JP2008102723A - Printing system and control method of printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system capable of eliminating labor and time for preparing tag sheet printing data, and to provide a control method of the printing system. <P>SOLUTION: The control method of the printing system, which is composed of a processing apparatus for preparing a result object by processing a processing target, a tag sheet printer for printing data on a tag sheet to be stuck to the result object prepared by the processing apparatus on the basis of tag sheet printing data and a control apparatus connected to the processing apparatus and the tag sheet printer to control these units, is provided with: a processing apparatus monitoring process for monitoring the driving state of the processing apparatus; and an application start process for starting a tag sheet data preparation application for preparing tag sheet printing data at the time of judging that the processing apparatus start driving or ends the driving in the processing apparatus monitoring process. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system for controlling a sticky note printer and a processing device connected to a control device by the control device, and a control method for the printing system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of printing system, a printing system including a sticky note printer and a personal computer connected thereto is known (see Patent Document 1). In this printing system, desired printing is performed on a sticky note by a sticky note printer based on print data created by a personal computer.
JP 2003-212367 A

  By the way, not only a sticky note printer but also a processing device such as a general-purpose printer or an external FDD may be connected to the personal computer. At this time, in the above printing system, for example, a sticky note created by a sticky note printer is pasted on a result produced by these processing devices (a document for a general-purpose printer, a flexible disk for an FDD). In this case, the user manually creates an application for performing processing by the processing device and an application for creating print data on the personal computer, and creates a result and a sticky note. Become. For this reason, there is a problem that it is a troublesome task for the user to manually start each application separately.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system and a printing system control method that can save time and effort for creating sticky note print data.

  The printing system of the present invention prints a processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky note to be attached to the result created by the processing device based on sticky note print data. And a control device connected to and controlling the processing device and the sticky paper printer, wherein the control device uses the sticky note data for creating the sticky note print data. Sticky note data that creates sticky note print data based on an application storage unit that stores a created application, processing device monitoring means that monitors the driving state of the processing device, and a sticky note data creation application that is stored in the application storage unit Creating means, and the processing device monitoring means determines that the processing device is one of drive start and drive end, and stores the application storage unit. The stored sticky note data creation application, characterized in that to start.

  In addition, the printing system control method of the present invention includes a processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and sticky note printing on a sticky note that is attached to the result created by the processing device. A control method for a printing system, comprising: a sticky note printer that performs printing based on data; and a control device that is connected to and controls the processing device and the sticky note printer, and monitors the driving state of the processing device Processing device monitoring means and an application activation that activates a sticky note data creation application for creating sticky note print data when the processing device determines in the processing device monitoring step that the driving device is one of driving start and driving end And a process.

  According to this configuration, when the processing apparatus starts driving or ends driving, the sticky note data creation application is automatically started using this as a trigger. For this reason, the user can save time and labor for manually starting the sticky note data creation application, and can immediately create a sticky note.

  Another printing system of the present invention is based on a sticky note print data on a processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky note to be attached to the result created by the processing device. And a control device connected to and controlling the processing device and the sticky paper printer, wherein the control device creates a sticky note print data. An application storage unit for storing a paper data creation application; and a sticky note data creation unit for creating sticky note print data based on the sticky note data creation application stored in the application storage unit. Is a processing device monitoring method that monitors the driving state of the processing device when the sticky note data creation application is operating in the background. If the processing device monitoring means determines that the processing device is one of driving start and driving end, the operation transition of the sticky note data creation application is shifted from the background operation state to the foreground operation state. And means.

  Further, another control method of the printing system of the present invention includes a processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky note on a sticky note that is attached to the result created by the processing device. A control method for a printing system, comprising: a sticky note printer that performs printing based on paper print data; and a control device that is connected to and controls the processing device and the sticky paper printer. In the processing device monitoring means to be monitored and the processing command monitoring step, when it is determined that the processing device is one of drive start and drive end, a sticky note data creation application for creating sticky note print data is An operation transition step of shifting from the ground operation state to the foreground operation state.

  According to this configuration, when the processing device starts driving or ends driving, the sticky note data creation application automatically shifts from the background operation state to the foreground operation state using this as a trigger. Accordingly, the user can save time and effort to manually shift the sticky note data creation application to the foreground operation state, and thus can create a sticky note immediately.

  In this case, the processing device is a printing device that prints on paper based on the paper print data, and the control device transmits paper data acquisition means for acquiring the paper print data and the acquired paper print data to the printing device. Paper data transmission means, and the sticky note data creation means creates a file name acquisition means for obtaining the file name of the transmitted paper print data, and a sticky note paper for which the file name obtained by the file name acquisition means is created. It is preferable to have file name insertion means configured to be insertable into the print data.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to acquire the file name of the document printed by the printing apparatus during the creation of the sticky note print data by the sticky note data creation means and insert the file name into the sticky note print data. For this reason, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the file name and to create a sticky note on which the file name corresponding to the document printed by the printing apparatus is printed.

  In this case, the control device further includes a template storage unit that stores a plurality of templates for printing on the sticky note paper, and the sticky note data creation unit selects any one template from the plurality of stored templates. It is preferable to have the template selection means.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to create the sticky note print data based on the selected template, so that it is possible to further save the trouble of creating the sticky note print data.

  In this case, it is preferable that the sticky note data creation unit further includes a template registration unit that registers the created sticky note print data in the template storage unit as a new template.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to improve the versatility of the printing system itself by registering frequently used sticky note print data as a template.

  In this case, the sticky note data creation means further has a template print selection means for selecting whether or not to print the template registered by the template registration means on the sticky note paper when the sticky note data creation application is activated. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, for example, if a frequently used template is registered in advance, a desired sticky note can be easily obtained simply by selecting whether or not to print the registered template when the sticky note data creation application is activated. Can be created.

  Hereinafter, a printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This printing system uses a general-purpose printer (processing device) to print on paper (processing object) based on paper printing data created on a personal computer, creates a document (result), and pastes it on the created document. Therefore, a printed sticky note on which a message or the like related to the created document is printed is created.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 1 includes a sticky note printer 2 on which a sticky note bundle H is set, a general-purpose printer 3 on which paper is set, a sticky note printer 2 and a general-purpose printer 3 via interfaces. A personal computer 4 that is wired or wirelessly connected, creates and edits sticky note print data for printing on the sticky note H1 and paper print data for printing on the paper, and controls various driving of the sticky note printer 2 and the general-purpose printer. It consists of and.

  The personal computer 4 includes a personal computer main body 30, a keyboard 31 and a mouse 32 connected to the personal computer main body 30 for inputting data, and a display 33 for displaying input results and the like. The personal computer main body 30 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and a CD drive therein, and a sticky note data creation application 40 for creating sticky note print data in the CD drive, A device driver for driving the sticky note printer 2 and a CD-ROM 34 storing various data and programs such as a plurality of templates for printing on the sticky note paper are detachably set. Various data and programs of the CD-ROM 34 are installed in the HDD of the personal computer 4, and the HDD stores an application storage unit 41 (see FIG. 9) for storing the sticky note data creation application 40 and a plurality of templates. And a template storage unit 42 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, when the sticky note data creation application 40 is activated, various detection signals, various commands, various data, and the like are input from the keyboard 31 and the like, and when the print button 56 is clicked, the personal computer 4 follows the installed program. Various data are processed, and the sticky note printer 2 is controlled to print on the sticky note H1. Further, a device driver for driving the general-purpose printer 3 is stored in the HDD of the personal computer 4.

  The general-purpose printer 3 is configured to perform printing on the set paper based on the paper print data when a print command (processing command) and paper print data are input from the personal computer 4 to the general-purpose printer 3. In this case, the general-purpose printer 3 may be any of a thermal method, an inkjet method, an electrophotographic method, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sticky note printer 2 prints while peeling off the sticky note H1 from the device case 11 forming the outer shell and the sticky note bundle H stored in the device case 11 and set inside the device case 11. And a printing unit assembly 12 for performing the above.

  The sticky note bundle H is a commercially available product in which a plurality of rectangular sticky note papers H1 each having a base portion on the back surface are partially glued (see FIG. 3). The sticky notes H1 are peeled off one by one from the sticky note bundle H, and after peeling, they are attached to a letterhead, a notebook, or the like via the glue portion at the base end.

  The apparatus case 11 is formed in a small size as a whole, and a tray introduction opening 14 for introducing the sticky note tray 20 into the apparatus case 11 by a pull-out method from the front is formed on the lower front surface of the apparatus case 11. Yes. In the center of the upper front surface of the device case 11, a horizontal slit-shaped discharge port 15 for sending the printed sticky note H <b> 1 to the outside of the device case 11, and the device case 11 extends from the inside of the device case 11 to the outside of the device case 11. And a receiving portion 16 for receiving the printed sticky note H1 that has been peeled off. An opening / closing lid 18 for attaching / detaching or maintaining the ribbon cartridge C is attached to the upper surface of the device case 11.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printing unit assembly 12 lifts up the sticky note tray 20 on which the sticky note bundle H is set and the uppermost sticky note H1 of the set sticky note bundle H at the lifting position 23. The pickup roller 25 that peels off and discharges the sticky note H1, the thermal head 26 that prints on the sticky note H1 that is sent by the pickup roller 25, and the printing that contacts the pick-up roller 25 to the lifting position 23 and the thermal head 26 The roller arm 27 is moved between the position 24 and the ribbon cartridge C containing the ink ribbon R. That is, the pickup roller 25 also serves as a platen roller that faces the thermal head 26.

  The printing unit assembly 12 causes the pickup roller 25 to face the pick-up position 23 with respect to the sticky note bundle H set on the sticky note tray 20 and lifts the uppermost sticky note H1, and in this state, the roller arm 27 As a result, the pickup roller 25 is moved to the printing position 24. Then, the pickup roller 25 moved to the printing position 24 sandwiches the rolled up sticky note H1 and the ink ribbon R fed from the attached ribbon cartridge C together with the thermal head 26, and the pickup roller 25 discharges the sticky note H1 to the discharge port. The ink on the ink ribbon R is thermally transferred by the thermal head 26 to the sticky note H1 that is being sent to the sticky note H1.

  Here, the sticky note data creation application 40 stored in the application storage unit 41 will be described with reference to FIG. When the sticky note data creation application 40 is activated by the personal computer 4, a sticky note creation screen 50 serving as a default screen is displayed on the display 33. The sticky note creation screen 50 is operable in the background when not in use, and is configured to display the background by shifting from the background operation state to the foreground operation state in the use state. Yes. That is, the state where the sticky note creation screen 50 is displayed on the display is the use state, and the state where the sticky note creation screen 50 is not displayed is the non-use state.

  The sticky note creation screen 50 is widely provided in the center of the screen, and is provided in the upper right of the screen with an input area 51 for inputting a desired message to be printed on the sticky note H1 from the keyboard 31, and ends the sticky note data creation application 40. A button 52, a template button 53 provided at the center on the screen for calling a plurality of templates stored in the template storage unit 42, a date / time insertion button 54 provided at the lower left of the screen for inserting the date / time into the input area 51, and a screen A file name insertion button 55 provided at the lower center and for inserting a file name 57 printed by the general-purpose printer 3 into the input area 51; and a print button 56 provided at the lower right side of the screen for printing by the sticky note printer 2 Have.

  When a desired message (character string) is input from the keyboard 31 to the input area 51 of the sticky note creation screen 50 and the print button 56 is clicked, the sticky note printer 2 displays the character string input in the input area. Print on the sticky note H1.

  The template button 53 is used to select a desired template from a plurality of templates. When the template button 53 is clicked, a list box 60 is displayed, and a plurality of template items can be selected in the list box. Is displayed (see FIG. 5). As items of a plurality of templates, there are items such as “TEL”, “confirmation”, “circulation”, and “template creation”. When the item of “TEL” is selected, as shown in FIG. When the sticky note print data related to the memo is called and the “confirmation” item is selected, the sticky note print data related to the confirmation memo is called as shown in FIG. 6B, and when the “circulation” item is selected. As shown in FIG. 6C, the sticky note print data relating to the circulation memo is called up. Here, when the “template creation” item is selected, a template creation screen 61 is displayed on the display 33, and a template created by the user can be newly registered.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a template creation screen 61 is provided at the top of the screen, and a template name input area 51 for inputting a template name 62 to be created, and a content widely provided at the center of the screen for inputting the contents of the template to be created. The input area 64 includes a cancel button 65 provided at the upper right of the screen for canceling template creation, and a template registration button 66 provided at the lower right of the screen for registering the created template.

  When a desired character string is input to the template name input area 51 and the content input area 64 and the template registration button 66 is clicked, a new template is stored in the template storage unit 42 and a new box is displayed in the list box 60. A template name 62 is displayed.

  When a desired template is registered on the template creation screen 61, when the sticky note data creation application 40 is activated, a template print selection screen 67 for selecting whether or not to print the registered template on the sticky note H1 is displayed (see FIG. 8). The template print selection screen 67 has options of “Yes”, “No”, and “Edit”. When “Yes” is selected, the sticky note printer 2 performs printing on the sticky note H1 based on the registered template. Is called. If “No” is selected, the template print selection screen 67 is closed. When “Edit” is selected, a sticky note creation screen 50 is displayed to create desired sticky note print data.

  Here, in the printing system 1 of the present embodiment, in order to save the trouble of creating the sticky paper print data for printing on the sticky paper, the above-mentioned sticky paper data is triggered by the end of printing on the paper by the general-purpose printer 3. The creation application 40 is configured to pop up from the background operation state and shift to the foreground operation state. Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG.

  The personal computer 4 of the printing system includes sticky note data creation means 80 for creating sticky note print data, paper data acquisition means 81 for obtaining paper print data for printing on paper by the general-purpose printer 3, and acquired paper print Paper data transmission means 82 for outputting data to the general-purpose printer 3. The paper data acquisition unit 81 acquires paper print data via an interface from paper print data created by the personal computer 4 or an external storage medium storing the paper print data.

  The sticky note data creation means 80 is processed according to the program of the sticky note data creation application 40 by the personal computer 4 via the CPU or RAM based on the input data input on the sticky note creation screen 50 of the sticky note data creation application 40. To create sticky note print data. When the sticky note data creating means 80 determines that the driving of the general-purpose printer 3 has been completed by the printing device monitoring means (processing device monitoring means) 83 that monitors the driving state of the general-purpose printer 3, and the printing device monitoring means 83, There is an operation transition means 84 for popping up the operation state of the sticky note data creation application 40 from the background operation state and shifting to the foreground operation state.

  When a print end signal is input from the general-purpose printer 3 to the personal computer 4 while the sticky note data creation application 40 is operating in the background, the printing device monitoring unit 83 of the personal computer 4 activates the operation transition unit 84, A sticky note creation screen 50 is popped up on the display 33.

  The sticky note data creation means 80 also has a file name acquisition means 85 for obtaining the file name 57 of the paper print data transmitted by the paper data transmission means 82, and a file name for inserting the acquired file name 57 into the sticky note creation data. Insertion means 86. That is, when the file name insertion button 55 on the sticky note creation screen 50 is clicked, the file name acquisition unit 85 acquires the file name 57 and the file name insertion unit 86 inputs the acquired file name on the sticky note creation screen 50. Insert into region 51.

  Further, the sticky note data creation means 80 includes a template selection means 90 for selecting a desired template from the template storage unit 42 in which a plurality of templates are stored, a template registration means 91 for creating a new template and registering it. And a template print selection unit 92 for selecting whether or not to print the registered template when the sticky note data creation application 40 is activated.

  More specifically, the template selection unit 90 is a plurality of template items displayed in the list box 60, and a desired sticky note print data template can be used by clicking the desired item. The template registration unit 91 creates desired sticky note creation data on the template creation screen 61 and clicks the template registration button 66 to register the created template in the template storage unit 42. The template print selection unit 92 is configured to perform a desired process by selecting each option on the template print selection screen 67. Each means described above is realized by processing various data in the CPU, RAM, and HDD based on the program of the sticky note data creation application 40.

  Next, a series of operation flows for shifting the sticky note data creation application 40 from the background operation state to the foreground operation state will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the state where the sticky note data creation application 40 is operating in the background on the personal computer 4, the paper print data is transmitted to the general-purpose printer 3 and the paper is printed (S1). When the printing of the general-purpose printer 3 ends (S2), the sticky note data creation application 40 pops up from the background operation state and displays the foreground operation state, that is, the sticky note creation screen 50 on the display 33 (S3). ). Thereafter, when the user creates the sticky note H1, the user inputs a desired message on the sticky note creation screen 50 (S5). On the other hand, when the user does not create the sticky note H1, the user presses the cancel button 65. Click to close the sticky note creation screen 50 (S4). In S5, when a desired message is input and the print button 56 is clicked, a sticky note H1 on which the desired message is printed can be obtained (S6).

  According to the above configuration, when the general-purpose printer 3 finishes driving, the sticky note data creation application 40 automatically pops up using this as a trigger to enter the foreground operation state. Therefore, the user can save the trouble of manually setting the sticky note data creation application 40 in the foreground operation state, and can immediately create a sticky note. In this embodiment, the sticky note data creation application 40 is set to the foreground operation state with the end of driving of the general-purpose printer 3 as a trigger. However, the sticky note data creation application 40 is set to foreground with the start of driving of the general-purpose printer 3 as a trigger. A ground operating state may be set.

  Next, the printing system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. Only different parts will be described in order to avoid duplicate descriptions. This printing system 1 is provided with a sticky note data creation application 40 and a separate printing device monitoring application. In other words, when the sticky note data creation application 40 is not activated, the sticky note data creation application 40 is automatically activated by the printing device monitoring application when the general-purpose printer 3 finishes the print drive.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the paper print data is transmitted to the general-purpose printer 3 and printing on the paper is started (S11). After printing the paper, the printing of the general-purpose printer 3 is finished (S12). The printing apparatus monitoring application uses this as a trigger to activate the sticky note data creation application 40 (S13) and display the sticky note creation screen 50 on the display 33. Thereafter, when creating a sticky note, the user inputs a desired message on the sticky note creation screen 50 and prints it on the sticky note H1 (S15), but does not create the sticky note H1. In this case, the cancel button 65 is clicked (S16), and the sticky note creation screen 50 is closed (S14).

  Also in the above configuration, the sticky note data creation application 40 can be automatically activated with the end of driving of the general-purpose printer 3 as a trigger. Therefore, the user can save time and labor for manually starting the sticky note data creation application 40, and can immediately create the sticky note H1.

1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment. 1 is an external perspective view of a sticky note printer. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a sticky note printer. It is explanatory drawing of the sticky note creation screen displayed on the display. It is explanatory drawing of the sticky note creation screen which clicked the template button. It is a top view of the sticky note created by the template. It is explanatory drawing of a template creation screen. It is explanatory drawing of a template printing selection screen. It is a functional block diagram of a printing system. It is a series of operation | movement flowcharts of a printing system. It is a series of operation | movement flowcharts of the printing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing system 2 ... Sticky paper printer 3 ... General-purpose printer 4 ... Personal computer 40 ... Sticky paper data creation application 41 ... Application memory | storage part 42 ... Template memory | storage part 80 ... Sticky paper data creation means 81 ... Paper data acquisition means 82 ... Paper data Transmission means 83 ... Printing device monitoring means 84 ... Operation transition means 85 ... File name acquisition means 86 ... File name insertion means 90 ... Template selection means 91 ... Template registration means 92 ... Template print selection means H1 ... Sticky notes

Claims (8)

A processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky paper printer that performs printing based on sticky paper print data on a sticky paper to be attached to the result created by the processing device And a control device connected to and controlling the processing device and the sticky note printer,
The controller is
An application storage unit for storing a sticky note data creation application for creating the sticky note print data;
Processing device monitoring means for monitoring the driving state of the processing device;
A sticky note data creating means for creating the sticky note print data based on the sticky note data creation application stored in the application storage unit;
The processing device monitoring unit activates the sticky note data creation application stored in the application storage unit when determining that the processing device is one of driving start and driving end. system. A processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky paper printer that performs printing based on sticky paper print data on a sticky paper to be attached to the result created by the processing device And a control device connected to and controlling the processing device and the sticky note printer,
The controller is
An application storage unit for storing a sticky note data creation application for creating the sticky note print data;
A sticky note data creating means for creating the sticky note print data based on the sticky note data creation application stored in the application storage unit;
The sticky note data creation means, in a state where the sticky note data creation application is operating in the background,
Processing device monitoring means for monitoring the driving state of the processing device;
An operation for shifting the operation state of the sticky note data creation application from the background operation state to the foreground operation state when the processing device monitoring unit determines that the processing device is one of driving start and driving end. And a transfer unit. The processing device is a printing device that performs printing on paper based on paper print data;
The control device further comprises paper data acquisition means for acquiring the paper print data, and paper data transmission means for transmitting the acquired paper print data to the printing apparatus,
The sticky note data creation means can insert the file name acquisition means for acquiring the file name of the transmitted paper print data and the file name acquired by the file name acquisition means into the created sticky note print data The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a file name insertion unit configured as described above. The control device further includes a template storage unit that stores a plurality of templates for printing on the sticky note paper,
The said sticky note data preparation means has a template selection means for selecting arbitrary one templates from the stored said plurality of templates, The one of Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Printing system.   5. The printing according to claim 4, wherein the sticky note data creation unit further includes a template registration unit that registers the created sticky note print data as a new template in the template storage unit. system.   The sticky note data creation means further has a template print selection means for selecting whether or not to print the template registered by the template registration means on the sticky note paper when the sticky note data creation application is activated. The printing system according to claim 5, wherein: A processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky paper printer that performs printing based on sticky paper print data on a sticky paper to be attached to the result created by the processing device A control method for a printing system, comprising: a control device connected to the processing device and the sticky note printer and controlling them;
Processing device monitoring means for monitoring the driving state of the processing device;
In the processing device monitoring step, when it is determined that the processing device is one of driving start and driving end, an application activation step of starting a sticky note data creation application for creating the sticky note print data; A control method for a printing system, comprising: A processing device that processes a processing object to create a result, and a sticky paper printer that performs printing based on sticky paper print data on a sticky paper to be attached to the result created by the processing device A control method for a printing system, comprising: a control device connected to the processing device and the sticky note printer and controlling them;
Processing device monitoring means for monitoring the driving state of the processing device;
In the processing command monitoring step, when it is determined that the processing device is one of driving start and driving end, the sticky note data creation application for creating the sticky note print data is changed from the background operation state to the foreground. A printing system control method comprising: an operation transition step of transitioning to an operation state.

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