JP2000289298A - Printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer and a printing system which make users of the number not smaller than the number of physical bins of the printer possess special bins and which can transmit printing data simultaneously to the plurality of users. SOLUTION: A printer 12 connected via a network to a plurality of computers and having physical bins for outputting printed matter has a memory part where a plurality of virtual bins are set. Each user is let to possess one's special virtual bin. Each user operates the computer and transmits printing data designated by desired one or more virtual bins to the printer 12, whereby a printed matter is sent to users with the virtual bins.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a printing system which are connected to one or more computers and perform printing on a medium in response to a printing instruction from the computers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer connected to a plurality of host personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as HOST) via a network has been used. This printer is shared by each user, and each user has their own HOS
T can instruct the printer to print. The printer that has received the print instruction performs printing on the paper, and then discharges the printed paper to the paper discharge tray.

As described above, among printers shared by a plurality of users, a multi-bin having a plurality of bins for discharging printed materials is provided so that printed materials of each user are not discharged to the same discharge tray. Some have units. When operating a printer with a multi-bin unit, an administrator who manages the network determines in advance which bin each user owns, and prints designated by each user are printed by the user. The printer is set so that is output to the bin owned by.
In addition, if each user receives only the printed matter output to his / her own bin, the printed matter of another user will not be erroneously brought back.

[0004]

As described above, a printer equipped with a multi-bin unit is very convenient because each user can own his / her own bin. ), The number of users who can own a bin is limited to the number of physical bins or less.

[0005] Recent printers have improved printing speeds, and therefore can respond to printing requests of these users even when shared by many users. For this reason, the printer is often shared by more users than the number of physical bins. Therefore, it is difficult for each user to have their own bin.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer and a printing system capable of assigning a dedicated output destination to each user even when shared by more than the number of physical bins. I do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printer and a printing system according to the present invention employ the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

That is, a printer according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing unit, and an input unit for accepting an input operation by a user. Connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having print target data and output destination information designating one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations, and receiving print data from the computers. An interface unit that stores the print data received by the interface unit as storage data, and stores the information in the storage unit when a user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit. Of the stored data, the data whose output destination information specifies the output destination selected by the user is selected, and the selected storage data is stored in the printing unit. To print the print object data in over data to the media, relative to the discharge mechanism, and a control unit for discharging the printed media, characterized in that it comprises.

With this configuration, it is possible to set an output destination corresponding to each user. The print target data of the print data is stored as storage data in the storage unit in association with each output destination. When the user designates the output destination corresponding to the user, the print target data of the storage data associated with the output destination is printed and discharged.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, An input unit that accepts the input operation, and one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having print target data and output destination information designating one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations; An interface unit that receives print data from the computer, and bin correspondence information that specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination is set for each output destination, and the print data received by the interface unit is A storage unit for storing as storage data, and storage data stored in the storage unit when a user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit. And selecting the output destination information in which the output destination selected by the user is specified, and causing the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium. A control unit that specifies a physical bin corresponding to the output destination selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information, and causes the discharge mechanism to discharge a printed medium to the specified physical bin. It is characterized by the following.

With this configuration, it is possible to set an output destination corresponding to each user regardless of the number of physical bins. The print target data of the print data output to the output destination of each user is printed and output to a physical bin associated with each output destination based on the request of the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, An input unit that accepts the input operation of the user, print target data, confidential information that specifies whether or not confidentiality of the print target data is specified, and output destination information that specifies one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations. An interface unit that is connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data and receives print data from the computer, and sets bin correspondence information for each output destination that specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination Of the print data received by the interface unit and designated as confidential by the confidential information as storage data. A storage unit that selects, from among the print data received by the interface unit, data whose confidential information is not specified as confidential, and transmits the print target data of the selected print data to the print unit as a medium; And specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as the output destination of the selected print data based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, and specifies the printed medium to the ejection mechanism. When the user inputs to select an output destination via the input unit, the user selects the output destination information among the stored data stored in the storage unit by the user. The selected output destination is selected, and the printing unit causes the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, and the user based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. Therefore identifying the physical bins corresponding to the selected destination, to the discharge mechanism, and a control unit to discharge to that identifying the printed media physical bottle, characterized in that it comprises.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, Input unit that accepts an input operation, print target data, output destination information that specifies one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations, and confidentiality that specifies whether confidentiality is specified for each of the specified output destinations Connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having information,
An interface unit that receives print data from the computer, and bin correspondence information that specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination is set for each output destination,
A storage unit that stores, as storage data, the print data received by the interface unit that is designated as confidential to at least one output destination by the confidential information, and a storage unit that stores the print data received by the interface unit. Among these, at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information selects a confidential data whose confidential specification is not specified, and prints the print target data of the selected print data to the printing unit. Based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, specify the physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as confidential designation not specified in the confidential information and specified as the output destination information of the selected print data, The output mechanism outputs the printed medium to the specified physical bin, and the user inputs that the output destination is selected via the input unit. In this case, among the stored data stored in the storage unit, the one in which the output destination selected by the user is specified in the output destination information is selected. The print target data is printed on a medium, the physical bin corresponding to the output destination selected by the user is specified based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, and the printed medium is specified to the ejection mechanism. And a control unit for discharging the data to the physical bin.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, An input unit that accepts the input operation, and one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having print target data and output destination information designating one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations; An interface unit for receiving print data from the computer, bin correspondence information for specifying the physical bin corresponding to the output destination for each output destination, and lock-on or lock-off of the output destination for each output destination Is set, and at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information is included in the print data received by the interface unit. A storage unit that stores, as storage data, what is designated as lock-on in the lock information in the storage unit, and among the print data received by the interface unit, at least an output destination specified in the output destination information. One selects the lock information designated as lock-off in the storage unit, causes the printing unit to print the print target data of the selected print data on a medium, and sets the bin correspondence information in the storage unit to Based on the output destination information of the selected print data, specify the physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as lock-off in the lock information in the storage unit, and print the physical bin corresponding to the output mechanism. A storage medium stored in the storage unit when a medium is output to the specified physical bin and a user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit. And selecting the output destination information in which the output destination selected by the user is specified, and causing the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium. A control unit that specifies a physical bin corresponding to the output destination selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information, and causes the discharge mechanism to discharge a printed medium to the specified physical bin. It is characterized by the following.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer which prints data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism which ejects the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, An input unit that accepts the input operation of the user, print target data, confidential information that specifies whether or not confidentiality of the print target data is specified, and output destination information that specifies one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations. An interface unit that is connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data and receives print data from the computer; bin correspondence information that specifies, for each output destination, the physical bin corresponding to the output destination; Lock information specifying lock-on or lock-off of the output destination is set for each of the output destinations, and the print data received by the interface unit is If the confidential information specifies that confidentiality is specified, or at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information is specified as lock-on in the lock information in the storage unit, as storage data. A storage unit for storing, and among the print data received by the interface unit, at least one of an output destination specified in the confidential information and a destination specified in the output destination information is a lock information in the storage unit. Is selected as lock-off, and the print unit causes the print target data of the selected print data to be printed on a medium. Based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, the selected print data is The physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as the output destination and the output destination specified as lock-off in the lock information in the storage unit is specified. On the other hand, the printed medium is output to the specified physical bin, and when the user inputs to select an output destination via the input unit, the storage data stored in the storage unit is output. Selects the output destination information in which the output destination selected by the user is specified, causes the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, and stores the bin in the storage unit. A control unit that specifies a physical bin corresponding to the output destination selected by the user based on the correspondence information, and causes the discharge mechanism to discharge a printed medium to the specified physical bin. Features.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, Input unit that accepts an input operation, print target data, output destination information that specifies one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations, and confidentiality that specifies whether confidentiality is specified for each of the specified output destinations Connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having information,
An interface unit for receiving print data from the computer, bin correspondence information for specifying the physical bin corresponding to the output destination for each output destination, and lock-on or lock of the output destination for each output destination Whether lock information specifying OFF is set, and confidentiality is specified for at least one output destination by the confidentiality information of the print data received by the interface unit,
Alternatively, when at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information is specified as lock-on in the lock information in the storage unit, the storage unit that stores the print data as storage data; At least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information of the received print data is specified as confidential not specified in the confidential data, and specified as lock-off in the lock information stored in the storage unit. The selected one, the printing unit, the print target data of the selected print data is printed on a medium, based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit,
The physical bin corresponding to the output destination information specified as the output destination information of the selected print data, the confidential information is specified as confidential not specified, and the lock information stored in the storage unit is specified as lock-off is specified. And causing the ejection mechanism to output the printed medium to the specified physical bin,
When the user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit, the output destination selected by the user is specified in the output destination information among the stored data stored in the storage unit. Selected, and causes the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, and to correspond to the output destination selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. A control unit that specifies a physical bin and causes the discharge mechanism to discharge the printed medium to the specified physical bin.

In the printer according to the present invention, a plurality of virtual bins are further set in the storage unit, and the virtual bin is set as an output destination. It is characterized by the following.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the ninth aspect, a password corresponding to each of the virtual bins is further set in the storage unit, and the control unit allows the user to perform a virtual operation via the input unit. When you input that you select a bin,
When a password corresponding to the virtual bin is input together, the storage data stored in the storage unit is selected from among the storage data whose output destination information specifies the virtual bin selected by the user, For the printing unit, print the data to be printed in the selected storage data on a medium, specify a physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, the The ejection mechanism ejects the printed medium to the specified physical bin.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the third or sixth aspect, a plurality of virtual bins are further set in the storage unit, and the virtual bin is set as an output destination.

The printer according to claim 11 is the printer according to claim 10.
In the storage unit, a password corresponding to each virtual bin is further set in the storage unit, and the control unit
When inputting the selection of a virtual bin via the input unit, if a password corresponding to the virtual bin is also input, the use of the password for the output destination information of the stored data stored in the storage unit is performed. A virtual bin selected by the operator is selected, and the printing unit is caused to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium,
Specifying a physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit,
The print mechanism discharges the printed medium to the specified physical bin.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the fourth or seventh aspect, a plurality of virtual bins are further set in the storage unit, and the virtual bin is set as an output destination.

A printer according to a thirteenth aspect is the printer according to the twelfth aspect.
In the storage unit, a password corresponding to each virtual bin is further set in the storage unit, and the control unit
When inputting the selection of a virtual bin via the input unit, if a password corresponding to the virtual bin is also input, the use of the password for the output destination information of the stored data stored in the storage unit is performed. A virtual bin selected by the operator is selected, and the printing unit is caused to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium,
Specifying a physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit,
The print mechanism discharges the printed medium to the specified physical bin.

A printing system according to a fourteenth aspect is connected to the printer according to any one of the first, second, fifth, eighth, and ninth aspects and the printer via a network. Generating print target data, allowing the user to select one or more output destinations, and generating output destination information for designating the output destination, and performing printing including the print target data and the output destination information. And one or more computers capable of generating data and transmitting the print data to the printer.

A printing system according to a fifteenth aspect is connected to the printer according to any one of the third, sixth, tenth, and eleventh aspects of the present invention via a network, and connected to the printer. After generating the target data, the user is allowed to select one or more output destinations, then output destination information for specifying the output destination is generated, and the user is allowed to select whether or not to specify the confidential designation of the print target data. And one or more computers capable of generating confidential information, generating print data including the print target data, output destination information, and confidential information, and transmitting the print data to the printer. Features.

A printing system according to a sixteenth aspect is connected to the printer according to the fourth aspect, the twelfth aspect, or the thirteenth aspect, and connected to the printer via a network. Generates target data, allows the user to select one or more output destinations, generates output destination information that specifies the output destination, and uses the output destination information specified in the output destination information Confidential information is generated after allowing the user to select whether or not to specify confidential, and the print target data,
One or more computers capable of generating print data including output destination information and confidential information and transmitting the print data to the printer are provided.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Hardware Configuration> The printing system 10 of the present embodiment has a plurality of host personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as HOST) 11 and a printer 12. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system 10, and as shown in FIG.
It is connected by a network 13.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the printer 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 12 includes a main control unit 20 and an input / output control unit 21. The input / output control unit 21 includes a main control unit 20, an HDD 22, and an EE.
It is connected to a PROM 23 and can write / read data to / from the HDD 22 and the EEPROM 23. The HDD 22 stores storage data described later, and the EEPROM 23 stores status information described later. These HDD 22 and EEPROM 23
Functions as a storage unit. Further, the main control unit 20 and the input / output control unit 21 function as control units, and can execute software described later.

The main control unit 20 has a CPU, a memory controller, an I / O control circuit, and the like (not shown).
It is connected to a DRAM 24 and a network interface (network I / F) 25 as an interface unit for a network. The network I / F 25 is connected to the input / output control unit 21 and to each HOST 11 via the network 13. Further, the main control unit 20 includes a print engine 2 as a printing unit that executes printing on a print medium (paper).
6. Paper feeder 2 for supplying paper to print engine 26
7 and a multi-bin unit 28 for discharging printed sheets. Further, the main control unit 20
Is connected to a panel unit 29 that displays information to the user and accepts an input operation of the user.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of the printer 12. As shown in FIG. The print engine 26 is stored in the main body 30. A plurality of paper feed trays 31 are arranged below the main body 30. The paper feeder 27 draws out the paper from the paper feed trays 31 and conveys the paper to the print engine 26 in the main body 30. . The print engine 26 has a laser beam scanning optical system (not shown), a drum, a toner supply unit, and the like, and prints the paper supplied by the paper supply device 27. The paper printed by the print engine 26 is transported by a transport system (not shown) to a multi-bin unit 28 as a discharge mechanism. Multi-bin unit 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a physical bin 2 which has a plurality of (ten in FIG. 3) physical bins 28a and prints a sheet of paper,
Discharge to 8a. The printed paper is discharged above each physical bin 28a.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the panel section 29. As shown in FIG. The panel unit (input unit) 29 includes a display unit 32 having an LCD or the like to display information, a cursor 33 for scrolling the display contents of the display unit 32, a numeric keypad for inputting numbers, and finalizing an input operation. Enter key 35
Having. The user performs an input operation by pressing the ten keys 34 or the enter key 35 after scrolling the display contents with the cursor keys 33 as appropriate while viewing the display contents of the display unit 32.

<Software Configuration> FIG. 5 is a software configuration diagram of the printing system 10. In FIG. 5, layer (A) below the one-dot chain line indicates hardware, while layers (B) to (D) indicate software. Of these, the (B) layer shows hardware-dependent software, the (C) layer shows software independent of a command (language), and the (D) layer shows software dependent on a command (language).

The HOST 11 includes a device driver 4
1, an operating system (not shown), application programs, and a tool program described later are installed in advance. The device driver 41 converts data created by an application program or a tool program into print data and sends the print data to the printer 12. As will be described later, the print data includes a job management command in addition to the actual print target data.

The sent print data is received by the interface manager 42 of the printer 12, and the job management command is analyzed by the job language interpreter 43, and is converted into storage data to be described later.
D22. At this time, the job language interpreter 43
Generates storage data with reference to status information on the status of the printer 12 managed by the status manager 44 as described later.

The stored data once stored is H
The data to be printed is read out by the DD data management unit 45 and converted into a print image by the page description language interpretation module 46. This print image is sent to the engine controller 49 via the printing manager 47 and the job control manager 48. The engine controller 49 includes the print engine 2
6. The control unit controls the sheet feeding device 27 and the multi-bin unit 28 to print a print image on a sheet, and outputs the printed sheet to a designated physical bin 28a as described later.

<Virtual Bin Function> Since the multi-bin unit 28 of the printer 12 has ten physical bins 28a, the administrator can determine a user for each physical bin 28a in advance. it can. As a result, each user can output his / her own printed matter to his / her own physical bin 28a. In addition, each user can send the printed matter to another user by causing the printed matter to be output to the physical bin 28a of another user.

However, if the number of physical bins 28a is 10, the number of users who can own the physical bins 28a is 10
It is limited to less than people. Therefore, in this embodiment,
A virtual bin, which is a virtual bin, is provided in the printer 12 so that each user can own a bin even when the number of users exceeds 10, and all users can own their own virtual bins. did. This allows each user to output his or her own printed matter to his or her virtual bin. In addition, each user can send a printed matter to the specific user by selecting the virtual bin of the specific user and outputting the printed matter to the virtual bin.

The virtual bin is virtually realized by converting print data transmitted by the user into stored data and storing the converted data in the HDD 22 of the printer 12. That is, the user who performs printing specifies the output destination virtual bin using the device driver 41 (a plurality of virtual bins can be specified). The device driver 41 converts the output destination information indicating the designated virtual bin number into a job management command format, attaches the job management command to print target data to be actually printed, and prints the print data. Is generated, and the print data is transmitted to the printer 12.

The transmitted print data is received by the interface manager 42 of the printer 12. Then, the job language interpreting unit 43 interprets the job management command in the print data, extracts a virtual bin number of an output destination, converts the virtual bin number into a format of an output destination flag described later,
The output destination flag is attached to the print target data to generate storage data, and the storage data is recorded in the HDD 22.

As described above, the data stored in the HDD 22 has the output destination flag.
Output destination information (a plurality of virtual bins can be specified) indicating a virtual bin is included. That is, although the regions corresponding to the respective virtual bins are not individually set in the HDD 22, the storage bins having the output destination flags are stored in the HDD 22, so that the virtual bins are virtually realized. -ing

As described above, each user can have his own virtual bin, but the actual printout must be made to the physical bin 28a. Therefore, an administrator who manages the network 13 needs to associate each virtual bin with one of the physical bins 28a in advance, as described later.

<Confidential Function> When sending print data to the above-described virtual bin, the user specifies that the print result is not immediately output to the physical bin 28a corresponding to the virtual bin. , Can instruct printing. This function is called a confidential function.

That is, a user who performs printing can specify confidentiality for each specified virtual bin when specifying the output destination virtual bin using the device driver 41.
The device driver 41 converts confidential information indicating the presence or absence of confidentiality designation for the virtual bin, together with the designated virtual bin number, into a job management command, and then converts the job management command into print target data to be actually printed. And print data is transmitted to the printer 12.

This print data is received by the interface manager 42 of the printer 12. And
The job language interpreting unit 43 interprets the job management command in the print data, converts the virtual bin number of the output destination into the format of the output destination flag, and determines whether or not confidentiality is specified for the virtual bin. Convert to format. Then, the job language interpreting unit 43 generates storage data by attaching the output destination flag and the confidential flag to the print target data, and causes the HDD 22 to record the storage data.

The virtual bin specified by the confidential flag of the stored data is in a state where the actual print output to the physical bin 28a corresponding to the virtual bin is prohibited. The print-prohibited data is printed out only when the user issues a later-described unsealed print instruction to the printer 12.

<Lock Function> The confidential function described above is a function that can be specified by a user who performs printing.
Has a function that can be set so that the user who owns each virtual bin prohibits the virtual bin from printing out to the physical bin 28a. This function is called the lock function.

That is, a user can lock his or her virtual bin by setting lock information in the printer 12 in advance as described later. Printing to the locked virtual bin is always prohibited from being output to the physical bin 28a regardless of whether or not the confidential designation is made. Actual print output to the physical bin 28a is executed only when the user issues a later-described unsealed print instruction to the printer 12.

<Setting on Administrator Side> In order to use the above-described functions, the administrator and the user must perform setting processing on the printer 12 in advance. First, the settings on the administrator side will be described. The administrator can activate the tool program installed in the HOST 11 for the administrator to perform the setting process. The setting process can also be performed by the panel unit 29 of the printer 12.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a setting screen displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the HOST 11 for the administrator. The administrator starts the tool program installed in the HOST 11 in advance, and displays a setting screen as shown in FIG. In this state, the administrator operates a keyboard and a mouse (not shown) of the HOST 11, and for each of the plurality of virtual bins, the name of the user who owns the virtual bin and the physical to be associated with the virtual bin The number of the bin 28a is
Enter each one. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the physical bin # 01 is in the virtual bin # 1, and the physical bin # 05 is in the virtual bin # 2.
However, virtual bin # 3 has physical bin # 02 and virtual bin # 4
Corresponds to the physical bin # 03. Information indicating the correspondence between these virtual bins and physical bins corresponds to bin correspondence information.

Here, the administrator can set a password for each virtual bin. In the following description, immediately after the printer 12 is installed, the administrator sets a temporary password for each virtual bin, and after the operation of the printer 12 starts, each user sets a temporary password for his / her virtual bin as described later. The explanation is to change the password to your password.

After completing the input on the setting screen, the administrator uses the input information (user name, password, and physical bin 28a number) as the setting information as the printer 12
Instruct the tool program to send to the tool program. The tool program is a device driver 4 of HOST11.
1 and the interface manager 42 of the printer 12 and the job language interpreter 43,
Is sent to the status manager 44.

That is, the tool program converts the setting information into the format of a predetermined job management command and transmits the job management command to the printer 12 via the device driver 41. This job management command is received by the interface manager 42 of the printer 12 and then decoded by the job language interpreter 43. That is, since the job management command here includes setting information indicating the name and password of the user corresponding to each virtual bin and the number of the physical bin 28a, the job language interpreting unit 43 Information can be extracted. Status manager 44
Writes the setting information extracted by the job language interpreting unit 43 in the EEPROM 23 as status information.

The status information in the EEPROM 23 includes, for each virtual bin, a user name, a password, and a corresponding physical bin 28a number.
As described later, lock information indicating the lock state of the virtual bin set by the user is stored. further,
This status information has an unprinted counter. The unprinted counter is set for each virtual bin, and stores a numerical value indicating the number of unprinted data stored in each virtual bin. Immediately after the introduction of the printer 12, all the unprinted counters corresponding to the respective virtual bins are all 0.
After the operation starts, each time data is output to the virtual bin, the numerical value is counted up, and each time data in the virtual bin is output to the physical bin 28a, the numerical value is counted down.

<Setting on User Side> Next, setting processing by the user will be described. Each user has an H for each user
The setting process can be performed by activating the tool program installed in the OST 11. The setting process can also be performed by the panel unit 29 of the printer 12.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a setting screen displayed on a display unit (not shown) of the HOST 11 for the user. The user starts a tool program installed in the HOST 11 in advance, and displays a setting screen as shown in FIG. Each row of this setting screen corresponds to each virtual bin. After displaying this setting screen, the user
By operating the keyboard and mouse of ST11, a password setting and a lock setting described later can be performed.

(Password Setting) First, the password setting will be described. Immediately after the operation of the printer 12 is started, a temporary password is assigned to each virtual bin. Therefore, the user notifies the virtual password corresponding to the virtual bin together with his virtual bin number from the administrator in advance. get. Then, the user displays the setting screen of FIG. 7 and inputs the temporary password in the password column 61 of the row indicating his / her virtual bin.

The tool program of HOST11 is HO
ST11 device driver 41 and printer 1
It communicates with the status manager 44 of the printer 12 via the second interface manager 42 and the job language interpreter 43, and transmits the virtual bin number and the temporary password to the status manager 44. The status manager 44 reads the password corresponding to the virtual bin number from the status information recorded in the EEPROM 23, and compares it with the temporary password sent from the HOST 11. Then, the status manager 44 notifies the tool program of the HOST 11 whether or not the two passwords match.

If the two passwords do not match, the tool program displays a message to that effect on the screen and requests the user to input the password again. If the two passwords match, the HOST 11 screen is shown in FIG. Switch to the password change screen. The user enters a new password and again enters the same password for confirmation. The tool program compares the input passwords, and if the passwords do not match, displays a message to that effect on the screen and prompts the user to input the password again. Send the password and the corresponding virtual bin number. The status manager 44 of the printer 12 rewrites the password corresponding to the virtual bin number in the status information in the EEPROM 23 with a new password.

(Lock Setting) Next, lock setting will be described. On the setting screen shown in FIG. 7, the user clicks on the lock button 62 that displays the locked state of the virtual bin corresponding to the virtual bin with the mouse to change the locked state of the virtual bin. Can be changed. In FIG. 7, the virtual bin number # 1 is unlocked, that is, lock-off, and the virtual bin numbers # 2, # 3, and # 4 are locked, that is, lock-on.

To lock off a locked virtual bin, the user first clicks the lock button 62 of his or her locked virtual bin. Then, the tool program displays the lock state change screen shown in FIG.
It is displayed on the screen of ST11, and requests the user to enter a password. Here, when the user enters the password,
The tool program checks whether the password input by communicating with the printer 12 matches the password registered in the printer 12. If the passwords do not match, the tool program requests the user to input the password again. If the passwords match, the tool program transmits the virtual bin number and the lock release request to the printer 12.

In response to this, the status manager 44 of the printer 12 changes the lock information indicating the lock state corresponding to the specified virtual bin number from the lock on to the lock off among the status information in the EEPROM 23.

In the above description, an example is given in which the lock-on virtual bin is locked off. However, it is also possible to lock on the lock-off virtual bin by the same procedure.

Note that the screen shown in FIG. 7 displays information indicating how many unprinted data items are present in each virtual bin, so that the user can determine the number of unprinted data items in his or her virtual bin. You can know. When the tool program displays the screen shown in FIG.
Of the EEPROM 23 via the status manager 44
This is displayed on the screen by acquiring the numerical value of the unprinted counter in the status information in the box.

<Print Instruction on HOST Side> After the above settings by the administrator and the user, the user can issue a print instruction to the printer 12 from the HOST 11 side. That is, when the user instructs the application program started in HOST 11 to print, the application program sends the print contents to the device driver 41. The device driver 41 is connected to the HOST 11
The driver screen is displayed on a display unit (not shown). The user makes various settings such as print range and paper selection on this driver screen, and further selects an output destination.

When this output destination selection is instructed, the device driver 41 instructs the HOST 11 to select an output destination (see FIG. 1).
0) is displayed. That is, the device driver 41
From the status manager 44 of the printer 12
The lock information indicating the lock state of each virtual bin is obtained from the status information recorded in the EPROM 23 and displayed as the lock button 62 on the output destination selection screen. The user can check the lock state of each virtual bin by using the lock button 62. In FIG. 10,
Virtual bin number # 1 is locked off and virtual bin number #
2, # 3 and # 4 are lock-on.

The output destination selection screen also displays a check box 63 for specifying an output destination and a confidential button 64 for specifying confidentiality. Immediately after the display, all the check boxes 63 are unchecked, and all the confidential buttons 64 are off.

Here, the user has entered the virtual bin numbers # 2 and #
4, a print instruction is given, and in particular, a confidential designation is made for the virtual bin number # 4. In this case, the user checks the check boxes 63 corresponding to the virtual bin numbers # 2 and # 4 by clicking with the mouse. Further, the user turns on confidential button 64 corresponding to virtual bin number # 4 by clicking with the mouse.

After the designation is completed, the user issues a print instruction to the device driver 41 after confirming the designated items. The device driver 41 converts information input on the output destination selection screen in FIG. 10 into a job management command. Then, the device driver 41
Incorporates this job management command into the print data and transmits the print data to the printer 12.

FIG. 11 shows an example of print data. The print data includes a job management command 71, attached information 72, and print target data 73. Job management command 71
"Outbin = 2; 4;" in the first row of the table indicates that the output destination virtual bin numbers are # 2 and # 4, and the second row "secret = 4;" Bin number #
4 indicates that confidential printing has been designated. The attached information includes information such as the name of the sender who has designated printing, the name of the data to be printed, and the sending date and time.

The device driver 41 transmits the print data including the job management command 71, the attached information 72, and the print target data 73 to the printer 12 as described above.

<Processing on Printer Side> (Processing of Print Data) The print data sent from the HOST 11 as described above is received by the printer 12. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to a print data processing flowchart shown in FIG. First, the interface manager 42 of the printer 12 receives the print data (S
a1).

Next, the job language interpreting section 43 analyzes the job management command 71 of the received print data. Further, the job language interpreting unit 43 secures the output destination flag 75, the confidential flag 76, and the lock flag 77 as variables. FIG. 13 schematically shows the output destination flag 75, the confidential flag 76, and the lock flag 77. Note that each of the flags 75, 76, and 77 sets the number of virtual bins to n so that the states of all the virtual bins can be stored.
(N: positive integer), n bits (bi
t).

Then, the job language interpreting section 43 outputs “outbin” in the job management command 71 of the print data.
= 2; 4; ", the output destination flag 75 is set by setting the bits corresponding to the virtual bin numbers # 2 and # 4 specified here to 1 and setting the other bits to 0 (Sa2). .

Then, the job language interpreting section 43 outputs “secret =” in the job management command 71 of the print data.
4; ”, the virtual bin number # specified here
The bit corresponding to 4 is set to 1 and the other bits are set to 0.
The confidential flag 76 is set (Sa3).

Further, the job language interpreting section 43 reads out the lock information from the status information recorded in the EEPROM 23 via the status manager 44. Then, the bits corresponding to the locked virtual bin numbers # 2, # 3, and # 4 are set to 1 and the other bits are set to 0, and the lock flag 77 is set (Sa4).

Then, the job language interpreting section 43 adds the attached information 72 of the print data and the print target data 73 to the print data.
A storage data is generated by attaching an output destination flag 75, a confidential flag 76, and a lock flag 77. FIG. 14 shows an example of the stored data. The job language interpreting section 43 stores the storage data thus generated in the HDD 22 (Sa
5). When the stored data is processed (stored data processing) as described below, the print data processing ends.

In the above description, the print data sent from the HOST 11 is converted into storage data without expanding the print target data into a print image. The print data may be converted to stored data by the page description language interpretation module 46 in a state where the print target data is expanded into a print image.

Further, all the print data is converted into stored data and temporarily stored in the HDD 22. However, for virtual bins that are not designated as confidential and not locked, the virtual bins are determined based on the print data. May be directly output to the physical bin 28a corresponding to.

The above stored data processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the HDD data management unit 45 acquires the storage data stored in the HDD 22 (Sa6). Then, the HDD data management unit 45
Is, when the set number of virtual bins is n (n: a positive integer), the (integer) variable N indicating the virtual bin number is changed from 1 to n
The stored data is processed while incrementing one by one until the data is incremented. That is, the loop from Sa7 to Sa14 is processed a total of n times corresponding to each value of N, and then the process proceeds to Sa15. Hereinafter, this loop (Sa7 to Sa7)
The process 14) will be described for each step.

Sa7: The HDD data management unit 45 determines whether or not the bit indicating the N-th virtual bin in the storage data output destination flag 75 is 1, and if this bit is 1, the process proceeds to Sa8. If it is 0, the process proceeds to S
Proceed to a14.

Sa8: The HDD data management unit 45 determines whether or not the bit indicating the N-th virtual bin in the confidential flag 76 of the stored data is 1, and if this bit is 1, the process proceeds to Sa13. Advance, if 0, proceed to S
Proceed to a9.

Sa9: The HDD data management unit 45 determines whether the bit indicating the N-th virtual bin in the lock flag 77 of the stored data is 1, and if this bit is 1, the process proceeds to Sa13. If it is 0, the process proceeds to Sa10.

Sa10: Since neither the confidential flag 76 nor the lock flag 77 is set to 1 for the N-th virtual bin, the HDD data management unit 45 outputs the stored data to the physical bin 28a, and
By referring to the status information in M23, the physical bin 28a corresponding to the N-th virtual bin currently being processed
To identify.

Sa11: The page description language interpretation module 46 converts the print target data in the stored data into a print image. This print image is stored in a printing manager 47 and a job control manager 48.
Is passed to the engine controller 49 via The engine controller 49 causes the paper supply device 27 to supply paper to the print engine 26, and the print engine 2
6, after the print image is printed on the sheet, the multi-bin unit 28 is controlled so that the printed sheet is
The data is output to the physical bin 28a specified in a10.

Sa12: Physical bin 2 in Sa11
Since the output process to 8a has been performed, the HDD data management unit 45 sets the bit corresponding to the N-th virtual bin in the output destination flag 75 of the stored data to 0. Then, the process proceeds to Sa14.

Sa13: Since the confidentiality is specified for the N-th virtual bin currently being processed or the virtual bin is locked, the HDD data management unit 45 sends the status of the EEPROM 23 through the status manager 44. After incrementing the unprinted counter in the information by one, the process proceeds to Sa14.

Sa14: The HDD data management unit 45
After N is incremented by 1, the process returns to Sa7. However, if the value of N exceeds n here, the process leaves the loop and proceeds to Sa15.

By the loop of Sa7 to Sa14, the stored data is transferred to the physical bin 28a corresponding to the virtual bin only when neither the confidential specification nor the lock is performed for each virtual bin specified as the output destination. It is actually printed out.

The HDD data management unit 45 determines whether all the bits in the output destination flag 75 of the stored data are 0 (Sa15). The stored data is deleted from the HDD 22 (Sa16), and if at least one of the bits of the output destination flag 75 is 1, the stored data is stored without being deleted. Thus, the processing of the stored data is completed.

For example, each flag 75 of the stored data is
In the case shown in FIG. 3, the storage data is stored in the HDD 22 without being output to the physical bin 28a. That is, in the output destination flag 75, only the bits of the virtual bin numbers # 2 and # 4 are set to “1”. Therefore, in the above loop (Sa7 to Sa14), only when the value of N is 2 or 4, Is performed. If N = 2, the virtual bin number # 2 has not been designated as confidential, so the processing further proceeds to Sa9.
Here, since the virtual bin # 2 itself is locked, the physical bin 28 in Sa10 to Sa12 is
Output processing to a is not performed. If N = 4, the confidentiality designation has been made for this virtual bin number # 4, so that the output processing to the physical bin 28a is not performed.

(Unopened Printing Process) The stored data stored in the HDD 22 after the completion of the above-described stored data process can be physically stored only when the user who owns the virtual bin performs the unsealed printing process described below. Output to bin 28a. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the unsealed printing process. Hereinafter, each step will be described.

Sb1: The user can start the unsealed printing process by operating the panel unit 29 of the printer 12. Since there are a plurality of functions to operate and execute the panel unit 29, the user operates the cursor keys 33 while viewing the display unit 32 to display a desired function on the display unit 32 and then enter The key 35 is used to determine. The status manager 44 obtains information indicating the function specified by the user from the panel unit 29.

Sb2: The status manager 44
If the function specified by the user is unsealing printing, the process proceeds to Sb4 to start unsealing printing, but if the specified function is other than unsealing printing, the process proceeds to Sb3.

Sb3: Since a function other than the unsealed printing is specified, the status manager 44 executes the function and returns the processing to Sb1.

Sb4: Since unsealing printing is specified, the status manager 44 switches the screen of the display unit 32 on the panel unit 29, and allows the user to select his or her own virtual bin. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating a screen example of the display unit 32. In FIG. 17, virtual bin number # 1 (Bin
= 1) is displayed. The user scrolls the screen of the display unit 32 using the cursor keys 33 of the panel unit 29 to display his or her virtual bin on the screen. Then, the user specifies his or her virtual bin by pressing the enter key 35. Status manager 4
4 acquires from the panel unit 29 the virtual bin number designated by the user.

Sb5: The status manager 44
Displaying the screen of FIG. 18 on the display unit 32 of the panel unit 29 allows the user to input a password. The user inputs a password using the numeric keypad 34. The status manager 44 acquires the password input by the user from the panel unit 29.

Sb6: The status manager 44
The password corresponding to the virtual bin number specified by the user is read out from the status information recorded in the EEPROM 23, and is compared with the password input by the user. The status manager 44 advances the process to Sb10 if the two passwords match, but branches the process to Sb7 if they do not match.

Sb7: Since the input password is incorrect, the status manager 44 displays the screen shown in FIG. 18 again on the display unit 32 of the panel unit 29, and prompts the user to input the password. The user uses the numeric keypad 34 to re-enter the password.

Sb8: The status manager 44
The password acquired from the EEPROM 23 is compared with the re-entered password. Status manager 4
No. 4 advances the process to Sb10 if the passwords match, but advances the process to Sb9 if they do not match.

Sb9: The status manager 44
After displaying on the display unit 32 of the panel unit 29 that an error has occurred due to an incorrect password, the process proceeds to S
Return to b1.

Sb10: Status manager 44
Acknowledges that the user who is currently operating the panel unit 29 is the owner of the virtual bin in response to the user inputting the correct password, and sets the variable V indicating the output destination secured in advance as the Enter the virtual bin number. Then,
After the actual printing process described below is executed, the unsealed printing process ends, and the process returns to Sb1.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the actual printing process. Each step in this drawing will be described below.

Sb11: The HDD data management unit 45
The storage data recorded in the HDD 22 is searched, and the storage data recorded first is read.

Sb12: The HDD data management unit 45
The output destination flag 75 of the stored data is extracted.

Sb13: The HDD data management unit 45
It is determined whether or not the bit indicating the virtual bin number stored in the output destination V is 1 in the output destination flag 75. If this bit is 1, the process proceeds to Sb14, but if it is 0, the process proceeds to Sb18.

Sb14: The HDD data management unit 45
The storage data is output to the physical bin 28a, and the physical bin 28a corresponding to the number is specified for the virtual bin stored in the output target V by referring to the status information in the EEPROM 23.

Sb15: The page description language interpretation module 46 converts the print target data 73 in the stored data into a print image. This print image is passed to the engine controller 49 via the printing manager 47 and the job control manager 48.
The engine controller 49 causes the paper supply device 27 to supply paper to the print engine 26, causes the print engine 26 to print the print image on the paper, and then controls the multi-bin unit 28 to print the printed paper. The data is output to the physical bin 28a specified in Sb14.

Sb16: Physical bin 2 in Sb15
Since the output processing to 8a has been performed, the HDD data management unit 45 rewrites the bit corresponding to the virtual bin number stored in the output target V in the storage data output destination flag 75 to 0.

Sb17: The HDD data management unit 45
Through the status manager 44, the EEPROM 23
Unprinted counter in status information recorded in
Then, the process proceeds to Sb18.

Sb18: The HDD data management unit 45
It is checked whether all bits of the output destination flag 75 are 0. If all bits are 0, the process proceeds to Sb19; if any bit is 1, the process proceeds to Sb19.
Proceed to b20.

Sb19: Since the storage data is completely printed on the designated output destination, the HDD data management unit 45 deletes the storage data from the HDD 22. Then, the process proceeds to Sb20.

Sb20: The HDD data management unit 45
The storage data stored next to the storage data processed in Sb12 to Sb19 is searched.

Sb21: If there is stored data that has not been processed yet, the HDD data management unit 45 returns the processing to Sb12. However, if the processing has been completed for all the stored data, the HDD To end.

As described above, the storage data designated as confidential or the storage data corresponding to the locked virtual bin can be opened and printed only by the user who owns the virtual bin.

In the printer 12 of this embodiment, since a password is set in advance for each virtual bin, H
When print data is sent from the OST 11 to the printer 12, it is not necessary to attach a password to the print data, and the confidential function works effectively only by specifying the confidentiality of the print data. Therefore, the password does not flow on the network 13 every time printing is performed. Further, each user can use the confidential function and the lock function only by remembering the single password set for his or her virtual bin, so that password management is simple.

[0116]

According to the printer and print system of the present invention configured as described above, a dedicated output destination can be assigned to all users sharing the printer, regardless of the configuration of the discharge mechanism.

[0117] Further, the user can perform 1
It is possible to transmit print target data to a plurality of output destinations by performing the print instruction twice.

As an effect of the second aspect, a dedicated output destination can be assigned to all users sharing the printer regardless of the number of physical bins.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an appearance of a printer.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a panel unit.

FIG. 5 is a software configuration diagram of the printer.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen on the administrator side.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a setting screen on the user side.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a password change screen.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a lock state change screen.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an output destination selection screen of a device driver.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of print data.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating print data processing.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of an output destination flag, a confidential flag, and a lock flag.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of stored data.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing stored data processing.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an opening printing process.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display unit screen on the panel unit.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display unit screen on the panel unit.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating actual printing processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 printing system 11 host personal computer 12 printer 20 main control unit 21 input / output control unit 22 HDD 23 EEPROM 25 network interface 26 print engine 27 paper feeder 28 multi bin unit 28a bin 29 panel unit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] March 3, 2000 (200.3.3)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the data to be printed is
A printing unit for printing data on a medium, and
With one or more physical bins from which the printed media is ejected
Eject mechanism and send print data with print target data
Connected to one or more possible computers,
An interface unit for receiving print data from the printer,
For the printing unit, print target data in the print data
To the physical bin of the ejection mechanism.
The printer has a control unit for discharging the used media.
A bin indicating a correspondence between a plurality of virtual bins and the physical bin.
A storage unit for storing correspondence information;
The data further includes information indicating the designated virtual bin.
The control unit receives information indicating the designated virtual bin.
The physical bin is identified based on the
The media printed for the specified physical bin
It is characterized by discharging.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the data to be printed is
A printing unit that prints on a medium, and that is printed by the printing unit.
Ejector with one or more physical bins from which waste media is ejected
And print data having print target data can be transmitted.
Connected to one or more computers,
An interface unit for receiving the print data,
Print the data to be printed in the print data to the printing unit on the medium
And the medium printed on the physical bin of the discharging mechanism.
And a control unit for discharging the body.
Bin correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the number of virtual bins and the physical bins
Further comprising a storage unit for storing the print data,
Further includes information indicating the specified virtual bins.
The control unit displays the specified virtual bins.
The number of virtual bins indicated by the
Print the data to be printed, and
Information based on the bins, and multiple
Of the physical bins, and for each of the specified physical bins,
The printed medium is discharged.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The third aspect of the present invention is directed to the first or second aspect.
The print data is set for each designated virtual bin.
Confidential information indicating the presence or absence of the specified confidential
The control unit is configured to execute the designation included in the print data.
Based on the confidential information and the information indicating the virtual bin
Virtual bins with confidential
While recognizing the
The print target data in the print data is stored data.
And stored in the storage unit to open the virtual bin.
If printing is specified, the virtual
Print target data in the stored data associated with the bin
Is printed by the printing unit, and is stored in the storage unit.
Open printing is specified based on the stored bin correspondence information.
Physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin
Ejecting the printed media to the physical bin
Features.

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0011] The invention described in claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
The storage unit stores a log set for each virtual bin.
Lock information indicating the lock ON or OFF state is stored.
The control unit controls the specified
Information indicating a virtual bin, and information stored in the storage unit
Of the specified virtual bin based on the lock information.
Recognizes the virtual bin for which the
In the print data in association with the recognized virtual bin.
Data to be printed is stored in the storage unit as storage data
And when the opening printing for the virtual bin is specified
The open printing is associated with the specified virtual bin.
Prints the print target data in the stored data to the printing unit
And the bin correspondence information stored in the storage unit.
The virtual bin specified for open printing is
Identify the corresponding physical bin and mark the specified physical bin.
The printed medium is discharged.

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least a printing method is provided.
Computer capable of transmitting print data having target data
And a printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium,
One or more media from which the medium printed by the printing unit is discharged.
An ejection mechanism with a physical bin above and the computer
An interface unit for receiving the print data,
Print the data to be printed in the print data to the printing unit on the medium
And the physical bin of the ejection mechanism is marked.
A printer with a control unit for discharging printed media
A printing system comprising:
Bin correspondence indicating the correspondence between a plurality of virtual bins and the physical bin
A storage unit for storing information;
The print data includes information indicating the designated virtual bin.
To the printer, and the control unit
Information indicating the designated virtual bin, and the bin correspondence information
The physical bin is identified based on the
Ejecting the printed medium to the
You.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0013

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, at least a printing method is provided.
Computer capable of transmitting print data having target data
And a printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium,
One or more media from which the medium printed by the printing unit is discharged.
An ejection mechanism with a physical bin above and the computer
An interface unit for receiving the print data,
Print the data to be printed in the print data to the printing unit on the medium
And eject the printed medium to the ejection mechanism.
A mark composed of a printer having a control unit for discharging
Printing system, wherein the printer comprises a plurality of virtual bins.
And bin correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the physical bin and the physical bin.
A storage unit, wherein the computer is
Information indicating the plurality of virtual bins is included in the print data.
To the printer, and the control unit
Virtual bin indicated by information indicating a plurality of virtual bins
The printing unit prints the print target data for several times,
Information indicating the plurality of designated virtual bins;
Identify and specify multiple physical bins based on correspondence information
Eject the printed media for each physical bin
It is characterized by that.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0014

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, data to be printed is
A printing unit that prints on a medium, and that is printed by the printing unit.
Ejector with one or more physical bins from which waste media is ejected
And print data having print target data can be transmitted.
Connected to one or more computers,
An interface unit for receiving the print data,
Print the data to be printed in the print data to the printing unit on the medium
Printed on the physical bin of the ejection mechanism
A control unit for discharging the medium,
Bin correspondence indicating the correspondence between a plurality of virtual bins and the physical bin
Information and the lock on or off set for each virtual bin
Further stores the lock unit that stores the lock information indicating the off state.
The print data includes a plurality of designated virtual bins.
Indicating the virtual bin, and is set for each specified virtual bin.
Confidential information indicating the presence or absence of confidential designation,
The control unit includes information indicating the plurality of designated virtual bins,
Based on the confidential information and the lock information,
Confidential is not specified and the lock is off
In addition to recognizing virtual bins that are
The print target data is printed on the printing unit for the number of virtual bins.
The virtual virtual machine recognized based on the bin correspondence information.
The physical bin corresponding to the physical bin is specified, and the specified physical bin is specified.
It is characterized by discharging the printed media to the bin
I do.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7.
The control unit may further include the designated data included in the print data.
Information indicating a plurality of virtual bins and the confidential information.
Confidential
And recognize the virtual bin
Associates and stores the print target data in the print data.
Stored in the storage unit as delivery data, and stored in the virtual bin.
Opening print is specified when
In the stored data associated with the specified virtual bin
While causing the printing unit to print the target data,
Open the seal based on the bin correspondence information stored in the storage unit
Identify the physical bin corresponding to the specified virtual bin for which printing is specified
And eject the printed media to the specified physical bin.
It is characterized by

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method as set forth in the seventh or eighth aspect.
In the control unit, the control unit is included in the print data
Information indicating a plurality of designated virtual bins, and the storage unit
Based on the lock information stored in the
A virtual bin whose lock is on among multiple virtual bins
While recognizing the
The print target data in the print data is stored data.
And stored in the storage unit to open the virtual bin.
If printing is specified, the virtual
Print target data in the stored data associated with the bin
Is printed by the printing unit, and is stored in the storage unit.
Open printing is specified based on the stored bin correspondence information.
Physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin
Ejecting the printed media to the physical bin
Features.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the data to be printed.
A printing unit for printing the image on a medium;
Mechanism with multiple physical bins for ejecting used media
And one capable of transmitting print data having print target data
Connected to more than one computer
An interface unit for receiving print data of the
The print target data in the print data is
To discharge the printed medium to the discharge mechanism.
A printer comprising:
The control unit further includes information indicating a plurality of physical bins.
Is the physical indicated by the information indicating the plurality of physical bins.
The print target data is printed on the printing unit for the number of bins.
Each object indicated by the information indicating the plurality of physical bins.
Ejecting the printed media to the bin
Features.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0020

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0022

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0023

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 18]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 19]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0025

[Correction method] Deleted

[Procedure amendment 20]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0106

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Sb14: The HDD data management unit 45
The storage data, and thereby output to the physical bins 28a, by referring to the status information in the EEPROM 23, identifies the physical bins 28a corresponding to the virtual bins numbers stored in the output target V.

[Procedure amendment 21]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0116]

According to the printer and printing system of the present invention configured as described above, regardless of the configuration of the discharge mechanism, virtual bins dedicated to all users sharing the printer are provided.
Alternatively, physical bins can be assigned.

[Procedure amendment 22]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0117

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0117] Further, the user can perform 1
The print instruction data can be transmitted to a plurality of virtual bins or physical bins according to the print instruction.

[Procedure amendment 23]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Deleted

Claims (16)

[Claims] A printing unit that prints data to be printed on a medium, a discharge mechanism that discharges the medium printed by the printing unit, an input unit that receives a user's input operation, An interface unit connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having output destination information designating one or more output destinations among the output destinations and receiving print data from the computer; A storage unit for storing the received print data as storage data, and, when a user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit, the output of the storage data stored in the storage unit Select the output information in which the output destination selected by the user is specified in the destination information, and instruct the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data. It is printed on, with respect to the discharge mechanism, a printer, characterized by a control unit to discharge the printed media. 2. A printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing unit to one of a plurality of physical bins, and an input for accepting a user's input operation And print data from the computer connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having print target data and output destination information designating one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations. And a storage unit for setting bin correspondence information for specifying the physical bin corresponding to each output destination for each output destination, and storing the print data received by the interface unit as storage data And a unit, when a user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit, the output destination information of the stored data stored in the storage unit. The user selects the output destination selected by the user, and causes the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. A printer configured to specify a physical bin corresponding to the output destination selected by the user and to cause the discharge mechanism to discharge a printed medium to the specified physical bin. 3. A printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium, a discharging mechanism for discharging the medium printed by the printing unit to one of a plurality of physical bins, and an input for accepting a user's input operation And print data having print target data, confidential information specifying whether confidentiality of the print target data is specified, and output destination information specifying one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations. An interface unit that is connected to one or more computers and receives print data from the computer, and bin correspondence information that specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination is set for each output destination, and A storage unit for storing, as storage data, data designated as confidential by the confidential information of the print data received by the interface unit; Selected from the print data received by the base unit in the confidential information, the confidential information is specified as confidential, and the print unit prints the print target data of the selected print data on a medium. Based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, the physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as the output destination of the selected print data is specified, and the printed medium is sent to the specified physical bin for the ejection mechanism. Output, when the user inputs to select an output destination via the input unit, the output destination selected by the user is included in the output destination information among the stored data stored in the storage unit. Selecting a designated one, causing the printing unit to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, and an output selected by the user based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit Printer identify the corresponding physical bins to said discharging mechanism, characterized in that it comprises a control unit to discharge to that identifying the printed media physical bottle. 4. A printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium, a discharging mechanism for discharging the medium printed by the printing unit to one of a plurality of physical bins, and an input for accepting a user's input operation And print data having print target data, output destination information specifying one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations, and confidential information specifying whether or not confidentiality is specified for each of the specified output destinations. An interface unit that is connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting and receives print data from the computer, and bin correspondence information that specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination is set for each output destination In addition, of the print data received by the interface unit, data designated as confidential to at least one output destination by the confidential information as storage data A storage unit for 憶, among the print data to which the interface unit receives, the output destination designated in the destination information of at least 1
One of the confidential data is selected as having no confidential designation, and the print unit is caused to print the print target data of the selected print data on a medium, and selected based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. The physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as the output destination information of the print data that has been specified and the confidential information specified as confidential is not specified, and the printed medium is specified with respect to the ejection mechanism. Output to a physical bin, and when the user inputs to select an output destination via the input unit, the output destination information of the stored data stored in the storage unit is selected by the user. An output destination is designated, and the print unit prints the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, and the user selects the print target data based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. Has been to identify the corresponding physical bin to the output destination, to the discharge mechanism, a printer, characterized by a control unit to discharge to that identifying the printed media physical bottle. 5. A printing section for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing section to one of a plurality of physical bins, and an input for accepting a user's input operation And print data from the computer connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting print data having print target data and output destination information designating one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations. An interface unit for receiving, for each output destination, bin correspondence information specifying the physical bin corresponding to the output destination, and lock information specifying lock-on or lock-off of the output destination for each output destination. Is set, and at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information of the print data received by the interface unit is locked in the storage unit. A storage unit for storing those specified and lock on to the information as stored data, among the print data to which the interface unit receives, the output destination designated in the destination information of at least 1
One selects lock-off designated in the lock information in the storage unit, and causes the printing unit to print the print target data of the selected print data on a medium, based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. Specifying the physical bin corresponding to the output destination specified as the output destination information of the selected print data and specified as lock-off in the lock information in the storage unit, Is output to the specified physical bin, and when the user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit, the output destination information of the stored data stored in the storage unit indicates the user Select the output destination selected by the printer, print the data to be printed in the selected storage data on the medium, based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. Identify the physical bins corresponding to the output destination selected by the user, with respect to the discharge mechanism,
A control unit for discharging the printed medium to the specified physical bin. 6. A printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium, a discharging mechanism for discharging the medium printed by the printing unit to one of a plurality of physical bins, and an input for receiving a user's input operation And print data having print target data, confidential information specifying whether confidentiality of the print target data is specified, and output destination information specifying one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations. An interface unit that is connected to one or more computers and receives print data from the computers; bin correspondence information that specifies the physical bin corresponding to the output destination for each output destination; Lock information for designating lock-on or lock-off of the output destination is set, and the confidential information of the print data received by the interface unit is used. A storage unit that stores, as storage data, one that is specified as confidential specification or at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information is specified as lock-on in the lock information in the storage unit; Of the print data received by the interface unit, the confidential information is specified as “no confidential” and at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information is specified as lock-off in the lock information in the storage unit. Selected, and causes the printing unit to print the print target data of the selected print data on a medium. Based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, the print unit is designated as the output destination of the selected print data. And specifies a physical bin corresponding to the output destination designated as lock-off in the lock information in the storage unit, and sends the printed medium to the ejection mechanism. Is output to the specified physical bin, and when the user inputs an instruction to select an output destination via the input unit, the output destination information of the stored data stored in the storage unit indicates the user The output destination selected by the user is selected, and the printing unit is caused to print the print target data in the selected storage data on a medium, and the use is performed based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit. A printer configured to specify a physical bin corresponding to an output destination selected by a user and to cause the discharge mechanism to discharge a printed medium to the specified physical bin. 7. A printing unit for printing data to be printed on a medium, an ejection mechanism for ejecting the medium printed by the printing unit to one of a plurality of physical bins, and an input for accepting a user's input operation And print data having print target data, output destination information specifying one or more output destinations among a plurality of output destinations, and confidential information specifying whether or not confidentiality is specified for each of the specified output destinations. An interface unit connected to one or more computers capable of transmitting and receiving print data from the computer; bin correspondence information for specifying the physical bin corresponding to the output destination for each output destination; Lock information specifying lock-on or lock-off of the output destination is set for each output destination, and the confidential information of the print data received by the interface unit is At least by 1
The print data is stored when the confidentiality is specified for one of the output destinations, or when at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information is specified as lock-on in the lock information in the storage unit. A storage unit for storing the data as data; and at least one of the output destinations specified in the output destination information among the print data received by the interface unit.
One of the confidential data is specified as confidential not specified and the lock information stored in the storage unit is specified as lock-off, and the selected print data is printed on the printing unit. Print the target data on a medium,
Based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, it is specified as the output destination information of the selected print data, the confidential information is specified as confidential, and the lock information stored in the storage unit is specified as lock-off. Specify the physical bin corresponding to the output destination, output the printed medium to the specified physical bin to the ejection mechanism, and input that the user selects the output destination via the input unit. In this case, from among the stored data stored in the storage unit, the one in which the output destination selected by the user is specified in the output destination information is selected, and the selected stored data is output to the printing unit. The print target data in the medium is printed on a medium, a physical bin corresponding to an output destination selected by the user is specified based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, and the physical bin corresponding to the output mechanism is printed. Printer, characterized in that it comprises a control unit to discharge to the physical bins identified the body. 8. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of virtual bins are further set in the storage unit, and the virtual bin is set as an output destination. Printer. 9. A password corresponding to each of the virtual bins is further set in the storage unit, and the control unit, when the user inputs a command to select a virtual bin via the input unit, When the password corresponding to the virtual bin is input together, the storage data stored in the storage unit is selected from those whose output destination information specifies the virtual bin selected by the user,
For the printing unit, the printing target data in the selected storage data is printed on a medium, and based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, a physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin selected by the user is specified, 9. The printer according to claim 8, wherein the ejection mechanism ejects the printed medium to the specified physical bin. 10. The printer according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of virtual bins are further set in the storage unit, and the virtual bin is set as an output destination. 11. A password corresponding to each of the virtual bins is further set in the storage unit, and the control unit, when the user inputs a command to select a virtual bin via the input unit, When the password corresponding to the virtual bin is input together, the storage data stored in the storage unit is selected from those whose output destination information specifies the virtual bin selected by the user,
For the printing unit, the printing target data in the selected storage data is printed on a medium, and based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, a physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin selected by the user is specified, 11. The printer according to claim 10, wherein the ejection mechanism ejects the printed medium to a specified physical bin. 12. The printer according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of virtual bins are further set in the storage unit, and the virtual bin is set as an output destination. 13. The storage unit is further set with a password corresponding to each of the virtual bins. The control unit, when the user inputs a command to select a virtual bin via the input unit, When the password corresponding to the virtual bin is input together, the storage data stored in the storage unit is selected from those whose output destination information specifies the virtual bin selected by the user,
For the printing unit, the printing target data in the selected storage data is printed on a medium, and based on the bin correspondence information in the storage unit, a physical bin corresponding to the virtual bin selected by the user is specified, 13. The printer according to claim 12, wherein the ejecting mechanism ejects the printed medium to a specified physical bin. 14. A printer according to claim 1, further connected to the printer via a network, and print target data. Generating output information for designating the output destination after allowing the user to select one or more output destinations; generating print data including the print target data and the output destination information; A printing system, comprising: one or more computers capable of transmitting data to the printer. 15. The printer according to claim 3, connected to the printer via a network, and generates print target data for use. A user selects one or more output destinations, generates output destination information for designating the output destination, and generates a confidential information after allowing the user to select whether or not to specify the confidentiality of the print target data. A print system that generates print data including the print target data, output destination information, and confidential information, and transmits the print data to the printer. 16. A printer according to claim 4, connected to the printer via a network, and generating print data for use. After the user selects one or more output destinations, output destination information specifying the output destination is generated, and for each of the output destinations specified in the output destination information, whether or not the user has designated confidentiality is determined. One or more computers capable of generating confidential information after selection, generating print data including the print target data, output destination information, and confidential information, and transmitting the print data to the printer. A printing system, characterized in that: