JP2009220517A - Printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable printing of various types of slips by a low-cost configuration without providing exclusive paper feed sections to each different types of slip paper. <P>SOLUTION: On the basis of the slip registration command of a client terminal 10, the slip registration control section 362 registers and sets a slip type data in a slip DB control table 321 so as to correspond to a slip ID and a slip name. When receiving a slip print instruction for a slip document from the client terminal 10, the slip paper feed request control section 363 extracts a slip ID contained in the slip print instruction, searches for a slip name corresponding to the slip ID from the slip DB control table 321, and reports to urge manual insertion of slip paper with the slip name into a manual insertion-paper feed tray 41. When the slip paper is manually inserted in the manual paper-insertion tray 41 in response to the report and a printing start instruction is given, a printing control section 361 controls the printing of a slip document for the slip paper. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing system.

Today, a network environment in which a host device such as a personal computer (PC) and a print control device such as a printer or a multifunction device are connected is widespread.

  Some print control apparatuses operated in such a network environment have a form print processing function for printing a form document generated based on a form in a predetermined form.

With regard to this type of form print processing function, the following Patent Document 1 discloses print control in which dedicated paper (form) is set in advance in a plurality of paper feed trays, and a paper feed tray in which a designated form is set can be selected. An apparatus is disclosed.
JP 2001-58445 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a printing system that do not require a dedicated paper feeding unit for each form paper having different styles and can support printing of various types of forms with an inexpensive configuration. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the printing apparatus according to claim 1 is a form registration means for registering form identification information for identifying form paper on which the form form information is printed in advance, corresponding to the form form information. Notification means for prompting the user to manually feed the form paper corresponding to the form identification information included in the form print request of the form document to the manual paper feeder, and the form identification information notified by the notification means Based on detection means for detecting that the corresponding form paper has been manually fed to the manual paper feeder, a print start instruction means for instructing start of printing of the form document, and a print start instruction by the print start instruction means A printing unit that prints print data corresponding to the form document on the form sheet manually fed to the manual sheet feeding unit, and the printing until the printing unit starts printing. ; And a prohibiting means for prohibiting the next print start instruction of the form document by start instruction means.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the management means for managing the user name corresponding to the user identification information and the use of the print request source included in the print request for the form document Further comprising extraction means for extracting user identification information for identifying a user, wherein the notification means obtains a user name corresponding to the user identification information extracted by the extraction means from the management means, and When notifying the user to manually feed the form, the user name is notified, and the prohibiting means is operated by the user next to the user notified by the notifying means until printing by the printing means is started. The print start instruction is prohibited.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the input of the user identification information is accepted and the input user identification information matches the user identification information extracted by the extraction means. Determination means for determining whether or not the prohibition means detects that the form sheet has been manually fed to the manual sheet feeder by the detection means, and the determination means detects the user identification information. When it is determined that it matches the user identification information extracted by the extracting means, a print start instruction by the print start instructing means is accepted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system comprising: a document processing terminal; and a printing apparatus that prints a form document based on a form printing request from the document processing apparatus. The document processing terminal is connected to the printing apparatus. Print request means for making a form print request for the form document, and registration request means for requesting registration of form identification information for identifying the form paper on which the form form information is printed, corresponding to the form format information. The printing apparatus, based on a registration request by the registration request means, forms registration means for registering form identification information for identifying the form paper on which the form style information is printed, corresponding to the form style information; Informing means for informing to manually feed the form paper corresponding to the form identification information included in the form print request to a manual paper feed unit; and the form identification information informed by the informing means Based on detection means for detecting that the corresponding form paper has been manually fed to the manual paper feeder, a print start instruction means for instructing start of printing of the form document, and a print start instruction by the print start instruction means A printing unit that prints print data corresponding to the form document on the form sheet manually fed to the manual sheet feeding unit, and a next form by the print start instruction unit until printing by the printing unit is started. And prohibiting means for prohibiting the instruction to start printing the document.

  According to the invention of the first aspect of the present invention, after a form printing request is made, the form paper whose manual is urged by the printer is manually fed into the manual paper feed tray, and a print start instruction is given to the form paper. Since the printing of form documents is performed, it is possible to support printing of multiple types of forms using a single manual feed tray that can accept manual feed of multiple form sheets. There is no need to provide a tray, and an inexpensive apparatus configuration can be realized.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, even when a plurality of users issue print jobs using the same form, which user's job is included along with the type of form paper to be manually fed. It is possible to know, it is possible to reduce the risk that each user prints a form print job of another user, and it is possible to cope with printing various types of forms while maintaining high security.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, even if the printer manually feeds the form paper that prompts for manual feed, the printing is not started until the print instructing user performs a print start operation. For this reason, users other than the print instruction source cannot manually print a form to view the print contents, and high security can be maintained.

  According to the invention of the printing system described in claim 4, in the network environment where the PC and the printer are connected, the form paper that the printer prompts for manual feeding is manually fed to the manual paper feed tray based on the form printing instruction from the PC. Since the printing of the form document on the form sheet is executed by instructing the printing start, it is possible to print a plurality of types of forms using a single manual feed tray capable of receiving a plurality of form sheets. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated paper feed tray for each form paper having a different format, and an inexpensive system configuration can be realized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to the present invention.

  This printing system includes a plurality of client terminals 10 (10-1, 10-2,..., 10-n) having document processing functions such as document editing and management and printing instruction (print job) issuance, and arbitrary clients. Based on a print instruction from the terminal 10, a printer 30 that prints out document information designated by the print instruction as an image on a recording medium (recording paper) is connected via a transmission path 50 such as a LAN cable. The

  This printing system is premised on, for example, a system that is installed in a city hall or the like and has a form print processing function related to a service for issuing a document such as a resident card or a seal certificate in response to a request of a user (resident).

  In order to provide the above services, the person in charge at the city hall has multiple types of form paper (recording paper) pre-printed with the form style information (ruled lines, frames, etc.) corresponding to the above-mentioned issued documents. Yes.

  When there is a document issuance request from a resident who is a user, the person in charge (user) uses the PC (client terminal 10) to request document data (document corresponding to the contents of the resident's card etc.) specific to the resident. Data: form document) is searched and the printer 30 is instructed to print the form. The printer 30 prints the form document instructed to print the form on the form paper on which form format information corresponding to the form is printed. Output and provide to residents.

  In the printing system of the present invention, the printer 30 includes a manual sheet feeding unit that manually sets a form sheet, and when a form printing instruction for a form document is received from the client terminal 10, the corresponding form sheet is manually fed to the manual sheet feeding unit. The user (person in charge) is notified, and the form document instructed to be printed is printed on the form sheet manually provided by the user in response to the notification.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the client terminal 10 according to the first embodiment.

  The client terminal 10 is realized by, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), and as shown in FIG. 2, displays an input / operation unit 11 including an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse, and various kinds of information such as operation guidance and operation status. When communicating with the printer 30 (transmission and reception of data such as a form print job) via the display unit 12, the storage unit 13 that stores various information such as operation programs, the control unit 14 that controls the entire apparatus, and the transmission path 50 The communication interface (I / F) unit 15 that controls the communication interface is configured.

  In the client terminal 10, the control unit 14 includes an application unit that performs processing such as operation on document information (document file), storage, display, editing, and print instruction operation in accordance with a predetermined operation on the input / operation unit 11. 141, a print job generation unit 142 that generates a print job composed of print data of a document file and its processing instruction based on a predetermined print instruction operation on the input / operation unit 11 and sends the print job to the printer 30 is provided.

  In this client terminal 10, the application unit 141 supports a form print instruction function, and the print job generation unit 142 generates and issues a form print job instructing to print a form document based on the form print instruction. It has a processing function.

  In addition to the application unit 141 and the print job generation unit 142, the control unit 14 includes form format data (electronic data corresponding to ruled lines constituting the form) and form ID (form form data are used for form print control). A form registration control unit 143 is provided for performing control for registering information such as identification information for identifying printed form sheets) and form names in the printer 30.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 30 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the printer 30 includes a communication interface (I / F) unit 31 that controls a communication interface when communicating with a plurality of client terminals 10 via a transmission path 50, an operation program, and a communication I / F unit. 31, a storage unit 32 that stores various information such as document information (image data) to be printed included in a print instruction received from an arbitrary client terminal 10, and document information (image data to be printed) stored in the storage unit 32. ), An image processing unit 33 that performs image processing for generating print data, and an electrophotographic image forming process based on an image signal (print data) image-processed by the image processing unit 33 to perform recording processing (recording paper) An image forming unit 34 that forms (prints) an image on the discharge port and discharges it to a discharge port (discharge tray 47), a display unit such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), and a numeric keypad Display / operation unit composed of an operation portion having a seed operation chromatography (hereinafter, the operation panel) 35, and comprises a control unit 36 for controlling the entire apparatus.

  The control unit 36 receives a print instruction (including a form print job) from an arbitrary client terminal 10 through the communication I / F unit 31, and performs image processing from document information (image data) to be printed included in the print instruction. Printing in which the print data is generated by the unit 33, and the image forming unit 34 prints an image on recording paper (including form paper) based on the print data, and performs print control for discharging the printed paper to the discharge tray 40. A control unit 361 is provided.

  The print control unit 361 supports a form print processing function. Upon receiving a form print job as the print instruction from the client terminal 10, the print control unit 361 generates print data for printing a form document to be printed in the form form, Control is performed to print out the print data from a manual paper feed tray 41, which will be described later, onto a form paper set manually.

  The manual paper feed tray 41 receives a manual loading (set) of a plurality of different types and sizes of form paper, accommodates the form paper, and transfers it to a conveyance mechanism that feeds out and conveys the corresponding form document according to the printing process. It has a functional structure for delivering the accommodated form paper.

  In addition to the print control unit 361, the control unit 36 includes a form registration control unit 362 and a form feed request control unit 363.

  The form registration control unit 362 associates information such as form format data, form ID, and form name based on the form registration request from the form print control unit 143 of the client terminal 10, for example, a form provided in the storage unit 321. Register and set in the database (DB) management table 321.

  The form feed request control unit 363 searches the form DB management table 321 for a form name corresponding to the form ID included in the form print job sent from the print job generation unit 142 of the client terminal 10, and has the form name. Control is performed to notify that it is requested to manually feed the form paper into the manual paper feed tray 41.

  Next, the form registration process in the client terminal 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the form registration process shown in FIG. 4, the client terminal 10 instructs the application unit 141 to start a form processing application based on a predetermined user operation on the input / operation unit 11 (step S101), and a plurality of form types. A form type selection screen for selecting a form type to be processed is displayed on the display unit 12.

  Next, it is monitored whether or not an operation for selecting the form type is performed on the form type selection screen (step S102). When a certain type of form is selected (YES in step S102), the form is further selected. A processing type selection screen for selecting a processing type such as printing or registration is displayed on the display unit 12.

  During this time, it is monitored whether or not an operation for selecting the processing type for the form has been performed on the processing type selection screen (step S103). When the processing type is selected (YES in step S103), the selected processing type Is a form registration setting (step S104).

  If the process type is not registered (NO in step S104), the process selected in step S103 (for example, the printing process for the form selected in step S102) is executed (step S111).

  On the other hand, when the processing type is registration setting (YES in step S104), the form registration control unit 143 corresponds to the form type selected in step S102 stored in the storage unit 13 in advance, for example. The form format data is read (step S105), and a form registration setting screen including the form form data is displayed on the display unit 12 (step S106).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the form registration setting screen 121 in step S106.

  The form registration setting screen 121 includes a column for displaying the form format data read out in step S105 (the left column in the figure), a column for instructing to newly register the displayed form format data, "OK" button for instructing the execution of "." And "Cancel" button for instructing cancellation of the registration are displayed.

  The user uses the “form ID” and “form name” input tools provided in the column for instructing new registration of the form form data on the form registration setting screen 121, so that the form ID (form form data is stored in advance). Enter the form ID and form entered together with the form form data displayed in the form form data display column by entering the form name and form name, and pressing the “OK” button. It can be instructed to be registered as a form database in association with the name.

  After the form registration setting screen 121 shown in FIG. 5 is displayed in step S106, the form registration control unit 143 receives input of registration attribute information such as the form ID and form name on the form registration setting screen 121 (step S106). In step S107, it is monitored whether or not a registration start operation ("OK" button is pressed) is performed (step S108).

  If a registration start operation is performed (YES in step S108), the form registration control unit 143 instructs to register the attribute information (form form data, form ID, and form name) input in step S107. A request is sent to the printer 30 (step S109), and a series of form registration processing is terminated.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a form registration process in the printer 30.

  In the printer 30, the form registration control unit 362 determines whether the form registration request sent from the client terminal 10 in step S109 in FIG. 4 is received from the client terminal 10 in order to perform the form registration process shown in FIG. Is monitored (step S301).

  Here, when the form registration request is received (step S301 YES), the form registration control unit 362 extracts the form format data, form ID, and form name information included in the form registration request (step S302), The extracted information is associated with each other and registered in the form DB management table 321 as a form database (step S303).

  FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of registration of a form database in the form DB management table 321.

  In the form DB management table 321 of this example, the form paper names (resident form form paper, family register copy form paper, family register abstract form paper, respectively) corresponding to each form ID (0001, 0002, 0003, 0004,...) Seal certificate form,...) And form data are registered.

  The form format data is actually stored in the corresponding address storage area, and only the storage destination address (link information) is stored in the form form data column of the form DB management table 321. It is registered.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the form print instruction process of the client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same processing steps as the processing steps in the form registration processing shown in FIG.

  In the form printing instruction process shown in FIG. 8, the client terminal 10 instructs the application unit 141 to start a form processing application based on a predetermined user operation in the input / operation unit 11 (step S101), and selects a form type. The screen is displayed to accept the form type selection (YES in step S102), and the process type selection screen is displayed to accept the process type selection operation for the form type (step S103 YES). It is checked whether or not the process is a print process (step S104b). If the process type is not a print process (NO in step S104b), the process selected in step S103 (for example, the registration process of the form selected in step S102: Steps S105 to S109 in FIG. 4 are executed (Step S111). ).

  On the other hand, when the processing type is a printing process (YES in step S104b), the application unit 142 inputs a predetermined search key (for example, a name, an address, etc. when the form type to be printed is a resident card). Through a predetermined process such as searching based on the search key, a form document to be printed on the corresponding form sheet (same as the contents of the resident form) is acquired (step S121), and then the form printing of the acquired form document is performed. A setting acceptance process is performed (step S122).

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a form print setting screen 125 displayed on the display unit 12 during the form print setting reception process.

  The form print setting screen 125 can be opened (displayed) by selecting “print” from the file processing menu of the form document read out in step S121, for example. The form format used for printing the form document In addition to a column for displaying data (corresponding to the form type selected in step S102) (left column in the figure), a manuscript setting column for designating a paper size and the like, a printing direction, a paper feeding method, and a form ID A tool for designating each condition such as the number of copies, an “OK” button for instructing execution of printing, a “cancel” button for instructing cancellation of printing, and the like.

  The user uses the corresponding tools on the form print setting screen 125 to specify the paper size, printing direction, number of copies, and the like, and instruct to manually set the form paper as the paper feeding method. The document acquired in step S121 is specified by specifying “manual feed” to be performed and further pressing the “OK” button after inputting the form ID (form ID of the form form data displayed in the form form data display column). It is possible to instruct the information to be printed with the set contents.

  In step S122, the application unit 141 monitors whether a print start operation ("OK" button is pressed) is performed while continuing to accept the form print setting on the form print setting screen 125 shown in FIG. (Step S123).

  Here, when a print start operation is performed (YES in step S123), the print job generation unit 142 reads out the form format data corresponding to the form type selected in step S102 (step S124), and on the form form data. A form print job including a drawing command for printing the form document acquired in step S121 and the setting contents (including form ID) set in step S122 is generated (step S125), and the form print job is generated. Is sent to the printer 30 (step S126).

  According to the processing in steps S124 and S125, the form ID accepted in step S122, the form format data read in step S124, and the image data (the form document acquired in step S121 is converted into the form format data. A form print job consisting of a command for embedding and drawing) is sent to the printer 30.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the form printing process of the printer 30 according to the present embodiment.

  In the printer 30, the print control unit 361 monitors whether or not the form print job sent from the client terminal 10 in step S126 of FIG. 8 has been received in order to perform the form print process shown in FIG. S311).

  When a form print job is received (step S311 YES), the form feed request control unit 363 extracts a form ID from the form print job (step S313), and further uses the extracted form ID as a key. Then, information on the form name corresponding to the form ID is searched from the form DB management table 321 (step S314).

  Subsequently, the form feed request control unit 363 includes the form name searched in step S314, and manually feeds the contents for requesting (prompting) to manually feed the form sheet having the form name to the manual feed tray 41. A paper request message is generated (step S315), and the manual paper feed request message is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 35 (step S316).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the manual paper feed request message in step S316.

  According to this example, the form feed request control unit 363 extracts the form ID (= 0001) in step S313, and then in step S314, the form ID (= 0001) from the form DB management table 321 (see FIG. 7). ) To search for the form name “resident form form” corresponding to “), and prompt the user to manually feed the form with the searched form name“ Set resident form form on the manual tray ” Generate a message.

  Then, the form feed request control unit 363 sets the “resident form form paper” generated as described above on the manual feed tray in accordance with the display of the screen 352 indicating “receiving form print” on the display unit of the operation panel 35. The manual feed request message with the content “Please” is displayed.

  During the display of the manual paper feed request message illustrated in FIG. 11 in step S316, the print control unit 361 takes in the detection output of the paper presence / absence detection sensor provided along with the manual paper feed tray 41, and based on the detection output. Then, it is monitored whether or not the form paper is manually set (step S317).

  If it is determined that the manual paper is manually set (step S317 YES), the print control unit 361 analyzes the form print job received in step S311 and manually supplies the document information to be printed. Control is performed to print on the form paper (in this example, resident form paper) manually fed to the paper tray (step S319).

  In this form print control, the print control unit 361 controls the image processing unit 33 to expand the form document included in the form print job onto the form form data included together to generate print data, The print data is supplied to the image forming unit 34 to start the electrophotographic image forming process, while feeding out the form paper manually fed from the manual paper feed tray 41 is started, and the toner image transfer timing of the image forming process is started. Accordingly, the form document is printed and output on the form sheet by feeding and transporting the form sheet to the transfer position.

  In the form printing process shown in FIG. 10, it is detected that the form sheet is manually fed and the form document is printed on the form sheet. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation panel 35 is provided with a print start button for instructing the start of printing. When the print start button is pressed, print data corresponding to a form document is printed on the form sheet manually fed to the manual feed tray 41. A configuration for printing may be used.

  Further, in this case, control may be performed to prohibit the print start instruction for the next form document by the print start button until the form print is started based on the print start instruction (pressing the print start button). .

  In the present embodiment, based on the form printing instruction from the client terminal 10, the printer 30 performs notification for prompting manual insertion of the form paper necessary for the printing, and when the form paper is manually fed to the notification (and When a print start instruction is issued), the form document is printed using the form sheet. Therefore, a single manual feed tray 41 capable of accepting manual feed of a plurality of types of form sheets is used to print various types of forms. Yes.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 30B according to the second embodiment.

  In this printer 30B, the form feed request control unit 363b provided in the control unit 36b, in addition to the form ID from the client terminal 10, identifies the user who operates the client terminal 10 (the user who issued the form print instruction). A form print job further including information (user ID) is received, a form name corresponding to the form ID included in the form print job is retrieved from the form DB management table 321, and a form sheet having the form name is manually fed. When notifying that it is required to manually feed the tray 41, the user ID is extracted from the form print job, and control is performed to notify that the form print job is from a user having the user ID.

  In addition to the form DB management table 321 similar to that of the first embodiment, the storage unit 32b is provided with a user management table 322 for registering and managing user names corresponding to user IDs.

  FIG. 13 is a table showing an example of information registration in the user management table 322 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 13, in the user management table 322, information on user names (Sumida, Akasaka, Chiyoda,...) Corresponding to user IDs (10001, 10002, 10003,...) For identifying users is registered in advance. Has been.

  The information (user management information) registered in the user management table 322 is the form print request from the user having the user ID based on the user ID extracted from the form print job by the form feed request control unit 363b as described above. When notifying that it is a job, it is used to search for a user name from the user ID extracted from the form print job.

  Other functional configurations of the printer 30B according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the printer 30 according to the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same functional blocks.

  The client terminal according to the present embodiment (referred to as 10B for convenience) requests the user to input a user ID when the user uses the client terminal 10B, and the user inputs the request in response to the request. A processing function for performing user authentication using the user ID to be used.

  When the client terminal 10B instructs the printer 30B to print a form, basically, processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is performed.

  However, at that time, in step S125 of FIG. 8, a form print job further including the user ID acquired from the user by the user authentication processing function is generated, and in the same step, the form print job is sent to the client terminal 10B. To do.

  That is, in this embodiment, in step S125 in FIG. 8, the form ID accepted in step S122 in the figure, the form format data read in step S124 in the figure, and the image data (obtained in step S121 in the figure). A form print job that further includes a user ID acquired from the user by the user authentication processing function when using the client terminal 10, in order to embed and render the form document in the form format data) Is sent to the printer 30 in step S126 of FIG.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the form printing process of the printer 30B according to this embodiment.

  In FIG. 14, the same reference numerals are given to the same processing steps as the processing steps in the form printing process (see FIG. 10) according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in the printer 30, the print control unit 361 monitors whether or not the form print job sent from the client terminal 10 in step S126 of FIG. 8 has been received (step S311).

  When the form print job is received (YES in step S311), the form feed request control unit 363b extracts the user ID from the form print job (step S312) and extracts the form ID (step S313). .

  Next, the form feed request control unit 363b searches the user management table 322 for user name information corresponding to the user ID using the user ID extracted in step S312 as a key, and also extracts the form extracted in step S313. Using the ID as a key, information on the form name corresponding to the form ID is searched from the form DB management table 321 (step S314b).

  Thereafter, the form feed request control unit 363b includes the user name based on the user name and form name searched in step S314b, and informs that the form print job is from the user with the user name. A manual paper feed request message including the above-mentioned form name and including a content for requesting (prompting) to manually feed the form paper of the form name to the manual paper feed tray 41 is generated (step S315b). The paper request message is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 35 (step S316b).

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the manual paper feed request message in step S316b.

  According to this example, the form feed request control unit 363b extracts the user ID (= 10001) in step S312, and then in step S314b, the user ID (= 10001) from the user management table 322 (see FIG. 13). When the user name “Sumida” corresponding to is searched, a message with the content “Mr. Sumida's form document data” is created to notify the user that the searched user name is a form print job. .

  Also, the form feed request control unit 363b extracts the form ID (= 0004) in step S313, and then corresponds to the form ID (= 0004) from the form DB management table 321 (see FIG. 7) in step S314b. When the form name “Seal certificate form” is searched, a message with the message “Please set the seal certificate form on the manual tray” is created to prompt you to manually feed the form with the retrieved form name. .

  The form feed request control unit 363b then displays the contents “Sumida-san's form document data” generated as described above in accordance with the display of the screen 352 indicating “Now accepting form printing” on the display unit of the operation panel 35. Then, a manual paper feed request message having the content “Please set the seal certificate form on the manual feed tray” is displayed.

  While the manual paper feed request message illustrated in FIG. 15 is displayed in step S316b, the print control unit 361 takes in the detection output of the paper presence / absence detection sensor provided in association with the manual paper feed tray 41, and outputs the detection output. Based on this, it is monitored whether or not a manual paper sheet has been manually set (step S317).

  Here, if it is determined that the form paper has been manually set (YES in step S317), then the print control unit 361 is provided with a button (for example, an operation unit of the operation panel 35) that instructs to start printing. Then, it is monitored whether or not the predetermined key set with the function is pressed (step S318).

  If the print start instruction button is pressed (YES in step S318), the print control unit 361 analyzes the form print job received in step S311 and manually feeds the form document to be printed to the manual feed tray 41. Then, control is performed to print on the form sheet (in this example, the seal certification form sheet) (step S319).

  Further, in the above-described form printing control, the user (form printing instruction source user) next notified by the form feed request control unit 363b until the printing of the form document on the form sheet is started after the form sheet is manually fed. Control for prohibiting a user to start printing a form may be performed together.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, based on the form printing instruction from the client terminal 10B, the printer 30B issues a notification that prompts the user to manually insert the form paper necessary for the printing, and the form manually fed in response to the notification. Since a form document is printed using paper, a single manual paper feed tray 41 capable of accepting manual feeding of a plurality of types of form paper can be used for various types of form printing.

  In particular, in this embodiment, even when a plurality of users issue a form print job using the same form, it is possible to know which user's job is the job type together with the type of form paper to be manually fed. The risk of printing a form print job can be reduced, and printing of many types of forms can be supported while maintaining high security.

  In this embodiment, after the form feed request message is displayed, the form sheet is manually set and printing of the form is started by pressing the print start button. , And a user authentication process is performed to determine whether or not the input user ID matches the user who issued the form printing instruction (extracted in step S312 in FIG. 14). Then, when it is determined that the print start button is pressed (print start instruction), it may be configured.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented by being appropriately modified within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the client terminal 10 designates a form ID when instructing to print a form, and the printer 30 extracts a form name corresponding to the form ID included in the print instruction and outputs a form feed request message. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the client terminal 10 issues the print instruction without designating the form ID when the form print instruction is issued, and the printer 30 issues a form print instruction from the client terminal 10. If there is, the form form data of the form instructed to be printed is extracted, the form name corresponding to the extracted form form data is searched from the form DB management table 321, and a form feed request message is generated and displayed. Also good.

  The present invention can be applied to a printing apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral having a form printing processing function for printing a form document using a form sheet on which predetermined form format information is printed in advance, and a printing system using the printing apparatus.

1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a printing system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a client terminal according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a form registration process of a client terminal according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display of a form registration setting screen. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a form registration process of the printer according to the first embodiment. 3 is a table showing an example of registration information in a form database according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a form print instruction process of the client terminal according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a display of a form printing setting screen. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a form printing process of the printer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a message for prompting manual sheet feeding of a form according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a printer according to a second embodiment. 10 is a table showing an example of information registration in a user management table according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a form printing process of a printer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a message prompting manual sheet feeding of a form according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 10-1, 10-2, ..., 10-n ... Client terminal (PC: personal computer), 11 ... Input / operation unit, 12 ... Display unit, 121 ... Form registration setting screen, 125 ... Form print setting Screen, 13 ... Storage unit, 14 ... Control unit, 141 ... Application unit, 142 ... Print job generation unit, 143 ... Form registration control unit, 15 ... Communication interface (I / F) unit, 30 ... Printer, 31 ... Communication interface (I / F) section, 32 ... storage section, 321 ... form database (DB) management table, 322 ... user management table, 33 ... image processing section, 34 ... image forming section, 35 ... display / operation section, 351, 352 ... Form printing acceptance screen, 36 ... Control section, 361 ... Print control section, 362 ... Form registration control section, 363 ... Form feed request control section, 41 ... Manual feed tray, 5 ... discharge tray, 50 ... transmission line

Claims (4)

Corresponding to the form format information, form registration means for registering form identification information for identifying the form sheet on which the form form information is printed in advance;
An informing means for informing to manually feed the form paper corresponding to the form identification information included in the form print request of the form document to the manual paper feed unit;
Detecting means for detecting that the form paper corresponding to the form identification information informed by the informing means has been manually fed to the manual paper feeder;
Print start instruction means for instructing start of printing of the form document;
Printing means for printing print data corresponding to the form document on the form paper manually fed to the manual paper feed unit based on a print start instruction by the print start instruction means;
A printing apparatus comprising: a prohibiting unit that prohibits a print start instruction of a next form document by the print start instructing unit until printing by the printing unit is started. Management means for managing the user name corresponding to the user identification information;
Extracting means for extracting user identification information for identifying the user of the print request source included in the print request for the form document;
The notification means includes
Acquiring the user name corresponding to the user identification information extracted by the extraction means from the management means, and informing the user to manually feed the form paper, inform the user name,
The prohibition means is
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing start instruction by a user next to the user notified by the notification unit is prohibited until printing by the printing unit is started. A determination unit that receives input of the user identification information and determines whether the input user identification information matches the user identification information extracted by the extraction unit;
The prohibition means is
The detection means detects that the form paper has been manually fed to the manual paper feed unit, and the determination means determines that the user identification information matches the user identification information extracted by the extraction means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a printing start instruction from the printing start instruction unit is received when the printing start instruction means is detected. A document processing terminal;
A printing apparatus for printing a form document based on a form printing request from the document processing apparatus,
The document processing terminal
Print request means for making a form print request for the form document to the printing apparatus;
Corresponding to the form format information, it comprises registration request means for requesting registration of form identification information for identifying the form sheet on which the form form information is printed,
The printing apparatus includes:
Based on the registration request by the registration request means, a form registration means for registering form identification information for identifying the form paper on which the form style information is printed, corresponding to the form style information;
An informing means for informing to manually feed the form paper corresponding to the form identification information included in the form print request to a manual paper feed unit;
Detecting means for detecting that the form paper corresponding to the form identification information informed by the informing means has been manually fed to the manual paper feeder;
Print start instruction means for instructing start of printing of the form document;
Printing means for printing print data corresponding to the form document on the form paper manually fed to the manual paper feed unit based on a print start instruction by the print start instruction means;
And a prohibiting unit that prohibits a print start instruction for a next form document by the print start instructing unit until printing by the printing unit is started.

Images