printer

Abstract

To provide a technique for enabling supporting of a sheet size not defined in the IPP standard on a printer that is capable of performing printing based on a printing job according to the IPP standard.SOLUTION: A printer 1 can receive an IPP job from a terminal device 3 which generates a printing job according to the IPP standard, and perform printing based on the received IPP job. When "A5" is designated as a parameter size and a specific paper feed tray 17 is not designated in the received IPP job, the printer 1 determines a tray having a setting size of "A5 L" among paper feed trays 17 as a tray used. The printer 1 starts transverse feed conveyance of A5-sized sheets set in a first orientation from the tray used and can perform printing based on the IPP job on the sheets conveyed from the tray used using printing settings for the transverse A5 size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical field disclosed in this specification relates to a printer capable of printing according to the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) standard.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in application programs installed in information processing devices and print services on the cloud, it is possible to control a printer according to the IPP standard. In this driverless printing technology according to the IPP standard, without using a printer driver provided by a printer vendor, it accepts specifications such as sheet size according to the IPP standard, and generates a print job according to the specified content. Details of IPP are disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of the above-mentioned IPP standard, a landscape fixed size is not defined. Therefore, an IPP client that generates a print job according to the IPP standard does not generate a print job with such a sheet size specified. On the other hand, there are printers that can support a landscape fixed size. Therefore, there is room for improvement in order for a printer to perform printing based on a print job according to the IPP standard.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The printer made for solving this problem is equipped with a sheet tray that can be set in a first orientation corresponding to a lateral feed conveyance for conveying an A5-sized sheet with the long side of the sheet as the front end and the rear end in the conveyance direction, receives the print job from an IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) client that generates a print job according to the IPP standard, and can perform printing based on the received print job. When A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, the lateral feed conveyance of the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation in the sheet tray is started, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the sheet tray using print settings for landscape-oriented A5-sized printing instead of print settings for portrait-oriented A5-sized printing. It is configured in this way.

[0006] The printer disclosed in this specification, when receiving a print job according to the IPP standard where A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, starts the lateral feed conveyance of the A5-sized sheet set in a first orientation corresponding to the lateral feed conveyance, and can perform printing using print settings for landscape-oriented A5-sized printing. Therefore, the printer can perform printing equivalent to printing with A5 landscape, which is a sheet size not defined in the IPP standard, even for a print job according to the IPP standard.

[0007] The control method, computer program, and computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program for realizing the functions of the above printer are also novel and useful.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, a printer capable of printing based on a print job conforming to the IPP standard is realized, and a technology that enables support for sheet sizes not defined in the IPP standard is realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments in which the printer is embodied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This embodiment discloses a printer capable of executing printing based on a print job generated in accordance with the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) standard.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of this embodiment includes a controller 10 including a CPU 11 and a memory 12. Further, the printer 1 includes an operation panel 13, a communication interface (hereinafter referred to as "communication IF") 14, a print engine 15, and a conveyance mechanism 16, and these are electrically connected to the controller 10.

[0012] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program read from the memory 12 and based on the user's operations. Note that the controller 10 in Fig. 1 is a general term encompassing the hardware and software used for controlling the printer 1, and does not necessarily represent a single piece of hardware actually present in the printer 1. The CPU 11 may be an example of a controller.

[0013] In the memory 12 of the printer 1 in this embodiment, various programs and various data including an IPP printing program 21, a driver printing program 22, and tray information 23 are stored. Details of each program and data will be described later. The memory 12 is also used as a work area when various processes are executed.

[0014] Note that an example of the memory 12 is not limited to a ROM, RAM, HDD, etc. built into the printer 1, and may be a storage medium that can be read and written by the CPU 11. For example, a USB memory, an external memory such as an HDD, connected to the printer 1 via the communication IF 14, or a memory or HDD provided in a device connected to the printer 1 via the communication IF 14 is also an example of the memory 12. The buffer provided in the CPU 11 is also an example of the memory 12.

[0015] Note that a computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. Non-transitory media include storage media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs in addition to the above examples. Also, a non-transitory medium is a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electrical signal that conveys a program downloaded from a server on the Internet, etc. is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

[0016] The operation panel 13 includes hardware for displaying a screen to notify the user of information and hardware for receiving operations by the user. The operation panel 13 may include a touch panel having a notification function and an operation reception function. The operation panel 13 may include display lamps, various buttons, and numeric keys.

[0017] The communication IF 14 includes hardware for communicating with an external device. The communication standard of the communication IF 14 is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), USB, etc. The printer 1 may be provided with a plurality of communication IFs 14 corresponding to a plurality of communication standards.

[0018] The printing engine 15 includes a configuration for printing an image based on image data on a printing medium such as a sheet. The printing method of the printing engine 15 is, for example, an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. The printing engine 15 may be configured to enable color printing or may be configured to perform monochrome printing.

[0019] The conveyance mechanism 16 is a mechanism for conveying a printing medium such as a sheet through the printing engine 15. The conveyance mechanism 16 includes a paper feed tray 17 for accommodating the sheet before printing, a paper discharge tray 18 for accommodating the sheet after printing, and a plurality of conveyance rollers. The paper feed tray 17 is an example of a sheet tray. The printer 1 can be equipped with a plurality of paper feed trays 17. Specifically, the printer 1 is provided with, for example, a standard tray 171, an additional tray 172, and a manual feed tray 173 as the paper feed tray 17. The printer 1 may be provided with a plurality of paper discharge trays 18.

[0020] Among the paper feed trays 17 provided in the printer 1, at least the standard tray 171 and the additional tray 172 are sized to accommodate A4-sized sheets. These can set A4-sized sheets in one orientation, specifically, the second orientation described later, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2. The conveyance direction when starting to convey a sheet from each tray is the direction from bottom to top in FIG. 2. That is, the printer 1 can convey an A4-sized sheet with its short sides as the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction and can print a vertically oriented A4-sized image on the conveyed sheet. Note that the manual feed tray 173 can also set A4-sized sheets in the second orientation.

[0021] Also, each paper feed tray 17 of the printer 1 can set A5-sized sheets in two orientations, the first orientation shown in FIG. 2(A) and the second orientation shown in FIG. 2(B). The first orientation is such that the long side of the sheet becomes the leading end P1 and the trailing end P2 in the conveyance direction, corresponding to the lateral feed conveyance in which the sheet is conveyed to the print engine 15 in a horizontally long state. The second orientation is such that the short side of the sheet becomes the leading end P3 and the trailing end P4 in the conveyance direction, corresponding to the vertical feed conveyance in which the sheet is conveyed to the print engine 15 in a vertically long state.

[0022] The printer 1 can receive a sheet size setting for each installed paper feed tray 17, for example, via the operation panel 13. The printer 1 receives a setting including information on the sheet size that can be set in each paper feed tray 17 (hereinafter referred to as the "set size") and the orientation of the set sheet as the sheet size set for each paper feed tray 17. The printer 1 can receive not only sheet sizes defined in the IPP standard such as "A5 size" but also sheet sizes not defined in the IPP standard such as "A5 landscape size" as the set size.

[0023] Specifically, the set size indicating the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation shown in FIG. 2(A) is "A5L", and the set size indicating the A5-sized sheet set in the second orientation shown in FIG. 2(B) is "A5". "A5L" is a size for horizontal A5-sized printing and is an example of the first size, and "A5" is a size for vertical A5-sized printing and is an example of the second size. The tray with the set size of "A5L" is an example of the first tray, and the tray with the set size of "A5" is an example of the second tray.

[0024] That is, the printer 1 operates, for example, as if an A5-sized sheet is set in the first orientation in the paper feed tray 17 with the set size of "A5L". Also, the printer 1 operates, for example, as if an A5-sized sheet is set in the second orientation in the paper feed tray 17 with the set size of "A5". Note that the printer 1 may have a function of detecting the sheet size of the sheet set in each paper feed tray 17 using, for example, a plurality of sensors, and in that case, the set size may be set based on the detection result.

[0025] As described above, for each paper feed tray 17 of the printer 1, for an A4-sized sheet, setting in the second orientation is possible, but setting in the first orientation is not possible. When the set size is "A4", the printer 1 operates as if an A4-sized sheet is set in the second orientation. "A4" is a size for vertical A4-sized printing and is an example of the third size. The printer 1 does not accept the setting of "A4L" indicating that an A4-sized sheet is set in the first orientation. "A4L" is a size for horizontal A4-sized printing and is an example of the fourth size.

[0026] Since the printer 1 is equipped with a plurality of paper feed trays 17, it stores tray information 23, which is information for determining the paper feed tray 17 to be used for printing, in the memory 12. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the tray information 23 includes information indicating the set size for each paper feed tray 17 and information indicating the priority order of each paper feed tray 17.

[0027] The priority order is information indicating the order when all the paper feed trays 17 are arranged in the order of being preferentially used. Since the printer 1 has three paper feed trays 17, for each paper feed tray 17, for example, numbers 1 to 3 are set as priority order information in descending order. The printer 1 can accept the setting of the priority order via the operation panel 13, for example. For example, when the priority order is set as shown in FIG. 3(A) or (C), the printer 1 gives the highest priority to the standard tray 171, the secondary priority to the manual feed tray 173, and the lowest priority to the additional tray 172.

[0028] Note that the printer 1 can accept a setting that limits the trays to be made available among the paper feed trays 17 as priority order information. In that case, the tray information 23 stores information indicating the trays that are set to be available. For example, in the tray information 23 shown in FIG. 3(B), the manual feed tray 173 among the paper feed trays 17 is available, and information indicating that the use of the standard tray 171 and the additional tray 172 is restricted is stored. The paper feed tray 17 with a limited setting as the priority order (the manual feed tray 173 in the example of FIG. 3(B)) is an example of a limited tray.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 of this embodiment can communicate with the terminal device 3 and the terminal device 4 via the communication IF 14. The terminal devices 3 and 4 are devices capable of transmitting a print job to the printer 1, and are, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a personal computer.

[0030] The terminal device 3 is equipped with an application program (hereinafter referred to as the "IPP client application") 31 that can execute various processes according to the IPP standard. By executing the IPP client application 31, the terminal device 3 can generate a print job (hereinafter referred to as the "IPP job") according to the IPP standard as an IPP client and send the generated IPP job to the printer 1. Note that the terminal device 3 may have a printer driver corresponding to the printer 1.

[0031] The terminal device 4 has a printer driver 41 corresponding to the printer 1. By using the printer driver 41, the terminal device 4 can send a print job (hereinafter referred to as the "driver job") generated by the printer driver 41 to the printer 1. Note that the terminal device 4 may have an IPP client application.

[0032] The range of values that can be set for the parameters included in the print job may be different between the IPP job and the driver job. For example, among the parameters included in the print job, the values that can be specified for the parameter for specifying the sheet size (hereinafter referred to as the "parameter size") are different between the IPP job and the driver job. Specifically, in the driver job, either "A5" or "A5L" can be specified as the parameter size, while in the IPP job, although "A5" can be specified as the parameter size, the specification of "A5L" is not accepted. Note that the printer 1 can execute printing based on a print job in which "A5" is specified for the parameter size and also printing based on a print job in which "A5L" is specified for the parameter size.

[0033] Next, the operations related to IPP printing by the printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart. Note that the following processes basically show the processes of the CPU 11 according to the instructions described in the program. That is, the processes such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "specification", "acquisition", "reception", "control", etc. in the following description represent the processes of the CPU 11. The processes by the CPU 11 include hardware control using the OS API. In this specification, the description of the OS is omitted and the operations of each program are described. That is, in the following description, the description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may refer to "program B controls hardware C using the OS API". Also, the processes of the CPU 11 according to the instructions described in the program may be described in abbreviated language. For example, it may be described as "performed by the CPU". Also, the processes of the CPU 11 according to the instructions described in the program may be described in abbreviated language omitting the CPU, such as "performed by program A".

[0034] Note that "acquisition" is used in a concept that does not require a request. That is, the process of the CPU 11 receiving data without a request is also included in the concept of "the CPU acquiring data". Also, the "data" in this specification is represented by a bit string readable by a computer. And data with the same substantial meaning content but different formats shall be treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. Also, "request" and "instruct" are concepts indicating outputting information indicating what is being requested or information indicating what is being instructed to the other party. Also, the information indicating what is being requested or the information indicating what is being instructed is simply referred to as "request" and "instruct".

[0035] Also, the process by which the CPU 11 determines whether information A indicates that matter B is the case may be conceptually described as "determining whether matter B is the case from information A". The process by which the CPU 11 determines whether information A indicates that matter B is the case or whether it indicates that matter C is the case may be conceptually described as "determining whether matter B or matter C is the case from information A".

[0036] When the printer 1 starts receiving a print job from an external device, it determines whether the received print job is an IPP job output by the IPP client application 31 or a driver job output by the printer driver 41. Then, when the printer 1 determines that it is an IPP job, it executes IPP printing processing based on the IPP printing program 21. The procedure of the IPP printing processing executed by the printer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4. In this specification, the image data indicating the image to be printed included in the print job will be described as image data indicating a portrait image.

[0037] First, the CPU 11 acquires information on the parameters included in the received IPP job (S101). Then, the CPU 11 determines whether the parameter size of the IPP job is "A5" (S102). If it is determined that it is "A5" (S102: YES), the CPU 11 determines whether the parameters included in the IPP job include a specification to use a specific tray among the paper feed trays 17 (S105).

[0038] The parameters of an IPP job may include the parameter of the sheet supply tray which is the parameter for specifying the paper feed tray 17 to be used. In an IPP job, as the sheet supply tray, a specific parameter for specifically specifying one of the paper feed trays 17 of the printer 1, or an automatic selection indicating that the paper feed tray to be used is automatically selected by the printer 1 can be specified. An IPP job in which the parameter of the sheet supply tray is automatic selection is an example of a print job in which no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, and is an example of a print job in which automatic selection of the sheet supply tray is specified. Note that in an IPP job, there may be one that does not include the parameter of the sheet supply tray. An IPP job that does not include the parameter of the sheet supply tray is an example of a print job in which no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray.

[0039] When it is determined that a specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, that is, the paper feed tray 17 to be used is specified in the print job (S105: YES), the CPU 11 determines the tray specified in the print job as the tray to be used (S106). Note that the tray determined as the tray to be used is the tray that is the conveyance source of the sheet to be used for printing. Note that hereinafter, the tray determined as the tray to be used may be simply described as the "tray to be used".

[0040] The printer 1 has a plurality of types of print settings as internal settings, and can use different print settings according to the parameters of the received print job and various settings set in the printer 1. When the paper feed tray 17 to be used is specified, the CPU 11 determines the print settings to be used for printing based on the set size set for the paper feed tray 17. Specifically, if the set size of the tray to be used is "A5L", the CPU 11 determines to use the print settings for landscape A5 size printing, and if the set size of the tray to be used is "A5", the CPU 11 determines to use the print settings for portrait A5 size printing.

[0041] When it is determined that the paper feed tray 17 to be used is not specified (S105: NO), the CPU 11 executes tray selection processing (S111). The tray selection processing is a process of determining the tray to be used when an IPP job with a parameter size of "A5" and a parameter of the sheet supply tray not indicating a specific sheet tray is received. The procedure of the tray selection processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

[0042] The CPU 11 acquires the tray information 23 (see FIG. 3) stored in the memory 12 (S201). The tray information 23 includes, for example, information on the set size and information on the priority for each paper feed tray 17 mounted on the printer 1 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0043] The CPU 11 determines whether the available trays are limited based on the priority information of the tray information 23 (S203). For example, as shown in FIG. 3(B), when there is a tray with a limited setting (S203: YES), the CPU 11 determines the limited-set tray as the tray to be used (S205). In the example of FIG. 3(B), the CPU 11 determines the manual feed tray 173 as the tray to be used.

[0044] In a state where the available trays in the printer 1 are limited, sheets cannot be supplied from trays other than the limited-set trays. Therefore, the CPU 11 determines the limited-set tray as the tray to be used. That is, even if there are trays with set sizes of "A5" or "A5L" other than the limited-set trays, the CPU 11 does not perform sheet conveyance or printing from trays other than the limited-set trays. Accordingly, it is possible to plan the operation of printing with the trays used in the printer 1 limited.

[0045] When there is no limited setting (S203: NO), the CPU 11 designates the paper feed tray 17 with the highest priority, that is, the top-priority paper feed tray 17, as the target tray (S211), and determines whether the set size of the target tray is either "A5" or "A5L" (S212).

[0046] For example, in the tray information 23 shown in FIG. 3(A), the set size of the standard tray 171 with the highest priority is "A4". In this case, the CPU 11 designates the standard tray 171 as the target tray in S211. Since its set size is "A4" and not "A5" or "A5L", the CPU 11 determines "NO" in S212. The standard tray 171 in this case is an example of a higher-level tray. Even if a tray with a set size that is neither "A5L" nor "A5" has a higher priority than a tray with a set size of "A5L" or "A5", the CPU 11 does not determine the tray with a set size that is neither "A5L" nor "A5" as the used tray. Therefore, printing on sheets other than A5 size is avoided.

[0047] When it is determined that the set size of the target tray is neither "A5" nor "A5L" (S212: NO), the CPU 11 determines whether there is a tray with the next lower priority (S215). When it is determined that there is a tray with the next lower priority (S215: YES), the CPU 11 designates the tray with the next lower priority as the target tray (S216), and determines whether the set size of the target tray is either "A5" or "A5L" (S212). When it is determined that the set size of the target tray is either "A5" or "A5L" (S212: YES), the CPU 11 determines the target tray as the used tray (S221).

[0048] For example, in the tray information 23 shown in FIG. 3(A), since the set size of the manual tray 173 with the second highest priority is "A5L", the CPU 11 determines "YES" in the second S212, and determines the manual tray 173 with the second highest priority as the used tray. In this case, the manual tray 173 is an example of the topmost first tray. There is a high possibility that A5-sized sheets are set horizontally in a tray with a set size of "A5L".

[0049] Even if the tray with the second highest priority is the additional tray 172 with the set size of "A5", the CPU 11 determines YES in S212 and determines the additional tray 172 with the second highest priority as the tray to be used. In this case, the additional tray 172 is an example of the top second tray. If the priority of the tray with the set size of "A5" is higher than the priority of the tray with the set size of "A5L", the CPU 11 determines the tray with the set size of "A5" as the tray to be used. Therefore, even if no specific tray is specified in the IPP job, the CPU 11 can use both the "A5L" tray and the "A5" tray.

[0050] Also, when the set size of the manual feed tray 173 with the second highest priority is "A4", the CPU 11 further checks the set size of the tray in the next order. If it is determined that the set size of the tray in the next order is either "A5" or "A5L", the CPU 11 determines that tray as the tray to be used. When receiving an IPP job with the parameter size of "A5" and the parameter of the sheet feed tray being automatic selection, the CPU 11 can determine, according to the priority, a tray with the set size of either "A5" or "A5L" as the tray to be used. Thereby, it is highly likely that the tray with the sheet of the appropriate size set is determined as the tray to be used.

[0051] On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no tray in the next order, that is, the set sizes of all the sheet feed trays 17 attached to the printer 1 are neither "A5" nor "A5L" (S215: NO), the CPU 11 determines the sheet feed tray with the highest priority as the tray to be used (S222). For example, as shown in the tray information 23 in FIG. 3(C), when the set sizes of all the sheet feed trays 17 are "A4", the CPU 11 determines the standard tray 171 with the highest priority as the tray to be used. The standard tray 171 in this case is an example of the top tray.

[0052] When there is no tray with a set size of "A5" or "A5L", the CPU 11 determines the tray with the highest priority among the trays that are not "A5" or "A5L" as the tray to be used. This reduces the possibility that nothing will be printed because there is no tray with a sheet of the appropriate size set.

[0053] Note that when there is no tray with a set size of "A5" or "A5L", even if there is a tray that is not "A5" or "A5L", the CPU 11 may not print it as an error. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(C), when tray information 23 indicating that the set size of all trays is "A4" is stored, instead of S222, the CPU 11 may notify an error. In this case, each paper feed tray 17 is an example of a separate tray. In this way, when there is no tray with a sheet of the appropriate size set, an error occurs and nothing is printed. Therefore, printing on a sheet of a size other than the appropriate size is avoided.

[0054] Also, if there is a tray with a limited setting in the tray information 23 and the set size of the limited tray is not "A5" or "A5L", the CPU 11 may not print it as an error, or may print on the sheet set in the limited tray.

[0055] After any of S205, S221, or S222, the CPU 11 ends the tray selection process and returns to the IPP printing process.

[0056] Returning to the explanation of the IPP printing process in FIG. 4. After determining the tray to be used in S106 or S111, the CPU 11 determines whether the set size of the determined tray to be used is "A5L" (S121). If it is determined that the set size of the tray to be used is "A5L" (S121: YES), the CPU 11 changes the parameter size of the IPP job to "A5L" (S122). Therefore, both the parameter size and the set size of the tray to be used become "A5L".

[0057] On the other hand, when it is determined that the parameter size of the received IPP job is not "A5" (S102: NO), the CPU 11 determines the tray to be used according to the priority of the tray information 23 (S131). For example, if the parameter size is "A4" and the tray information 23 is an example shown in FIG. 3(A) or (C), the CPU 11 determines the standard tray 171 with the set size of "A4" as the tray to be used. In this case, all the paper feed trays 17 are an example of the third tray, and the standard tray 171 is an example of the topmost third tray.

[0058] As described above, the printer 1 cannot set or laterally feed a sheet of a sheet size other than the A5 size in the first orientation. Therefore, when the parameter size of the IPP job is other than "A5", the CPU 11 can avoid unnecessary processing by not determining the sheet orientation.

[0059] After S122 or S131, or when it is determined that the parameter size is "A5" and the set size of the tray to be used is not "A5L" (S121: NO), the CPU 11 executes the driver printing process (S141). Note that the CPU 11 may regard it as an error when the parameter size of the IPP job is not a printable size or when there is no tray with a set size that matches the parameter size.

[0060] The procedure of the driver printing process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6. The driver printing process is a process of transporting a sheet from the tray to be used and printing on the transported sheet by the printing engine 15 in a state where the tray to be used is determined.

[0061] Note that the driver printing process is a process of printing a driver job. When the CPU 11 determines that the print job received by the printer 1 from an external device is a driver job output by the printer driver 41, the CPU 11 executes a driver printing process based on the driver printing program 22 (see FIG. 1). As described above, the printer driver 41 can accept both the designation of "A5" and the designation of "A5L" as the parameter size when generating a print job. When the CPU 11 receives a driver job, it determines the used tray and the print settings to be used based on the parameter size and the tray information 23. That is, for example, when the printer 1 receives a driver job in which "A5L" is specified as the parameter size and the paper feed tray 17 to be used is not specified, the printer 1 can perform printing based on an image rotated 90 degrees using a tray with a set size of "A5L" as the used tray.

[0062] When the CPU 11 executes a driver printing process based on the driver printing program 22 in S141 of the IPP printing process, the CPU 11 converts the parameter size, used tray, and various parameters included in the IPP job into information in a format used in the driver printing process, and executes a driver printing process for the IPP job including the converted parameters. Note that, as described above, in this specification, the image data indicating the image to be printed included in the print job is assumed to be image data indicating a vertically long image.

[0063] In the driver printing process, the CPU 11 determines whether the parameter size is "A5L" (S301). If it is determined that the parameter size is "A5L" (S301: YES), the CPU 11 rotates the image data to be printed by 90 degrees to convert the image data indicating a vertically long image into image data indicating a horizontally long image (S302). As a result, the image data indicating the image to be printed becomes image data indicating a horizontally long image. Further, the CPU 11 determines that the current printing is to be performed using print settings for horizontal A5 size printing.

[0064] After S302, or when it is determined that the parameter size is not "A5L" (S301: NO), the CPU 11 transports the sheet from the determined used tray, and prints the image to be printed on the transported sheet (S305). After S305, the CPU 11 ends the driver printing process, returns to the IPP printing process, and ends the IPP printing process.

[0065] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the parameter size is "A5", the printer 1 transports the A5-sized sheet set in the used tray by vertical feeding in such a direction that the short side of the sheet becomes the front end and the rear end in the transport direction, and prints using the print settings for vertical A5-sized printing. When printing using the print settings for vertical A5-sized printing, the printer 1 prints on the vertically-fed sheet without rotating the vertically long image.

[0066] Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, if the parameter size is "A5L", the printer 1 transports the A5-sized sheet set in the used tray by horizontal feeding in such a direction that the long side of the sheet becomes the front end and the rear end in the transport direction, and prints using the print settings for horizontal A5-sized printing. When printing using the print settings for horizontal A5-sized printing, the printer 1 rotates the vertically long image by 90 degrees and prints it as a horizontally long image on the horizontally-fed sheet.

[0067] In the IPP printing process, when the parameter size is "A5" and the specified paper feed tray 17 to be used is not specified, the CPU 11 determines the highest-priority tray among the trays with a set size of either "A5" or "A5L" as the used tray according to the priority order. Further, since the CPU 11 changes the parameter size according to the set size of the determined used tray, similar to the driver printing process, the print settings to be used can be selected and it can be determined whether to rotate the image. Therefore, even if no specific sheet tray is specified in the parameters of the sheet supply tray in the IPP client application 31, printing equivalent to A5 landscape printing in the driver job becomes possible.

[0068] When an IPP job is received with the parameter size specified as "A5" and no paper feed tray 17 specified for use, while each tray information 23 shown in FIGS. 3(A) to 3(C) is stored, the printing results on the printer 1 are as shown in FIGS. 8(A) to 8(C), respectively.

[0069] If the tray information 23 is as shown in FIG. 3(A), the printer 1 determines the manual feed tray 173 with the highest priority and the setting size being "A5" or "A5L" as the tray to be used. Further, since the setting size of the manual feed tray 173 is "A5L", the printer 1 changes the parameter size to "A5L". Accordingly, the printer 1 feeds the A5-size sheet from the manual feed tray 173 in a horizontal feed manner and performs printing using the printing settings for horizontal A5-size printing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(A), a printed matter with a horizontal image printed on a horizontal A5-size sheet is output.

[0070] If the tray information 23 is as shown in FIG. 3(B), the printer 1 determines the limited manual feed tray 173 as the tray to be used. Further, since the setting size of the manual feed tray 173 is "A5L", the printer 1 changes the parameter size to "A5L". Accordingly, the printer 1 feeds the A5-size sheet from the manual feed tray 173 in a horizontal feed manner and performs printing using the printing settings for horizontal A5-size printing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(B), a printed matter with a horizontal image printed on a horizontal A5-size sheet is output.

[0071] If the tray information 23 is as shown in FIG. 3(C), since there is no tray with the setting size of "A5" or "A5L", the printer 1 determines the standard tray 171 with the highest priority as the tray to be used. Accordingly, the printer 1 feeds the A4-size sheet from the standard tray 171 in a vertical feed manner and performs printing using the printing settings for vertical A5-size printing. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(C), a printed matter with a vertical A5-size image printed on a vertical A4-size sheet is output.

[0072] Note that in FIG. 8(C), an example is shown where, when printing an A5-sized image on an A4-sized sheet, the printing position is the center position in the horizontal direction and is printed at the upper part in the vertical direction. However, the printing position is not limited to this. For example, the printer 1 may print with left alignment or right alignment in the horizontal direction, or may print with centered placement or at the lower part in the vertical direction.

[0073] As described in detail above, when "A5L" is specified as the parameter size in the driver job generated by the printer driver 41, the printer 1 of this embodiment can perform the lateral feed conveyance of an A5-sized sheet and printing with the printing settings for landscape-oriented A5-sized printing. Further, when the printer 1 receives an IPP job in which "A5" is specified as the parameter size and the paper feed tray 17 to be used is not specified, it starts the lateral feed conveyance of the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation corresponding to the lateral feed conveyance and can execute printing using the printing settings for landscape-oriented A5-sized printing. Thereby, the printer 1 can perform printing equivalent to a driver job in which "A5L", which is a parameter size not defined in the IPP standard, is specified.

[0074] Note that this embodiment is merely an example and does not limit the present invention in any way. Therefore, the present invention can naturally be variously improved and modified without departing from its gist. For example, the printer 1 is not limited to a dedicated printer and may be a multifunction machine, a copier, a FAX device, or the like. Also, the printing method of the printer 1 may be a thermal transfer method, a thermal sensing method, or the like.

[0075] Also, in the embodiment, the printer 1 having a configuration with three trays is shown as the paper feed tray 17, but the number of paper feed trays 17 is not limited to this. Also, in the embodiment, the printer 1 is assumed to have a plurality of paper feed trays 17 capable of accommodating A5-sized sheets in two types of orientations, but there may be trays dedicated to the first orientation or the second orientation. For example, there may be a tray in which an A5-sized sheet can be set only in the first orientation.

[0076] Also, when setting an A5-sized sheet in a tray of the printer 1 where an A4-sized sheet can be set, the setting position is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 2. For example, when setting an A5-sized sheet in the first orientation, it may be configured to be set on the rear side of the tray. Also, when setting an A5-sized sheet in the second orientation, it may be configured to be set left-aligned or right-aligned in the left-right direction of the tray, or it may be configured to be set on the rear side of the tray.

[0077] Also, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(B), a limited setting limited to one tray was exemplified, but the printer 1 may be capable of accepting a limited setting that limits the use to any one of the paper feed trays 17. When limited to a plurality of trays, after determining YES in S203 of FIG. 5, the CPU 11 executes S211 to S222 with the plurality of limited trays as the target to be the target tray. Thereby, the CPU 11 can determine one of the limited trays as the used tray.

[0078] Also, the printer 1 may have a program and data (hereinafter referred to as "EWS") for realizing an embedded web server function. In that case, it may be possible to accept settings of the set size and priority regarding the paper feed tray 17 via the EWS.

[0079] Also, in the embodiment, the size of the sheet that can be set in the first orientation was assumed to be only A5 size, but it is not limited to this. For example, the printer 1 may have a sheet tray capable of setting A4-sized or letter-sized sheets in the first orientation. In this case, A4 size and letter size are examples of specific sizes, and a sheet tray capable of setting A4-sized or letter-sized sheets in the first orientation is an example of a tray corresponding to horizontal feeding. Also, a sheet tray capable of setting A4-sized or letter-sized sheets in the first orientation may be capable of setting A4-sized or letter-sized sheets in the second orientation. A sheet tray capable of setting A4-sized or letter-sized sheets in the second orientation is an example of a tray corresponding to vertical feeding.

[0080] Also, in any flowchart disclosed in the embodiments, the plurality of processes in any plurality of steps can be arbitrarily changed in execution order or executed in parallel within a range where there is no contradiction in the processing content.

[0081] Also, the processes disclosed in the embodiments may be executed by a single CPU, a plurality of CPUs, hardware such as an ASIC, or a combination thereof. Further, the processes disclosed in the embodiments can be realized in various forms such as a recording medium recording a program for executing the processes, or a method.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0082] 1 Printer 17 Paper Feed Tray

Claims

1. A printer comprising a sheet tray that can be set in a first orientation corresponding to a lateral feed conveyance for conveying an A5-sized sheet with the long side of the sheet as the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction, capable of receiving the print job from an IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) client that generates a print job according to the IPP standard and performing printing based on the received print job, in the case where A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, starting the lateral feed conveyance for the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation in the sheet tray and performing printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the sheet tray using a print setting for landscape A5-sized printing instead of a print setting for portrait A5-sized printing. A printer configured as described above.

2. In the printer according to Claim 1, it is possible to set the sheet size for the installed sheet tray, and the types of sheet sizes that can be set include a first size for landscape A5-sized printing and a second size for portrait A5-sized printing, in the case where A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, starting the lateral feed conveyance for the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation from a first tray which is the sheet tray in which the first size is set and performing printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the first tray using a print setting for landscape A5-sized printing instead of a print setting for portrait A5-sized printing. A printer configured as described above.

3. In the printer according to Claim 2, in the case where A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, When there is a second tray which is a sheet tray without the first tray and with the second size set, for a sheet of A5 size set in a second orientation corresponding to vertical feed conveyance that conveys the sheet with the short side of the sheet as the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction, start the vertical feed conveyance, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the second tray using print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. A printer configured as described above.

4. In the printer according to claim 2, A plurality of sheet trays can be attached, and a priority can be set for each of the plurality of sheet trays. When A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, Start the lateral feed conveyance for a sheet of A5 size set in the first orientation from the uppermost first tray which is the first tray with the highest priority among the first trays, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the uppermost first tray using print settings for printing in the horizontal A5 size orientation instead of print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. A printer configured as described above.

5. In the printer according to claim 4, When A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, If there is no second tray which is a sheet tray with the second size set and has a higher priority than the uppermost first tray, start the lateral feed conveyance for a sheet of A5 size set in the first orientation from the uppermost first tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the uppermost first tray using print settings for printing in the horizontal A5 size orientation instead of print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. On the other hand, If there is a second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, for a sheet of A5 size set in a second direction corresponding to vertical feed conveyance that conveys the short side of the sheet as the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction, starting from the topmost second tray which is the second tray with the highest priority among the second trays, start the vertical feed conveyance, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the topmost second tray using print settings for vertical A5 size printing. A printer configured as described above. **Claim 6** In the printer according to claim 5, when A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, if there is no second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, start the lateral feed conveyance for a sheet of A5 size set in the first direction from the topmost first tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the topmost first tray using print settings for horizontal A5 size printing instead of print settings for vertical A5 size printing. On the other hand, if there is a second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, start the vertical feed conveyance for a sheet of A5 size set in the second direction from the topmost second tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the topmost second tray using print settings for vertical A5 size printing. even if there is an upper tray which has a higher priority than the topmost first tray and the topmost second tray and for which neither the first size nor the second size is set, do not start conveying the sheet from the upper tray. A printer configured as described above. **Claim 7** In the printer according to claim 5, when A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, If there is no second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, start the lateral conveyance for the A5-sized sheets set in the first direction from the topmost first tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheets conveyed from the topmost first tray using print settings for A5-sized printing in the lateral direction instead of print settings for A5-sized printing in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, if there is a second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, start the longitudinal conveyance for the A5-sized sheets set in the second direction from the topmost second tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheets conveyed from the topmost second tray using print settings for A5-sized printing in the vertical direction. If neither the first tray nor the second tray exists, start conveying sheets of a size other than A5 from the topmost tray, which is the sheet tray with the highest priority among the sheet trays where neither the first size nor the second size is set, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheets conveyed from the topmost tray using print settings for A5-sized printing in the vertical direction. A printer configured as described above.

8. In the printer according to claim 5, when A5 is specified as the sheet size in the print job received from the IPP client and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, if there is no second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, start the lateral conveyance for the A5-sized sheets set in the first direction from the topmost first tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheets conveyed from the topmost first tray using print settings for A5-sized printing in the lateral direction instead of print settings for A5-sized printing in the vertical direction. Meanwhile, if there is a second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, start the longitudinal conveyance for the A5-sized sheets set in the second direction from the topmost second tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheets conveyed from the topmost second tray using print settings for A5-sized printing in the vertical direction. Even if there is another sheet tray which is a sheet tray in which neither the first size nor the second size is set because neither the first tray nor the second tray exists, the conveyance of the sheet is not started from the other tray. A printer configured as described above. **Claim 9** In the printer according to claim 5, When A5 is specified as the sheet size in the print job received from the IPP client and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, If there is no second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, the lateral conveyance is started from the topmost first tray for the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the topmost first tray using print settings for printing in the landscape orientation of the A5 size instead of print settings for printing in the portrait orientation of the A5 size. On the other hand, If there is a second tray with a higher priority than the topmost first tray, the longitudinal conveyance is started from the topmost second tray for the A5-sized sheet set in the second orientation, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the topmost second tray using print settings for printing in the portrait orientation of the A5 size. When A4 is specified as the sheet size in the print job received from the IPP client and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, Conveyance of the A4-sized sheet is started from the topmost third tray, which is the third tray with the highest priority among the third trays that are sheet trays in which the third size for printing in the portrait orientation of the A4 size is set, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the topmost third tray using print settings for printing in the portrait orientation of the A4 size. A printer configured as described above. **Claim 10** In the printer according to claim 9, The types of sheet sizes that can be set for the installed sheet trays include the third size and do not include the fourth size for printing in the landscape orientation of the A4 size. A printer configured as described above. **Claim 11** In the printer according to claim 4, When A5 is specified as the sheet size in the print job received from the IPP client and a specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray, If the first size is set for the specific sheet tray, the lateral conveyance is started for the A5-size sheet set in the first orientation from the specific sheet tray, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the specific sheet tray using print settings for A5-size printing in the landscape orientation instead of print settings for A5-size printing in the portrait orientation. If the second size is set for the specific sheet tray, the longitudinal conveyance is started for the A5-size sheet set in the second orientation corresponding to the longitudinal conveyance in which the short side of the sheet is the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction from the specific sheet tray, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the specific sheet tray using print settings for A5-size printing in the portrait orientation. A printer configured as described above.

12. In the printer according to claim 4, When A5 is specified as the sheet size and automatic selection of the sheet supply tray is specified in the print job received from the IPP client, It is possible to start the lateral conveyance for the A5-size sheet set in the first orientation from the topmost first tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the topmost first tray using print settings for A5-size printing in the landscape orientation instead of print settings for A5-size printing in the portrait orientation. A printer configured as described above.

13. In the printer according to claim 4, A plurality of sheet trays including the first tray can be mounted, and a limiting tray that limits the sheet tray to one can be set from the mounted sheet trays. When A5 is specified as the sheet size and no specific sheet tray is specified as the sheet supply tray in the print job received from the IPP client, In a state where the limiting tray is not set, A second tray which is a sheet tray in which the second size is set. If there is no second tray having a higher priority than the topmost first tray, the horizontal conveyance is started from the topmost first tray for a sheet of A5 size set in the first orientation, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the topmost first tray using print settings for printing in the horizontal A5 size orientation instead of print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. Meanwhile, if there is a second tray having a higher priority than the topmost first tray, the vertical conveyance is started for a sheet of A5 size set in a second orientation corresponding to vertical conveyance in which the short side of the sheet is the front end and the rear end in the conveyance direction from the topmost second tray which is the second tray having the highest priority among the second trays, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the topmost second tray using print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. In a state where the restricted tray is set, if the first size is set for the sheet size set in the restricted tray, the horizontal conveyance is started from the restricted tray for a sheet of A5 size set in the first orientation, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the restricted tray using print settings for printing in the horizontal A5 size orientation instead of print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. if the second size is set for the sheet size set in the restricted tray, the vertical conveyance is started from the restricted tray for a sheet of A5 size set in the second orientation, and printing based on the print job is performed on the sheet conveyed from the restricted tray using print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation. Even if there is the first tray or the second tray other than the restricted tray, conveyance of the sheet is not started from that sheet tray, and neither printing using print settings for printing in the horizontal A5 size orientation nor printing using print settings for printing in the vertical A5 size orientation is performed. A printer configured as described above.

14. In the printer according to claim 1, It is possible to perform printing based on a print job transmitted from a printer driver. When the print job received from the printer driver specifies A5 landscape as the sheet size for printing in the landscape orientation, starting the lateral conveyance for the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation from the sheet tray, and performing printing based on the print job using the print settings for printing in the landscape orientation of the A5 size on the sheet conveyed from the sheet tray, When the print job received from the printer driver specifies A5 portrait as the sheet size for printing in the portrait orientation, starting the longitudinal conveyance for the A5-sized sheet set in the second orientation corresponding to the longitudinal conveyance that conveys the sheet with the short side of the sheet at the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction from the sheet tray, and performing printing based on the print job using the print settings for printing in the portrait orientation of the A5 size on the sheet conveyed from the sheet tray, When the print job received from the IPP client specifies A5 as the sheet size and does not specify a specific sheet tray as the sheet supply tray, starting the lateral conveyance for the A5-sized sheet set in the first orientation from the sheet tray, and making it possible to perform printing based on the print job using the print settings for printing in the landscape orientation of the A5 size, which are used when the print job from the printer driver specifies A5 landscape as the sheet size, rather than the print settings for printing in the portrait orientation of the A5 size, which are used when the print job from the printer driver specifies A5 as the sheet size, on the sheet conveyed from the sheet tray, a printer configured as described above.

15. equipped with a lateral conveyance-compatible tray, which is a sheet tray capable of setting a sheet of a specific size in a first orientation corresponding to lateral conveyance that conveys the sheet with the long side of the sheet at the leading and trailing ends in the conveyance direction, receiving the print job from an IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) client that generates a print job according to the IPP standard and being able to perform printing based on the received print job, When the print job received from the IPP client specifies the specific size as the sheet size and does not specify a specific sheet tray as the sheet supply tray, Start the lateral conveyance for the sheet of the specific size set in the first direction on the lateral conveyance-compatible tray, and perform printing based on the print job on the sheet conveyed from the lateral conveyance-compatible tray using print settings for printing in a specific size in the horizontal direction instead of print settings for printing in a specific size in the vertical direction. A printer configured as described above.

Images