JP2016011194A - Image forming apparatus, cutting processing device, printing system and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent overlapped printing results from being generated even in the case where any failure occurs in the middle of printing processing to continuous form paper.SOLUTION: In the case where any failure occurs in an image forming apparatus 10 or a cutting processing device 20 and the printing processing is interrupted, a data transmitting/receiving section 43 receives information about a paper sheet length of the continuous form paper on which cutting is performed until the failure occurs, from the cutting processing device 20. In the case where the failure occurs and the printing processing is stopped in the middle, a control section 41 controls a printing section 16 so as to re-execute output of print data excepting for an image for the paper sheet length based on the information received from the cutting processing device 20 by the data transmitting/receiving section 43. A charging section 42 performs charging for the paper sheet length based on the information received from the cutting processing device 20 by the data transmitting/receiving section 43.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a cutting processing apparatus, a printing system, and a program.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a method for transferring a roll paper fed from a paper feeding unit onto an image formed on a photosensitive member before the trouble occurs when a document conveyance trouble is detected during an image forming operation. An image forming apparatus is disclosed that is cut to a required length and performs an image forming process after image transfer and a process for discharging the cut sheet.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-110451

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a cutting processing apparatus, a printing system, and a program capable of notifying information necessary for preventing the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper. Is to provide.

[Cutting device]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting unit for cutting the continuous paper output from the image forming apparatus, and when a failure occurs, the continuous cutting is performed by the cutting unit until the failure occurs. A cutting processing apparatus comprising: a calculation unit that calculates a paper length of paper; and a transmission unit that transmits information on the paper length calculated by the calculation unit to the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the calculating means includes a sheet conveyance speed, a time of a cutting interval in the cutting means, a number of times cutting is performed before a failure occurs, and a time required for the cutting. The cutting processing device according to claim 1, wherein the sheet length of the continuous sheet that has been cut before the occurrence of a failure is calculated based on the above.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the sheet length information calculated by the calculating unit is information used when the image forming apparatus transmitted by the transmitting unit outputs an image. This is a cutting processing apparatus.

[Image forming apparatus]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided output means for outputting an image to continuous paper based on print data that has received an output instruction;
When the print processing is interrupted due to a failure, information on the paper length of the continuous paper that has been cut before the failure occurs is received from the cutting processing device that cuts the output continuous paper after the print processing. Receiving means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls the output unit so as to re-execute the output of the print data, excluding an image corresponding to a sheet length based on information received by the receiving unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, further comprising a billing unit that charges for the length of the sheet based on the information received by the receiving unit.

[Printing system]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting unit for cutting the continuous paper output from the image forming apparatus, and a continuous cutting performed by the cutting unit before the failure occurs when a failure occurs. A cutting processing apparatus comprising: a calculating unit that calculates a sheet length of the paper; and a transmission unit that transmits information on the sheet length calculated by the calculating unit to the image forming apparatus;
Output means for outputting an image on continuous paper based on the print data for which an output instruction has been received, and when a failure occurs and the printing process is interrupted, cutting is performed from the cutting processing device until the failure occurs Receiving means for receiving information on the paper length of continuous paper, and control means for controlling the output unit to re-execute the output of the print data, excluding images for the paper length based on the information received by the receiving means. A printing system including the image forming apparatus.

[program]
The present invention according to claim 7 includes a step for cutting continuous paper output from the image forming apparatus;
A step of calculating a sheet length of continuous paper that has been cut before the occurrence of the failure;
A program for causing a computer to execute the step of transmitting the calculated sheet length information to the image forming apparatus.

The present invention according to claim 8 is a step of outputting an image to continuous paper based on print data for which an output instruction has been received;
When the print processing is interrupted due to a failure, information on the paper length of the continuous paper that has been cut before the failure occurs is received from the cutting processing device that cuts the output continuous paper after the print processing. Steps,
This is a program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling the printing process so as to re-execute the output of the print data, excluding the image for the paper length based on the received information.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting processing apparatus capable of notifying information necessary for preventing the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper. Can do.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting processing apparatus capable of notifying information necessary for preventing the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper. Can do.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a cutting apparatus that can prevent the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect obtained by the fourth aspect of the invention, even if a failure occurs during the printing process for the continuous paper, the printing result output normally is charged. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing the above.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing system capable of preventing the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a program capable of notifying information necessary for preventing the occurrence of a duplicate print result even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper. .

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a program that can prevent the occurrence of duplicate printing results even when a failure occurs during the printing process for continuous paper.

1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the cut mark printed in the image forming apparatus 10 in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which printing results are sequentially output by the cutting processing device 20 when no failure occurs. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a situation when a jam occurs during the printing process. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a result of automatic recovery processing when a jam as shown in FIG. 6 occurs. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the cutting processing apparatus 20 in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of the cutting processing apparatus 20 in one Embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention when an error occurs in the cutting processing apparatus 20. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention when an error occurs in the image forming apparatus.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system of this embodiment includes an image forming apparatus (printer) 10, a cutting processing apparatus (cutter) 20, and a terminal device 40.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a printing unit (output unit) 16 that outputs an image on continuous paper (roll paper, long paper) based on print data received an output instruction from the terminal device 40. Print an image on the supplied continuous paper.

  The cutting processing device 20 is a device for performing cutting processing of continuous paper on which an image is output by the image forming device 10, and a cutting mechanism for cutting the continuous paper after printing processing output from the image forming device 10. (Cutting means) 26 is provided.

  In the image forming apparatus 10, for example, a cut mark as shown in FIG. 2 is printed on the continuous paper together with an image based on the print data. The cutting processing device 20 reads this cut mark by a sensor (not shown), and controls the cutting mechanism 26 based on the read cut mark position to cut and output the continuous paper after printing.

  The image forming apparatus 10 and the cutting processing apparatus 20 are connected by a communication cable 30. The image forming apparatus 10 and the cutting processing apparatus 20 transmit and receive information such as error information indicating that an error (failure) has occurred via the communication cable 30. For example, when a failure such as out of paper or a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 10 notifies the cutting processing apparatus 20 of the occurrence of an error. When a failure such as a paper jam occurs in the cutting processing apparatus 2010, the cutting processing apparatus 20 notifies the image forming apparatus 10 of the occurrence of an error.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the printing system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits and receives data to and from the CPU 11, the memory 12, the storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and the cutting processing device 20 via the communication cable 30. A communication interface (IF) 14 to be performed, a touch panel or liquid crystal display, a user interface (UI) device 15 including a keyboard, and a printing unit 16 are included. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 17.

  The CPU 11 executes predetermined processing based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13 and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 11 has been described as reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, but the program is stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and stored in the CPU 11. It is also possible to provide.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the control program.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a printing unit (output unit) 16, a control unit 41, a charging unit 42, and a data transmission / reception unit 43.

  Based on the control by the control unit 41, the printing unit 16 outputs an image on continuous paper based on print data received an output instruction from the terminal device 40 or the like.

  The data transmission / reception unit 43 functions as a transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving information to / from a post-processing device such as the cutting processing device 20 connected to the outside. Specifically, when a failure such as a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10, the data transmission / reception unit 43 transmits error information to the cutting processing device 20 based on control by the control unit 41. Further, the data transmission / reception unit 43 receives error information from the cutting processing device 20 when a failure occurs in the cutting processing device 20.

  The control unit 41 controls the operation of the printing process by the printing unit 16. When a failure such as a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10, the control unit 41 stops the printing process in the printing unit 16 halfway and sends error information to the cutting processing device 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 43. Send. Further, when error information is received from the cutting processing device 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 43, the control unit 41 performs control to stop the printing process of the printing unit 16.

  The charging unit 42 performs processing for charging a fee for a print job for which printing processing has been performed in the printing unit 16.

  In addition, when the output process of the print data for which the output instruction has been received is not normally completed, the control unit 41 performs printing so that an automatic recovery process (automatic reprint process) for executing the output of the print data again is performed. The unit 16 is controlled.

  Here, an automatic recovery function for performing automatic recovery processing will be described below.

  The automatic recovery function is used to automatically execute a print instruction without inquiring the user if a print instruction cannot be executed to the end due to some failure such as out of paper or paper jam (jam) during execution of a print instruction. This function re-executes the print instruction. However, in a printing system that performs printing processing using continuous paper and cuts the continuous paper after printing by the cutting processing device, a problem may occur if this automatic recovery function is always executed.

  An example of an output result when this automatic recovery function is always executed will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, an output example of the image forming apparatus 10 and the cutting processing apparatus 20 when no failure occurs is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, when the image forming apparatus 10 has no trouble such as jamming or paper jam during the printing process on continuous paper, and the cutting processing apparatus 20 has no trouble, The cutting processing device 20 normally performs cutting processing and sequentially outputs print results for each page.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that a jam occurs in the middle of printing the image of the fourth page after the third page is printed in the image forming apparatus 10. In such a case, the image forming apparatus 10 recognizes that the output processing of the entire print job (print instruction) has not been completed normally. However, since the normal printing is performed for the first to third pages on the continuous paper, a normal printing result is obtained for the first to third pages by performing the cutting process by the cutting processing device 20. That is, for the user, it is recognized that a normal print result is obtained for the first to third pages, and a normal print result is not obtained for the fourth and subsequent pages.

  Therefore, when the automatic recovery process is executed in such a case, as shown in FIG. 7, although the normal printing result is obtained for the first to third pages for the user, the first to first pages are obtained again. Reprinting is also performed for three pages, and duplicated printing results are obtained.

  For this reason, in the present embodiment, the data transmission / reception unit 43 causes the cutting processing device 20 to generate a failure when a failure occurs in either the image forming apparatus 10 or the cutting processing device 20 and the printing process is interrupted. Information on the length of the continuous paper that has been cut is received.

  The control unit 41 is based on the information received by the data transmission / reception unit 43 from the cutting processing device 20 when a print jam is stopped in the middle of the image forming apparatus 10 or the cutting processing device 20 due to a paper jam or the like. The printing unit 16 is controlled so as to re-execute the output of the print data except for the image for the paper length.

  The charging unit 42 charges for the sheet length based on the information received from the cutting processing device 20 by the data transmitting / receiving unit 43. Specifically, the billing unit 42 calculates a charge for the normally output sheet length by multiplying the sheet length normally output in the cutting processing apparatus 20 by the unit price per unit before the failure occurs. Charge the user for the fee.

  In the present embodiment, the accounting unit 42 is described as a separate configuration from the control unit 41, but a configuration in which the function of the accounting unit 42 is included in the control unit 41 is also possible.

  Next, FIG. 8 shows a hardware configuration of the cutting processing apparatus 20 in the printing system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the cutting processing device 20 transmits and receives data to and from the image forming apparatus 10 via a CPU 21, a memory 22, a storage device 23 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and a communication cable 30. A communication interface (IF) 24 to perform, a user interface (UI) device 25 such as a touch panel or a liquid crystal display, and a cutting mechanism 26 are included. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 27.

  The CPU 21 executes predetermined processing based on a control program stored in the memory 22 or the storage device 23 to control the operation of the cutting processing device 20.

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 21 has been described as reading and executing a control program stored in the memory 22 or the storage device 23. However, the CPU 21 stores the program in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM and stores it in the CPU 21. It is also possible to provide.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the cutting processing apparatus 20 realized by executing the control program.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the cutting processing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment includes a cutting mechanism 26, a control unit 31, a calculation unit 32, and a data transmission / reception unit 33.

  The data transmitting / receiving unit 33 performs processing for transmitting / receiving information to / from the image forming apparatus 10. Specifically, when a failure such as a paper jam occurs in the cutting apparatus 20, the data transmission / reception unit 33 transmits error information to the image forming apparatus 10 based on control by the control unit 31. Further, the data transmission / reception unit 33 receives error information from the image forming apparatus 10 when a failure occurs in the image forming apparatus 10.

  The control unit 31 controls the operation of the cutting process by the cutting mechanism 26. When a failure such as a paper jam occurs in the cutting processing device 20, the control unit 31 stops the cutting process in the cutting mechanism 26 halfway and sends error information to the image forming apparatus 10 via the data transmission / reception unit 33. Send. Further, when error information is received from the image forming apparatus 10 via the data transmission / reception unit 33, the control unit 31 performs control to stop the cutting process of the cutting mechanism 26.

  When a failure occurs in the cutting processing apparatus 20 or the image forming apparatus 10 and the cutting process stops halfway, the calculation unit 32 determines the length of the continuous paper that has been cut by the cutting mechanism 26 before the failure occurs. Is calculated.

  Specifically, the calculation unit 32 determines the failure based on the paper conveyance speed, the time of the cutting interval in the cutting mechanism 26, the number of times cutting is performed before the failure occurs, and the time required for cutting. The paper length of the continuous paper that has been cut before the occurrence of the error is calculated.

For example, when the paper conveyance speed is 150 mm / second, the cutting interval time is 3 seconds, and the number of times the cutting has been performed until the failure occurs is 15, the calculation unit 32 sets 6750 mm as the failure based on the following formula: This is calculated as the paper length of the continuous paper that has been cut before the occurrence of.
150 (mm / sec) x 3 (sec) x 15 (times) = 6750 mm

Then, the data transmission / reception unit 33 transmits information on the paper length calculated by the calculation unit 32 to the image forming apparatus 10 based on the control by the control unit 31.

  That is, the paper length information calculated by the calculation unit 32 is information used when the image forming apparatus 10 transmitted by the data transmission / reception unit 33 outputs an image.

  Next, the operation of the printing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention when an error occurs in the cutting processing apparatus 20. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention when an error occurs in the image forming apparatus 10.

  First, the operation when an error occurs in the cutting processing apparatus 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 starts the printing process, the cutting process is also started in the cutting processing apparatus 20 (steps S101 and S201).

  When a failure (error) such as a paper jam occurs in the cutting processing device 20 (step S202), the cutting processing operation in the cutting processing device 20 is stopped (step S203), and an error for notifying that an error has occurred. Information is notified from the cutting apparatus 20 to the image forming apparatus 10 (step S203).

  The image forming apparatus 10 that has received the error notification from the cutting processing apparatus 20 stops the print processing operation (step S102).

  The sheet processing apparatus 20 calculates the sheet length that is normally output before the failure occurs, and the sheet length information that is normally output from the cutting process apparatus 20 to the image forming apparatus 10 until the failure occurs. Is notified (step S204).

  Then, the image forming apparatus 10 performs a charging process for the normally output paper length based on the paper length information notified from the cutting processing device 20 (step S103).

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 creates an image excluding the image for the sheet length based on the information received from the cutting processing apparatus 20 (step S104), and performs a reprint process based on the created image (step S104). S105).

  Next, an operation when an error occurs in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the image forming apparatus 10 starts printing processing, the cutting processing apparatus 20 also starts cutting processing (steps S301 and S401).

  When some trouble (error) such as out of paper or paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 10 (step S302), the print processing operation in the image forming apparatus 10 is stopped (step S303), indicating that an error has occurred. Error information for transmission is notified from the image forming apparatus 10 to the cutting processing apparatus 20 (step S304).

  The cutting apparatus 20 that has received the error notification from the image forming apparatus 10 stops the cutting process operation (step S402).

  The sheet processing apparatus 20 that has received the error notification from the image forming apparatus 10 calculates the sheet length that was normally output before the failure occurred, and the sheet processing apparatus 20 sends the sheet length to the image forming apparatus 10. Is notified (step S403).

  Then, the image forming apparatus 10 performs a billing process for the normally output paper length based on the paper length information notified from the cutting processing device 20 (step S305).

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 creates an image excluding the image for the sheet length based on the information received from the cutting processing apparatus 20 (step S306), and performs reprinting processing based on the created image (step S306). S307).

10 Image forming apparatus 11 CPU
12 Memory 13 Storage Device 14 Communication Interface (IF)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 User interface (UI) apparatus 16 Printing part 17 Control bus 20 Cutting processing apparatus 21 CPU
22 memory 23 storage device 24 communication interface (IF)
25 User Interface (UI) Device 26 Cut Mechanism 27 Control Bus 30 Communication Cable 31 Control Unit 32 Calculation Unit 33 Data Transmission / Reception Unit 41 Control Unit 42 Charging Unit 43 Data Transmission / Reception Unit

Claims (8)

Cutting means for cutting continuous paper output from the image forming apparatus;
A calculation unit that calculates a sheet length of a continuous sheet that has been cut by the cutting unit until the failure occurs;
Transmitting means for transmitting information on the paper length calculated by the calculating means to the image forming apparatus;
A cutting apparatus comprising:   The calculation unit determines whether a failure occurs based on the sheet conveyance speed, the time of the cutting interval in the cutting unit, the number of times cutting is performed before the failure occurs, and the time required for the cutting. The cutting processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet length of the continuous paper that has been cut is calculated.   3. The cutting processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet length information calculated by the calculating unit is information used when the image forming apparatus transmitted by the transmitting unit outputs an image. Output means for outputting an image on continuous paper based on the print data received the output instruction;
When the print processing is interrupted due to a failure, information on the paper length of the continuous paper that has been cut before the failure occurs is received from the cutting processing device that cuts the output continuous paper after the print processing. Receiving means;
Control means for controlling the output unit so as to re-execute output of the print data, excluding images for a paper length based on information received by the receiving means;
An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a charging unit that charges for a sheet length based on information received by the receiving unit. Cutting means for cutting continuous paper output from the image forming apparatus, and calculation means for calculating the length of continuous paper that has been cut by the cutting means before the failure occurs when a failure occurs And a cutting processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit that transmits information on the sheet length calculated by the calculation unit to the image forming apparatus;
Output means for outputting an image on continuous paper based on the print data for which an output instruction has been received, and when a failure occurs and the printing process is interrupted, cutting is performed from the cutting processing device until the failure occurs Receiving means for receiving information on the paper length of continuous paper, and control means for controlling the output unit to re-execute the output of the print data, excluding images for the paper length based on the information received by the receiving means. An image forming apparatus comprising:
Having a printing system. A step for cutting continuous paper output from the image forming apparatus;
A step of calculating a sheet length of continuous paper that has been cut before the occurrence of the failure;
A program for causing a computer to execute the step of transmitting the calculated sheet length information to the image forming apparatus. Outputting an image on continuous paper based on the print data received the output instruction;
When the print processing is interrupted due to a failure, information on the paper length of the continuous paper that has been cut before the failure occurs is received from the cutting processing device that cuts the output continuous paper after the print processing. Steps,
A program for causing a computer to execute a step of controlling a printing process so as to re-execute output of the print data, excluding an image corresponding to a sheet length based on received information.

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