JP2004338202A - Printing system and printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system which prevents papers under preparation from being left unprinted even when the printing is stopped at a limiting number of sheets by estimating the number of sheets under preparation and taking the estimated number of sheets into account in a printing system which is controlled not to print by the limiting number or more, and to provide its printing method. <P>SOLUTION: An estimated number of sheets setting part 9 is provided, which sets a value of the number of sheets estimated to be sure to actually move to a printing operation when a paper feeding operation is started at an engine part 4 on the basis of printing data obtained from a printing data forming part 3. An operation processing part 10 is set, which detects that a total value of a count value of a counter 8 for the number of discharged sheets and the set value of the estimated number of sheets setting part 9 exceeds a set value of a limiting number of sheets setting part 7. A setting control part 6 is set, which sets the system to a cancel mode of canceling the printing data of the printing data forming part 3 by a detection output of the operation processing part 10. The printing data exceeding the limiting number of sheets at high-speed printing is canceled. Printing is finished within the limiting number of sheets, and papers already fed are prevented from remaining. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention converts print data supplied from a print data supply device such as a computer device into print data in a print data forming unit, supplies the print data to an engine unit, executes printing, and sets a print limit number in advance. The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing method managed so that printing is performed within the set values.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of printing system performs management such that printing is performed systematically by limiting the number of sheets that can be printed in advance because unnecessary printed matter is generated when the user performs printing casually. I have. In particular, a high-performance printing system capable of high-speed printing is easy to use, so that careless use causes a large amount of useless printed matter. The amount of paper, toner, and the like consumed in the useless printed matter is not small and cannot be ignored.
[0003]
Therefore, from the viewpoint of the budget management of companies and the like and the environmental load due to the consumption of unnecessary resources, when using the printing system, the output number is prevented from being unlimited and the waste of paper and toner is prevented. In order to prevent this, operation management is performed with restrictions set for each department or for each user. Such operation management is called a department management function, and is introduced to companies and the like, and appropriate operation management for each department and each user for use of the printing system is performed.
[0004]
Further, a printing system using a billing system has been considered as a department management system in which a user uses a printing system systematically and encourages self-management of the number of printed sheets. For example, in a system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-157, in which a charge is imposed on the use of a copy, an apparatus in which a limit on a maximum usable copy amount is set in advance is known. This billing system employs a method in which the billing unit is set in advance according to a coefficient that varies depending on the paper size.
[0005]
In other words, if the usage exceeds the reference value during the execution of the print job, the copying operation is not automatically stopped due to the insufficient number of copies before the number of copies requested by the user is reached. When it is predicted, the printing is performed on a paper size with a small billing amount by using the reduced printing function, and the printing is completed until the billing balance becomes insufficient. As described above, conventionally, there has been considered a system in which charging management is performed for each user and each printing mode so that printing exceeding a preset limit value cannot be performed.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2000-71577 (paragraph [0005], paragraph [00015], paragraph [0018], paragraph [0076])
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional technology, the setting is made so that the limited number of sheets are fed in advance, so that the sheet feeding function does not normally operate, and a plurality of sheets cannot be fed simultaneously or even one sheet cannot be fed. In some cases, such an error may occur, and when such an error occurs, there is a problem that printing results cannot be correctly counted and accurate billing cannot be performed.
[0008]
As a solution to this, there is a method of counting the number of sheets for which printing has been completed by the engine unit. However, in this method, the formation of print data and the paper feed are performed continuously. Pages and paper that has been fed remain as a work in progress. It is necessary to reset or dispose of this work in progress for the next print job, and handling is troublesome. Further, there is a problem that the paper being processed is wasted.
[0009]
Accordingly, the inventor of the present application has conducted various studies to solve the above-described problems, and as a result, in the printing apparatus, the actual number of sheets ejected after printing and the engine unit are fed in advance during the printing process. In addition, the present inventors have found that the above problem can be solved by controlling the total number of in-process paper sheets, which are being converted into print data, with the predicted number of sheets, and comparing the total number with the print limit number, thereby completing the present invention. That is what led to it.
That is, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problem, and in a printing system that is controlled so as not to print more than a limited number of sheets, predicts the number of sheets in process and considers the estimated number of sheets. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printing system and a printing method thereof, in which even if printing is stopped at a limited number of sheets, a work in progress does not remain.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a printing system according to claim 1 of the present invention converts input data input from a print data supply device into print data by a print data forming unit, supplies the print data to an engine unit, and sets a limit number setting unit. In a printing system that performs printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter so that printing is performed within a limited number set in advance,
A predicted sheet number setting unit for setting a sheet number value which is predicted to start the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit and to actually shift to the printing operation When,
An arithmetic processing unit that compares the count value of the discharge number counter and the total value of the set value of the predicted number setting unit and the set value of the limited number setting unit,
A setting control unit that sets a cancel mode for canceling the print data formed by the print data forming unit when detecting that the total value exceeds the set value of the limit number setting unit. I do.
[0011]
Therefore, according to the first aspect, the determination as to whether or not the count value of the discharge number counter has exceeded the limit number is made by adding the predicted number to the count value of the discharge number counter. Even in a printing device or print mode in which the print data forming unit and the engine unit operate in parallel, the number of printed and ejected sheets is accurately contained within the limit number of sheets, and the sheet is fed at the end of the print job. It is possible to provide a printing system having an effect that the used paper does not remain.
[0012]
Further, according to the printing method of the present invention, the print data forming unit converts input data input from the print data supply device into print data, supplies the print data to the engine unit, and sets the print data to the engine unit. A printing method for performing printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter so that printing is performed within a limited number of sheets set in advance by the unit.
Based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit, the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit is started, and the number of sheets that are predicted to be sure to actually shift to the printing operation is set in advance as the estimated number of sheets,
The total value of the count value of the discharge number counter and the predicted number value is compared with the set value of the limited number setting unit,
When it is detected that the total value exceeds the set value of the limit number setting unit, a cancel mode for canceling the print data formed by the print data forming unit is set.
[0013]
Therefore, according to the second aspect, it is determined whether or not the count value of the number-of-discharges counter has exceeded a limit number by adding the predicted number to the count value of the number-of-discharges counter. In the high-speed printing in which the print data forming unit and the engine unit are asynchronous, the number of sheets printed and ejected in the high-speed printing is accurately contained within the limit number of sheets, and the fed sheets may remain at the end of the print job. It is possible to provide a printing method having no effect.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system according to a third aspect of the present invention, wherein input data input from a print data supply device is converted into print data by a print data forming unit and supplied to the engine unit to limit the number of prints. In a printing system that performs printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter so that printing is performed within a limited number set in advance,
A predicted sheet number setting unit for setting a sheet number value which is predicted to start the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit and to actually shift to the printing operation When,
A first determination that determines that the count value of the discharge counter has approached the limit number based on the predicted number set by the predicted number setting unit; and a count value of the detection counter exceeds the limit number. An arithmetic processing unit for performing a second determination to determine that
According to the first determination output, from the first print mode in which the conversion operation to the print data in the print data forming unit and the printing operation in the engine unit are performed in parallel, the print data in the print data forming unit is changed. And a printing operation in the engine unit is sequentially switched to a second printing mode.
[0015]
Therefore, according to the third aspect, the fact that the count value of the discharge number counter approaches the limit number can be detected based on the set value of the predicted number setting unit, and thus the printing is performed until this time. The data forming unit and the engine unit are independently operated in parallel to achieve high-speed printing, and when the number of sheets approaches the limit, the print data forming unit and the engine unit are sequentially operated to print one sheet. Since the print data is canceled when the number of prints does not exceed the limited number of prints, it is possible to provide a printing system that achieves substantially high-speed printing and has an effect of reliably completing a print job within the limited number of prints. .
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing method according to the first aspect, wherein the input data input from the print data supply device is converted into print data by the print data forming unit and supplied to the engine unit, and the limit number setting unit limits the number of prints. In a printing system that performs printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter so that printing is performed within a limited number set in advance,
Based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit, the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit is started, and the number of sheets that are predicted to be sure to actually shift to the printing operation is set in advance as the estimated number of sheets,
A first determination that determines that the count value of the discharge counter has approached the limit number based on the predicted number set by the predicted number setting unit; and a count value of the detection counter exceeds the limit number. And a second determination for determining that the
According to the first determination output, from the first print mode in which the conversion operation to the print data in the print data forming unit and the printing operation in the engine unit are performed in parallel, the print data in the print data forming unit is changed. And a printing operation in the engine unit is sequentially performed.
[0017]
Therefore, according to the fourth aspect, the fact that the count value of the discharge number counter approaches the limit number can be detected based on the set value of the predicted number setting unit, and thus the printing is performed until this time. The data forming unit and the engine unit are independently operated in parallel to achieve high-speed printing, and when the number of sheets approaches the limit, the print data forming unit and the engine unit are sequentially operated to print one sheet. Since the print data is canceled when the number of prints does not exceed the limited number of prints, a high-speed printing can be substantially achieved, and a print method having an effect of reliably completing a print job within the limited number of prints can be provided. .
[0018]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the arithmetic processing unit, the first determination is made based on a comparison between the total of the count value of the discharge counter and the predicted number and the limited number. . For this reason, the fact that the print job is approaching the limit number is calculated based on an accurate value based on the discharge number, the predicted number, and the limit number, so that the print mode is switched with high accuracy, and efficient printing is performed. Printing system that can be provided.
[0019]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first determination in the arithmetic processing is made based on a comparison between the total of the count value of the discharge counter and the predicted number and the limited number. . For this reason, the fact that the print job is approaching the limit number is calculated based on an accurate value based on the discharge number, the predicted number, and the limit number, so that the print mode is switched with high accuracy, and efficient printing is performed. Printing method that can be provided.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts illustrating operations according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, a printing unit 1 includes a data input control unit 2, a print data forming unit 3, and an engine unit 4. The data input control unit 2 is continuously supplied with data to be printed obtained by a print data supply device such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, a personal computer, or the like. The print data forming unit 3 is connected to the output side of the data input control unit 2 and converts the input data into stylized print data that can be sequentially printed to form the print data. The engine unit 4 is connected to the output side of the print data forming unit 3 and executes printing on a sheet automatically fed from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit 3. I do. The operation unit 5 connected to the printing unit 1 is for the user to perform operations such as starting and stopping a printing operation.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, a setting control unit 6 connected to the printing unit 1 is for setting a cancel mode for canceling all print data continuously formed by the print data forming unit 3. The limit number setting unit 7 sets the maximum number of printable sheets in management to an arbitrary value in advance. The number-of-discharges counter 8 is a counter for counting the number of sheets discharged after the printing from the engine unit 4 is completed. The predicted sheet number setting unit 9 is a setting unit for setting the predicted sheet number when the sheet whose sheet feeding operation has started in a predetermined print job actually enters the printing operation without fail.
[0023]
In other words, the number of sheets set in the predicted number setting section 9 is the number of sheets in progress from the sheet fed by the engine section 4 to the sheet in the printing operation. The printing system differs depending on the mechanical configuration. Numeral 10 denotes an arithmetic processing unit comprising a CPU whose output side is connected to the input side of the setting control unit 6. The input of the arithmetic processing unit 10 is connected to the respective outputs of the limit number setting unit 7, the number-of-discharges counter 8, and the preliminary-side number setting unit 9.
[0024]
The arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing unit 10 restricts the number of ejected sheets A counted by the number-of-emitted-sheets counter 8, the preliminary sheet number B to be printed previously set in the preliminary sheet number setting unit 9, and the printing of the printing unit 1. This is performed based on the limited number C. When the result of the arithmetic processing detects an arithmetic result of A + B> C, the setting control unit 5 sets the printing unit 1 to the above-described cancel mode.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0026]
In a normal printing operation procedure, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, when a print job is generated in a print data supply device such as a computer device, print data is input to the data input control unit 2. The input print data is converted into print data by the print data forming unit 3 in step S1. Then, in the engine unit 4, the paper feeding operation is started as shown in step S2, print data is printed on the fed paper as shown in step S3, and then printed as shown in step S4. The discharged paper is completed. In step S5, it is determined whether or not the current page is the last page, and the operations of steps S1 to S4 are repeated until the last page is reached. When the print job reaches the last page, the print job is no longer instructed to perform the printing process, and the printing is automatically terminated.
[0027]
That is, in a normal printing operation, the printing unit 1 continuously performs printing as long as data is continuously input. The conversion to print data in step S1 is an electrical process and can be canceled as necessary, but the operation of each step in the engine unit 4 in steps S2 to S4 cannot be canceled. After the start of the sheet feeding operation in step S2, the formation of print data of the next page in step S1 is already started. The conversion into print data in step S1 and the operations in steps S2 to S4 are performed asynchronously and independently of each other. This is referred to as a first print mode.
[0028]
In contrast to the operations in steps S1 and S2, the printing process in step S3 requires much time. If the printing process cannot keep up with the number of pages of the print data, a queue of the print data of the page is generated, and the print data is The data is temporarily stored in the memory, read out from the memory when the printing and discharging of the previous page is completed, and supplied to the engine unit 4.
[0029]
Details of the printing operation according to an example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. When a print job is generated, it is determined whether or not the total value of the discharge number A and the predicted number B exceeds the limit number C, as shown in step S6. This determination is made by the arithmetic processing unit 10. If A + B> C does not hold, print data is formed by the print data forming unit 3 as shown in step S7.
[0030]
When the conversion into the print data is performed in step S7, an instruction to execute the print processing is immediately given to the engine unit 4 as shown in step S8. At the same time, the print data forming unit 3 returns immediately and starts the operation of converting the next input data. At first, since the predicted number is 0 (zero), as shown in step S9, the arithmetic processing unit 10 cumulatively counts up to the preset reserved number for each sheet. In step S10, it is determined whether or not the page is the last page, and the operations of steps S7 to S9 are repeated until the last page is reached. When the last page is reached, the print job is automatically terminated because there is no print processing instruction.
[0031]
When a print job is further generated and processed, the number of sheets to be discharged increases and approaches the limit number. When the relationship of A + B> C is satisfied as shown in step S6, it is determined that the total value of the counted number of discharged sheets A and the predicted number of sheets B has exceeded the limit number of sheets C. This determination is performed by arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing unit 10, and a detection output indicating the determination result is supplied to the setting control unit 6. The setting control unit 6 sets the printing unit 1 to the cancel mode based on the detection output as shown in step S11.
[0032]
The print unit 1 cancels the print data formed by the print data forming unit 3 by setting the cancel mode. Therefore, the engine unit 4 does not receive an instruction to execute the printing process thereafter, and the printing job ends when all the printing on the already fed paper is completed and the paper is discharged.
[0033]
According to the above-described example of the embodiment of the present invention, whether the count value of the discharge counter 8 has exceeded the limit number is determined by adding the predicted number to the count value of the discharge counter 8. Therefore, the page exceeding the limit number is canceled in the cancel mode, and the print data is not supplied to the engine unit 4. Therefore, the number of sheets finally discharged as the last page in the engine unit 4 does not exceed the limit number. Since the print data converting operation of the print data forming unit 3 and the printing operation of the engine unit 4 may be completely asynchronous, both can operate independently at the maximum speed. A print job can be performed.
[0034]
Next, another example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG. 5, and the same parts as those in the above-described example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.
[0035]
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 11 denotes a setting control unit connected to the printing unit 1. The setting control unit 11 includes a first print mode in which the conversion operation to print data in the print data forming unit 3 and a printing operation in the engine unit 4 are performed independently and in parallel, A second print mode in which the conversion operation to data and the printing operation in the engine unit 4 are sequentially (synchronously) performed to execute printing, and a cancel in which the print data formed in the print data forming unit 3 is canceled. The mode is set.
[0036]
In the first print mode (asynchronous mode), the print data forming unit 3 returns immediately after giving a print execution instruction to the engine unit 4 and starts forming print data of the next page. Since it operates at the highest speed independently of the unit 4, high-speed printing is performed. In the second print mode, the print data forming unit 3 confirms that the print data formed by the print data forming unit 3 has been printed and discharged by the engine unit 4 and then prints the next page of print data. This is the return after the completion of the printing for starting the forming operation. That is, in the second print mode, printing is performed while confirming completion of each sheet, so that the printing speed is low.
[0037]
Numeral 12 denotes an arithmetic processing unit comprising a CPU whose output side is connected to the input side of the setting control unit 11. The input of the arithmetic processing unit 12 is connected to the respective outputs of the limited number setting unit 7, the discharge number counter 8, and the preliminary number setting unit 9.
[0038]
The arithmetic processing in the arithmetic processing unit 12 includes the number of discharged sheets A counted by the number-of-discharges counter 8, the preliminary number of sheets B set in the preliminary number of sheets setting section 9, and the limited number of sheets set in the restricted number of sheets setting section 7. C. In the second determination (determination of over-restriction) in which the result of the arithmetic processing has detected the arithmetic result of A> C, the setting control unit 11 sets the printing unit 1 to the above-described cancel mode.
[0039]
On the other hand, under the condition of A> C, in the first determination (determination of approach) for determining that the count value of the discharge counter 8 has approached the limited number of sheets while leaving the predicted number of sheets, A + B> C The detection output of the calculation result is sent, and the setting control unit 11 switches the printing unit 1 from the first printing mode (asynchronous mode) to the second printing mode (synchronous mode). The value set in the predicted number setting unit 9 is appropriately B + α, which is obtained by adding α as a margin in order to provide a margin.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the printing system according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Due to the generation of the print job, as shown in step S12, a second determination is made as to whether or not the number of discharged sheets A exceeds the limited number of sheets C (determination of over-limit). The determination of the over-limit is made by the arithmetic processing unit 12. Since A> C does not hold because the number of discharged sheets A is small at the time of the generation of the print job, the print data forming unit 3 forms print data as shown in step S13. When the conversion into the print data is performed in step S13, the predicted number is initially 0 (zero), and therefore, as shown in step S14, the accumulated count is counted up to the reserved number preset for each sheet in the arithmetic processing unit 12. Is done.
[0041]
Then, as shown in step S15, the arithmetic processing unit 12 determines A + B + α> C (first determination). This relational expression does not hold when the print job has not progressed, and the setting control unit 11 instructs the printing unit 1 to instruct the printing unit 1 to perform the printing process in the first print mode (asynchronous mode) as shown in step S16 by the detection output. Is made.
[0042]
Then, in step S17, it is determined whether or not the page is the last page. Until the last page is reached, the operations of steps S12 to S17 are repeated to execute high-speed printing. When the last page is reached, the print job is automatically terminated because there is no print processing instruction.
[0043]
When a print job is further generated and the number of sheets to be discharged after printing is completed increases and approaches the limit number C with a value obtained by adding a margin α to the predicted number B, the arithmetic processing unit 12 proceeds to step 15. The relational expression of A + B + α> C is satisfied. The arithmetic processing unit 12 performs the first determination (determination of approach) and sends the detection output to the setting control unit 11. The setting control unit 11 switches to the second print mode (synchronous mode) as shown in step 18 and performs printing by performing sequential printing (after completing printing and confirming paper ejection, performing print data conversion of the next page). A processing instruction is given.
[0044]
Then, in step S17, it is determined whether or not the page is the last page, and the operations of steps S12 to S18 are repeated until the last page is reached. In this print mode, the printing of the next page is converted after the printing of each sheet is completed, so that no paper is present in the engine unit 4 until the printing of the next page is started. Therefore, the printing speed becomes slow. When the last page is reached, the print job is automatically terminated because there is no print processing instruction.
[0045]
At the same time, in step S <b> 12, a second determination of A> C (determination of over-limit) is made, and the arithmetic processing unit 12 sends the detection output to the setting control unit 11. The setting control unit 6 sets the printing unit 1 to the cancel mode based on the detection output as shown in step S19, cancels the print data formed by the print data forming unit 3, and ends the print job.
[0046]
If there is an exceptional process such as changing the number of prints during a print job, the arithmetic processing unit 12 will again determine approach and limit over according to the change. There is no inconvenience such as over-printing or paper remaining.
[0047]
According to another example of the embodiment of the present invention described above, it is possible to detect that the count value of the discharge number counter 8 approaches the limit number based on the set value of the predicted number setting unit 9, Up to this point, the print data forming unit 3 and the engine unit 4 are operated independently of each other, so that the printing speed can be maintained. In the print mode, the printing operation is sequentially performed (synchronous), and printing is performed for each sheet. When the number of prints does not exceed the limit, the print data is canceled.
[0048]
Since the number of prints in the second print mode (synchronous mode) is extremely small, the print speed is not substantially hindered. Further, the arithmetic processing unit 12 performs an arithmetic process on the fact that the print job is approaching the limit number based on the exact values of the discharge number, the predicted number, and the limit number, and sends the detection output to the setting control unit 11. The conversion from the first print mode (asynchronous mode) to the second print mode (synchronous mode) is accurately performed.
[0049]
In the example of the embodiment of the present invention, the setting control unit 6, the limit number setting unit 7, the predicted number setting unit 8, and the arithmetic processing unit 10 are formed independently of each other. The configuration can be variously changed.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, whether or not the count value of the discharge number counter has exceeded the limit number is determined by adding the predicted number to the count value of the discharge number counter. Therefore, in a printing system in which the print data forming unit and the engine unit operate in parallel, the number of sheets printed and ejected is accurately contained within the limit number of sheets, and at the end of the print job, the sheets already fed remain. It is possible to provide a printing system having an effect of not being lost.
[0051]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is determined whether or not the count value of the discharge number counter exceeds the limit number by adding the predicted number to the count value of the discharge number counter. In a printing system in which the data forming unit and the engine unit operate in parallel, the number of printed and ejected sheets can be accurately contained within the limit number of sheets, and the fed sheets do not remain at the end of the print job. A printing method having an effect can be provided.
[0052]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect that the count value of the number-of-discharges counter has approached the limit number based on the set value of the predicted number setting unit. Printing is performed by operating the forming unit and the engine unit independently and in parallel, and when the number of prints approaches the limit, the print data forming unit and the engine unit are sequentially operated to execute printing for each sheet and limit printing. Since the print data is canceled when the number of prints does not exceed the number of prints, it is possible to provide a printing system that achieves substantially high-speed printing and has the effect of surely completing a print job within the limited number of prints.
[0053]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to detect that the count value of the discharge number counter approaches the limit number based on the set value of the predicted number setting unit. Printing is performed by operating the forming unit and the engine unit independently and in parallel, and when the number of prints approaches the limit, the print data forming unit and the engine unit are sequentially operated to execute printing for each sheet and limit the printing. Since the print data is canceled when the number of prints does not exceed the number of prints, it is possible to provide a printing method that achieves substantially high-speed printing and has an effect of surely completing a print job within the limited number of prints.
[0054]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since it is determined that the print job is approaching the limit number based on an accurate value based on the discharge number, the predicted number, and the limit number, the mode is switched from the asynchronous mode to the synchronous mode. It is possible to provide a printing system that can perform printing with high accuracy and high efficiency.
[0055]
Further, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the determination of the approach by the arithmetic processing is made based on the comparison between the total of the count value of the discharge counter and the predicted number and the limited number. For this reason, the fact that the print job is approaching the limit number is determined by an accurate value based on the discharge number, the predicted number, and the limit number. Can provide a printing method
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a normal operation procedure of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation procedure of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a printing system according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed operation procedure of a printing system according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Printing unit
2. Data input control unit
3. Print data forming unit
4. Engine section
6. Setting control unit
7 ... Limited number setting section
8 ... Counter for number of discharged sheets
9: Predicted number setting section
10 arithmetic processing unit

Claims (6)

The input data input from the print data supply device is converted into print data by the print data forming unit and supplied to the engine unit, and the engine unit is configured to perform printing within the limited number of sheets preset by the limited number setting unit. In a printing system that performs printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the
A predicted sheet number setting unit for setting a sheet number value which is predicted to start the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit and to actually shift to the printing operation When,
An arithmetic processing unit that compares the count value of the discharge number counter and the total value of the set value of the predicted number setting unit and the set value of the limited number setting unit,
A setting control unit that sets a cancel mode for canceling the print data formed by the print data forming unit when detecting that the total value exceeds the set value of the limit number setting unit. Printing system. The input data input from the print data supply device is converted into print data by the print data forming unit and supplied to the engine unit, and printing is performed within the limit set in advance by the limit setting unit that limits the number of prints. In the printing method of performing printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter as described above,
Based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit, the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit is started, and the number of sheets that are predicted to be sure to actually shift to the printing operation is set in advance as the estimated number of sheets,
The total value of the count value of the discharge number counter and the predicted number value is compared with the set value of the limited number setting unit,
A printing method comprising: setting a cancel mode for canceling print data formed by the print data forming unit when detecting that the total value exceeds a set value of a limit number setting unit. The input data input from the print data supply device is converted into print data by the print data forming unit and supplied to the engine unit, and printing is performed within the limit set in advance by the limit setting unit that limits the number of prints. In a printing system that performs printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter,
A predicted sheet number setting unit for setting a sheet number value which is predicted to start the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit and to actually shift to the printing operation When,
A first determination that determines that the count value of the discharge counter has approached the limit number based on the predicted number set by the predicted number setting unit; and a count value of the detection counter exceeds the limit number. An arithmetic processing unit for performing a second determination to determine that
According to the first determination output, from the first print mode in which the conversion operation to the print data in the print data forming unit and the printing operation in the engine unit are performed in parallel, the print data in the print data forming unit is changed. A second printing mode in which the conversion operation and the printing operation in the engine unit are sequentially performed. The input data input from the print data supply device is converted into print data by the print data forming unit and supplied to the engine unit, and printing is performed within the limit set in advance by the limit setting unit that limits the number of prints. In a printing system that performs printing by counting the number of sheets discharged from the engine unit with a discharge number counter,
Based on the print data formed by the print data forming unit, the sheet feeding operation in the engine unit is started, and the number of sheets that are predicted to be sure to actually shift to the printing operation is set in advance as the estimated number of sheets,
A first determination that determines that the count value of the discharge counter has approached the limit number based on the predicted number set by the predicted number setting unit; and a count value of the detection counter exceeds the limit number. And a second determination for determining that the
According to the first determination output, from the first print mode in which the conversion operation to the print data in the print data forming unit and the printing operation in the engine unit are performed in parallel, the print data in the print data forming unit is changed. A second printing mode in which the converting operation and the printing operation in the engine unit are sequentially performed. 4. The printing method according to claim 3, wherein the arithmetic processing unit is configured to make the first determination based on a comparison between a total of a count value of the discharge counter and the predicted number of sheets and the limited number of sheets. 5. system. The printing according to claim 4, wherein the first determination by the arithmetic processing unit is performed based on a comparison between a total of a count value of the discharge counter and the predicted number of sheets and the limited number of sheets. Method.

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