JP2007323363A - Printing system, printing apparatus, printing control method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to perform trial printing for special printing by simply operation without requiring a great cost increase such as the increase of storage capacity in a printing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The printing system capable of performing special printing is provided with: a client apparatus for preparing and storing special printing data, receiving the selection of trial printing based on the special printing, preparing trial printing data, and sending the trial printing data to the printing apparatus; and the printing apparatus connected to the client apparatus and provided with a specification part for receiving the trial printing data, executing trial printing and receiving selection whether the special printing is continuously executed or not to request the special printing data stored in the client apparatus through the specification part and receive the special printing data and carries out special print of this print data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, a printing control method, a program, and a storage medium that are connected to a client device and can print on plain paper and special paper other than plain paper.

  In recent years, printers capable of printing on special paper other than plain paper, such as postcards, colored paper, and glossy paper, are becoming popular as recording media. In this type of printer, printing is performed by setting the print position and print density in accordance with the size of special paper and paper characteristics. For example, in an ink jet recording apparatus, since a receiving layer that absorbs ink differs depending on the type of recording medium, an appropriate amount of ink is ejected according to the type of recording medium. In this case, the greater the ink ejection amount per unit pixel, the darker the print density (recording density) of the image recorded on the recording medium.

  Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus, borderless recording is performed to record an image so that there is no blank portion according to a user's request. The recording start position is different between the borderless recording and the bordered recording where the margin is provided.

  In addition, since the ink jet recording apparatus can perform recording with various ink ejection amounts in a non-contact manner by ejecting ink from the recording head, the thickness of the recording medium, the smoothness of the surface of the recording medium, etc. Various types of recording media are used.

  Special paper such as glossy paper and art paper capable of recording photographic images is usually more expensive than plain paper. Therefore, in order to print on special paper, especially for printing in large quantities, the user often performs at least one test print beforehand in order to avoid waste of special paper due to failure.

  However, particularly in the office environment, when a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter also referred to as PCs) are connected to a single printer via a network, the installation distance between the PC and the printer is usually large. For this reason, each user needs to set a print instruction for trial printing on the PC, send print data, and then go to the printer to receive the printed matter and confirm the printed matter. If there is no problem after the confirmation, the user returns to the PC again, sets the special print instruction, and transmits the actual print data. In addition, there is a problem in that it takes time and effort between the PC and the printer to go to the printer and receive the printed matter, resulting in trouble.

Therefore, in the conventional technique, a storage unit for storing a print job is provided in the printer, and a special print job from the client is stored in the storage unit of the printer. In some cases, subsequent test printing and actual printing are performed only by an operation on the printer side. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-25550 A

  However, many of the print data on the special paper has a large data capacity, and therefore the storage unit provided on the printing apparatus side must have a large capacity, resulting in a significant increase in cost of the printing apparatus body itself.

  Further, when a plurality of PCs are connected to a printing apparatus in an office environment, a plurality of print data is often transmitted to the printing apparatus. Therefore, even if the data capacity of individual print data is small, the total data capacity is large, so that the storage unit provided in the printing apparatus must be enlarged.

  Also, because of the structure of the printing device, each operation on the printing device side is very unusable for the user compared to the operation on the PC, and even if it is attempted to improve the operability, the cost of the printing device itself is greatly increased. There was a problem that could not be avoided.

  An object of the present application is to provide a recording apparatus that can easily perform printing intended by a user on special paper without significantly increasing the cost of the printing apparatus main body in order to solve the above-described problems.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:
Printing means;
Print data holding means for holding print data;
Transmission means for transmitting the print data held in the print data creation holding means to the printing means, and supplying the print data held in the print data holding means to the printing means by the transmission means In the printing system configured to execute printing of the print data by the printing unit,
Trial print mode setting means for setting the trial print mode;
Test print data generation means for generating test print data used in the test print mode from the print data held in the print data holding means,
When the test print mode is set by the test print mode setting means, the test print data is transmitted to the print means by the transmission means, and the test print data is printed by the print means.
An instruction means for instructing whether to execute printing of the print data corresponding to the test print data;
The transmission unit transmits the print data held in the print data holding unit to the printing unit in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit,
The printing unit is configured to print the print data.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes:
In a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit and is connected to a client apparatus via a connection apparatus,
An instruction means;
Printing the test print data transmitted from the client device via the connection device;
The instructing unit instructs the client device to determine whether or not to transmit actual print data corresponding to the test print data.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing control method according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes:
Printing means;
Print data holding means for holding print data;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print data held in the print data creation holding means to the printing means;
Trial print mode setting means for setting the trial print mode;
In the print control method for controlling a printing system comprising: test print data generating means for generating test print data used in the test print mode from the print data held in the print data holding means;
When the test print mode is set by the test print mode setting means, the test print data is transmitted to the print means by the transmission means, and the test print data is printed by the print means; and
An instruction step for instructing whether or not to execute printing of the print data corresponding to the test print data;
In accordance with an instruction from the instruction step, a transmission step of transmitting the print data held in the print data holding unit to the printing unit;
A printing step of printing the print data.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes:
It is a computer-executable program in which the procedure of the printing control method of the printing system in the embodiment is described.

In order to achieve the above object, a storage medium according to still another embodiment of the present invention provides:
A program in which the procedure of the printing control method of the printing system in the embodiment is described is readable and stored.

  According to the present invention, trial printing at the time of special printing can be performed with a simple operation by the user and without requiring a large cost increase such as increasing the storage capacity of the printing apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the printing system 1. The printing system 1 is constructed from a plurality of client devices 2A to 2C and a printing device 3, and a connection unit 4 that indicates a network such as a LAN that connects these devices so as to communicate with each other. The connection unit 4 may be wireless as well as wired. As the client devices 2A to 2C, for example, terminals including PCs are used.

  FIG. 1 illustrates the client device 2A in detail as a representative of the plurality of client devices 2A to 2C. As a matter of course, other client apparatuses have basically the same configuration, and an arbitrary number of client apparatuses are connected. The client apparatus 2A, which is a PC, includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 5 that controls each unit based on a control program, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 6 that functions as an occasional writing / reading unit for various data. Further, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 7 storing a program necessary for starting the client apparatus 2A, such as BIOS (Basic Input / Output System), and a display for displaying information necessary for the user to give various printing instructions. Part 8 and the like.

  Further, for example, it has a disk drive 10 for reading a program held in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM (compact disk / read only memory) 12 or a DVD-ROM, an input unit 9 including a mouse, a keyboard and the like. In addition, an interface 11 that is connected to the connection unit 4 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication is provided, and each is connected by an internal bus 13 so that communication is possible.

  In addition, an OS (operating system), various application software, and the like are installed in the client device 2A. Further, a predetermined printer driver (program) recorded on the CD-ROM 12 is installed via the disk drive 10. At the time of printing, the printer driver functions to create print data (also referred to as print data) of a designated data file and send the print data to a printing device (also referred to as a recording device or a printing device) 3.

  At this time, the user sets the recording mode, the recording speed, the type of the recording medium, the edgelessness, the edge amount, and the like by the printer driver, thereby creating print data to which a predetermined parameter is added and the predetermined storage in the RAM 6. Retained in the region. In addition, a parameter indicating the identification signal of the client apparatus 2A is also added to this print data. The held print data is sent to the printing apparatus 3 based on the request from the printing apparatus 3.

  In the above embodiment, the printer driver is installed by the CD-ROM 12. However, the printer driver may be stored in the ROM 7 in advance, or may be acquired (or installed after acquisition) via the network. Good.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 3 functions as a memory for spooling image data and a CPU 14 that controls each part of the printing apparatus 3 based on a predetermined program, various write / read units such as various data, and the like. It has RAM15.

  Further, the CPU 14 has a ROM 16 in which various programs for controlling operations of the respective units of the printing apparatus 3 are stored, and an interface 17 that is connected to the connection unit 4 so as to be capable of bidirectional communication.

  In addition, a designation unit 18, which will be described later, a printing mechanism unit 19, which will also be described later, and a display unit 20 for displaying information necessary for the user to designate printing via the designation unit 18 are provided. They are connected by a bus 21.

  As a matter of course, the printing apparatus 3 may constitute a part of a so-called multifunction machine having a facsimile function, an image data reading function, a copy function, and the like.

  The printing mechanism unit 19 performs predetermined data conversion on the print data received from the client device 2A and prints it on a recording medium. The printing apparatus 3 is configured to be able to print on special paper other than plain paper, such as postcards, colored paper, glossy paper, and art paper, as a recording medium. The printing apparatus 3 is configured to be able to print on a plurality of types of recording media such as a postcard size and an A4 size. That is, in the printing apparatus 3, printing other than plain paper can be performed as a recording medium, and printing with a print position and print density set according to the size and paper characteristics of special paper is possible.

  In the following, a typical operation example of the client apparatus 2A and the printing apparatus 3 in the printing system 1 when a print instruction is given by the user in the client apparatus 2A will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  The left column (steps S1 to S7) in FIG. 2 shows the operation in the client apparatus 2A, and the right column (steps S8 to S15) shows the operation in the printing apparatus 3. The operations in each client device 2A and printing device 3 are executed according to instructions issued by the CPUs 5 and 14 based on the control programs stored in the RAMs 6 and 15 and the ROMs 7 and 16.

  First, in step S1, in the client device 2A, the user uses the input unit 11 to instruct whether or not to designate a special print mode such as printing on special paper for a file (image data) to be printed. The client device 2A accepts this instruction.

  If the special print mode is designated, the process proceeds to step S 2 to create this special paper print data and hold it in the RAM 6. On the other hand, if the special print mode is not designated, the process proceeds to step S6, where plain paper print data is created, and the identification signal of the client apparatus 2A is attached and transmitted to the printing apparatus 3. Then, the printing apparatus 3 receives print data in step S8, performs plain paper printing for recording an image on plain paper in step S9, and ends the process.

  If the special print mode is designated in step S2, the CPU 5 of the client device generates special paper print data corresponding to the designated print mode and holds it in the RAM 6. After that, in step S3, a command (dialog) as shown in FIG. 3A is displayed on the display unit 8 of the client apparatus 2A, and the user selects whether to execute the test print mode on plain paper. Encourage

  If the user selects a command that does not execute the trial print mode on plain paper in step S3, the process proceeds to step S7, and the special paper print data generated in step S2 and held in the RAM 6 is identified by the client apparatus 2A. A signal is attached and transmitted to the printing apparatus 3. In step S14, when receiving the special paper print data, the printing apparatus 3 executes special paper printing for recording an image on the special paper in step S15, and the process is terminated.

  In step 3, when the user selects a command for executing the test print mode on plain paper, the process proceeds to step S4, and a command (dialog) as shown in FIG. Is displayed. In accordance with this dialog, the user sets the printing conditions such as the paper size and scale when performing the trial printing, and the printing mode (printing density, finishing, etc.). When the printing conditions are set by the user, the client device creates trial print data for plain paper, proceeds to step S5, and sends the identification signal of the client device 2A to the printing device 3.

  Next, in step S10, the printing apparatus 3 receives the test print data, and in step S11, performs the test print for recording an image on the plain paper according to the test print data. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S12, and a command prompting the user to select whether or not to continue printing special paper print data as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 20 of the printing apparatus 3. The user can make this selection in the designation unit 18 of the printing apparatus 3.

  If it is determined that there is no problem after the trial printing check in step S12 and the special paper printing is to be continued, the process proceeds to step S13. Then, an identification signal, for example, a command for inputting client device specific information such as an IP address is displayed on the display unit 20 of the printing apparatus 3. When the user designates the client device (for example, the client device 2A) according to the identification signal received together with the test print data in the designation unit 17 of the printing device 3, the printing device 3 is specially held in the RAM 6 of the designated client device 2A. Request print data for paper.

  In step S14, the special paper print data held in the RAM 6 of the designated client apparatus 2A is received. In step S15, special paper printing for recording an image on the special paper is performed, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the user has determined that image adjustment is necessary again in the test print check, and if there is a problem, a command not to perform actual special paper printing is selected subsequently. This is the end.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the test printing has been described as plain paper. However, the present invention may be applied not only to plain paper but also to trial printing on other special paper. For example, in addition to recording on plain paper as test printing for recording on glossy photographic paper, recording on A4 size plain paper as test printing for recording on a large recording medium such as a poster It is possible to do. Further, as test printing for recording on a postcard, recording on a recording medium (A4 version or B5 version) of a size that is usually used can be mentioned. As described above, after confirming the recorded image by performing the test printing, it is possible to reduce the failure of the recording on the special paper by performing the printing on the special paper intended by the user.

  Furthermore, the amount of ink ejected to the recording medium may be reduced when performing test printing. This is because the image recording position can be recognized even when the recording density is low during the trial printing for confirming the recording position. By performing such test printing, the ink consumption required for the test printing can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the print data for test printing to be printed on plain paper and the print data for special paper printing to be printed on special paper are not sent to the recording device at the same time. Trial printing can be performed without increasing the capacity.

  In the above-described embodiment, the user designates the client device from the designation unit 17 of the printing apparatus 3 in step S12. However, when client device information is included in the identification information added to the test print data, the configuration may be such that the user does not specify.

  The printing device 3 identifies and designates the client device based on the identification information added to the received test print data, so that the special device print data can be transferred from the printing device 3 to the client device without designation by the user. It is possible to send a reception request.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments. That is, it goes without saying that this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operations of a client device and a printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part by the side of the client apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on the display part by the side of the printing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing system 2 Client apparatus 3 Printing apparatus 4 Connection part 5, 14 CPU
6, 15 RAM
7, 16 ROM
12 CD-ROM (recording medium)
11, 17 Interface 18 Designation part 19 Printing mechanism part

Claims (11)

Printing means;
Print data holding means for holding print data;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print data held in the print data holding means to the printing means, and transmitting the print data held in the print data holding means to the printing means by the transmitting means. In the printing system configured to execute printing of the print data by the printing unit,
Trial print mode setting means for setting the trial print mode;
Test print data generation means for generating test print data used in the test print mode from the print data held in the print data holding means,
When the test print mode is set by the test print mode setting means, the test print data is transmitted to the print means by the transmission means, and the test print data is printed by the print means.
An instruction means for instructing whether to execute printing of the print data corresponding to the test print data;
The transmission unit transmits the print data held in the print data holding unit to the printing unit in accordance with an instruction from the instruction unit,
The printing system, wherein the printing unit is configured to print the print data.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the print data is print data for a recording medium other than plain paper.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing in the test printing mode is performed on plain paper by the printing unit. The printing unit and the instruction unit constitute a printing apparatus,
The print data holding unit, the test print mode setting unit, the test print data generation unit, and the transmission unit constitute a client device,
The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a connection device that connects the printing device and the client device.   The printing system according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the client devices are configured to be connectable to the printing device via the connection device. In a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit and is connected to a client apparatus via a connection apparatus,
An instruction means;
Printing the test print data transmitted from the client device via the connection device;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instructing unit instructs the client device to determine whether or not to transmit actual print data corresponding to the test print data. In a printing apparatus that includes a printing unit and is connected to one of a plurality of client apparatuses via a connection apparatus,
An instruction means;
While performing printing of the test print data transmitted from any one of the client devices via the connection device,
The printing apparatus is characterized in that the instruction unit instructs one of the client apparatuses to determine whether or not to transmit actual print data corresponding to the test print data.   The printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the test print data transmitted via any one of the client apparatuses includes an identification signal of any one of the client apparatuses. Printing means;
Print data holding means for holding print data;
Transmitting means for transmitting the print data held in the print data holding means to the printing means;
Trial print mode setting means for setting the trial print mode;
In the print control method for controlling a printing system comprising: test print data generating means for generating test print data used in the test print mode from the print data held in the print data holding means;
When the test print mode is set by the test print mode setting means, the test print data is transmitted to the print means by the transmission means, and the test print data is printed by the print means; and
An instruction step for instructing whether or not to execute printing of the print data corresponding to the test print data;
In accordance with an instruction from the instruction step, a transmission step of transmitting the print data held in the print data holding unit to the printing unit;
And a printing process for printing the print data. A printing control method for a printing system, comprising:   A computer-executable program in which a procedure of a printing control method for a printing system according to claim 9 is described.   A computer-readable storage medium storing a program in which a procedure of a printing control method for a printing system according to claim 10 is described.

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