JP2005267517A - Print system, processing method for the system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print system for rapidly generating a post-processed (finished) output. <P>SOLUTION: When a specified print job from a user is outputted by distribution to printers A, B, C which are connected to a LAN environment, the user inserts sheets with recognition information outputted from the printers B, C to the post-processor of the printer A. When a recognizing means recognizes the insertion of the print sheet of the specified print job, specified print job information is received from a distribution control means. Then a medium for the portion of the printer A is outputted and the post-processing which is previously instructed with respect to the specified print job is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system including a plurality of printing apparatuses such as copiers and printers connected on a network and a post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing (also referred to as finishing) such as bookbinding and bookbinding. The present invention relates to post-processing when image formation of a print job is distributed to a printing apparatus.

Conventionally, printed paper (sheet or output medium) output by a copier or printer is connected to the copier or printer, or post-processing such as bookbinding, folding, binding, bookbinding, etc. is performed by an independent finisher. It was. In recent years, as the network has spread to offices, there is a growing need for a network for finishing printed paper output from a plurality of copying machines and printers. On the other hand, as disclosed in the following Patent Document 1 and the like, a print job for post-processing output from a plurality of predetermined copiers and printers connected to a network by a specific finisher is used. A sorting method has been proposed.
JP 2000-112702 A

  However, when finishing output from a wide variety of copiers and printers connected to a network to which a large number of users are connected, the user needs to set the print paper to the finisher. There is a possibility that efficient printing and post-processing may not be performed only by determination at the server at the time of distribution. Even if jobs are assigned to a finisher that is free at the time of job assignment, if multiple users share processing at the time of setting the print paper to the finisher, multiple finishers will be available, even if there are other free finishers. It is conceivable that the processing of one finisher is delayed by the finishing processing by the user, and as a result, it takes a long time to obtain the finished print output.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a print system capable of quickly creating a post-processed output.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the print system is configured as described in (1) to (17) below, the processing method in the print system is configured as described in (18) below, and the program is Configure as shown in (19).

(1) communication means;
A printing apparatus connected to the communication means and capable of printing on a sheet, wherein a first device capable of adding a print job identification means capable of identifying a print job to a sheet bundle;
A sheet supplied by the user, having a printing apparatus connected to the communication means and capable of printing on the sheet, and a recognition means capable of recognizing the print job identification means added to the sheet supplied by the user A second device comprising a post-processing apparatus capable of performing post-processing on a print sheet from the printing apparatus,
A distribution control unit capable of controlling output by distributing a specific print job from a user to two or more devices including the first and second devices;
In the second device, when the recognition unit recognizes that the print sheet of the specific print job has been supplied by the user, information on the specific print job is obtained from the distribution control unit, so that the specific print job can be obtained in advance. A printing system that performs processing including instructed post-processing.

(2) In the printing system according to (1),
The specific print job information obtained from the distribution control means in the second device includes a post-processing setting.

(3) In the printing system according to (1),
The specific print job information obtained from the distribution control means in the second device is a print system including print data to be printed by the second device.

(4) communication means;
A user terminal connected to the communication means;
A printing apparatus that is connected to the communication means and is capable of printing on a sheet; and a first and second device that can add a print job identification means that can identify a print job to a sheet bundle;
A post-processing device connected to the communication unit and having a recognition unit capable of recognizing the print job identification unit added to a sheet supplied by a user and capable of performing post-processing on the sheet supplied by the user When,
A distribution control unit capable of performing output control by distributing a specific print job from a user to two or more devices including the first and second devices;
With
In the post-processing apparatus, when the recognition unit recognizes that the print sheet of the specific print job has been supplied by the user, the specific print job is instructed in advance by obtaining the specific print job information from the distribution control unit. Printing system that performs post-processing.

(5) In the printing system according to (4),
The specific print job information obtained from the distribution control means in the post-processing apparatus includes a post-processing setting.

(6) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A printing system that starts post-processing by determining that all the sheet bundles required for a specific print job that has been distributed have been supplied to a post-processing apparatus by a user.

(7) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A print system in which the print job identification means is added to a sheet.

(8) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A print system in which the print job identification unit is a storage device that performs wireless communication.

(9) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A printing system in which the print job identifying means is a barcode.

(10) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A print system in which the print job identification means is a specific pattern.

(11) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A print system in which the print job identification unit is added to a medium added separately from a sheet.

(12) In the printing system according to (11),
A printing system in which a medium added separately from the sheet is removed during post-processing to perform post-processing.

(13) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A printing system that notifies a user when it is determined that a sheet of a specific print job that has been distributed is supplied to a plurality of post-processing devices by the user.

(14) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
A printing system that notifies a user when it is determined that a sheet of a specific print job that has been distributed is not supplied by a user to a required post-processing apparatus after a predetermined time has elapsed.

(15) In the printing system according to any one of (1) to (4),
It is judged that the user has supplied a specific print job sheet to a plurality of post-processing devices, and prints other than the sheets supplied by the user can be printed by a printer connected to any of the post-processing devices. A printing system that performs printing and post-processing by the printer and the post-processing device.

(16) In the printing system according to (15),
It is judged that the user has supplied a specific print job sheet to a plurality of post-processing devices, and prints other than the sheets supplied by the user can be printed by a printer connected to any of the post-processing devices. A printing system that informs the user that printing and post-processing are to be executed by the printer and the post-processing device.

(17) In the printing system according to (11),
A printing system for printing instructions relating to operation of a sheet bundle on a medium added separately from a sheet to which a print job identification unit is added.

(18) A communication unit and a printing apparatus connected to the communication unit and capable of printing on a sheet, and a print job identification unit capable of identifying a print job can be added to a sheet bundle. Supplied by a user having a device, a printing apparatus connected to the communication means and capable of printing on a sheet, and a recognition means capable of recognizing the print job identification means added to the sheet supplied by the user A second device comprising a post-processing apparatus capable of post-processing the printed sheet and the print sheet from the printing apparatus, and two or more specific print jobs from the user including the first and second devices A processing method in a printing system including a distribution control unit capable of controlling output by distributing to the devices of:
In the second device, when the recognition unit recognizes that the print sheet of the specific print job is supplied by the user, the specific print job information is obtained from the distribution control unit, and the specific print job is instructed in advance. A processing method in a print system for performing processing including post-processing.

  (19) A program for realizing the processing method in the print system according to (18).

  When post-processing is performed on output from a variety of copiers and printers connected to communication means connected by many users, identification information is added to the print output and the identification information is recognized by the post-processing device. Thus, the post-processed output can be quickly created even when the user sets the sheet on the post-processing apparatus.

  BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to system embodiments. It is to be noted that the present invention can be implemented in the form of a method and a program, supported by the description of the embodiments.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a LAN environment that is an operating environment of the “print system” according to the first embodiment. The terminal is a terminal such as a personal computer that is connected to a LAN and performs input / output with a user to / from a server. The user sends print settings and finishing settings such as designation of a job to be printed, the number of copies, and a post-processing (finishing) method from the terminal to the server. The server distributes print jobs to the printers A, B, and C based on a user's print instruction from the terminal, manages print settings, finishing settings, and print data, and exchanges with each printer. Printers A, B, and C are printers connected to the LAN. In the printers A and C, printed paper is set in the insert section, and post-processing such as bookbinding and bookbinding can be performed together with the output of the printer itself. Finishing devices (also called post-processing devices) FA and FC are connected. Each printer can add print job identification information to the print output. As the identification information, a description will be given assuming that an identification sheet is added to the first sheet separately from the printout and a specific pattern is added to the sheet. As specific patterns, numbers, letters, etc. are printed so that information such as print job numbers, printer names, and allocation numbers is printed, and information such as print job numbers, printer names, and allocation numbers is printed as an encoded image pattern. In general, there are techniques for adding them. When a first identification sheet is added as the identification information separately from the printout, an instruction to the user can be printed on the sheet. An example of the instruction includes printing a print job No. and printing a sentence requesting that a printout of the same print job No. be placed on the inserter of the same finisher.

  This identification information may be any information that can be added to a sheet and functions as identification information, such as a marker, a bar code, or a micro storage device that performs wireless communication, generally known as a muchip. Also, identification information may be added to the printout paper itself as long as it is difficult to visually recognize.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of print job recognition means arranged at each stage of the book insertion section (inserter) of the finishing apparatus. Here, a sensor composed of an image sensor for reading a specific pattern and a recognition circuit for recognizing image information from the sensor are prepared. When notation such as numbers or letters is used as identification information, recognition by OCR is used. In the method of adding information such as a print job number, printer name, and allocation number as a coded image pattern, the image information from the sensor is added. On the other hand, analysis by pattern recognition is performed.

  When using a marker as identification information, the recognition means is a sensor comprising an image sensor and a recognition circuit for recognizing image information from the sensor, and when using barcode as the identification information, the recognition means is a barcode reader and barcode reader. A recognition circuit for recognizing image information from the camera, and a recognition circuit for recognizing communication information and the like as a recognition means when a storage device that performs wireless communication as identification information is used. As described above, it is assumed that a device corresponding to the type of identification information is prepared as the recognition means.

  A specific pattern of identification information is added to the first output of the printer. The output of the printer to which the identification information is added is set in an inserter that is an insertion unit of a finishing apparatus having a sensor that reads the identification information. Based on the information of the recognition result of the print job recognition unit comprising this sensor, the server determines the following.

Which print job output, which output is assigned to which printer, and which inserter is set Here, the print job output assigned to printers B and C is set in the finisher of printer A, and the set identification information is set FIG. 2 shows an example in which the finisher sensor recognizes the print job and the remainder of the print job allocation is printed by the printer A based on the information from the server, and the print output from the printers B and C is registered. Shown in

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart centering on processing at the server. The user receives a print request from the terminal (S101), and grasps the current job processing status of the printer (S102). It is determined whether to perform distributed processing from the print job contents and the job processing status of the printer (S103). When the distributed processing is not performed, a printer is selected based on the setting from the user (S104), print data is transmitted to the printer (S105), and the printer that has received the print data executes printing and post-processing (S106).

  If it is determined in S103 that distributed processing is to be performed, a printer other than the finishing printer is selected based on settings from the user (S107), print data is transmitted to each printer (S108), and each printer receives print job information. In addition, a printing operation is executed (S109). It is determined whether all necessary print outputs among the distributed print jobs are set in one specific finishing device (S110). If all the set output devices are set, the specific one finishing device is selected. The remaining print data subjected to distributed processing, information subjected to distributed processing, and setting information for post-processing are transmitted to the included printer (S115). The printer including the specific finishing device performs printing and post-processing based on the received settings and data (S116).

  If all the necessary print outputs are not set in the determination in S110, it is determined whether prints of the distributed print job are set in a plurality of finishing apparatuses (S111), and the distributed processing is performed in the plurality of finishing apparatuses. When a print of a print job is set, a warning is displayed on the terminal or the like, and an instruction is issued to recover the user's set mistake (S112). This is a case where prints of a distributed print job are not set in a plurality of finishing apparatuses, and when a predetermined time has elapsed (S113), a warning is displayed on the terminal or the like to recover a user's set omission. An instruction is issued (S114).

  Such processing will be described with reference to an example shown in FIG. The server performs processing for assigning print jobs to be distributed to prints B and C. Of the distributed print jobs, the prints assigned to the printer B and the prints assigned to the printer C are output by adding information including print job information and printer information. When the print output is set to the inserter of the finisher connected to the printer A, the server recognizes the print job distributed to other printers according to the recognition result of the print job recognition unit arranged near the inserter. Recognize that all finishers are aligned. Based on the determination, the server sends the remaining print data and post-processing setting information to the printer A, and the printer A prints the print output of the set printer B based on the post-processing information set while executing the remaining printing. The post-processing is executed for the print output of the printer A together with the print output of the print C. At this time, a sheet on which a specific pattern of identification information unnecessary for the original print job is recorded is added to the first print output from the printers B and C. In the finishing apparatus FA, the sheet on which the specific pattern of unnecessary identification information is recorded is removed and post-processing is performed.

  If the output of the printer B is set to the finisher of the printer C and the output of the printer C is set to the finisher of the printer A among the print outputs of the temporarily assigned print job, the finisher set to the terminal is Display a different warning. If the output of the printer B is set to the finisher of the printer A among the print outputs of the temporarily assigned print job, the output of the printer C is not set to the finisher of the printer A even after a predetermined time has elapsed. Display a warning to request the finisher A to be set.

  Further, if the printing of the printers B and C is completed, if the printer A is occupied by a job by another user or if the machine is in a stopped state due to no paper or an error, the user will It is also expected that prints from B and C will be set in finisher F-C. In this case, the server recognizes that the print output assigned to the predetermined job is set in the finisher FC of the printer C, and transmits the remaining print data assigned to the printer C and the post-processing information, thereby the printer. It is possible to obtain a print output post-processed in C.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, identification information is added to a print output when post-processing is performed on a printer with a finisher connected to a LAN connected to a large number of users or output from the printer. By recognizing the identification information by the post-processing device, it becomes possible to quickly create the post-processed output even through the work of setting the output medium (sheet) to the post-processing device by the user. .

  A “print system” which is Embodiment 2 will be described. This embodiment has the same hardware configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the print output of the distributed print job is set as processing when the print output of the distributed print job is inserted into the inserters of a plurality of finishers. In this example, it is possible to determine whether or not the remaining print job can be output by the printer, and when the output is possible, output by the printer and finish.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. The user receives a print request from the terminal (S201), and grasps the current job processing status of the printer (S202). Whether to perform distributed processing is determined from the print job contents and the job processing status of the printer (S203). When the distributed processing is not performed, a printer is selected based on the setting from the user (S204), print data is transmitted to the printer (S205), and the printer that has received the print data executes printing and post-processing (S206).

  If it is determined in S203 that distributed processing is to be performed, a printer other than the finishing printer is selected based on settings from the user (S207), print data is transmitted to each printer (S208), and each printer receives print job information. In addition, a printing operation is executed (S209). It is determined whether all necessary print outputs of the distributed print job have been set in one specific finishing device (S210). If all are set, the specific one finishing device is selected. The remaining print data subjected to distributed processing, information subjected to distributed processing, and setting information for post-processing are transmitted to the included printer (S216). The printer including the specific finishing device performs printing and post-processing based on the received settings and data (S217).

  If all the necessary print outputs are not set in the determination in S210, it is determined whether prints of a distributed print job are set in a plurality of finishing devices (S211), and the distributed processing is performed in a plurality of finishing devices. When a print job is set, a warning is displayed on the terminal or the like, and an instruction is issued to recover the user's set mistake (S212). If the set mistakes for a plurality of finishing apparatuses are not resolved even after a predetermined time has elapsed (S213), it is determined whether the remaining part of the print job can be printed by the printer in which the allocated print is set (S214). If printing is possible, it is displayed that the server side has selected the finishing device (S215), and printing and post-processing are performed by the printer / finishing device. This is a case where prints of a distributed print job are not set in a plurality of finishing apparatuses, and when a predetermined time has elapsed (S218), a warning is displayed on the terminal or the like to recover a user's set omission. An instruction is issued (S219).

  By such processing, even when the print output allocated to the printer B is set in the inserter of the finishing apparatus F-A and the print output allocated to the printer C is set in the inserter of the finishing apparatus F-C, the printer If A is capable of print output equivalent to printer C, or if printer C is capable of print output equivalent to printer B, print output and predetermined post-processing can be executed by any printer, and to the user. By this notification, the user can know the location of the printer / finishing apparatus for which processing has been executed.

  Even when the finishing device alone is connected to the network, the same processing as in the first and second embodiments is possible. An example of this will be described as a “print system” of the third embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the third embodiment. The terminal, server, and printers A and B are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the printer C-1 is a printer without a finishing device. A finishing device FA is connected to the printer A, and an independent finishing device FD is connected to the network. Each printer can add print job identification information to the print output.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the print job recognition means arranged in the book insertion section (inserter) of the finishing apparatus FD. As in the first embodiment, the print job recognition means is in the book insertion section (inserter) of the finishing apparatus. Be placed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in this embodiment. The user receives a print request from the terminal (S301), and grasps the current job processing status of the printer (S302). Whether to perform distributed processing is determined from the print job contents and the job processing status of the printer (S303). When the distributed processing is not performed, a printer is selected based on the setting from the user (S304), print data is transmitted to the printer (S305), and the printer that has received the print data executes printing and post-processing (S306).

  If it is determined in S303 that distributed processing is performed, a printer is selected based on settings from the user (S307), print data is transmitted to each printer (S308), and each printer adds print job information and performs a print operation. Execute (S309). It is determined whether all necessary print outputs of the distributed print job have been set in one specific finishing device (S310). If all of the print outputs have been set, the finishing device is used for post-processing. Setting information is transmitted (S315). The finishing apparatus performs post-processing based on the received setting (S316). If all the necessary print outputs are not set in the determination of S310, it is determined whether prints of the distributed print job are set in the plurality of finishing apparatuses (S311), and the distributed processing is performed in the plurality of finishing apparatuses. When the print job is set, a warning is displayed on the terminal or the like, and an instruction is issued to recover the user's set mistake (S312). This is a case where a print of a distributed print job is not set in a plurality of finishing apparatuses, and when a predetermined time has elapsed (S313), a warning is displayed on the terminal or the like to recover a user's set omission. An instruction is issued (S314).

  By such processing, the user sets the print output assigned to the printers B and C-1 to the inserter of the finishing device FD, so that predetermined post-processing can be executed. Alternatively, if the finishing device FD is occupied by a job by another user or if the machine has been stopped due to an error or the like, the print output assigned to the printers B and C-1 is output to the finishing device FA. It is also possible to execute predetermined post-processing by setting the inserter.

System conceptual diagram of Embodiment 1 Conceptual diagram of a paper set according to the first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the process of Example 1. The flowchart which shows the process of Example 2. System conceptual diagram of Embodiment 3 Conceptual diagram of the paper set of Example 3 The flowchart which shows the process of Example 3.

Explanation of symbols

A, B, C Printer FA, AC Finishing device

Claims (19)

Communication means;
A printing apparatus connected to the communication means and capable of printing on a sheet, wherein a first device capable of adding a print job identification means capable of identifying a print job to a sheet bundle;
A sheet supplied by the user, having a printing apparatus connected to the communication means and capable of printing on the sheet, and a recognition means capable of recognizing the print job identification means added to the sheet supplied by the user A second device comprising a post-processing apparatus capable of performing post-processing on a print sheet from the printing apparatus,
A distribution control unit capable of controlling output by distributing a specific print job from a user to two or more devices including the first and second devices;
In the second device, when the recognition unit recognizes that the print sheet of the specific print job has been supplied by the user, the second device performs processing including post-instruction that is instructed in advance for the specific print job. Characteristic printing system. The printing system according to claim 1,
The specific print job information obtained from the distribution control means in the second device includes post-processing settings. The printing system according to claim 1,
The specific print job information obtained from the distribution control means in the second device includes print data to be printed by the second device. Communication means;
A user terminal connected to the communication means;
A printing apparatus that is connected to the communication means and is capable of printing on a sheet; and a first and second device that can add a print job identification means that can identify a print job to a sheet bundle;
A post-processing device connected to the communication unit and having a recognition unit capable of recognizing the print job identification unit added to a sheet supplied by a user and capable of performing post-processing on the sheet supplied by the user When,
A distribution control unit capable of performing output control by distributing a specific print job from a user to two or more devices including the first and second devices;
With
In the post-processing apparatus, a print process for instructing a specific print job in advance is performed in response to the recognition unit recognizing that a print sheet of the specific print job is supplied by a user. system. The printing system according to claim 4,
The specific print job information obtained from the distribution control means in the post-processing apparatus includes post-processing settings. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printing system, characterized in that a post-processing is started by determining that all the sheet bundles required for the assigned specific print job have been supplied to a post-processing apparatus by a user. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A print system, wherein the print job identification means is added to a sheet. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The print system, wherein the print job identification means is a storage device for performing wireless communication. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The print system, wherein the print job identification means is a bar code. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The print system according to claim 1, wherein the print job identification means is a specific pattern. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The print system, wherein the print job identification unit is added to a medium added separately from the sheet. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein
A printing system, wherein a medium added separately from the sheet is removed during post-processing and post-processing is performed. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printing system that notifies a user when it is determined that a sheet of a specific print job that has been distributed has been supplied by a user to a plurality of required post-processing devices. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A printing system that notifies a user when it is determined that a sheet of a specific print job that has been distributed is not supplied to a required post-processing apparatus after a predetermined time has elapsed. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It is judged that the user has supplied a specific print job sheet to a plurality of post-processing devices, and prints other than the sheets supplied by the user can be printed by a printer connected to any of the post-processing devices. In this case, the printing system performs printing and post-processing by the printer and the post-processing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 15, wherein
It is judged that the user has supplied a specific print job sheet to a plurality of post-processing devices, and prints other than the sheets supplied by the user can be printed by a printer connected to any of the post-processing devices. A printing system that informs a user that printing and post-processing are to be executed by the printer and the post-processing device. The printing system according to claim 11, wherein
A printing system for printing an instruction relating to operation of a sheet bundle on a medium added separately from a sheet to which a print job identification unit is added. A first device capable of adding to the sheet bundle a communication unit and a printing apparatus connected to the communication unit and capable of printing on a sheet and capable of identifying a print job; A sheet supplied by the user, having a printing apparatus connected to the communication means and capable of printing on the sheet, and a recognition means capable of recognizing the print job identification means added to the sheet supplied by the user And a second device composed of a post-processing device capable of performing post-processing on a print sheet from the printing device, and a specific print job from a user to two or more devices including the first and second devices A processing method in a printing system comprising a distribution control means capable of distributing and controlling output,
In the second device, when the recognition unit recognizes that the print sheet of the specific print job has been supplied by the user, the second device performs processing including post-instruction that is instructed in advance for the specific print job. A processing method in a print system.   The program for implement | achieving the processing method in the printing system of Claim 18.

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