A5-size. In this way, the system administration module 306 selects
a paper sheet only from among the target paper sheets for
selection.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, a paper sheet of A4-size feedable by
each of the roll paper 1, the roll paper 2, and the cut paper 1 is
a target paper sheet for selection. Thus, if A4-size is mentioned
in the PDL data received by the PDL analysis module 301 from the
host PC 102, the system administration module 306 can select any
one of the roll paper 1, the roll paper 2, and the cut paper 1 to
feed a paper sheet of A4-size. In such a case, the system
administration module 306 selects the feed paper from among the
roll paper 1, the roll paper 2, and the cut paper 1 that is
determined to have the highest priority in feeding a paper sheet.
Meanwhile, if the page orientation is mentioned in addition to the
paper size in the PDL data received by the PDL analysis module 301
from the host PC 102, the system administration module 306 refers
to the table shown in FIG. 4 and selects a paper sheet that has the
same page orientation as that mentioned in the PDL data.
[0061] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence operations
in paper sheet selection.
[0062] First, the system administration module 306 refers to the
table shown in FIG. 4 and searches for the paper sheet of, although
not limited to, LEF orientation feedable by each feed paper (Step
S501) and stores the feed paper names and information regarding the
paper sheets of LEF orientation in a register (not shown) of the
CPU 208. The register is a high-speed and small-capacity memory
compared to the RAM 209 and is used to store only the
frequently-accessed information such as computational results or
execution states. However, instead of using the register, the feed
paper names and information regarding the paper sheets of LEF
orientation can also be stored in the RAM 209 or in a hard disk
drive (HDD) (not shown) of the printer 101. Subsequently, the
system administration module 306 searches the table shown in FIG. 4
for the paper sheet feedable by that feed paper which is determined
to have the highest priority in feeding a paper sheet (Step S502).
Meanwhile, if the SEF orientation is mentioned as a printing
condition received by the PDL analysis module 301, the system
administration module 306 can search for the paper sheets of SEF
orientation instead of searching for the paper sheets of LEF
orientation.
[0063] The system administration module 306 then refers to the
table shown in FIG. 4 and determines whether the paper size
mentioned in the PDL data received by the PDL analysis module 301
matches with the paper size of the paper sheet found at Step S502
and whether the paper sheet found at Step S502 is a target paper
sheet for selection (Step S503) and deletes the feed paper name of
the feed paper that can feed the paper sheet found at Step S502
from the register.
[0064] If the paper size specified in the PDL data received by the
PDL analysis module 301 matches with the paper size of the paper
sheet found at Step S502 and if the paper sheet found at Step S502
is a target paper sheet for selection (Yes at Step S503), then the
system administration module 306 selects the paper sheet found at
Step S502 for printing (Step S504).
[0065] On the other hand, if the paper size specified in the PDL
data received by the PDL analysis module 301 matches with the paper
size of the paper sheet found at Step S502 but the paper sheet
found at Step S502 is a non-target paper sheet for selection (No at
Step S503) or if the paper size specified in the PDL data received
by the PDL analysis module 301 does not match with the paper size
of the paper sheet found at Step S502 (No at Step S503), then the
system administration module 306 determines, in the descending
order of priority for the feed papers (e.g., in the order of the
roll paper 1, the roll paper 2, the cut paper 1, and the cut paper
2), whether Step S503 is performed with respect to each paper sheet
of LEF orientation found at Step S501 (Step S505).
[0066] If Step S503 is yet to be performed with respect to each
paper sheet of LEF orientation found at Step S501 (No at Step
S505), the system administration module 306 refers to the table
shown in FIG. 4 and searches for the paper sheet of LEF orientation
feedable by the feed paper of the second-highest priority (Step
S506) and the system control returns to Step S503.
[0067] If Step S503 has been performed with respect to each paper
sheet of LEF orientation found at Step S501 (Yes at Step S505), the
system administration module 306 clears the register of the feed
paper names and the information regarding the paper sheets of LEF
orientation and determines, by referring to the table shown in FIG.
4, whether Step S503 is performed with respect to the paper sheets
of SEF orientation (Step S507).
[0068] If Step S503 has been performed with respect to the paper
sheets of SEF orientation (Yes at Step S507), the process is
completed without selection of a paper sheet. On the other hand,
when Step S503 is yet to be performed with respect to the paper
sheets of SEF orientation (No at Step S507), the system
administration module 306 searches the table shown in FIG. 4 for
the paper sheet of SEF orientation feedable by each feed paper and
stores the feed paper names and information regarding the paper
sheets of SEF orientation in the register (Step S508).
Subsequently, the system administration module 306 performs paper
sheet selection with respect to the paper sheets of SEF orientation
in an identical manner to the paper sheet selection with respect to
the paper sheets of LEF orientation.
[0069] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the search for paper sheet
selection is narrowed down in the sequence of the page orientation,
the order of priority for the feed papers, the paper size, and the
target paper sheet setting. Instead, the search can be narrowed
down in any other sequence such as in the sequence of the page
orientation, the paper size, the target paper sheet setting, and
the order of priority for the feed papers.
[0070] In this way, according to the first embodiment, with respect
to a feed paper that can feed paper sheets of one or more paper
sizes, particular paper sheets are set as target paper sheets for
selection. Thus, it is possible to determine the paper sizes for
which the paper sheets feedable by that feed paper are set as the
target paper sheets for selection.
[0071] Given below is the description of the printer 101 according
to a second embodiment of the present invention. The printer 101
according to the second embodiment has a substantially identical
configuration/functionality to that according to the first
embodiment. Hence, that description is not repeated for clarity.
According to the second embodiment, the user is allowed to specify
a paper size that is used to set target paper sheets for selection
feedable by a particular feed paper. That enables the printer 101
to perform paper sheet selection that meets the user
requirements.
[0072] The operation-panel control module 307 receives, from among
a plurality of paper sizes of paper sheets feedable by a particular
feed paper, the user-specified paper size of the target paper
sheets for selection. More particularly, the user-specified paper
size of the target paper sheets for selection received by the
operation-panel control module 307 is one of the paper sizes of
paper sheets feedable by the feed papers mentioned in the
configuration information, which is administered by the system
administration module 306.
[0073] The print control module 305 detects the paper width of
paper sheets feedable by the currently-loaded feed paper. In the
case of a roll paper, the paper width of the roll paper
(hereinafter, "roll paper width") is the paper width of the paper
sheets feedable by that roll paper. Thus, when the currently-loaded
feed paper is a roll paper, the print control module 305 detects
the roll paper width.
[0074] Subsequently, based on the paper width of paper sheets
feedable by the currently-loaded feed paper, the operation-panel
control module 307 obtains all the combinations of paper width and
page orientation and all the paper sizes of paper sheets feedable
by the currently-loaded feed paper (see Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. H08-113413) and then receives the user-specified
paper size of the target paper sheets for selection from among the
obtained paper sizes.
[0075] For example, a roll paper of A0-width presumably feeds paper
sheets of A0-width SEF orientation and paper sheets of A1-width LEF
orientation, which is obtained by cutting paper sheets of A0-width
SEF in half lengthwise. In that case, the operation-panel control
module 307 obtains A0-size and A1-size as the paper sizes of the
paper sheets feedable by the roll paper of A0-width. As is evident
in this example, a roll paper can widthwise feed paper sheets of
two standard paper sizes. If irregular paper sizes are also taken
into consideration, then a roll paper can widthwise feed paper
sheets of more than two paper sizes.
[0076] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary paper
selection setting screen displayed on the operation panel 202 by
the operation-panel control module 307. The operation-panel control
module 307 receives the user-specified paper size of the target
paper sheets for selection from the paper selection setting screen.
The paper selection setting screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed
when the currently-loaded feed paper is the roll paper 1 of
A4-width. In that case, the print control module 305 detects
A4-size and A5-size as the paper sizes of the paper sheets feedable
by the roll paper 1 of A4-width. The user has the option of not
specifying a paper size of the target paper sheets for selection or
specifying A4-size as the paper size of the target paper sheets for
selection, A5-size as the paper size of the target paper sheets for
selection, and both A4-size and A5-size as the paper sizes of the
target paper sheets for selection. For that, the user can press a
"size of target sheet: none" button 601, a "size of target sheet:
A4" button 602, a "size of target sheet: A4 and A5" button 603, and
a "size of target sheet: A5" button 604, respectively, and then
press an "ok" button 605. Meanwhile, if the feed paper is a cut
paper instead of the roll paper 1 of A4-width, the operation-panel
control module 307 displays a paper selection setting screen (not
shown) similar to that shown in FIG. 6 on the operation panel 202
and receives the user-specified paper size of the target paper
sheets for selection from the paper selection setting screen.
[0077] The system administration module 306 sets the target paper
sheets for selection based on the user-specified paper size. That
is, the system administration module 306 updates the target paper
sheet setting in the table shown in FIG. 4 of those paper sheets
that are of the user-specified paper size and performs paper sheet
selection by referring to the updated table.
[0078] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 4 according to the user-specified
paper size. Herein, the table is updated on the assumption that the
user presses the "size of target sheet: A5" button 604 on the paper
selection setting screen shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the system
administration module 306 updates the target paper sheet setting
corresponding to A5-size to the status "target" and updates the
target paper sheet setting corresponding to A4-size to the status
"non-target". In this way, depending on the user-specified paper
size, a non-target paper sheet for selection can be changed to a
target paper sheet for selection and vice versa. Meanwhile, the
feed paper names in the table shown in FIG. 4 are non-customizable
entities that cannot be changed by the user. On the other hand, the
order of priority for the feed papers and the target paper sheet
setting are customizable entities that the user can arbitrarily
change. Moreover, when a roll paper is newly loaded in a paper feed
tray, the combinations of paper width and page orientation and the
paper sizes of the paper sheets feedable by the newly-loaded roll
paper are automatically determined based on the corresponding roll
paper width.
[0079] In this way, according to the second embodiment, the target
paper sheets for selection are set by receiving one or more
user-specified paper sizes from among a plurality of paper sizes of
paper sheets feedable by a particular feed paper. That enables the
printer 101 to perform paper sheet selection that meets the user
requirements.
[0080] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence of
operations in updating the table shown in FIG. 4. Assume that a
roll paper is newly loaded in a paper feed tray and the
newly-loaded roll paper has a different roll paper width than the
roll paper width of the previously-loaded roll paper. In that case,
the print control module 305 detects the roll paper width of the
newly-loaded roll paper (Step S1801). Subsequently, the
operation-panel control module 307 obtains the paper sizes feedable
from the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper (Step
S1802), notifies the system administration module 306 of the
feedable paper sizes, and stores the feedable paper sizes in the
NV-RAM 210 (Step S1803).
[0081] FIG. 9 is an exemplary table in which the paper width of a
plurality of feed papers and the paper sizes of the paper sheets
feedable from each paper width are placed in a corresponding
manner. The operation-panel control module 307 refers to the table
shown in FIG. 9 and obtains the paper sizes of the paper sheets
feedable from the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll
paper.
[0082] If the user presses a "priority order setting" button (not
shown) on the operation panel 202 (Step S1804: "priority order
setting" button), then the operation-panel control module 307
displays a priority order setting screen (not shown) on the
operation panel 202 (Step S1805). The user can specify an order of
priority for the feed papers from the priority order setting
screen. The operation-panel control module 307 stores the
user-specified order of priority in the NV-RAM 210 (Step S1806) and
updates the table shown in FIG. 4 according to the user-specified
order of priority (Step S1807).
[0083] On the other hand, if the user presses a "paper selection
setting" button (not shown) on the operation panel 202 (Step S1804:
"paper selection setting" button), then the operation-panel control
module 307 obtains the information regarding the feedable paper
sizes from the system administration module 306 or from the NV-RAM
210 (Step S1808) and displays the paper selection setting screen
shown in FIG. 6 on the operation panel 202 (Step S1809). The user
can specify one or more paper sizes from the paper selection
setting screen. The operation-panel control module 307 stores the
user-specified paper sizes in the NV-RAM 210 (Step S1810) and
updates the table shown in FIG. 4 according to the user-specified
paper sizes (Step S1811).
[0084] Meanwhile, in the table shown in FIG. 4, the order of
priority and the target paper sheet setting are assigned with
default values for printing. Thus, in case the operations from Step
S1808 to Step S1811 are not performed, the default values for
printing are set in the target paper sheet setting. For example, in
the table shown in FIG. 4, a default value "default" can be
assigned to the paper sheets of A4-size and A5-size feedable by the
roll paper 1.
[0085] Given below is the description of the printer 101 according
to a third embodiment of the present invention. The printer 101
according to the third embodiment has a substantially identical
configuration/functionality to that according to the second
embodiment. Hence, that description is not repeated for clarity.
According to the second embodiment, when a roll paper is newly
loaded in a paper feed tray, the combinations of paper width and
page orientation and the paper sizes of the paper sheets feedable
by the newly-loaded roll paper differ from the combinations of
paper width and page orientation and the paper sizes of the paper
sheets feedable by the previously-loaded roll paper. Thus, when a
roll paper of different roll paper width is newly loaded, the print
control module 305 detects the combinations of paper width and page
orientation and the paper sizes of the paper sheets feedable by the
newly-loaded roll paper and the table shown in FIG. 4 is updated
with that information. However, the target paper sheet setting in
the table does not get updated corresponding to the newly-loaded
roll paper. Thus, there is a possibility that the target paper
sheet setting corresponding to the previously-loaded roll paper
gets applied to the newly-loaded roll paper. As a result, there is
a risk that a paper sheet is incorrectly set as the target paper
sheet for selection. To guard against such a problem, it is
necessary to clear the details of the target paper sheet setting
corresponding to the previously-loaded roll paper from the table
shown in FIG. 4. For that, according to the third embodiment, the
target paper sheet setting is updated in such a way that the paper
sheets of all paper sizes feedable by the newly-loaded roll paper
are set as the target paper sheets for selection.
[0086] The memory control module 304 stores the roll paper width
detected by the print control module 305 in the NV-RAM 210.
[0087] As described above, when the roll paper width of the
newly-loaded roll paper differs from the roll paper width of the
previously-loaded roll paper, then the system administration module
306 sets the paper sheets of all paper sizes feedable by the
newly-loaded roll paper as the target paper sheets for selection.
However, alternatively, the paper sheets of all paper sizes
feedable by the newly-loaded roll paper can be set as the
non-target paper sheets for selection.
[0088] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 4 when the roll paper 1 of
A4-width is replaced by the roll paper 1 of A3-width. In that case,
the system administration module 306 sets the paper sheets of all
paper sizes (A3-size and A4-size) feedable by the roll paper 1 of
A3-width as the target paper sheets for selection.
[0089] In this way, according to the third embodiment, if the roll
paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper differs from the roll
paper width of the previously-loaded roll paper, the paper sheets
of all paper sizes feedable by the newly-loaded roll paper are set
as the target paper sheets for selection. As a result, it becomes
possible to clear the target paper sheet setting corresponding to
the previously-loaded roll paper thereby preventing a mismatch
between the newly-loaded roll paper and the corresponding target
paper sheet setting.
[0090] Given below is the description of the printer 101 according
to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The printer 101
according to the fourth embodiment has a substantially identical
configuration/functionality to that according to the third
embodiment. Hence, that description is not repeated for clarity. As
described in the second embodiment, when a roll paper is newly
loaded, there is a possibility that the target paper sheet setting
corresponding to the previously-loaded roll paper gets applied to
the newly-loaded roll paper. Thus, to achieve paper sheet selection
according to the user requirements, it becomes necessary for the
user to change the target paper sheet setting each time a new roll
paper is loaded. To avoid such a problem, according to the fourth
embodiment, the roll paper width of each roll paper loaded in the
past is stored along with the corresponding user-specified paper
size. Thus, when a roll paper, which has the roll paper width
identical to the roll paper width of a roll paper loaded in the
past, is newly loaded, then the user-specified paper size stored
corresponding to the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll
paper is obtained and the paper sheets of the user-specified paper
size are set as the target paper sheets for selection.
[0091] The memory control module 304 stores the roll paper width of
the newly-loaded roll paper detected by the print control module
305 and the user-specified paper size of the target paper sheets
for selection obtained by the operation-panel control module 307 in
the NV-RAM 210 in a corresponding manner.
[0092] FIG. 11 is an exemplary table in which the roll paper width
of each roll paper loaded in the past and the user-specified paper
size of the target paper sheets for selection are stored in a
corresponding manner. In the table shown in FIG. 11, the column of
"roll paper width" indicates the roll paper width of the roll
papers loaded in the past, the column of "SEF orientation"
indicates the SEF orientation of the paper sheets feedable
widthwise from the corresponding roll paper width, and the column
of "LEF orientation" indicates the LEF orientation of the paper
sheets feedable widthwise from the corresponding roll paper width.
If the column of "SEF orientation" or the column of "LEF
orientation" corresponding to a particular roll paper width
includes the status "target", then the paper size in that
orientation is the paper size of the target paper sheet for
selection. For example, regarding a roll paper width of A0 in the
table shown in FIG. 11, the paper size of the paper sheet in the
SEF orientation (i.e., A0-size) is indicated to be the paper size
of the target paper sheets for selection, while the paper size of
the paper sheet in the LEF orientation (i.e., A1-size) is not
indicated to be the paper size of the target paper sheets for
selection.
[0093] If the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper
matches with the roll paper width of one of the roll papers stored
by the memory control module 304, then the operation-panel control
module 307 obtains the paper size stored in the table shown in FIG.
11 corresponding to the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll
paper and sets that paper size as the paper size of the target
paper sheets for selection. On the other hand, if the roll paper
width of the newly-loaded roll paper does not match with any roll
paper width stored by the memory control module 304, then the
operation-panel control module 307 sets the paper sheets of all
paper sizes feedable by the newly-loaded roll paper as the target
paper sheets for selection identical to description in the third
embodiment.
[0094] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence of
operations in setting the target paper sheets for selection when a
roll paper is newly loaded.
[0095] When a roll paper is newly loaded in a paper feed tray, the
print control module 305 detects the roll paper width of the
newly-loaded roll paper (Step S1001).
[0096] Then, the operation-panel control module 307 determines
whether the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper matches
with the roll paper width of one of the roll papers stored in the
table shown in FIG. 11 (Step S1002).
[0097] If the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper
matches with the roll paper width of one of the roll papers stored
in the table shown in FIG. 11 (Yes at Step S1002), the
operation-panel control module 307 obtains the paper size stored in
the table shown in FIG. 11 corresponding to the roll paper width of
the newly-loaded roll paper and sets the paper sheets of that paper
size as the target paper sheets for selection (Step S1003). On the
other hand, if the roll paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper
does not match with any roll paper width stored in the table shown
in FIG. 11, then the operation-panel control module 307 sets the
paper sheets of all paper sizes feedable by the newly-loaded roll
paper as the target paper sheets for selection identical to
description in the third embodiment (Step S1004).
[0098] In this way, according to the fourth embodiment, the roll
paper width of each roll paper loaded in the past is stored along
with the corresponding user-specified paper size. Thus, when a roll
paper having the roll paper width identical to that of a roll paper
loaded in the past is newly loaded, then the paper sheets of the
paper size stored corresponding to the roll paper width of the
newly-loaded roll paper can be set as the target paper sheets for
selection. That eliminates the need to change the target paper
sheet setting each time a new roll paper is loaded.
[0099] Given below is the description of the printer 101 according
to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The printer 101
according to the fifth embodiment has a substantially identical
configuration/functionality to that according to the second
embodiment. Hence, that description is not repeated for clarity. As
described in the second embodiment, the target paper sheets for
selection are set according to the user-specified paper size.
Instead, according to the fifth embodiment, the user is allowed to
specify a page orientation that is used to set target paper sheets
for selection feedable by a particular feed paper. Such a
configuration is possible because each standard paper size of a
paper sheet feedable by a feed paper has either one of the SEF
orientation and the LEF orientation as its page orientation. That
is, the standard paper sizes and the page orientations of a paper
sheet feedable by a feed paper have a one-to-one
correspondence.
[0100] The operation-panel control module 307 receives the
user-specified page orientation of the target paper sheets for
selection from among the SEF orientation and the LEF
orientation.
[0101] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary page
orientation setting screen displayed on the operation panel 202 by
the operation-panel control module 307. The operation-panel control
module 307 receives the user-specified page orientation of the
target paper sheets for selection from the page orientation setting
screen. The page orientation setting screen shown in FIG. 13 is
displayed when the currently-loaded feed paper is the roll paper 1
of A4-width and the user can specify the page orientation of the
target paper sheet for selection from among the A4-width SEF
orientation (i.e., paper sheet of A4-size) and the A4-width LEF
orientation (i.e., paper sheet of A5-size). The user has the option
of not specifying a page orientation of the target paper sheets for
selection or specifying the A4-width SEF orientation as the page
orientation of the target paper sheets for selection, the A4-width
LEF orientation as the page orientation of the target paper sheets
for selection, and both the A4-width SEF orientation and the
A4-width LEF orientation as the page orientations of the target
paper sheets for selection. For that, the user can press an
"orientation of target sheet: none" button 1101, an "orientation of
target sheet: SEF" button 1102, an "orientation of target sheet:
SEF and LEF" button 1103, and an "orientation of target sheet: LEF"
button 1104, respectively, and then press an "ok" button 1105 on
the page orientation setting screen. Meanwhile, if the feed paper
is a cut paper instead of the roll paper 1 of A4-width, the
operation-panel control module 307 displays a page orientation
setting screen similar to that shown in FIG. 13 on the operation
panel 202 and receives the user-specified page orientation of the
target paper sheets for selection from the page orientation setting
screen.
[0102] The system administration module 306 sets the target paper
sheets for selection based on the user-specified page orientation.
That is, the system administration module 306 the target paper
sheet setting in the table shown in FIG. 4 of those paper sheets
that are in the user-specified page orientation and performs paper
sheet selection by referring to the updated table.
[0103] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 4 according to the user-specified
page orientation. Herein, the table is updated on the assumption
that the user presses the "orientation of target sheet: LEF" button
1104 on the page orientation setting screen shown in FIG. 13. As a
result, the system administration module 306 updates the target
paper sheet setting corresponding to the A4-size LEF orientation to
the status "target" and updates the target paper sheet setting
corresponding to the A4-size SEF orientation to the status
"non-target".
[0104] As described in the second embodiment, the paper size of the
page sheets feedable by a roll paper depends on the corresponding
roll paper width. Thus, when the roll paper width of the
newly-loaded load paper is different than the previous roll paper
width, it is necessary to update the target paper sheet setting
corresponding to the newly-loaded roll paper based on the
user-specified paper size of the target paper sheets for selection.
On the contrary, receiving the page orientation of the target paper
sheets for selection according to the fifth embodiment makes it
possible to set, even if roll paper having a different roll paper
width is newly loaded, the target paper sheets for selection based
on the page orientation received for the previously-loaded roll
paper.
[0105] For example, even if the roll paper 1 of A4-width shown in
the table in FIG. 14 is replaced with the roll paper 1 of A0-width,
it is still possible to set the target paper sheets for selection
based on the page orientation of the target paper sheets for
selection received corresponding to the roll paper 1 of A4-width.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining the updated table
after the roll paper 1 of A4-width shown in the table in FIG. 14 is
replaced with the roll paper 1 of A0-width. As shown in FIG. 15,
even if the roll paper width changes from A4 to A0 and the paper
sizes of the corresponding paper sheets are different, the target
paper sheet for selection corresponding to the roll paper 1 of
A0-width can be set based on the page orientation of the target
paper sheets for selection received corresponding to the roll paper
1 of A4-width.
[0106] Given below is the description of the printer 101 according
to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The printer 101
according to the sixth embodiment has a substantially identical
configuration/functionality to that according to the fifth
embodiment. Hence, that description is not repeated for clarity.
According to the sixth embodiment, the user is allowed to specify
the combinations of paper width and page orientation that are used
to set target paper sheets for selection with respect to all
loadable feed papers that can feed paper sheets of one or more
paper sizes. The combinations of paper width and page orientation
and the target paper sheets for selection are set based on the
stored combinations.
[0107] More particularly, the operation-panel control module 307
receives the combinations of paper width and page orientation with
respect to the roll paper of all roll paper widths loadable in a
paper feed tray, irrespective of the roll paper width of the
currently-loaded roll paper.
[0108] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary combination
setting screen displayed on the operation panel 202 by the
operation-panel control module 307. The user can specify the
combinations of paper width and page orientation of the target
paper sheets for selection with respect to each loadable roll paper
width by pressing a "combination" button 1401 and an "ok" button
1402 on the combination setting screen. The operation-panel control
module 307 receives the user specified combinations of paper width
and page orientation of the target paper sheets for selection with
respect to each loadable roll paper. For example, even if the
currently-loaded feed paper is the roll paper of A4-width, the
operation-panel control module 307 receives the user specified
combinations of paper width and page orientation of the target
paper sheets for selection corresponding to the roll paper of all
roll paper widths loadable in the paper feed tray.
[0109] The memory control module 304 stores all loadable roll paper
widths and the combinations of paper width and page orientation of
the target paper sheets for selection in a corresponding manner in
a table in the NV-RAM 210.
[0110] FIG. 17 is an exemplary table of all loadable roll paper
widths and the combinations of paper width and page orientation of
the target paper sheets for selection corresponding to each
loadable roll paper width. When the combinations of paper width and
page orientation of the target paper sheets for selection
corresponding to a particular roll paper width is changed, the
memory control module 304 updates the table shown in FIG. 17.
Meanwhile, the table in FIG. 17 is shown noncompliant to a paper
sheet of LEF orientation feedable by a roll paper of A0-width and a
paper sheet of LEF orientation feedable by a roll paper of
B1-width. Moreover, the column of "roll paper width" in the table
indicates all loadable roll paper widths of a roll paper, the
column of "SEF orientation" indicates the SEF orientation of paper
sheets feedable widthwise from the corresponding roll paper width,
while the column of "LEF orientation" indicates the LEF orientation
of paper sheets feedable widthwise from the corresponding roll
paper width.
[0111] For example, regarding a roll paper of B3-width in the table
shown in FIG. 17, the combination of the B3-width and the SEF
orientation is not indicated to be the combination of paper width
and page orientation of a target paper sheet for selection, while
the combination of the B3-width and the LEF orientation is
indicated to be the combination of paper width and page orientation
of a target paper sheet for selection.
[0112] The print control module 305 detects the paper width of a
paper sheet feedable by the loaded feed paper and stores the
detected paper width in a register (not shown).
[0113] The system administration module 306 then sets the target
paper sheets for selection based on the combination of paper width
and page orientation including the paper width detected by the
print control module 305 from among the combinations of paper width
and page orientation of all target paper sheets for selection
stored in the table shown in FIG. 17 by the memory control module
304.
[0114] FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of
updating the table shown in FIG. 17 according to the user-specified
combinations of paper width and page orientation. For example,
assume that the currently-loaded feed paper is a roll-paper of
B3-width and the memory control module 304 has stored the table
shown in FIG. 17. In that case, the system administration module
306 searches the table for the roll paper width of B3 and, because
the LEF orientation corresponding to the roll paper width of B3 is
indicated by the status "target", selects a paper sheet of LEF
orientation as the target paper sheet for selection.
[0115] FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining the sequence of
operations in setting the target paper sheets for selection when a
roll paper is newly loaded or when the combinations of paper width
and page orientation of the target paper sheets for selection are
changed.
[0116] When a roll paper is newly loaded in a paper feed tray or
when the combinations of paper width and page orientation of the
target paper sheets for selection stored by the memory control
module 304 are changed, the print control module detects the roll
paper width of the newly-loaded roll paper (Step S1701).
[0117] Then, the system administration module 306 searches the
table stored in the NV-RAM 210 by the memory control module 304 for
the combination of paper width and page orientation including the
roll paper width detected by the print control module 305 (Step
S1702).
[0118] Subsequently, the system administration module 306 sets the
target paper sheet for selection based on the combination of paper
width and page orientation detected at Step S1702 (Step S1703).
[0119] For example, assume that the target paper sheets for
selection are set based on the paper sizes of the paper sheets
feedable by the roll paper of A0-width and the roll paper width of
the currently-loaded roll paper is other than A0. In such a case,
conventionally, there is a risk that the mismatch in paper widths
causes an error such as a paper-jam error at the time of feeding a
paper sheet. Even if a paper-jam error does not occur, there is a
risk that the image does not properly fit in the paper sheet on
which it is printed. On the contrary, according to the sixth
embodiment, the roll paper width of the currently-loaded roll paper
is detected and the target paper sheets for selection are set based
on the combination of paper width and page orientation including
the detected roll paper width. Such a configuration prevents the
mismatch in the paper widths thereby preventing errors such as a
paper-jam error or improper fitting of the printed image.
[0120] In this way, according to an aspect of the present
invention, with respect to a feed paper that can feed paper sheets
of one or more paper sizes, particular paper sheets are set as
target paper sheets for selection. Thus, it is possible to
determine the paper sizes for which the paper sheets feedable by
that feed paper are set as the target paper sheets for
selection.
[0121] Although the invention has been described with respect to
specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the
appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed
as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that
may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the
basic teaching herein set forth.
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