JP2007026287A - Printer driver and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain physical sort in printing a plurality of number of copies. <P>SOLUTION: The printer driver is provided with: a paper set information reception means for receiving information on the direction of paper set to each paper feeding means transmitted from the printer with respect to a transmission request of the paper set information to the printer provided with a plurality of paper feeding means; a printing data reception means for receiving printing data from a printing application program; a printing number of copies acquisition means for analyzing printing data to acquire the number of copies for printing; and a data transmission means for converting the printing data into data by internal language while switching paper feeding means every time printing by the number of copies is completed and transmitting them to the printer when there are a plurality of number of copies for printing and the directions of the paper set to the paper feeding means are different. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer driver and a control program that perform physical sorting.

Conventionally, a print monitor having a mechanism for executing sort printing is printed in a printing apparatus that performs printing by transferring print data from a printer driver to a print spooler and transferring the print data from the print spooler to the printer apparatus via some interface. There is known a sort printing apparatus that enables sorting printing by providing it on the spooler side without adding any device such as a sorter or a storage device such as a hard disk to the printer side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).
JP 2001-216125 A

  However, in the sort printing apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, since printing is performed only in units of copies, the printed materials discharged to the paper discharge tray are not physically sorted, and therefore, the sorting is performed while viewing the printed materials. There is a problem that work must be done.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and can perform a sort print physically without mounting a sort device or the like by printing a combination of a vertical paper and a horizontal paper. An object is to provide a driver and a control program.

  The present invention relates to a paper for receiving information on the direction of the paper set in each of the paper feeding means transmitted from the printing apparatus in response to a transmission request for paper setting information to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding means. A setting information receiving means; a print data receiving means for receiving print data from a print application program; a print number acquiring means for analyzing the print data to acquire the number of print copies; When the direction of the paper set on the paper means is different, the print data is converted into data in an intermediate language while switching the paper feed means and sent to the printing apparatus each time printing of each copy is completed. And a data transmission means.

  The present invention relates to a paper for receiving information on the direction of the paper set in each of the paper feeding means transmitted from the printing apparatus in response to a transmission request for paper setting information to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding means. A setting information reception process; a print data reception process for receiving print data from a print application program; a print number acquisition process for analyzing the print data to acquire the number of print copies; When the direction of the paper set on the paper means is different, the print data is converted into data in an intermediate language while switching the paper feed means and sent to the printing apparatus each time printing of each copy is completed. Data transmission processing is performed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, it is unnecessary to mount a hard disk or a sorter, and it is possible to obtain an effect that the printed materials can be physically sorted without adding an optional function to the printing apparatus main body.

  Hereinafter, a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a personal computer in which a document creation application 2 is installed in order to create data such as a document to be printed. Reference numeral 3 denotes a printer driver that converts print data output by the application 2 into print data in a page description language (intermediate language) and outputs the print data to a printing apparatus. Reference numeral 4 denotes a printer that transfers an image to a print medium based on print data output from the printer driver 3.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes a print data receiving unit including a buffer that receives and holds the print data output from the application 2. Reference numeral 32 denotes a print number acquisition unit that acquires the value of the number of print copies by reading out the header portion of the received print data and extracting information on the number of print copies. Reference numeral 33 denotes a conversion unit that converts received print data into print data in a page description language. Reference numeral 34 denotes a communication unit that performs information communication with the printer 4. Reference numeral 35 denotes a paper setting information acquisition unit that requests the printer 4 to transmit paper setting information and acquires the paper setting information transmitted by the printer 4.

  Reference numeral 41 denotes a printing unit that transfers an image to a print medium based on the received print data. Reference numerals 42 and 43 denote paper feed cassettes that store print media (hereinafter referred to as print paper), and set the print paper in the longitudinal feed direction (the long side of the print paper is parallel to the paper feed direction) or in the horizontal direction. It can be set in the feeding direction (the short side of the printing paper is parallel to the paper feeding direction). Reference numeral 44 denotes a manual feed tray for setting manual feed paper. Reference numeral 45 denotes a paper discharge tray that receives printed matter that is discharged after being printed by the printing unit 41.

  Next, operations of the printer driver 3 and the printer 4 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, preparations that need to be made in advance will be described. The user arbitrarily selects two paper feed cassettes out of the paper feed cassettes provided in the printer 4 and sets printing paper of the same size in the two selected paper feed cassettes. At this time, as for the direction of the printing paper set in the two paper feed cassettes, one is set in the vertical feed direction and the other is set in the horizontal feed direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that A4 paper in the vertical feed direction is set in the paper feed cassette 42 and A4 paper in the horizontal feed direction is set in the paper feed cassette 43.

  Next, the printing operation of the printer driver 3 and the printer 4 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the user uses the application 2 to create document data to be printed. Then, the user performs a print instruction operation from the application 2. At this time, the user instructs the paper size, the number of copies, and whether or not to perform sort printing. Here, it is assumed that the paper size is “A4”, the number of copies is “3”, and “sort printing” is instructed.

  When receiving a print instruction from the application 2 (step S1) and instructing to perform sort printing, the paper setting information acquisition unit 35 requests the printer 4 to acquire paper setting information via the communication unit 34. Is transmitted (step S2). When receiving this request (step S21), the printer 4 transmits the paper setting information held therein to the printer driver 3 (step S22). The paper setting information is received by the paper setting information acquisition unit 35 via the communication unit 34 (step S3). The paper setting information here refers to the cassette identification information for identifying the paper feed cassette, the size information of the print paper set in the paper feed cassette, and the feed direction of the print paper for each paper feed cassette. Direction identification information. Accordingly, it can be acquired that A4 paper in the vertical feeding direction is set in the paper feeding cassette 42 and A4 paper in the horizontal feeding direction is set in the paper feeding cassette 43.

  Next, the print data receiving unit 31 reads the print data from the application 2 and accumulates it in the internal buffer (step S4). The print copy number acquisition unit 32 reads the header portion of the print data stored in the buffer, acquires the value of the print copy number, and notifies the conversion unit 33 (step S5). The conversion unit 33 determines whether the notified value of the number of copies to be printed is 2 or more (a plurality) (step S6). If the result of this determination is that the number of print copies is not plural (the number of print copies is “1”), the conversion unit 33 sequentially reads the print data stored in the buffer in the print data receiving unit 31 and prints it in an intermediate language. Data is converted and transmitted to the printer 4 via the communication unit 34 (step S11). The printer 4 sequentially receives the print data in the intermediate language (step S23) and executes printing by the printing unit 41 (step S24). As a result, one copy of the printed matter is discharged to the discharge tray 45.

  On the other hand, when there are a plurality of print copies, the conversion unit 33 reads the paper setting information held in the paper setting information acquisition unit 35, and whether sort printing is possible based on the read paper setting information. Is determined (step S7). This determination is based on the fact that there are at least two paper feed cassettes in which print paper of the same size as the paper size specified in the print data to be printed is set, and the paper set in the two paper feed cassettes. If the directions are different, it is determined that sort printing is possible.

  If sort printing is possible, the conversion unit 33 selects a paper feed cassette as a paper feed source based on the read paper setting information (step S8). At this time, the conversion unit 33 selects the paper feed cassette on which the printing paper in the lateral feed direction is set as the paper feed cassette to be selected first. Here, it is assumed that the paper feed cassette 43 in which A4 paper in the lateral feed direction is set is selected. On the other hand, when the sort printing cannot be performed (when the size of the set paper is different or the direction of the set paper is the same), the conversion unit 33 skips the paper feed cassette selection process for the sort printing. .

  Next, the conversion unit 33 sequentially reads the print data stored in the buffer in the print data reception unit 31, converts it into print data using an intermediate language, and transmits the print data to the printer 4 via the communication unit 34 ( Step S9). At this time, if the sort printing is possible, the conversion unit 33 sends a paper feed cassette designation command to the printer 4 so that paper is fed from the paper feed cassette selected in step S8 (here, the paper feed cassette 43). To send. If sort printing cannot be performed, the conversion unit 33 sends a paper feed cassette designation command for designating a paper feed cassette in which the print paper designated by the print data is set to the printer 4. The printer 4 sequentially receives the print data in the intermediate language (step S23) and executes printing by the printing unit 41 (step S24). As a result, the first printed matter is discharged to the paper discharge tray 45, and when sort printing is performed, printing paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 43 and printing is performed.

  Next, the conversion unit 33 determines whether or not all the designated print copies have been printed, and repeatedly executes the processes of steps S7 to S9 until all the designated print copies are printed. At this time, when the paper feed cassette is selected in step S8, the conversion unit 33 selects the paper feed cassette in which the printing paper in the lateral feed direction is set and performs even-numbered unit printing. When performing the second unit printing, the vertical feeding direction and the horizontal feeding direction are switched each time printing of each unit is completed so that a paper feed cassette in which printing paper in the vertical feeding direction is set is selected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the printed sheets are output to the discharge tray 45 in the horizontal direction for the first copy, in the vertical direction for the second copy, and in the horizontal direction for the third copy. Can be realized. In addition, since the horizontal feed direction is selected when performing odd-numbered unit printing, when printing an odd number of copies, the number of times printed in the horizontal feed direction is greater than the number of times printed in the vertical feed direction. Therefore, the paper conveyance time for printing all copies can be shortened, and as a result, the printing time can be shortened.

  In the above description, the print data output from the application 2 is stored in the buffer in the print data receiving unit 31, and the print data stored in the buffer is stored again every time the unit printing is completed. Although an example of reading, converting to an intermediate language, and outputting to the printer 4 has been described, the print data receiving unit 31 does not have a buffer, and the conversion unit 33 converts the print data into the intermediate language in the buffer. In this case, the converted data stored in the second and subsequent copies may be read and transmitted, and only the designated command for the paper cassette may be transmitted each time. If the printer main body has one paper feed cassette, printing may be performed by switching between the manual feed cassette and the paper feed cassette.

  As described above, by realizing the physical sorting function in the printer driver, it is possible to sort the printed matter without changing the printer. Further, before outputting print data in an intermediate language to the printer, paper setting information is acquired from the target printer, and it is determined whether sort printing is possible by referring to the paper setting information. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems in the printing result due to a setting error in advance.

  A program for realizing the functions of the processing unit in FIG. 1 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer system and executed to perform sort processing. May be. The “computer system” here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) in a computer system that becomes a server or a client when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

  The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line. The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing operations of the printer driver 3 and the printer 4 shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Personal computer, 2 ... Application, 3 ... Printer driver, 31 ... Print data receiving part, 32 ... Print number acquisition part, 33 ... Conversion part, 34 ... Communication part 35 ... paper setting information acquisition unit, 4 ... printer, 41 ... printing unit, 42, 43 ... feed cassette, 44 ... bypass tray, 45 ... discharge tray

Claims (2)

In response to a paper setting information transmission request to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding means, paper setting information receiving means for receiving information on the direction of the paper set in each of the paper feeding means transmitted from the printing apparatus When,
Print data receiving means for receiving print data from the print application program;
A copy number acquisition means for analyzing the print data and acquiring the number of print copies;
When the number of print copies is plural and the direction of the paper set in the paper feed means is different, the print data is changed to data in an intermediate language while switching the paper feed means each time printing of each copy is completed. A printer driver comprising: a data transmission unit that converts the data into a printer and transmits the data to the printing apparatus. In response to a paper setting information transmission request to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feeding means, paper setting information reception processing for receiving information on the direction of the paper set in each of the paper feeding means transmitted from the printing apparatus When,
Print data reception processing for receiving print data from the print application program;
A print copy number acquisition process for analyzing the print data and acquiring a print copy number;
When the number of copies is plural and the direction of the paper set in the paper feeding unit is different, the print data is changed to data in an intermediate language while switching the paper feeding unit each time printing is completed. A control program for causing a computer to perform a data transmission process of converting to a printer and transmitting the data to the printing apparatus.

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