JP4884291B2 - Printing system, printing method, and printing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing method, and a printing program for preventing printing on different printing paper when the printing paper may differ depending on data to be printed.

For companies that are entrusted with various data processing related to various operations such as sales and inventory management and are processing on host computers (so-called host computer operations), data related to operations entrusted to customers is collected. For example, it is often required to print and provide a form.
The type of form used in this case may be different for each customer, and may be different depending on the type of data output even for the same customer. On the other hand, different customers may use the same form by using general-purpose forms. In this case, the same general-purpose form may be used even when different customers have similar data types. In addition, there are cases where the form format is the same and only the color is different.

The printing apparatus used is a dedicated high-speed printing apparatus connected online to the host computer, and prints a form having a large number of pages at a high speed.
When printing, data to be printed as batch processing input from the printer console to the host computer is collected in advance and processed as print data in a predetermined format. This process is performed, for example, at night when the operating rate of the host computer is decreasing.

Then, the processing is completed by the morning of the next day, and a list of print data that can be printed is displayed on the printer console.
Then, based on the type of form corresponding to each print data displayed on the printer console, the form corresponding to the data to be printed is set in the printing apparatus, the printing instruction is given from the printer console to the host computer, and the printing is executed. .
Then, the printed form is stored in a delivery box and delivered to the customer.

Here, since there are many types of forms as described above, there is a possibility that the type of form is wrong when setting the form.
As described above, the same form is used even for different customers, the same format but different colors are used, and the same customer uses different forms depending on the type of data. Sometimes it is difficult to notice mistakes. For example, if the printed characters extend beyond the ruled line of the form, you can see that the form is wrong just by looking at the printed form. Even in such a case, the printed characters may fall within the ruled line, and the mistake may not be found even if the printed form is viewed.

In such a case, the form is sent to the customer without noticing the mistake, and there is a high possibility that the customer will find an error, which may damage the customer's trust.
Here, in logistics, IC tags have been used in recent years in order to prevent mistakes in delivery items and delivery destinations, and to improve the efficiency of sorting. The IC tag is a one-chip RFID (Radio Frequency Identification System). The data can be read and written in a non-contact manner, and the passive type does not require a power source and operates by electromagnetic waves from the reader / writer of the IC tag.

Therefore, in distribution, it is possible to automatically sort to each delivery destination by writing data such as product ID code, customer name and delivery destination in the IC tag.
In recent years, IC tags have become smaller and lower in cost, and IC tags with built-in antennas having a size of 1 mm square or less have been developed and can be cut into paper.
It has been proposed to attach such an IC tag to printer paper and manage the remaining amount of paper (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Further, this Patent Document 1 describes that information stored in an IC tag includes a product code that can specify a paper type such as a manufacturer, a paper size, and a material.
According to this, it is possible to check an error in the form type by attaching an IC tag in which an ID for identifying the paper type is previously attached to a sheet such as a form.

JP 2006-76691 A

However, if it is possible to check the type of the form set in the printing device, and the check result shows that the type of the form is incorrect, it will be necessary to change the form set in the printing device. become.
In particular, a large amount of printing is required for replacing the forms in the above-mentioned host computer business, and extra labor is increased.

  Similarly, in the host computer business, when printing, the forms for a plurality of customers are printed sequentially at the same time, or even the same customer prints a plurality of print data of different form types. In this case, in order to print efficiently, each form for different types of print data of a plurality of customers or the same customer is prepared around the printing machine in advance. . In this case, since there are a plurality of forms, there is a high possibility that the forms are mistakenly set between them. If a wrong setting is made, it is necessary to change the form as described above, which may be a complicated operation.

  Also, in the commissioned work of the host computer, it is necessary to finally ship the printed form to the customer. In this case, too, when the forms of multiple customers are printed almost continuously, the delivery destination is mistaken. There is a problem. In this case, it is difficult to manage each printed form using only the form type.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when printing is sequentially performed on a plurality of different types of forms sequentially, any of the different types of forms can be set in the printing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system, a printing method, and a printing program in which a printed form is not mistaken.

In order to achieve the object, the printing system according to claim 1 is generated based on the processing by a host computer that performs processing related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers, and is printed by the customer. A printing system for printing print data associated with data indicating a form type on the form,
Storage means for storing the print data in association with data indicating the type of the form;
Printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the form;
Print control means for performing control to output and print the print data stored in the storage means to the printing means;
An IC tag that is attached to a form on which the print data is printed, and at least data indicating the type of the form is registered so as to be readable;
An IC tag attached to a storage container for storing the form on which the print data is printed by the printing means for delivery to a customer;
Reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
A storage container reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the storage container set in the printing means ,
The reading means outputs data indicating the type of the form read from the IC tag of the form set in the printing means to the print control means,
The print control means matches if the data indicating the form type associated with the print data stored in the storage means matches the form type indicated by the data input from the reading means. Select the print data associated with the selected form type ,
In the storage container reading means, when there is no reception from the IC tag of the storage container,
When there is reception from the IC tag of the storage container by setting the storage container in the printing means, the selected printing data is output to the printing means and the printing means is set in the printing means It is characterized by printing on a form.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, after the form related to the print data to be printed is set in the printing means, the printing of the print data is not started, but the form set in the printing means is used. The associated print data is selected and printing of the print data is started.

  Therefore, for example, if a plurality of print data is stored for printing and a plurality of types of forms associated with the plurality of print data are prepared, any type of form is available. Is set in the printing means, print data corresponding to the type of the form is printed. Therefore, it is not possible to set different types of forms in the printing means by mistake.

  In addition, there is a type of form that is not related to any of the stored print data in the form prepared by the printing means, or there are more forms than required for the print data. In this case, when the form is set on the printing means, there may be no print data associated with the set form type. In this case, the form is set as before. I need to fix it.

  However, when the form is set while checking the form type as before, if the print order is simply wrong, the print data corresponding to the form type with the wrong print order is printed first. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the occurrence of a situation where a form is set again due to a wrong form type. As a result, the efficiency of the printing operation can be improved.

Also, when the printing order is suddenly changed and what is scheduled to be printed later is printed first, that is, when the print data of customer A that is scheduled to be printed later is printed first. If the print data of customer A has already been generated and stored, the form associated with the print data to be printed first, i.e., the IC, without performing any operation on the data such as changing the print order. Printing is started simply by setting a form in which data indicating the form type corresponding to the customer A is registered in the printing means. Thereby, workability | operativity can be improved further.
The host computer in the present invention is not limited to a large general-purpose computer, but is a computer with high processing capability that performs a plurality of processes requested by a plurality of clients in parallel.

The printing system according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
A storage container writing means for writing data to the IC tag of the storage container;
The storage container writing means stores the data indicating the type of form associated with the print data printed on the form by the printing means and the customer corresponding to the print data printed on the form. It writes on the IC tag attached to the container.

  In the invention described in claim 2, the IC tag attached to the storage container has a customer corresponding to the type of the form associated with the print data printed on the form and the print data printed on the form. In the printing system, data indicating the customer and the type of the form is written in the storage container immediately before or immediately after storing the form, and the written customer and form The storage container storing the form can be managed based on the information indicating the type of the storage container, and the storage container can be delivered to the customer based on the information.

  Therefore, for example, when storing a printed form in a storage container on which a customer's label as a delivery destination has already been affixed, a mistake in delivery due to a mistake in the storage container or a wrong label is prevented. be able to.

Also, in the present invention, there is no possibility that a mistake will occur at the stage of filling a form in the storage container or the stage of writing data to the IC tag of the storage container, but the possibility of a mistake can be extremely reduced. By comparing the data of the IC tag of the storage container with the data of the IC tag packed in the storage container, it can be confirmed very easily that there is no mistake.
Further, delivery to the customer can be performed based on the data of the IC tag of the storage container.

The printing system according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2,
A form writing means for writing data to the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
The storage container writing means writes information indicating the range of the number of printed pages of the form stored in the storage container to the IC tag of the storage container,
The form writing means writes information indicating a printed page on an IC tag of the form which is set in a printing means and print data is printed.

  In the invention described in claim 3, since the information indicating the printed page is written in the IC tag of the form on which the print data is printed and the IC tag of the storage container in which the form is stored, the print data is correctly written to the end. It is possible to confirm whether printing has been completed. In addition, when the amount of print data is large and printed forms are stored in a plurality of boxes, it is possible to easily check whether there are any missing pages on the way.

5. The printing method according to claim 4, wherein the printing method is generated based on the processing by a host computer that performs processing related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers, and is associated with data indicating the customer and the type of form to be printed. When printing the printed data on the form,
Storage means for storing the print data in association with data indicating the type of the form;
Printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the form;
Print control means for performing control to output and print the print data stored in the storage means to the printing means;
An IC tag that is attached to a form on which the print data is printed, and at least data indicating the type of the form is registered so as to be readable;
An IC tag attached to a storage container for storing the form on which the print data is printed by the printing means for delivery to a customer;
Reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
A printing method in a printing system , comprising: a container reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the container set in the printing means ,
The reading means outputs data indicating the type of the form read from the IC tag of the form set in the printing means to the print control means,
The print control means matches if the data indicating the form type associated with the print data stored in the storage means matches the form type indicated by the data input from the reading means. Select the print data associated with the selected form type ,
In the storage container reading means, when there is no reception from the IC tag of the storage container,
When there is reception from the IC tag of the storage container by setting the storage container in the printing means, the selected printing data is output to the printing means and the printing means is set in the printing means Characterized by printing on a form

  In the invention according to the fourth aspect, the same effect as the printing system according to the first aspect can be obtained.

6. The printing program according to claim 5, wherein the printing program is generated based on the processing by a host computer that performs processing related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers, and is associated with data indicating the customer and the type of form to be printed. When printing the printed data on the form,
Storage means for storing the print data in association with data indicating the type of the form;
Printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the form;
Print control means for performing control to output and print the print data stored in the storage means to the printing means;
An IC tag that is attached to a form on which the print data is printed, and at least data indicating the type of the form is registered so as to be readable;
An IC tag attached to a storage container for storing the form on which the print data is printed by the printing means for delivery to a customer;
Reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
A program executed by the printing control means of a printing system comprising: a reading means for storage container that reads data registered in the IC tag of the storage container set in the printing means ;
When the data indicating the type of the form read from the IC tag of the form set in the printing unit is input from the reading unit to the printing control unit,
If the data indicating the form type associated with the print data stored in the storage means includes data that matches the form type indicated by the data input from the reading means, the data is associated with the matched form type. Select the print data
In the storage container reading means, when there is no reception from the IC tag of the storage container,
When there is reception from the IC tag of the storage container by setting the storage container in the printing means, the selected printing data is output to the printing means and the printing means is set in the printing means It is characterized by printing on a form.

  In the invention according to the fifth aspect, the same effect as the printing system according to the first aspect can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, when data related to processing of a host computer is printed on a form for a plurality of customers and sent out, different forms are set in the printing apparatus by different customers or different processes for different processes of customers. Can be suppressed. Also, if an incorrect form is set, it is possible to reliably prevent printing on the wrong form as it is.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an outline of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, when the results of processing in the host computer 1 of a company entrusted with data management work from a plurality of customers are printed on a form 41 and shipped to each customer, the form differs depending on the customer and the processing contents of the customer. When 41 is used, printing on a form 41 different from the form 41 that should be originally used is prevented.
That is, the printing system according to the present invention is generated by the host computer 1 that performs processing related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers, and is associated with data indicating the type of the form 41 to be printed and the customer. The printed data is printed on the form.

The printing system includes the host computer 1, a printer console 3 connected to the host computer 1 via an in-house LAN 2 or the like, and a printing device 4.
It should be noted that here, the printing process described later for preventing printing on the wrong form 41 is performed by the host computer 1 or by the printer console 3 with the printer console 3 being intelligent. The printing apparatus 4 may be performed by the printing apparatus 4 as intelligent.
In this example, it is assumed that a print process described later for preventing the host computer 1 from printing on an incorrect form 41 is performed, and the host computer 1 functions as a print control unit of the present invention.

  The host computer 1 performs various processes entrusted to the business, and generates print data to be printed on the form 41 by the printing apparatus 4. For example, in various processes of the host computer 1, input data and data generated by processing based on the input data are used as print data for printing on the form 41. The form 41 here is a continuous form 41, but may be a cut sheet.

  The generated print data is stored in the JOB database 11 constructed in the storage device of the host computer 1 in association with the form ID indicating the type of the form 41 and the customer ID indicating each customer. That is, the JOB database 11 constructed in the storage device of the host computer 1 functions as a storage unit that stores print data in association with data indicating the type of form 41 and the customer. The host computer 1 has a customer database 12 built in its storage device, and stores customer data corresponding to a customer ID described later.

  That is, the customer database 12 prints customer data such as a customer name (company name, address, department in charge, person in charge, etc.) in association with the customer ID, as shown in the table of FIG. The first half portion corresponding to the customer ID of JOBID, which is a processing name given in correspondence with the data creation processing and printing processing, and the delivery destination ID are stored. The first half of JOBID is configured from information that can identify a customer such as a customer ID, for example, and the latter half is information that can identify each process for each customer such as a serial number.

  The delivery destination ID is composed of a destination name and an address as a delivery destination. The customer database 12 stores the above-described data corresponding to a plurality of customer IDs. Further, a plurality of first half portions of JOBID may be stored in association with one customer ID, and different delivery destination IDs and delivery destination data may be stored in association with the first half portion of each JOBID.

  As shown in the table of FIG. 2, the JOB database 11 stores a form ID indicating the type (format, color, paper quality, etc.) of a form to be printed in association with each print data that can be specified. Together with the customer ID specified by JOBID, the print data specified by JOBID, and when this print data cannot be printed on one continuous form 41 and is divided into a plurality of continuous forms, The step ID assigned to each divided portion is stored. Note that the step ID includes information (for example, page range) that specifies the range of each divided portion of the print data.

In the JOB database 11, for example, JOBIDs of print data to be printed within a range such as one week or one month are registered in advance based on the contract contents (arrangement concerning form printing) with each customer. In association with JOBID, the form ID, customer ID, step ID, and scheduled printing date to be actually printed are registered.
At the time when these data are registered in the JOB database, the print data has not yet been generated. As described later, the print data is generated at night before the scheduled print date, and the generated print data is stored in the JOB database 11. Stored in association with JOBID.

Then, the host computer 1 extracts the data to be printed from the data related to the processing, and creates the print data so that it can be output in accordance with the form to be printed (format of the form 41).
In this process, for example, as a batch process before the night before printing, the processing content is input from the above-described printer console, and based on this, a program (script) for creating print data of the host computer is executed. Print data is generated by the morning of the next day (the day to print).

In this case, for example, print data for a plurality of customers may be created, and a plurality of print data may be created for one customer.
The created print data is stored in the JOB database 11 constructed in the storage device of the host computer 1. The file name of the print data stored on the display (input / output device 31) of the printer console 3 connected to the host computer 1 can be displayed, and each file can be opened and displayed. .

  The printer console 3 is a printing-only terminal connected to the host computer 1 and includes a general data input / output device 31 such as a display, a printer, and a keyboard. The host computer 1 is instructed to create the print data described above and output the print data to the printing apparatus 4.

For example, the printing apparatus 4 is dedicated to the continuous form 41, and as shown in FIG. 3, the continuous form 41 is conveyed by the conveying means 42 and sent to the printing unit (not shown), and printed continuously from the printing unit. It is designed to carry out forms. As described above, in the present invention, the printing device 4 is not limited to the one dedicated to the continuous form, and may print the cut sheet-like form 41.
The transport means 42 is provided with a form set sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not the continuous form 41 is set.
In addition, a known IC tag reader / writer 43 is provided in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the conveyance means 42 of the form 41. This IC tag reader / writer 43 is a well-known one that reads and writes data from and into an IC tag 45 inserted and attached to a form 41.

A well-known IC tag 45 is inserted in a continuous form 41 used in the printing apparatus 4. The IC tag 45 is inserted for each sheet of the continuous form 41, for example.
When the continuous form 41 is conveyed to the customer, there are a case where the continuous form 41 is sent out in a continuous state, and a case where each sheet (form) constituting the continuous form is separated and sent out by a continuous form cutting device. is there.

Therefore, when the information of the IC tag 45 is used even after the continuous form 41 is separated, it is preferable to attach the IC tag 45 to each sheet to be separated from the continuous form 41 as described above, but the continuous form 41 is separated. In the case where the IC tag 45 is not generated, the IC tag 45 may be attached only to the first sheet of the continuous form 41.
When the IC tag 45 is attached to each sheet, the number of sheets of the continuous form 41 can be confirmed by reading the data of the IC tag 45 of each sheet.

In this case, the reading distance between the reader / writer (separate from the reader / writer 43 of the printing apparatus 4) and the IC tag 45 is increased. For example, the electromagnetic wave intensity for supplying power from the reader / writer to the IC tag 45 is increased. By increasing it, the reading distance can be extended.
In addition, IC tags 45 and reader / writers that can read many IC tags 45 at a time have been developed. Even if the IC tags 45 of the sheets of the continuous form 41 are densely packed, Data of the tag 45 can be read.

Thereby, for example, even when the continuous form 41 is separated and packed in a plurality of pieces, it is possible to check the printed continuous form 41 by reading the data of the IC tag 45. Become.
Here, the IC tag 45 of the form 41 includes a form ID indicating the form type of the form (in addition to the form, such as paper color and paper type, as shown in FIG. To correspond to the form type on a one-to-one basis).
When the form 41 is delivered, the IC tag 45 of the form 41 is registered with a form ID that can specify the type of the form 41 and a customer ID. Note that only the form ID may be registered in the IC tag 45 of the form 41 at the time of delivery, and the customer ID may be written later. In particular, when printing data is selected using only the form ID without using the customer ID registered in the IC tag 45 of the form 41 set in the printing apparatus 4 in the printing process described later, the customer ID is used as the form. It is also possible to write using the form reader / writer 43 of the printing apparatus 4 after 41 is set in the printing apparatus 4.

  Further, a reader / writer 48 for the IC tag 47 of the box 46 for reading the IC tag 47 attached to the box 46 as described later is provided in the vicinity of the carry-out port of the printed form 41 of the printing apparatus 4. . In addition, the IC tag 47 of the box 46 is attached to a predetermined height position on the side surface of the box 46 (for example, it may be inserted or a label on which the IC tag is inserted may be attached), When the box 46 is placed in the vicinity of the reader / writer 48 of the printing apparatus 4, the height position of the IC tag 47 is substantially the same as the height position of the reader / writer 48. Then, by placing the box 46 in the vicinity of the printing apparatus 4 with the IC tag 47 facing the reader / writer 48, the box reader / writer 48 can read and write data of the IC tag 47 in the box 46.

From the above, the JOB database 11 constructed in the storage device of the host computer 1 functions as storage means for storing print data in association with data (form ID) indicating the type of the form 41, and the printing apparatus 4 stores the storage means. Functions as a printing unit that prints the print data stored in the form 41, and functions as a printing control unit that controls the host computer 1 to output the printing data stored in the storage unit to the printing unit for printing.
The IC tag 45 is attached to a form 41 on which print data is printed, and is registered so that at least data (form ID) indicating the type of the form 41 can be read.
Further, the reader / writer 43 functions as a reading unit that reads data registered in the IC tag 45 of the form 41 set in the printing unit.

Further, the reader / writer 43 functions as a form writing means for writing data to the IC tag 45 of the form 41 set in the printing means.
The IC tag 47 is attached to a storage container (box 46) that stores a form on which print data is printed by a printing means for delivery to a customer.
Further, the reader / writer 48 functions as storage container writing means for writing data to the IC tag 47 of the box 46.

The IC tag 47 is attached to the box 46 as a storage container for packing the form 41 for delivery to the customer as described above. In this example, it is assumed that no data is registered in advance in the IC tag 47 of the box 46 other than the box ID indicating the type of box.
A printing process for printing the form 41 for shipping to each of the above-described customers in the printing system as described above will be described.

  First, on the day before the printing process, a batch processing script to be processed at night is created and input from the printer console 3. Note that the script (program) for script creation described above is also installed in the host computer 1, and when this script creation program is started, for example, data in the JOB database 11 registered in advance is displayed, and the next day A batch processing script for creating print data is created by selecting and inputting all the JOBIDs with the scheduled print date.

Further, by inputting a process other than the scheduled process already registered in the JOB database 11, a script of a process not registered in the schedule can be created.
Then, the host computer 1 edits the print data to be collected and collected so that the data to be printed becomes print data of a form in accordance with the set form format. Is stored in the JOB database 11 of the storage device of the host computer 1.

  When a script is created with this program, the form ID of the form necessary for printing the print data and the JOBID corresponding to the customer ID are displayed on the printer console, and the form 41 necessary for each JOBID is displayed. The amount is displayed. The JOBID (customer ID), the form ID, and the amount of the form 41 corresponding to the JOBID and the form ID may be output from a printer provided in the printer console 3. In addition, the form ID and the amount of the form 41 (the number of sheets or the number of continuous forms) are displayed for each JOBID. At this time, the customer ID and the customer name corresponding to the first half of the JOBID are displayed. May be displayed.

The amount of the form 41 is not determined until after the print data is created. However, based on the designated print data creation process, the amount of the extracted data and the extracted data correspond to the form format. Assume that the number of sheets (number of pages) of the form 41 in the case of print data is predicted and calculated in advance. The form 41 may be ordered after the print data is created and the amount of the form 41 is determined.
Then, for example, the operator purchases a purchase order in which the job ID output from the printer console 3, the customer ID obtained from the job ID, the form ID, and the amount of the form 41 are entered in the department that manages the inventory of the form 41. The data is transmitted by e-mail, for example.

Then, the department that manages the inventory of the form 41 is to deliver the form in which the customer ID and the form ID are registered in the IC tag to the floor on which the printing apparatus 4 is installed by the designated amount by the next day. It has become.
In the printing operation of the day, the print data is already stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage device of the host computer, that is, the JOB database 11.

  Each print data includes a JOBID corresponding to the customer ID registered in the customer database 12, a form ID indicating the type of the form 41 to be printed, a date for printing (a batch for creating print data). (Scheduled date that is the date of the next day after the start of processing) is stored in association with each other.

When starting the printing process, the printer console 3 instructs the host computer 1 to start a printing program for the printing process.
In the host computer 1, when the printing program is started, the JOBID, customer ID, form ID, and the like of the print data associated with the scheduled date corresponding to the date of the day are extracted, and the JOBID, form ID, customer ID (from the customer ID) The customer database 12 may be searched to display the customer name), and the print date is displayed.

On the other hand, the printing device 4 is activated and is ready for printing.
Here, the operator who performs printing sets the form 41 already delivered to the floor of the printing apparatus 4 to the printing apparatus 4 as described above.
Further, the box 46 is set in the vicinity of the box reader / writer 48 on the side where the printed form of the printing apparatus is output.
Here, the processing of the printing program in the host computer 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, as described above, a printing program is activated by an instruction from the printer console 3 (step S1).

  Next, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating a set of a form (a signal with a form) is input from the form set sensor of the printing apparatus 4 (step S2). That is, it is determined whether or not the form 41 is set in the printing apparatus 4. If the form 41 is not set, the process waits for the form 41 to be set.

Next, when the form 41 is set, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating that the form 41 has been received from the IC tag 45 of the form 41 is input from the form reader / writer 43 attached to the printing apparatus 4. (Step S3).
If the form reader / writer 43 does not receive the form from the IC tag 45 even though the form 41 is set, the display of the printer console 3 is instructed to exchange the form (step S4). ).

Next, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating no form is input from the form set sensor (step S5).
Next, when a signal indicating no form from the form set sensor is not input, that is, when a signal indicating that a form is present is being input, the state waits for no form.
Then, when the signal from the form set sensor changes from the presence of form (form set) to the absence of form, the process returns to step S2. This process is performed when a form 41 to which the IC tag 45 is not attached is set, when a form 41 having an abnormality in the IC tag 45 is set, or when the reader / writer 43 has an abnormality. .

On the other hand, if a signal indicating reception from the IC tag 45 is input in step S3, the reader / writer 43 reads the form ID and customer ID from the IC tag 45 and outputs them to the host computer 1 (step S3). S6).
That is, the reader / writer 43 as a reading unit uses a form ID as data indicating the type of the form 41 read from the IC tag 45 of the form 41 set in the printing apparatus 4 as a printing unit as the printing control unit. Output to the host computer 1.
Next, it is determined whether or not today's JOBID print data corresponding to the read form ID and customer ID is in the JOB database 11 (step S7).
If there is no print data of JOBID corresponding to the read form ID and customer ID, the process proceeds to step S4, and processing is performed in the same manner as when there is no reception from the above-described IC tag, and the form 41 is exchanged. It will be in the state of waiting for being done.

  In this example, basically, the department 41 that manages the inventory of the form 41 should have the necessary and sufficient amount (the amount that is not left) and the type of form 41 for the print data to be printed today. Therefore, if there is no mistake in carrying in the form 41, it is impossible that the job ID corresponding to the form ID and the customer ID read from the IC tag 45 of the form 41 does not exist in step S7.

In addition, as described later, a printed flag is set for the printed data that is printed as described later, and the printed data that has been printed in the determination in step S7 is not determined. Printing data is prevented from being printed multiple times.
Further, as described above, when the amount of print data for one JOBID is large and printing is performed over a plurality of continuous forms instead of one continuous form, a step ID under the JOBID is set. When processing is completed for each step ID, a printed flag is set.

If there is a JOBID corresponding to the form ID and customer ID of the set form, it is next determined whether or not there are a plurality of corresponding JOBIDs (step S8).
When there are a plurality of JOBIDs, for example, according to the order of the JOBIDs on the JOB database 11, except for those already printed, the JOBID with the earliest order is selected (step S9).

  When there is one corresponding JOBID and when one JOBID is selected in step S9, it is next determined whether or not there are a plurality of step IDs that have not been printed in that JOBID (step S10). ). When there are a plurality of step IDs, the step ID having the earlier page range corresponding to the step ID among the step IDs that have not been printed (the one with the smaller number of pages) is selected (step S11).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is reception from the IC tag 47 of the box 46 in the box reader / writer 48 provided on the discharge port side of the printed form 41 of the printing apparatus 4 (step S12).
If there is no reception, a display prompting the user to set the box 46 on the display of the printer console 3 is performed (step S13).

If there is no reception from the IC tag 47 in the box 46, the process returns to step S12 and the box reader / writer 48 waits for reception from the IC tag 47 in the box 46.
When receiving from the IC tag 47 of the box 46, at least one item of predetermined items of the IC tag 47, for example, form ID, form print page range, customer ID, delivery destination ID, etc. It is determined whether or not data has been written to (step S14).

Here, it is assumed that the form ID, the print page range of the form, the customer ID, the delivery destination ID, etc. are not initially written in the IC tag 47 of the box 46, and these data are written after the printing is started. Therefore, when these data are already written and can be read, the form 41 may already be stored, and the box 46 is not used.
If predetermined data has been written in the IC tag 47 of the box 46, a display instructing the printer console 3 to replace it with a new unused box 46 is performed (step S15).
When the box 46 is reused, data other than the box ID of the IC tag 47 is erased before use.

Next, when the box 46 is changed, the box reader / writer 48 returns to step S12 when it is detected that reception from the IC tag 47 of the box 46 is interrupted (step S16). That is, the IC tag 47 is in a state of waiting for setting of the box 46 in which predetermined data is not written. As a result of this processing, the form 41 cannot be printed unless the unused box 46 is set near the exit of the printed form 41 of the printing apparatus 4, and printing is prohibited until the box 46 is set. Become.
If no data is written in the predetermined item in step S14, the JOBID (in the case of being divided into a plurality of steps, the step ID is added to the IC tag 45 of one sheet of the continuous form 41 close to the form reader / writer 43. ID) and the current print page number, and since this is the first print at this stage, 1 is written as the page number. A plurality of pages (mainly two pages) may be assigned to one sheet. In this case, for example, 1 and 2 are written. Further, at this time, the scheduled printing date, the printing date and time (the current date and time when printing is actually performed), the customer ID, and the delivery destination ID obtained by searching the customer database 12 from the first half of the JOBID are written (step S17). That is, in the form ID tag 45, as shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the previously registered form ID and customer ID, JOBID, step ID, delivery destination ID, scheduled print date, print date and time, and print page are written. It is.

  When there is no plurality of step IDs at step S10 and when one step ID is selected at step S11, the above-mentioned selected JOBID (or one of the step IDs) or the selected JOBID One sheet of the print data of the selected step ID is output to the printing apparatus 4 and printing for one sheet is performed (step S18). Here, one sheet of print data is sequentially printed.

Next, it is determined whether or not printing for one step or one job has been completed (step S19). If not completed, the process returns to step S17 to write and print on the IC tag 45 for one sheet. And done.
The writing to the IC tag 45 may be performed at intervals such as every 5 sheets, every 10 sheets, every 100 sheets, etc. without performing the writing one sheet at a time. Accordingly, there is a case where the printing time can be shortened by reducing the time for the writing process to the IC tag 45 as compared with the case where the writing to the IC tag 45 is performed for each sheet.

  If it is determined in step S19 that printing has ended, the IC tag 47 of the box 46 has a JOBID (customer ID) and a form ID (when there are a plurality of steps) in addition to the box ID as shown in FIG. Is a step ID), a print page range (for example, 1 to 1000 pages), a delivery destination ID, a scheduled print date, and a print date and time are written by the box reader / writer 48 (step S20). Here, it is assumed that one continuous form 41 is packed in one box, and when the print data of one JOBID is divided into a plurality of step IDs as described above, all steps are included in one JOBID. A plurality of boxes 46 corresponding to the number of IDs are used. Then, when printing for a plurality of boxes on one JOBID, a numerical value that is the number of all the boxes 46 for one JOBID and the step ID indicating the number of forms 41 in the JOBID. A numerical value indicating the box 46 is written in the IC tag 47. That is, a numerical value indicating the number of boxes out of the total number of boxes is written in the IC tag 47.

The printed form 41 is stored in a box 46 provided in the vicinity of the form discharge port of the printing apparatus 4. By setting the box 46 at the discharge port, the form 41 may be stored in the box 46 at the same time as discharging.
At this stage, since the delivery destination ID is written in the IC tag 47 of the box 46, the delivery destination can be specified if there is a reader / writer for the IC tag 47. For example, the IC tag 47 While confirming the delivery destination ID with a reader / writer, a delivery slip on which necessary information has already been written may be pasted on the box 46, or as data of the IC tag 47 of the box 46 read from the reader / writer. Corresponding to the JOBID and the delivery destination ID, the address and destination name corresponding to the delivery destination ID and the processing name corresponding to the JOBID (the name of the item to be delivered) are extracted from the customer database 12, and these are already input. It is also possible to print the delivery slip in the printed state with a label (slip) printing device and paste the printed delivery slip on the box 45.
Further, instead of the customer ID and delivery destination ID written in the IC tag 47 of the box 46, in addition to these, the actual customer name, delivery address, delivery destination name, etc. may be directly written in the IC tag as data. In this case, a delivery slip can be created from the data of the IC tag 47 without searching the customer database 12.

In addition, a print end flag is set corresponding to the JOBID for which printing has been completed or the step ID of the JOBID (step S21). Whether or not the print end flag is set for all JOBIDs registered in the JOB database for today's date (including all step IDs when the step IDs of the JOBIDs are set). Is determined (step S22).
If there is still a JOBID (step ID) for which the end flag is not set, the process returns to step S2.
If the end flag is set for all JOBIDs and step IDs, the printing process by the printing program is terminated.
Note that the above-described printing, reading / writing of data of the IC tags 45 and 47, and display on the display of the printer console 3 are performed from the host computer 1 to the printer console 3 and the printing device 4 based on a printing program executed on the host computer 1. The command and data are transmitted to the form reader / writer 45 and the box reader / writer 47 of the printing apparatus 4, and are performed under the control of the host computer 1. Note that such control processing may be performed by the printer console 3 instead of the host computer 1 as described above, or may be performed by the printing apparatus 4.

  From the above, the host computer 1 serving as the print control unit includes the reading unit in the form ID as data indicating the type of the form 41 associated with the print data stored in the JOB database 11 serving as the storage unit. If there is data (form ID) that matches the form type indicated by the data (form ID) input from, print data associated with the matched form type is output to the printing device 4 as the printing means and the printing means Will be printed on the form 41 set.

Further, the reader / writer 48 as the storage container writing means includes the type of the form 41 associated with the print data printed on the form 41 by the printing apparatus 4 as the printing means, and the print data printed on the form 41. Is written in the IC tag 47 attached to the box 46 as a storage container.
Further, the reader / writer 48 as the storage container writing means writes information indicating the range of the number of printed pages of the form 41 stored in the box 46 into the IC tag 47 of the box 46, and serves as the form writing means. The reader / writer 43 writes information indicating the printed page on the IC tag 45 of the form 41 which is set in the printing apparatus 4 and print data is printed.

According to the printing method using the printing program in the printing system as described above, basically, the form 41 carried into the vicinity of the printing apparatus 4 is only the form 41 corresponding to the print data printed on that day. Become.
Then, simply by setting the form 41 in the printing apparatus 4, the print data to be printed on the form 41 is selected and printed, so that the type of the form 41 is not mistaken. In the unlikely event that an unused form 41 is inserted, the wrong form 41 is printed because the IC tag 45 is not attached or the form ID and customer ID registered in the IC tag 45 are different. Such a situation can be surely prevented.
Also, if there is print data to be printed first, the form 41 and customer ID form 41 corresponding to the print data is set in the printing device 4 so that the print can be performed first without rewriting the data relating to the print order. Is done. If there are a plurality of print data (JOBID) for the same form ID and customer ID, the target print data may not always be printed first. In this case, the order is changed on the JOB database 11. There is a need.

  Further, since the box 46 in which the form 41 is stored is arranged in the vicinity of the discharge opening of the printed form 41 of the printing apparatus 4 and is not recognized by the box reader / writer 48 of the printing apparatus 4, printing is not started. It is possible to prevent a situation in which there is no box when data is written to the IC tag 47 of the box 46 during printing. In addition, when the printed form 41 is put in the box 46, the case where the form 41 is delivered to different delivery destinations can be prevented by making a mistake in the box 46.

Further, since the data related to the printed page of the form 41 is written to the IC tag 45 of the form 41 and the IC tag 47 of the box 46, it is possible to prevent the page from being omitted. For example, it is possible to prevent a situation in which 1000 to 2000 pages are not sent out even though a form of 1 to 3000 pages is supposed to be sent due to forgetting to put the form 41 into the box 46.
Also, since the JOBID, customer ID, delivery destination ID, and the like are written in the IC tag 47 of the box 46 in which the form 41 is stored, the IC tag 47 in the box 46 can be checked at any time to determine which box 46 to deliver. Can be recognized, and sorting is possible.

In addition, since overlapping data is written in the IC tag 45 of the form 41 and the IC tag 47 of the box 46, it is always checked whether or not the box 46 and the form 41 in the box correspond to each other. be able to. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to arrange the boxes 46 in the printing order of the forms 41 therein.
In the above example, when the print data is selected, both the form ID indicating the type of the form 41 and the customer ID indicating the customer are used. However, only the form ID may be used. In some cases, the same type of form 41 may be used by different customers. In this case, for example, print data corresponding to a customer whose registration order is earlier on the JOB database 11 may be selected.
Further, a part of the print data is stored in the IC tag 47 of the box 46 as text data, image data, or a combination thereof, so that it can be read out by a reader / writer, thereby making a mistake with the delivery destination and the printed contents. It may be possible to check whether there is any. At this time, it is preferable that text data and image data stored in the IC tag 47 are encrypted so that only a specific reader / writer can see the data.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the printing system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a chart which shows the data memorized by each storage means of the printing system. It is the schematic which shows the printing apparatus used with the said printing system. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a printing process based on a printing program executed by a host computer of the printing system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host computer (storage means, print control means)
4. Printing device (printing means)
41 form 43 reader / writer (reading means, form writing means)
45 IC tag 46 box (storage container)
47 IC tag 48 reader / writer (storage container writing means)

Claims (5)

Print on the form print data associated with data indicating the type of the customer and the form to be printed by the host computer that performs the process related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers. Printing system for
Storage means for storing the print data in association with data indicating the type of the form;
Printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the form;
Print control means for performing control to output and print the print data stored in the storage means to the printing means;
An IC tag that is attached to a form on which the print data is printed, and at least data indicating the type of the form is registered so as to be readable;
An IC tag attached to a storage container for storing the form on which the print data is printed by the printing means for delivery to a customer;
Reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
A storage container reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the storage container set in the printing means ,
The reading means outputs data indicating the type of the form read from the IC tag of the form set in the printing means to the print control means,
The print control means matches if the data indicating the form type associated with the print data stored in the storage means matches the form type indicated by the data input from the reading means. Select the print data associated with the selected form type ,
In the storage container reading means, when there is no reception from the IC tag of the storage container,
When there is reception from the IC tag of the storage container by setting the storage container in the printing means, the selected printing data is output to the printing means and the printing means is set in the printing means A printing system characterized by printing on a form. A storage container writing means for writing data to the IC tag of the storage container;
The storage container writing means stores the data indicating the type of form associated with the print data printed on the form by the printing means and the customer corresponding to the print data printed on the form. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein writing is performed on an IC tag attached to the container. A form writing means for writing data to the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
The storage container writing means writes information indicating the range of the number of printed pages of the form stored in the storage container to the IC tag of the storage container,
The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the form writing unit writes information indicating a printed page on an IC tag of the form that is set in a printing unit and print data is printed. Print on the form print data associated with data indicating the type of the customer and the form to be printed by the host computer that performs the process related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers. On the occasion
Storage means for storing the print data in association with data indicating the type of the form;
Printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the form;
Print control means for performing control to output and print the print data stored in the storage means to the printing means;
An IC tag that is attached to a form on which the print data is printed, and at least data indicating the type of the form is registered so as to be readable;
An IC tag attached to a storage container for storing the form on which the print data is printed by the printing means for delivery to a customer;
Reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
A printing method in a printing system , comprising: a container reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the container set in the printing means ,
The reading means outputs data indicating the type of the form read from the IC tag of the form set in the printing means to the print control means,
The print control means matches if the data indicating the form type associated with the print data stored in the storage means matches the form type indicated by the data input from the reading means. Select the print data associated with the selected form type ,
In the storage container reading means, when there is no reception from the IC tag of the storage container,
When there is reception from the IC tag of the storage container by setting the storage container in the printing means, the selected printing data is output to the printing means and the printing means is set in the printing means A printing method characterized by causing a form to be printed. Print on the form print data associated with data indicating the type of the customer and the form to be printed by the host computer that performs the process related to each business entrusted by a plurality of customers. On the occasion
Storage means for storing the print data in association with data indicating the type of the form;
Printing means for printing the print data stored in the storage means on the form;
Print control means for performing control to output and print the print data stored in the storage means to the printing means;
An IC tag that is attached to a form on which the print data is printed, and at least data indicating the type of the form is registered so as to be readable;
An IC tag attached to a storage container for storing the form on which the print data is printed by the printing means for delivery to a customer;
Reading means for reading data registered in the IC tag of the form set in the printing means;
A program executed by the printing control means of a printing system comprising: a reading means for storage container that reads data registered in the IC tag of the storage container set in the printing means ;
When the data indicating the type of the form read from the IC tag of the form set in the printing unit is input from the reading unit to the printing control unit,
If the data indicating the form type associated with the print data stored in the storage means includes data that matches the form type indicated by the data input from the reading means, the data is associated with the matched form type. Select the print data
In the storage container reading means, when there is no reception from the IC tag of the storage container,
When there is reception from the IC tag of the storage container by setting the storage container in the printing means, the selected printing data is output to the printing means and the printing means is set in the printing means A printing program characterized by causing a form to be printed.

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