JP2003231333A - Printer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a highly efficient printer system holding data not subjected to print processing. <P>SOLUTION: The LP (laser printer) comprises means for generating image data, means for generating control information of a printer, and means for transmitting/receiving data through a WEB network. According to a currently set control mode and a control code from a host 3, a controller converts print data from the host into video data being delivered to a printer engine 15. The printer system has a function for discharging the data automatically to a virtual sheet discharge tray upon occurrence of an error, e.g. a specified sheet is not present, when automatic tray selecting function is performed. Consequently, data held in the virtual sheet discharge tray can be held under the state of an image developed for writing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer system, and more particularly to a printer system applied as a general printing machine such as a laser printer including black and white and color.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printer system generally displays an error when a trouble such as running out of paper occurs.
Print data is being ejected.

[0003]

However, once the data is discharged, there is a problem that the data must be newly fetched from the beginning.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly efficient printer system that holds data that has not been printed.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the printer system of the present invention includes means for generating image data, means for generating control information of a printing device, and means for transmitting / receiving data via a WEB network. With L
P (laser printer), which has a function of executing the automatic tray selection function and automatically ejecting the corresponding data to the virtual ejection tray when an error occurs such as when there is no designated paper.
It is characterized in that the data held in the virtual paper discharge tray is held in the state of an image developed by drawing.

Further, in the invention described in claim 1, the information in the virtual paper discharge tray is managed by setting a user ID in the data, and when the data of the same ID is received, the virtual paper discharge is performed on the last page of the data. It is advisable to print the log (the name of the held document and the reason for holding it) and notify it.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in the description of the first aspect, by providing and accessing a virtual printer (HP) in the server via the WEB network,
It has a communication function capable of graphically confirming and inquiring the status of the virtual paper ejection tray. It is better to specify and print.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the means for generating the image data executes the automatic tray selection function,
It is preferable to have a function of automatically discharging the corresponding data to the virtual paper discharge tray when an error occurs such as when there is no designated paper.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a printer system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1-11, there is shown one embodiment of the printer system of the present invention.

(Outline of Laser Printer) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a laser printer. The laser printer includes a controller 1, a host machine 3, a hard disk 17, and an operation panel 4. The controller 1 includes a host I / F 5, a ROM
6, font ROM7, panel I / F8, CPU9, R
AM10, NV-RAM11, engine I / F12, N
The network I / F 13, the disk 14, the printer engine 15, and the hard disk 17 are included.

The controller 1 is a general term for a control mechanism for converting print data from the host into video data and outputting the video data to the printer engine 15 in accordance with the control mode set at that time and the control code from the host 3.

The controller 1 includes an operation panel 4, a host I / F 5, a ROM 6, a font ROM 7, and a panel I / F.
8, CPU 9, RAM 10, NV-RAM 11, engine I / F 12, Network I / F 13, Disk
14, the printer engine 15, and each module.

The host I / F 5 is an interface for transmitting and receiving control signals and data from the outside to the printer 1 and status signals from the printer 1. CPU9
Performs data processing according to the program contents of the ROM 6.

The RAM 10 is used as a work area for the CPU 9, a buffer for receiving data from the host, and a processed image development area.

The NV-RAM 11 turns on / off the power source.
It is a non-volatile memory that can hold data regardless.

The font ROM 7 is a memory that holds several types of fonts used for printing.

The engine I / F 12 is an I / F for transmitting and receiving control signals to the controller 1 and the printer engine 15 and status signals from the printer engine 15 to the controller 1. The printer engine 15 forms an image by electrostatically forming an image on the photoconductor based on the video signal and the control information from the controller 1 and feeding the transfer paper from the paper feeding unit.

The operation panel 4 is a switch section that can change the printer status display, mode, and printing conditions.

The Network I / F 13 is an I / F for connecting to a LAN or the Internet.

When the page of print data from the host is completed based on the control information through the above modules, a printer start command is given to the printer engine 15 to start printing. An operation example is shown below.

(Operation Example 1) FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation example 1. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 2, when the automatic tray selection command is present (step S1 / Y), it is checked whether or not the designated paper is present (step S2), and when it is not present (step S2 / N), the data is set. The user ID of is added to the history file (step S3). Further, the data is expanded and stored in the hard disk (HDD) (step S4). The automatic tray selection described above is a function of selecting a tray and printing by designating the paper size and type without considering the paper tray.

According to the above, when the designated sheet does not exist, the sheet is discharged to the virtual tray (HDD output). Therefore,
The print processing of the print data is completed without being affected by any setting state of the printer, and the interruption of subsequent jobs is reduced as much as possible.

As a function and effect corresponding to the operation example 1, in the printing in which the automatic paper is selected, the paper is virtually discharged even if the specified paper is not set, so that the printer is busy or the subsequent printing is performed. Can be expected to have as little impact as possible.

(Operation Example 2) FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation example 2. Further, FIG. 5 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 4, the page is printed (step S11), and it is checked whether it is the last page (step S11).
12), if it is the final page (step S12 / Y),
It is checked whether the user ID of the data is stored (step S13), and if it is stored (step S1).
(3 / Y), the date and time of the stored data, the document name, the number of pages, and the reason for the virtual paper ejection are added to the final page for printing (step S14).

According to the above, as a means for notifying the user who sent the data held (virtually discharged) in the operation example 1, the log is printed at the same time when the user prints thereafter.

As a function and effect corresponding to the operation example 2, as a means for notifying the user of the history of virtual paper ejection according to claim 1, data management by the user ID is performed and a user having a history of virtual paper ejection is provided. Simultaneously prints the history of virtual paper ejection.

(Operation Example 3) FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation example 3. Further, FIG. 7 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 6, after checking whether the virtual tray on the WEB is connected (step S11 /
Y), and input the user ID (step S22). If the input user ID is stored (step S23 /
Y), the date and time of the virtually ejected page, the number of pages, the document name,
The reason for the virtual paper discharge is displayed (step S24).

According to the above, the virtual printer (HP) using WEB is used as the notification means to the user in the operation example 2.
It is possible to provide a service that allows users to visually check the pages that have been virtually ejected.

As a function and effect corresponding to the operation example 3, as a means for notifying the user of the history of virtual paper discharge according to claim 1, the information can be remotely displayed by the virtual printer (HP) connected to the WEB. Expect to get it.

(Operation Example 4) FIG. 8 is a flowchart of Operation Example 4. Further, FIG. 9 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure. In FIG. 8, after confirming that there is data that has been virtually ejected (step S31 / Y),
It is confirmed whether or not the data is to be printed from the WEB (step S32), and the data is designated and printed from the virtual printer (HP) (step S33).

Further, FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a modification example. Further, FIG. 11 is a diagram conceptually showing the operation procedure of the modification. In FIG. 10, after it is confirmed that there is data that has been virtually ejected (step S
41 / Y), it is confirmed whether the data is to be printed from the WEB (step S42), and the user ID and the data are designated by the operation of the main body to print (step S43).

According to the above, in the operation example 2 or the operation example 3, as means for making a print request for the held data again, the main body is directly operated and the virtual printer (HP) on the WEB is used.
You can also run from.

As a function and effect corresponding to the operation example 4, as a means for printing the virtual paper discharge data confirmed in the operation examples 2 and 3 by the virtual printer HP as a means for printing it, a print request is issued from the virtual printer HP, or other It is hoped that you can reprint by operating the main body with reference to the history page on the spot where you printed out.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, the printer system of the present invention executes the automatic tray selection function to automatically output the corresponding data virtually when an error occurs such as when there is no designated paper. It has the function of discharging paper to the tray. Therefore, the data held in the virtual paper discharge tray can be held in the state of the image developed and expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a laser printer showing an embodiment of a printer system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first operation example.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a first operation example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a second operation example.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a second operation example.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a third operation example.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a third operation example.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a fourth operation example 1.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a fourth operation example 1;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a fourth operation example 2;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a fourth operation example 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 controller 3 host 4 Operation panel 5 Host I / F 6 ROM 7 font ROM 8 panel I / F 9 CPU 10 RAM 11 NV-RAM 12 Engine I / F 13 Network I / F 14 Disk 15 Printer engine 17 hard disk

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An automatic tray selection function is provided in an LP (laser printer) having means for generating image data, means for generating control information of a printing apparatus, and means for transmitting / receiving data via a WEB network. It also has a function to automatically discharge the corresponding data to the virtual paper output tray when an error occurs such as when the specified paper is out of paper, etc. A printer system characterized by holding an image. 2. The information in the virtual paper ejection tray is managed by setting a user ID in the data, and the same I
2. The printer system according to claim 1, wherein when the data of D is received, a virtually ejected log (document name retained and reason for retaining) is printed and notified on the last page of the data. 3. The communication function according to claim 1, wherein a server via the WEB network provides a virtual printer (HP) and accesses it to graphically confirm and inquire the state of the virtual paper discharge tray. The printer system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. The printing is performed by designating data from the main body operation and the WEB page.
The printer system according to any one of 1. 5. The means for generating the image data executes the automatic tray selection function, and automatically outputs the corresponding data to the virtual paper discharge tray when an error occurs such as when there is no designated paper. It has a function, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
5. The printer system according to any one of items 1 to 4.