Printing device

• US 8,582,987 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Brother Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Masataka
• Primary Examiner(s): Marini, Matthew G
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARCO JR, RUBEN C
• Application Number:
  US12/830,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20110002721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 399/401, 399/18, 399/19
• US Class Current: 399/19
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/234 by inverting and refeeding the image receiving material with an image on one face to the recording member to transfer a second image on its second face, e.g. by using a duplex tray; Details of duplex trays or inverters
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0043 Refeeding path G03G2215/00421 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00586 duplex mode

Abstract

In a printing device, the conveying mechanism has a first path from a accommodating unit to the printing position and a second path that conveys the sheet that has once passed through the printing position to the printing position in an inverted state. The controller controls the conveying mechanism to perform an automatic duplex print. Printing on the one side is executed by using the first path and printing on the another side is executed by using the second path. The another side printing error disables printing of an image, by using the second path, on the another side of the sheet, whose one side has already been printed. When the another side printing error occurs, the controller controls the conveying mechanism to convey, through the first path, a sheet and controlling the printing unit to print the image on the sheet based on the set of image data to be printed on the another side.

Claims

1. A printing device comprising:

an accommodating unit configured to accommodate a sheet having one side and another side;

a first receiving unit configured to receive first print data from an external device and second print data from the external device, the first print data including a plurality of sets of image data to be printed according to a first prescribed order, the second print data including the plurality of sets of image data to be printed according to a second prescribed order different from the first prescribed order, the plurality of sets of image data corresponding to a plurality of images;

a printing unit configured to be capable of printing the plurality of images based on the first print data at a printing position and to be capable of printing the plurality of images based on the second print data at the printing position;

a conveying mechanism having a first path configured to convey the sheet from the accommodating unit to the printing position and a second path configured to convey the sheet that has once passed through the printing position to the printing position in an inverted state;

a processor; and

a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the printing device to perform;

controlling the conveying mechanism to perform an automatic duplex print for printing images on both of the one and another sides of the sheet and controlling the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed first order based on the first print data, printing on the one side being executed by using the first path and printing on the another side being executed by using the second path;

controlling the conveying mechanism to perform an operation for printing an image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path and controlling the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed second order based on the second print data;

controlling the first receiving unit to receive the first print data from the external device;

requesting the external device to transmit the second print data including the plurality of sets of image data after the first receiving unit receives the first print data from the external device;

discarding the received first print data including the plurality of sets of image data that are included in the second print data after the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data; and

determining, using a sensor, whether an another side printing error occurs after the first receiving unit receives the first print data from the external device, the another side printing error being one of switchback error, sheet size error, and expansion delay error, and causing the controlling to disable printing of an image on the another side of the sheet based on the first print data to be printed on the another side, by using the second path after one side of the sheet has already been printed,

wherein when the determining determines that the another side printing error does not occur, the controlling controls the conveying mechanism to convey, through the second path, the sheet whose one side has already been printed to the printing unit and controlling the printing unit to print an image on the another side based on the first print data to be printed on the another side; and

wherein when the determining determines that the another side printing error occurs, the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data, the discarding discards the received first print data, and the controlling controls the conveying mechanism to convey, through the first path, a plurality of sheets that is set in the accommodating unit and controls the printing unit to print the image on the plurality of sheets based on the second print data.

2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the printing device to further perform halting the printing operation by the printing unit and the conveying operation by the conveying mechanism when the determining determines that the another side printing error occurs.

3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the printing device to further perform, after the controlling controls the printing unit to print the image on the sheet based on a set of image data in the first print data to be printed on the another side, initiating a switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing an image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path.

4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the printing device to further perform initiating, after the controlling controls the printing unit to print the image on the sheet based on a set of image data in the first print data to be printed on the another side, a switch from the automatic duplex print to a manual duplex print for printing images on one and another sides of a sheet that is set in the accommodating unit using the first path and without using the second path.

5. The printing device according to claim 3, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the printing device to further perform counting a number of times that the another side printing error has occurred;

and

wherein the initiating initiates the switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path when the number of times counted by the counting reaches a prescribed number.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the printing device to further perform executing an expansion process for generating a set of expanded image data by expanding a set of image data in the first print data, the printing unit being configured to print an image based on the set of expanded image data;

and

wherein the determining determines that the another side printing error occurs when the expansion process is not complete before a sheet whose one side has already been printed is conveyed to the printing unit through the second path.

7. The printing device according to claim 3, further comprising a second receiving unit that is configured to receive an instruction inputted by a user to initiate the switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path,

wherein the initiating initiates the switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path when the second receiving unit receives the user'"'"'s instruction to switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path after the determining determines that the another side printing error occurs.

8. The printing device according to claim 3,

wherein during the automatic duplex print, the first receiving unit receives the plurality of sets of image data in the first print according to the prescribed first order from the external device;

wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the printing device to further perform instructing, when the initiating initiates the switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path, the external device to output the plurality of set of image data in the second print data according to the prescribed second order; and

wherein when the initiating the switch from the automatic duplex print to the operation for printing image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path, the first receiving unit receives the plurality of sets of image data in the second print data according to the prescribed second order.

9. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sets of image data include first image data indicating a first image;

and

wherein when the printing unit has printed the first image based on the first image data in the first print data, the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data that does not include the first image data based on which the printing unit has printed the first image, the second print data including a plurality of remaining sets of image data consisting of the plurality of sets of image data except the first image data, the remaining sets of image data being included in the first print data.

10. A printing device comprising:

an accommodating unit configured to accommodate a sheet having one side and another side;

a first receiving unit configured to receive first print data from an external device and second print data from the external device, the first print data including a plurality of sets of image data to be printed according to a first prescribed order, the second print data including the plurality of sets of image data to be printed according to a second prescribed order different from the first prescribed order, the plurality of sets of image data corresponding to a plurality of images;

a printing unit configured to be capable of printing the plurality of images based on the first print data at a printing position and to be capable of printing the plurality of images based on the second print data at the printing position;

a conveying mechanism having a first path configured to convey the sheet from the accommodating unit to the printing position and a second path configured to convey the sheet that has once passed through the printing position to the printing position in an inverted state;

a processor; and

a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the printing device to perform;

controlling the conveying mechanism to perform an automatic duplex print for printing images on both of the one and another sides of the sheet and controlling the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed first order based on the first print data, printing on the one side being executed by using the first path and printing on the another side being executed by using the second path;

controlling the conveying mechanism to perform an operation for printing an image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path and controlling the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed second order based on the second print data;

controlling the first receiving unit to receive the first print data from the external device;

requesting the external device to transmit the second print data including the plurality of sets of image data after the first receiving unit receives the first print data from the external device;

discarding the received first print data including the plurality of sets of image data that are included in the second print data after the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data; and

determining, using a sensor, whether an another side printing error occurs after the first receiving unit receives the first print data from the external device, the another side printing error causing the controlling to disable printing of an image on the another side of the sheet based on the first print data to be printed on the another side, by using the second path after one side of the sheet has already been printed; and

counting number of times that the another side printing error has occurred,

wherein when the determining determines that the another side printing error does not occur, the controlling controls the conveying mechanism to convey, through the second path, the sheet whose one side has already been printed to the printing unit and controlling the printing unit to print an image on the another side based on the first print data to be printed on the another side, and

wherein when the number of times counted by the counting reaches a prescribed number, the printing device stops performing the controlling to control the conveying mechanism to perform the automatic duplex print and stops performing the controlling to control the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed first order based on the first print data, and the printing device performs the requesting to request the external device to transmit the second print data, the discarding to discard the received first print data, and the controlling to control the conveying mechanism to convey, through the first path, a plurality of sheets that is set in the accommodating unit and to control the printing unit to print the image on the plurality of sheets based on the second print data.

11. A printing device comprising:

an accommodating unit configured to accommodate a sheet having one side and another side;

a first receiving unit configured to receive first print data from an external device and second print data from the external device, the first print data including a plurality of sets of image data to be printed according to a first prescribed order, the second print data including the plurality of sets of image data to be printed according to a second prescribed order different from the first prescribed order, the plurality of sets of image data corresponding to a plurality of images, the plurality of sets of image data including first image data indicating a first image;

a printing unit configured to be capable of printing the plurality of images based on the first print data at a printing position and to be capable of printing the plurality of images based on the second print data at the printing position;

a conveying mechanism having a first path configured to convey the sheet from the accommodating unit to the printing position and a second path configured to convey the sheet that has once passed through the printing position to the printing position in an inverted state;

a processor; and

a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the printing device to perform;

controlling the conveying mechanism to perform an automatic duplex print for printing images on both of the one and another sides of the sheet and controlling the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed first order based on the first print data, printing on the one side being executed by using the first path and printing on the another side being executed by using the second path;

controlling the conveying mechanism to perform an operation for printing an image on a sheet by the printing unit using the first path and without using the second path and controlling the printing unit to print the plurality of images according to the prescribed second order based on the second print data;

controlling the first receiving unit to receive the first print data from the external device;

requesting the external device to transmit the second print data including the plurality of sets of image data after the first receiving unit receives the first print data from the external device;

discarding the received first print data including the plurality of sets of image data that are included in the second print data after the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data; and

determining, using a sensor, whether an another side printing error occurs after the first receiving unit receives the first print data from the external device, the another side printing error causing the controlling to disable printing of an image on the another side of the sheet based on the first print data to be printed on the another side, by using the second path after one side of the sheet has already been printed,

wherein when the determining determines that the another side printing error does not occur, the controlling controls the conveying mechanism to convey, through the second path, the sheet whose one side has already been printed to the printing unit and controlling the printing unit to print an image on the another side based on the first print data to be printed on the another side;

wherein when the determining determines that the another side printing error occurs, the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data, the discarding discards the received first print data, and the controlling controls the conveying mechanism to convey, through the first path, a plurality of sheets that is set in the accommodating unit and controls the printing unit to print the image on the plurality of sheets based on the second print data; and

wherein when the printing unit has printed the first image based on the first image data in the first print data, the requesting requests the external device to transmit the second print data that does not include the first image data based on which the printing unit has printed the first image, the second print data including a plurality of remaining sets of image data consisting of the plurality of sets of image data except the first image data, the remaining sets of image data being included in the first print data.