# US 8,786,900 B2 · Printing device and method of controlling printing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,900 B2 - Document ID: US8786900B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/232,510 - Filed: 2011-09-14 - Published: 2012-03-22 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-16 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Satoko Konno - Inventors: Satoko Konno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786900B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/32793: {Controlling a receiver or transmitter non-communication function in response to a communication control signal} - H04N 1/00567: {Handling of original or reproduction media, e.g. cutting, separating, stacking} - H04N 1/2346: {according to a detected condition or state of the reproducing device, e.g. temperature or ink quantity} - H04N 1/32363: {at the transmitter or at the receiver} - H04N 1/32771: {in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document} - H04N 2201/0082: Image hardcopy reproducer (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N 2201/3288: Storage of two or more complete document pages or image frames - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A printing device includes a printing unit that prints printing image data of a plurality of colors on a printing medium, a plurality of data storage units that receive and store the image data. The image data is transferred from the upper level device through a plurality of first transfer paths corresponding to the image data of the plurality of colors. The printing device further includes a control unit that controls the plurality of data storage units to receive control information for controlling a printing of the image data from the upper level device through a second transfer path, and send a request of transferring the image data to the upper level device on the basis of the control information, and to receive and store the image data transferred from the upper level device, and a conveyance control unit that controls a conveyance unit conveying the printing medium. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A printing device, comprising: a printing unit that prints image data of a plurality of colors generated by an upper level device on a printing medium; a plurality of first transfer paths that correspond respectively to the image data of the plurality of colors, and through the plurality of first transfer paths, requesting the upper level device to transfer the image data, receiving the image data from the upper level device, and storing the image data are performed; a plurality of data storage units that respectively store the image data of the plurality of colors from the upper level device received through the plurality of first transfer paths; a control unit that controls the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units receive control information to control printing of the image data of the plurality of colors from the upper level device through a second transfer path, and request the upper level device to transfer the image data of the plurality of colors, on the basis of the control information, and controls the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units receive the image data of the plurality of colors transferred from the upper level device and store the image data; and a conveyance control unit that controls a conveyance unit conveying the printing medium, wherein the conveyance control unit notifies the control unit of a printable state, when the conveyance unit satisfies predetermined conditions, and the control unit individually controls the plurality of data storage units with a plurality of control signals sent through a plurality of third transfer paths such that the plurality of data storage units transfer the stored image data of the plurality of colors to the printing unit, when the notification of the printable state is received. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes: a receiving unit that receives the control information from the upper level device; a generating unit that generates the plurality of control signals to control the plurality of data storage units respectively, on the basis of the control information received by the receiving unit; and a transfer unit that transfers the plurality of control signals generated by the generating unit to the plurality of data storage units respectively. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of data storage units includes a requesting unit that sends a request of the image data to the upper level device on the basis of the control information, and stores the image data transferred from the upper level device through the first transfer path, in response to the request from the requesting unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sends to the plurality of data storage units a transfer command to transfer the stored image data of the plurality of colors to the printing unit, when the notification of the printable state is received, and the plurality of data storage units transfer the stored image data of the plurality of colors to the printing unit, in response to the transfer command. ### Claim 5 A method of controlling a printing device, comprising: by a printing unit, printing image data of a plurality of colors generated by an upper level device on a printing medium; through a plurality of first transfer paths that correspond respectively to the image data of the plurality of colors, requesting the upper level device to transfer the image data and receiving the image data from the upper level device; by a plurality of data storage units, respectively storing the image data of the plurality of colors from the upper level device received through a plurality of first transfer paths; by a control unit, controlling the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units receive control information to control printing of the image data of the plurality of colors from the upper level device through a second transfer path, and request the upper level device to transfer the image data of the plurality of colors on the basis of the control information, and controlling the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units receive the image data of the plurality of colors transferred from the upper level device and store the image data; and by a conveyance control unit, controlling a conveyance unit conveying the printing medium, wherein in the controlling the conveyance unit, notifying the control unit of a printable state, when the conveyance unit satisfies predetermined conditions, and in the controlling the plurality of data storage units, individually controlling the plurality of data storage units with a plurality of control signals sent through a plurality of third transfer paths such that the plurality of data storage units transfer the stored image data of the plurality of colors respectively to the printing unit, when the notification of the printable state is received. ### Claim 6 A printing device, comprising: a printing unit that prints image data of a plurality of colors generated by an upper level device on a printing medium; a plurality of data storage units that respectively receive the image data of the plurality of colors from the upper level device through a plurality of first transfer paths corresponding respectively to the image data of the plurality of colors and store the image data; a control unit that controls the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units receive control information to control printing of the image data of the plurality of colors from the upper level device through a second transfer path, and request the upper level device to transfer the image data of the plurality of colors, on the basis of the control information, and controls the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units receive the image data of the plurality of colors transferred from the upper level device and store the image data; and a conveyance control unit that controls a conveyance unit conveying the printing medium, wherein the conveyance control unit notifies the control unit of a printable state, when the conveyance unit satisfies predetermined conditions, the control unit controls the plurality of data storage units such that the plurality of data storage units transfer the stored image data of the plurality of colors to the printing unit, when the notification of the printable state is received, and wherein each of the plurality of data storage units includes a requesting unit that sends a request of the image data to the upper level device on the basis of the control information, and stores the image data transferred from the upper level device through the first transfer path, in response to the request from the requesting unit.