Printer and printer control method

• US 20060055973A1
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Saikawa, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence

Abstract

Described are a printer and a method of controlling it, wherein when an out-of-paper error occurs and printing stops, a control unit clears any data in a receive buffer, and reports the out-of-paper error and print stoppage to a host computer. When a clear buffer command is then received from the host computer, the control unit clears the receive buffer again.

Claims

1. A printer comprising:

a data receiving unit for receiving data sent from a host computer;

a data transmission unit for sending data to said host computer;

a receive buffer for temporarily storing data received by said data receiving unit;

an interpreting unit for interpreting data stored in said receive buffer;

a print buffer for storing a print image generated in response to print date print data among said data stored in said receive buffer;

a print mechanism for printing said print image stored in said print buffer; and

a control unit for controlling said data receiving unit, said data transmission unit, said receive buffer, said interpreting unit, said print buffer, and said print mechanism;

wherein said control unit is adapted

to clear said data in said receive buffer when an out-of-paper error occurs and printing stops, and to report said out-of-paper error and printing stop to said host computer, and

to clear said receive buffer again in response to a clear buffer command received from the host computer.

2. The printer as described in claim 1, wherein said control unit is adapted to clear said receive buffer and said print buffer, and to clear said print buffer again in response to said clear buffer command.

3. The printer as described in claim 1, wherein said control unit is adapted to send a buffer clearing completion report to said host computer after receiving said clear buffer command, and to print based on print data received from said host computer after said buffer clearing completion report is sent.

7. The printer as described in claim 2, wherein said control unit is adapted to send a buffer clearing completion report to said host computer after receiving said clear buffer command, and to print based on print data received from said host computer after said buffer clearing completion report is sent.

4. A method of controlling a printer communicatively connected to a host computer and having a receive buffer for temporarily storing data received from the host computer, and a print buffer for storing a print image generated in response to print data among the data stored in said receive buffer, the method comprising steps of:

clearing the receive buffer when an out-of-paper error occurs and printing stops; and

clearing said receive buffer again in response to a clear buffer command received from said host computer.

5. The method as described in claim 4, further comprising a step of:

clearing the print buffer when said out-of-paper error occurs and printing stops, and then clearing said print buffer again in response to said clear buffer command.

6. The method as described in claim 4, further comprising steps of:

sending a buffer clearing completion report to said host computer after receiving said clear buffer command; and

printing based on print data received from said host computer after said buffer clearing completion report is sent.

8. The method as described in claim 4, further comprising a step of:

reporting said out-of-paper error and print stoppage to a host computer.

9. The method as described in claim 5, further comprising steps of:

sending a buffer clearing completion report to said host computer after receiving said clear buffer command; and

printing based on print data received from said host computer after said buffer clearing completion report is sent.

10. A control method for a printer that interrupts printing when an out-of-paper error occurs, wherein after the printer returns from a print interruption status caused by the out-of-paper error to a printable status, the method executes the following steps:

(a) clearing a receive buffer and/or a print buffer;

(b) sending resumption of the printable status to a host;

(c) receiving a clear buffer command from the host;

(d) clearing the receive buffer and/or the printer buffer;

(e) reporting completion of clearing the receive buffer to the host; and

(f) resuming reception of print data from the host.