Control device, control method, and program

Abstract

To enhance usability when information concerning a medium to be recorded is set.SOLUTION: When a paper feeding unit is operated by a user in a device equipped with plural paper feeding units, a set screen of information concerning a medium to be recorded in the paper feeding unit operated by the user is displayed on a display. When the paper feeding unit is operated by the user while the set screen is displayed on the display, a priority of a paper feeding unit corresponding to the set screen during display and a priority of a paper feeding unit operated by the user is determined, and according to the result of determination, a set screen to be displayed on the display is decided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Information processing devices are known to have a function for detecting the insertion of a paper feed cassette and automatically displaying a registration screen for that paper feed cassette. In Patent Document 1, a cassette for which a paper type is to be set is determined based on the open / closed state of the cassette and the presence or absence of paper in the cassette. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2004-34711 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which a setting screen for paper feed cassette information is displayed when a paper feed cassette is inserted, if the same paper feed cassette is inserted or removed again while a registration screen for the same paper feed cassette is being displayed, the registration screen is displayed again. If the user is operating the registration screen, a new registration screen for the same paper feed cassette is displayed on top of the screen being operated, which reduces usability.

[0005] Furthermore, if there are multiple paper feed cassettes, if different paper feed cassettes are inserted or removed in succession while the registration screen for one paper feed cassette is displayed, the registration screens for the multiple paper feed cassettes will appear alternately each time a paper feed cassette is inserted or removed, reducing user usability.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve usability when setting information on a recording medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the printing device of the present invention comprises a first paper unit and a second paper unit different from the first paper unit for setting paper, and a display control means for displaying a first screen on a display unit as a screen regarding paper settings for the first paper unit based on a user operation on the first paper unit, and displaying a second screen on the display unit as a screen regarding paper settings for the second paper unit based on a user operation on the second paper unit, wherein the display control means displays the first screen based on the operation when the first paper unit is operated by a user while the second screen is displayed based on the user operation on the second paper unit, and further erases the first screen based on a user instruction to a specified item in the first screen, and accepts user instructions regarding the paper settings of the second paper unit via the second screen, which has become available for user instruction without user operation on the second paper unit after the first screen has disappeared, and displays a second size selection screen for selecting information regarding the size of the paper based on the user instruction to a third area of ​​the second screen, and displays a second type selection screen for selecting information regarding the type of paper based on a user instruction to a fourth area of ​​the second screen. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the usability when setting information on a recording medium. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a printing device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a paper transport section of a printing device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart of a paper feed cassette detection handler of the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for paper information in the display process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of a display process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart of a display process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating user actions and screen displays in the control of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is another diagram illustrating a user operation and a screen display in the control of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating user actions and screen displays in the control of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a priority setting screen in the display process according to the third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a priority table in the display process according to the third embodiment. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart of a display process according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a stack table in the display process according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a priority table in the display process according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a paper transport portion according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the relative arrangement of each component of the device used in this embodiment, the device shape, etc. are merely examples and are not limited to these. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a printing device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a multi-function printer (MFP) having a reading function (scanner) will be described as an example of the printing device, but the printing device is not limited to this and may be one having only a printing function, for example.

[0011] In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 100 has a platen 101, a platen cover 102, a plurality of paper feed cassettes (paper feed cassette 1, paper feed cassette 2), and a paper discharge tray 105.

[0012] The manuscript table 101 is a transparent glass table on which a manuscript is placed and used when the manuscript is read by the scanner. The manuscript cover 102 is a cover for preventing the reading light from leaking to the outside when reading by the scanner, and is configured to cover the manuscript table 101. Each paper feed cassette (paper feed cassette 103, paper feed cassette 104) can hold papers of various sizes and paper types. The papers set in the paper feed cassettes 103-104 are transported one by one to the printing section, and when the printing section prints the papers, they are discharged from the paper discharge tray 105. Note that, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example of a device equipped with two paper feed cassettes has been described, but the number of paper feed cassettes may be one or more, and may be one or three or more.

[0013] The printing method is not limited to printing images by an inkjet method using liquid ink for printing images, which will be described later. Solid ink may be used as the recording agent, and various methods such as an electrophotographic method using toner or a sublimation method may be adopted. In addition, the printing method is not limited to color recording using recording agents of multiple colors, and may be monochrome recording using only black (including gray). In addition, the printing is not limited to printing of visible images, and may be printing of invisible or difficult-to-see images, or printing of various things other than general images, such as wiring patterns, physical patterns in parts manufacturing, and DNA base sequences. In other words, the printing device can be applied to various types of printing devices as long as the recording agent can be applied to the recording material.

[0014] Furthermore, in this embodiment, paper is used as an example of a recording medium, but the material of the recording medium is not limited to paper, and various materials can be used as long as they are printable.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of a printing mechanism in the printing device 100 according to this embodiment. The printing device 100 has a paper feed cassette 201, a paper feed cassette 202, and a paper discharge tray 203, which correspond to the paper feed cassette 103, the paper feed cassette 104, and the paper discharge tray 105 in Fig. 1, respectively. The printing device 100 also has a print head 212, a carriage 213, and a guide rail 214 as printing units.

[0016] Recording paper S1 loaded in paper feed cassette 201 is picked up by paper feed roller 204 driven by a transport motor (not shown), sent between transport rollers 205 and 206, and transported by transport rollers 205 and 206. Recording paper S2 transported by transport rollers 205 and 206 is transported in a U-turn along a transport path including paper transport guides 207 and 208, and sent to transport rollers 209 and 210. Although not shown, paper feed rollers are provided so as to pick up recording paper stacked in paper feed cassette 202, and transport rollers are provided so as to transport the picked-up recording paper. In this way, recording paper stacked in paper feed cassette 202 is picked up and transported to the transport path.

[0017] Furthermore, the recording paper S2 is transported on a platen 211. A carriage 213 carrying a print head 212 is provided at a position facing the platen 211 with the recording paper S2 in between. The carriage 213 is driven to reciprocate along a guide rail 214 by a carriage motor (not shown). A drive pulse is applied to the print head 212 to form a recorded image on the recording paper S2. The recording paper S2 on which the image has been formed is further transported by a transport roller 209 and a paper discharge roller 215 and a paper discharge roller 216 provided downstream of the transport roller 210 in the transport direction, and is discharged to a paper discharge tray 203. The recording paper S2 on which the image has been formed, i.e., the printed recording paper S2, is stacked in the paper discharge tray 203.

[0018] A paper sensor 218 is provided on the carriage 213, and can detect whether or not recording paper S2 is present on the platen 211. The paper sensor 218 is, for example, a reflective optical sensor, and can perform the above-mentioned detection by acquiring the output level of the paper sensor 218. In this embodiment, since the paper sensor 218 is provided on the carriage 213, the edge position of the recording paper S2 being transported onto the platen 211 can be detected by acquiring the output level of the paper sensor 218 while moving the carriage 213.

[0019] Further, the paper feed cassette 201 and the paper feed cassette 202 are provided with a cassette sensor 219 and a cassette sensor 220, respectively, which can detect the insertion or removal of the paper feed cassette.

[0020] 3 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the printing device 100 in this embodiment. The printing device 100 has a CPU 301, a program memory 303, and a data memory 304. The printing device 100 also has an interface control circuit 307, a motor control circuit 309, a head control circuit 313, a sensor control circuit 314, a panel control circuit 317, a memory card control circuit 321, and a scanner control circuit 324. These are connected via an internal bus 302.

[0021] CPU 301 is a central processing unit in the form of a microprocessor (microcomputer), and controls the overall operation of printing device 100 by executing programs and starting up hardware. Program memory 303 is a ROM, and stores programs executed by CPU 301 and fixed data necessary for various operations of printing device 100. Data memory 304 is made up of RAM, and is used as a work area for CPU 301, as a temporary storage area for various received data, and stores various setting data. Data memory 304 is used as work memory 305 used by CPU 301 when executing a control program, image memory 306 for storing image data to be formed on recording paper, etc.

[0022] The CPU 301 controls an interface control circuit 307, and is capable of receiving print job data from a host computer 308 connected via an external interface, and notifying the host computer 308 of the status of the printing apparatus.

[0023] The CPU 301 can control various motors that drive the mechanisms of the printing device 100 via a motor control circuit 309. A transport motor 310 drives the feed roller 203, transport rollers 205, 206, 209, 210, and discharge rollers 215, 216 to transport the recording paper from the feed tray to the discharge tray 203. A carriage motor 311 (shown as CR motor in FIG. 3) drives the carriage 213 to and fro. A recovery motor 312 drives a head recovery mechanism, and executes recovery operations to keep the print head 212 in an appropriate state by controlling it in synchronization with the drive of the carriage 213.

[0024] The CPU 301 can control the print head 212 via a head control circuit 313. By controlling the print head 212 in synchronization with the reciprocating movement of the carriage 213, an image is formed on a recording sheet.

[0025] The CPU 301 can control a sensor light source 315 of the paper sensor 218 via a sensor control circuit 314, and can obtain an output voltage of an optical sensor 316 of the paper sensor 218. The CPU 301 can also control various cassette sensors via the sensor control circuit 314. The cassette sensor 219 for the paper feed cassette 1 and the cassette sensor 220 for the paper feed cassette 2 are each composed of, for example, a photointerrupter and a mechanical switch.

[0026] Each cassette sensor detects when a user inserts or removes a paper feed cassette into or from the printing apparatus 100, and the CPU 301 can acquire the detection via the sensor control circuit 314.

[0027] The CPU 301 controls an operation panel 318 provided on the outer surface of the printing device 100 via a panel control circuit 317. The operation panel 318 has, for example, a group of hard keys 319 and a display device 320. The panel control circuit 317 can display desired information on the display device 320 arranged on the operation panel 318, and can also monitor operations by the user on the group of hard keys 319 on the operation panel 318.

[0028] The CPU 301 can control a scanner 325 (not shown in FIG. 1) via a scanner control circuit 324, and can read an image of a document placed on a document platen of the scanner 325.

[0029] The CPU 301 can read and write various files in a memory card 323 inserted in a memory card slot 322 provided on the outer surface of the printer 100 via a memory card control circuit 321. An image read by the scanner 325 can be stored in an image memory 306 in the data memory 304, and then transmitted to a host computer 308 or saved as an image file in the memory card 323. It is also possible to use the image read by the scanner 325 as a copy function by controlling the printing mechanism to print it as is.

[0030] Here, we will explain the control when detecting the insertion of a paper feed cassette into the printing device 100 and displaying a setting screen for the corresponding paper information (information on the recording medium). Based on the paper information set on the setting screen, various operations of the printing device, such as print control and transport control, are executed.

[0031] The CPU 301 of the printing device 100 executes a paper feed cassette detection process at a predetermined cycle using a cycle handler of the real-time OS in the program memory 303. The cycle for executing the paper feed cassette detection process is determined in advance, and a time sufficient for performing control by inserting and removing the paper feed cassette is set. In this embodiment, the cycle is set to 300 ms, but the cycle is not limited to this. When the cassette sensor 219 or 220 detects the insertion of a paper feed cassette, the detection is notified to a panel task of the CPU that controls the operation panel 318. In this embodiment, since there are multiple paper feed cassettes, this process is performed for each paper feed cassette, and the insertion of different paper feed cassettes is detected separately.

[0032] The paper feed cassette detection process will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows the flow of the process in which the CPU 301 loads a program stored in the program memory 303 into the data memory 304 and executes it. The paper feed cassette detection process shown in Fig. 4 is performed once every cycle. When the paper feed cassette detection process starts, in S401 it is determined whether the insertion of cassette 1 has been detected.

[0033] If it is determined that the insertion of cassette 1 has been detected, the cassette insertion is notified to CPU 301 (S402), and the process proceeds to S403. If the insertion of cassette 1 is not detected, the process proceeds directly to S403. In S403, it is determined whether the insertion of cassette 2 has been detected. If it is determined that the insertion of cassette 2 has been detected, the cassette insertion is notified to the panel task (S404), and the process ends. If the insertion of cassette 1 is not detected, the process ends. In this way, if the insertion of cassette 1 or cassette 2 is detected, the panel task is notified, and if no notification is given, the process ends.

[0034] When the cassette sensor notifies the panel task that a paper feed cassette has been inserted, a paper information setting screen such as that shown in Fig. 5 is displayed on the display device 320 of the printing device 100 and accepts input from the user. The user operates this setting screen to input information about the paper loaded in the inserted paper feed cassette.

[0035] 5 shows a setting screen that is displayed on the display device 320 when the cassette sensor 1 detects the insertion of a paper feed cassette. A setting screen 501 displays a message that prompts the user to set the paper information to be set in cassette 1. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5(a), a message that reads "Please register the paper information for cassette 1" is displayed.

[0036] Here, the CPU 301 controls the display of the display device 320 via the panel control circuit 317. In this embodiment, the operation panel 318 is a touch panel, but is not limited to this, and may be a normal display such as an LCD that does not have a touch panel sensor. The touch panel has a touch panel sensor, and detects the presence or absence of a touch operation and the touched position by detecting a change in electrostatic capacitance caused by contact or approach of a finger or a conductive medium. The touch panel sensor detects, under the control of the CPU 301, a "touch operation" in which the user touches the surface of the liquid crystal display, a "tap operation" in which the touched finger is released without moving, and a "drag operation" in which the touched finger is moved.

[0037] When the area next to size is touched, subwindow 502 is displayed covering setting screen 501 as shown in FIG. 5(b). The user touches a specific size in subwindow 502 to select the size. Also, when the area next to type is touched, subwindow 503 is displayed covering display screen 501 as shown in FIG. 5(c). The user touches a specific type in subwindow 503 to select the paper type. Note that since there is a limit to the number of sizes or types that can be displayed in subwindows 502 and 503, if there are many sizes or types included in the list, they are displayed so that the user can select them using a pull-down menu. Also, in the setting screen, in the default state before the user's operation, the size and type displayed are the size and type that were previously set.

[0038] 5(a), when the user touches the registration button, the user input is accepted and the setting of the paper information for the paper feed cassette 1 is completed. In this embodiment, the registration button is displayed on the setting screen 501, but the registration button and the cancel button may be provided. In this case, the setting of the paper information for the paper feed cassette 1 is completed even when the cancel button is touched.

[0039] When setting the paper information for paper feed cassette 2, the screen is the same as in FIG. 5 except that instead of "Please register the paper information for cassette 1," it displays "Please register the paper information for cassette 2." Therefore, the explanation will be omitted.

[0040] The display method of the setting screen is not limited to that shown in Fig. 5. For example, a registration button is displayed in Fig. 5, but instead of displaying this button, the setting may be completed in response to pressing of a button provided outside display device 320 of operation panel 318. Also, a forward button may be displayed, and the setting may be completed based on detection of a touch on the forward button.

[0041] Further, each paper feed cassette is assigned a priority. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the same paper is loaded in the two paper feed cassettes, and the priority of the paper feed cassette with a higher throughput is set to be higher. In this embodiment, the paper feed cassette 1, which is closer to the transport roller, has a higher throughput than the paper feed cassette 2, so the priority of the paper feed cassette 1 is set to be higher.

[0042] Here, the screen display control when another paper feed cassette is inserted while the paper information setting screen for the paper feed cassette is being displayed will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flow chart showing an overview of the display process according to this embodiment. Fig. 6 shows the process in which the CPU 301 loads a program stored in the program memory 303 into the data memory 304 and executes it.

[0043] It is assumed that in S601, a paper information setting screen is displayed on the display unit of the printing device 100. At this time, the display of the setting screen may be executed based on the detection of the insertion of any paper feed cassette, or may be executed based on the setting and registration of paper information being instructed by user operation.

[0044] Thereafter, when insertion of a paper feed cassette is detected in step S602, the operation is changed according to the priority of the paper feed cassette whose insertion was detected. Specifically, the display method is determined by comparing the priority of the paper feed cassette corresponding to the setting screen being displayed on the display unit (paper feed cassette 1 in the case of FIG. 5) with the priority of the paper feed cassette whose insertion was detected.

[0045] The first pattern is when the paper feed cassette corresponding to the currently displayed setting screen is inserted again while the setting screen is being displayed. When the paper feed cassette detected while the setting screen is being displayed is the same as the paper feed cassette for which the setting screen is being displayed (S603), the registration screen for paper information corresponding to the detection is not displayed (S604). The remaining pattern is when a paper feed cassette different from the paper feed cassette corresponding to the currently displayed setting screen is inserted in a printing device having multiple paper feed cassettes. When the paper feed cassette detected to be inserted while the setting screen is being displayed has a lower priority than the paper feed cassette corresponding to the currently displayed setting screen (S605), the display operation for the detection is postponed, and the display of the current setting screen is continued (S606). On the other hand, when the paper feed cassette inserted while the setting screen is being displayed has a higher priority than the paper feed cassette corresponding to the currently displayed setting screen (S607), the display operation for the detection is interrupted (S608). Specifically, the display of the current setting screen is switched to the display of the setting screen for the inserted paper feed cassette.

[0046] In this embodiment, it is assumed that these three patterns of processing are implemented in combination, but they may be implemented independently. In this embodiment, when the priority of the paper feed cassette corresponding to the setting screen being displayed on the display unit is the same as the priority of the paper feed cassette whose insertion has been detected, the paper feed cassettes are the same. However, when three or more paper feed cassettes are included, the paper feed cassettes may be different even if the priority of the paper feed cassettes is the same. In this case, the display operation may be postponed, as in S606.

[0047] Fig. 7 is an example of a flowchart showing the display process shown in Fig. 6 in more detail. In S701, a paper information setting screen is displayed for the paper feed cassette. Here, when the insertion of multiple paper feed cassettes is detected, the setting screen displayed shows the paper feed cassette with the highest priority among the currently detected paper feed cassettes.

[0048] In S702, it is determined whether the setting of paper information via the setting screen is completed. If the setting is completed, the process proceeds to S708, and if the setting is not completed, the process proceeds to S703.

[0049] In S703, it is determined whether the insertion of a paper feed cassette has been detected. If the insertion of a paper feed cassette has not been detected, the process returns to S702. As a result, the state of the device is monitored until the insertion of a new paper feed cassette is detected. On the other hand, if the insertion of a paper feed cassette is detected in S703, it is determined whether the paper feed cassette is the same as the paper feed cassette corresponding to the currently displayed setting screen or the suspended paper feed cassette (the paper feed cassette on hold) (step S704). In this embodiment, since different priorities are set for the paper feed cassettes, it is determined whether they are the same or not using the priorities. Note that even when three or more paper feed cassettes are provided, if different priorities are set for each, the priorities can be used to determine whether the paper feed cassettes are the same or not. Note that the determination of whether the inserted paper feed cassette is the same or not is not limited to this, and for example, it may be determined whether the inserted paper feed cassette is the same or not based on whether the source of the notification of the insertion of the paper feed cassette is the same or not.

[0050] If it is determined in S704 that they are the same, the setting screen for that paper feed cassette is not displayed, and the process returns to S701, and the display of the paper information setting screen continues. As a result, the setting screen for the same paper feed cassette is not displayed again. On the other hand, if it is determined that they are not the same, the process proceeds to S705, and it is determined whether the priority of the paper feed cassette inserted later is higher than the priority of the paper feed cassette corresponding to the currently displayed setting screen. If the priority of the paper feed cassette inserted later is higher (Yes in S705), that paper feed cassette is changed to the current cassette, and the paper feed cassette of the setting screen that has been displayed up until now is put into a suspended state (reserved state) (S706). That is, the setting screen for the paper information of that paper feed cassette is displayed. Then, the process returns to S701. On the other hand, if the priority of the paper feed cassette inserted later is lower (No in S705), the setting screen for the paper information for that paper feed cassette is put into a suspended state (S707), the current screen display is continued, and the process returns to S701. In this way, based on the result of the determination, it is determined whether to suspend the currently displayed setting screen or the setting screen of the inserted paper feed cassette. Here, in this embodiment, the setting screens displayed on the display device 320 are switched, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a setting screen corresponding to a paper feed cassette with a higher priority may be displayed on top of the already displayed setting screen, thereby putting the already displayed setting screen into a suspended state. Then, when the setting of the setting screen corresponding to the paper feed cassette with the higher priority is completed, the setting screen disappears, and the already displayed setting screen is displayed on the top.

[0051] When the setting is completed as determined in S702, a determination is made in S708 as to whether any paper feed cassettes have been suspended. If there are no suspended paper feed cassettes (No in S708), there is no more paper information setting screen to display, and the process ends. If there is a suspended cassette (Yes in S708), that paper feed cassette is changed to the current cassette in step S709, the paper information setting screen is displayed, and the process returns to S701.

[0052] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the control when the same paper feed cassette is reinserted, focusing on the user's actions and the screen display of the display unit. In this embodiment, the setting screen for paper information for the paper feed cassette is displayed on the display unit of the device not when the user removes the paper feed cassette, but when the user inserts the paper feed cassette. Note that the setting screen for paper information may be displayed when the user removes the paper feed cassette. If the user then inserts or removes the same paper feed cassette again, the setting screen is not displayed on the screen. In other words, when the same paper feed cassette is reinserted, the setting screen is not displayed again.

[0053] 9 is a diagram that explains the control when a different paper feed cassette is inserted while the setting screen is displayed, focusing on the user's actions and the screen display on the display unit. Here, we explain the case where, in a device that has two paper feed cassettes, paper feed cassette 1 and paper feed cassette 2, paper feed cassette 1 is inserted and removed in that order.

[0054] Fig. 9 shows the process when paper feed cassette 1 has a high priority. When the user inserts paper feed cassette 1, the display unit of the device displays a paper information setting screen for that paper feed cassette 1. If the user subsequently inserts or removes paper feed cassette 2, the screen display is suspended because the priority of paper feed cassette 2 is lower than the priority of paper feed cassette 1, which corresponds to the currently displayed setting screen. Then, when the setting of paper feed cassette 1 is completed, the setting screen for paper feed cassette 2, which was suspended, is displayed.

[0055] In this embodiment, while a setting screen for information on a paper feed cassette is displayed, a display operation based on detection of a new insertion of the same paper feed cassette can be ignored. Also, while a setting screen for a paper feed cassette with a high priority is displayed, a display operation based on detection of insertion of a paper feed cassette with a lower priority than that paper feed cassette can be postponed. Furthermore, when a setting screen for information on a paper feed cassette with a low priority is displayed, a display operation based on detection of insertion of a paper feed cassette with a higher priority than that paper feed cassette can be interrupted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from making the same setting multiple times, and since the setting screen for the paper feed cassette with the high priority is always displayed, excellent usability can be realized. Also, since the setting screen is displayed according to the priority, the order in which the paper feed cassettes should be set becomes clear.

[0056] (Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, the priority of each paper feed cassette is determined based on the print throughput. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the priority of each paper feed cassette is determined based on the frequency of use. Note that the number of times of use in a predetermined period may be acquired and the priority may be determined based on the acquired number of times of use, or the frequency of use may be predicted in advance and the priority may be determined.

[0057] Depending on the printing device, for example, the paper corresponding to each paper feed cassette, that is, the paper that can be stored in each paper feed cassette, may be different. Specifically, for example, paper feed cassette 1 may correspond to small-sized special paper such as photo paper, and paper feed cassette 2 may correspond to plain paper and large-sized paper in addition to small-sized special paper such as photo paper. In this case, it is assumed that paper feed cassette 2 that corresponds to all types of paper is used frequently. Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to improve usability, the priority of paper feed cassette 2 that is assumed to be used frequently by users is set high in advance. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as in embodiment 1, and duplicated explanations are omitted.

[0058] Fig. 10 is a diagram that explains the control when a different paper feed cassette is inserted while the setting screen is displayed, focusing on the user's actions and the screen display on the display unit. Here, we explain the case where, in a device that has two paper feed cassettes, paper feed cassette 1 and paper feed cassette 2, the paper feed cassettes are inserted and removed in that order. The difference from Fig. 9 is that paper feed cassette 2 has a higher priority.

[0059] When the user inserts paper feed cassette 1, the display unit of the device displays a paper information setting screen for that paper feed cassette 1. If the user subsequently inserts paper feed cassette 2, the screen display of paper feed cassette 2 is interrupted and the screen display of paper feed cassette 1 that was being displayed is suspended, because the priority of paper feed cassette 2 is higher than the priority of paper feed cassette 1, which corresponds to the currently displayed setting screen. Then, when the setting of paper feed cassette 2 is completed, the setting screen for paper feed cassette 1 that was suspended is displayed again.

[0060] In this embodiment, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0061] In this embodiment, the priority is set based on the frequency of use, but the setting of the priority of the paper feed cassette is not limited to this, and may be set appropriately according to the product specifications, etc.

[0062] (Embodiment 3) In the first and second embodiments, the priority is set in advance in the printing device, but in this embodiment, the priority can be set arbitrarily by the user. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the first embodiment, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0063] 11 is an example of a priority setting screen displayed on display device 320. This priority setting screen may be displayed based on a user operation, or may be displayed at a predetermined timing such as initial startup or restart of the device. The user sets a priority for each paper feed cassette via the setting screen displayed on display device 320. CPU 301 creates a correspondence table between paper feed cassettes and priorities in response to this input. An example of the table is shown in FIG. 12. The created table is referred to as a lookup table when making the determination in S705 of FIG. 7.

[0064] In this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as in embodiment 1. Furthermore, since the priority can be changed arbitrarily, it is possible to set the priority according to the use case of each user in accordance with the way the user uses the device, thereby improving usability.

[0065] (Embodiment 4) In the first embodiment, the case where there are two paper feed cassettes has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also accommodate three or more paper feed cassettes. In this embodiment, the case where three or more paper feed cassettes are provided will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 15. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same components as in the first embodiment, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0066] Fig. 13 shows the flowchart of Fig. 7 applied to three or more paper feed cassettes, and the basic process flow is the same as that of Fig. 7. In Fig. 14, the CPU 301 loads a program stored in the program memory 303 into the data memory 304 and executes it.

[0067] In FIG. 13, in S706 and S707, a paper feed cassette with a low priority is suspended, but if three or more paper feed cassettes are supported, multiple paper feed cassettes will be suspended. For this reason, in this embodiment, an area for storing suspended paper feed cassettes is prepared in RAM. Suspended paper feed cassettes are stacked in RAM together with their own priority. FIG. 13(a) is a conceptual diagram. Here, cassette 1, cassette 3, and cassette 2 are stacked in this order, and the order of priority is cassette 3, cassette 2, and cassette 1. This priority may be arbitrarily set by the user as in the third embodiment, and in that case, the priority table shown in FIG. 12 is created in a form corresponding to multiple cassettes as shown in FIG. 15.

[0068] If it is determined in S708 that a paper feed cassette has been suspended or set, the suspended paper feed cassette is changed to the current cassette in step S1409. At this time, the paper feed cassette with the highest priority is searched for among the stacked paper feed cassettes, and this is made the current cassette. That is, in the example of FIG. 14(a), cassette 3 is changed to the current cassette and is removed from the stack, resulting in the state of FIG. 14(b).

[0069] In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained even when there are three or more paper feed cassettes.

[0070] (Other embodiments) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the priority of the paper feed cassettes may be set in advance in the device and may be changed by the user.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the paper feed unit is described by taking the paper feed cassette as an example, but the paper feed unit may be other than the paper feed cassette. Examples of the paper feed unit include an ASF (Auto Sheet Feeder) and a manual feed unit. The printing device shown in FIG. 16 is a printer in which an ASF is added to the configuration diagram of FIG. 2, and the parts other than the paper feed unit are the same, so the description will be omitted. The ASF includes an ASF tray 1701, a cover shaft 1702, an inner cover 1703, and an ASF sensor 1704. In the ASF, recording paper is loaded on the ASF tray 1701 and transported. The opening and closing of the inner cover 1703, which opens and closes around the cover shaft 1702, may be treated as equivalent to inserting and removing the paper feed cassette. In other words, the operation of closing the inner cover 1703 is treated as equivalent to the operation of inserting the paper feed cassette. The opening and closing of the inner cover 1703 is detected by the ASF sensor 1704. The sensor 1704 has the same configuration as, for example, the cassette sensors 219 and 220. As for the priority setting, for example, the ASF is set to the highest because special paper is often loaded in it when the user wants to use it. As for the remaining paper feed cassettes, similar to the first embodiment, the priority of paper feed cassette 1, which has a higher throughput, is set to be higher than that of paper feed cassette 2. In other words, the priority of the paper feed units is set in the order of ASF, paper feed cassette 1, and paper feed cassette 2. Of course, similar to the second embodiment, the priority may be determined based on frequency of use, other conditions, or the user.

[0072] Furthermore, when there is one paper feed cassette, control is performed so that a new registration screen for the same paper feed cassette is not displayed on the screen being operated.

[0073] In the above-described embodiment, the printing device is equipped with a control device, but this is not limited to the above. When a setting screen is displayed on the display unit of an external device having a printer driver connected to the printing device in Fig. 1, or when a setting screen is displayed on the display unit of the printing device in response to an instruction from the external device, the external device becomes the control device.

[0074] The above-mentioned embodiment can also be realized by executing the following process. That is, software (programs) that realize the functions of the above-mentioned embodiment are supplied to a system or device via a network or various storage media, and a computer (CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device reads and executes the program. The program may be executed by one computer, or may be executed by multiple computers in cooperation with each other. It is not necessary to realize all of the above-mentioned processes by software, and some or all of the processes may be realized by hardware such as ASIC. The CPU is also not limited to one that performs all processes by one CPU, and multiple CPUs may perform processes while appropriately coordinating with each other.

Claims

1. a first paper unit and a second paper unit different from the first paper unit for setting paper; a display control means for displaying a first screen on a display unit as a screen relating to paper settings for the first paper unit based on a user operation on the first paper unit, and displaying a second screen on the display unit as a screen relating to paper settings for the second paper unit based on a user operation on the second paper unit; Equipped with the display control means, when the first paper unit is operated by a user while the second screen is displayed based on a user operation on the second paper unit, displays the first screen based on the operation, and further, erases the first screen based on a user instruction for a specific item in the first screen, and accepts a user instruction for a paper setting of the second paper unit via the second screen, which has become user-instructable without a user operation on the second paper unit after the first screen has been erased; A printing device characterized in that a second size selection screen for selecting information regarding the size of paper is displayed based on a user instruction in a third area of ​​the second screen, and a second type selection screen for selecting information regarding the type of paper is displayed based on a user instruction in a fourth area of ​​the second screen.

2. 2 . The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein paper setting for the first paper unit on the first screen is completed based on a user instruction for a specific item on the first screen.

3. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the display control means erases the first screen based on a user instruction for the predetermined item in the first screen.

4. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined item in the first screen is a registration button.

5. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined item in the first screen is a cancel button.

6. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the second paper unit is operated by a user while the first screen is displayed, the display control means does not accept user instructions regarding paper settings for the second paper unit via the second screen before the first screen is hidden.

7. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when the second paper unit is operated by a user while the first screen is displayed, the display control means does not change the display of the display unit displaying the first screen based on the operation of the second paper unit before the first screen is erased.

8. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that when the first screen is displayed and the first paper unit is operated again by the user, the display control means does not change the display of the display unit displaying the first screen based on the re-operation.

9. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that when the second screen is displayed and the second paper unit is operated again by the user, the display control means does not change the display of the display unit displaying the second screen based on the re-operation.

10. 10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first paper unit is set to have a higher priority than the second paper unit.

11. A printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a throughput when recording is performed on paper fed and transported from the first paper unit is higher than a throughput when recording is performed on paper fed and transported from the second paper unit.

12. 12. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein a distance on the transport path from the first paper unit to a predetermined transport roller is shorter than a distance on the transport path from the second paper unit to the predetermined transport roller.

13. A printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that when the second paper unit is operated by a user while the first screen is not displayed, the display control means displays the second screen based on the operation of the second paper unit.

14. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that when the first screen is displayed based on a user operation on the first paper unit, information regarding the paper fed from the second paper unit is not displayed as the paper setting for the second paper unit.

15. a first detection means for detecting that the first paper unit has been inserted into a predetermined portion of the printing device; a second detection means for detecting that the second paper unit has been inserted into a predetermined portion of the printing device; Further equipped with The display control means When the first detection means detects that the first paper unit has been inserted, the first screen is displayed on the display unit based on the detection. When the second detection means detects that the second paper unit has been inserted, the second screen is displayed on the display unit based on the detection. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that when the first detection means detects that the first paper unit has been inserted while the second screen is displayed, the first screen is displayed based on the detection, and further, the first screen is erased, and even if the second detection means does not detect the insertion of the second paper unit, user instructions regarding the paper settings of the second paper unit are accepted via the second screen, which can be given by the user without user operation of the second paper unit after the first screen is erased.

16. a first detection means for detecting that the first paper unit has been removed from a predetermined portion of the printing device; a second detection means for detecting that the second paper unit has been removed from a predetermined portion of the printing device; Further equipped with The display control means When the first detection means detects that the first paper unit has been removed, the first screen is displayed on the display unit based on the detection. When the second detection means detects that the second paper unit has been removed, the second screen is displayed on the display unit based on the detection. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that when the first detection means detects that the first paper unit has been removed while the second screen is displayed, the first screen is displayed based on the detection, and further, the first screen is erased, and even if the second detection means does not detect that the second paper unit has been removed, user instructions regarding the paper settings of the second paper unit are accepted via the second screen, which can be given by the user without user operation of the second paper unit after the first screen is erased.

17. the first screen is a screen for registering information regarding a size and a type of paper to be fed from the first paper unit, 17. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second screen is a screen for registering information relating to a size and a type of paper fed from the second paper unit.

18. The first screen displays information about the size and type of paper that was previously set and is to be fed from the first paper unit, 18. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the second screen displays information relating to a previously set size and type of paper to be fed from the second paper unit.

19. A printing device as described in any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that a first size selection screen for selecting information regarding a paper size is displayed based on a user instruction in a first area of ​​the first screen, and a first type selection screen for selecting information regarding a paper type is displayed based on a user instruction in a second area of ​​the first screen.

20. A printing device as described in claim 19, characterized in that after a paper size is selected on the first size selection screen and a paper type is selected on the first type selection screen, when a user gives an instruction to a registration button, which is the specified item in the first screen, paper settings for the first paper unit on the first screen are completed based on the user instruction and the first screen disappears.

21. 21. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first paper unit is a first cassette in which paper is set, and the second paper unit is a second cassette in which paper is set.

22. 22. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a user designates a specific item on the first screen, information relating to the paper is registered in the first paper unit.

23. 23. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit for printing on the paper.

24. 24. The printing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the printing means prints on the paper by an inkjet method.

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