JP2023084963A - Printer, and computer program for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To disclose a printer that can switch between execution and non-execution of predetermined processing for cutting a cut sheet.SOLUTION: A printer comprises a printing executing part that executes printing on a cut sheet, a processing executing part that executes predetermined processing for cutting the cut sheet, and a control part. The control part makes the printing executing part execute printing of an image on the cut sheet, in response to reception of a printing execution command from a terminal device, makes the processing executing part execute the predetermined processing to the cut sheet, when obtaining a predetermined processing instruction instructing that the predetermined processing should be executed to the cut sheet, before receiving the printing execution command from the terminal device, and does not make the processing executing part execute the predetermined processing to the cut sheet, when not obtaining the predetermined processing instruction before receiving the printing execution command from the terminal device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

This specification discloses a technology related to a printer capable of executing a predetermined process for cutting cut paper.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200003 discloses a printing apparatus capable of cutting cut paper.

JP 2021-94784 A

This specification discloses a printer capable of switching whether or not to execute a predetermined process for cutting cut paper.

The printer disclosed in this specification includes a storage unit that stores cut paper, a transport unit that transports the cut paper from the storage unit, a print execution unit that executes printing on the cut paper, and a A processing execution unit that executes predetermined processing related to disconnection and a control unit may be provided. The control unit includes a command receiving unit that receives a print execution command from the terminal device when a print operation for causing the printer to print an image is executed by the terminal device, and a print execution command from the terminal device. a print control unit that causes the conveying unit to convey the cut paper and causes the print execution unit to print the image on the cut paper in response to receiving a command; If a predetermined process instruction indicating that the predetermined process should be performed on the cut sheet is acquired before the print execution command is received, the process execution unit performs the predetermined process on the cut sheet. and a processing control unit that does not cause the processing execution unit to execute the predetermined processing on the cut paper if the predetermined processing instruction is not acquired before the print execution command is received from the terminal device. , may be provided.

According to this configuration, when the printer has acquired the predetermined processing instruction before the print execution command is received from the terminal device, the printer executes the predetermined processing on the cut sheet, and the print execution command is received from the terminal device. If the predetermined processing instruction is not acquired before receiving the predetermined processing, the predetermined processing is not performed on the cut paper. For this reason, the printer can switch whether or not to execute the predetermined processing on the cut paper.

A control method for implementing the above printer, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the computer program are also novel and useful. A communication system comprising the above printer and terminal device is also novel and useful.

The hardware configuration of the printer is shown. 4 shows the control configuration of the printer. 4 shows a flowchart of print processing. 4 shows the sequence of the first embodiment; FIG. 5 shows a continuation sequence of FIG. 4; FIG. 11 shows the sequence of the second embodiment; FIG. 3 shows the sequence of the third embodiment;

(First embodiment)
(Hardware configuration of printer 10; FIG. 1)
As shown in FIG. 1 , the printer 10 includes an accommodation section 18 , a transport section 20 , a print execution section 22 , a cutting section 24 and a paper discharge tray 50 . The storage unit 18 , the transport unit 20 , the print execution unit 22 and the cutting unit 24 are provided inside a housing (not shown) of the printer 10 . The output tray 50 is exposed outside the housing.

The accommodation unit 18 accommodates the cut paper 56 . "Cut paper" is paper cut into a predetermined size such as A4 size, A5 size, letter size, postcard size, or the like. In this embodiment, A4 size cut paper is accommodated in the accommodation section 18 .

The transport section 20 includes a transport path 52 and a plurality of rollers 58 , 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 . The cut paper 56 stored in the storage unit 18 is transported along the transport path 52 by rollers 58 and the like.

The print execution unit 22 includes an inkjet head 68 in this embodiment. The inkjet head 68 prints an image on the cut paper 56 by ejecting ink onto the cut paper 56 conveyed by the rollers 58 and 60 . The printed cut paper 56 is further transported downstream in the transport direction by rollers 62 and 64 . In a modified example, the print execution unit 22 may include a laser printing mechanism.

The cutting part 24 has a cutting blade (not shown). The cutting unit 24 cuts the printed cut paper 56 by moving the cutting blade in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. As a result, the cut paper 56 is divided into an upstream portion and a downstream portion in the transport direction. In particular, the cutting unit 24 cuts the cut paper 56 in half by cutting a straight line connecting the middle positions of the pair of long sides of the cut paper 56 . That is, the cutting unit 24 can cut, for example, an A4 size cut sheet in half to form two A5 size cut sheets. Each cut paper 56 that has been cut is further conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by rollers 66 . As a result, each cut sheet 56 that has been cut reaches the discharge tray 50 .

Thus, the printer 10 of this embodiment can cut the cut paper 56 . For this reason, the user of the printer 10 can obtain printed paper having a size smaller than A4 (for example, A5 size) by preparing cut paper of A4 size, for example. For example, in a situation where the user wants to print on A5 size cut paper, the printer 10 executes printing and cutting on A4 size cut paper even if the user does not have A5 size cut paper. By doing so, A5 size cut paper can be provided to the user.

(Control configuration of printer 10; FIG. 2)
Next, the control configuration of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. A communication system 2 is realized by the printer 10 and the PC 100 . The printer 10 and the PC 100 are connected to a LAN (abbreviation for Local Area Network) 4 . The printer 10 and the PC 100 can communicate with each other via the LAN4. The LAN 4 may be a wired LAN or a wireless LAN.

The printer 10 includes a display section 12 , a communication interface 14 , an operation section 16 , a conveying section 20 , a print execution section 22 , a cutting section 24 and a control section 30 . Each unit 12 to 30 is connected to a bus line (reference numerals omitted).

The display unit 12 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 12 also functions as a so-called touch panel. That is, the display unit 12 also functions as an operation unit operated by the user. The communication interface 14 is connected to LAN4. The operation unit 16 has a plurality of keys. A user can input various instructions to the printer 10 by operating the operation unit 16 . The rollers 58 of the conveying unit 20, the print executing unit 22, and the cutting unit 24 follow instructions from the control unit 30 (that is, the CPU 32, which will be described later) to convey the cut paper 56, print on the cut paper 56, and cut the cut paper 56. Cutting of the paper 56 is performed.

The control unit 30 has a CPU 32 and a memory 34 . The CPU 32 executes various processes according to programs 36 stored in the memory 34 . The memory 34 is composed of a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, or the like. The memory 34 stores, in addition to the program 36 described above, the accommodated paper size and the cutting setting value. The stored paper size indicates the size of the cut paper stored in the storage section 18 . The cut setting value indicates either "on" indicating that the printer 10 cuts the cut paper, or "off" indicating that the printer 10 does not cut the cut paper.

(Configuration of PC 100)
A PC 100 is used by a user of the printer 10 . The PC 100 has a generic driver 102 . The general-purpose driver 102 is a printer driver provided by a company different from the vendor of the printer 10 . Generic driver 102 is different from a dedicated printer driver (ie, proprietary driver) for a printer, and can allow printing to be performed on various printers manufactured by multiple printer vendors. The general-purpose driver 102 may be installed in the PC 100 from a server (not shown) on the Internet, or may be pre-installed in the PC 100 when the PC 100 is shipped. In this embodiment, the general-purpose driver 102 is a printer driver that executes processing according to the IPP (Internet Printing Protocol) method. Alternatively, generic driver 102 may be a printer driver that performs processing according to a scheme different from the IPP scheme.

(Printing process; Fig. 3)
A print process executed by the CPU 32 of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The print process is triggered by receiving an IPP Create-Job request from the PC 100 . Create-Job request is a command to request the printer 10 to generate a print job. Below, request is described as “req”.

In S10, the CPU 32 determines whether the disconnection setting value stored in the memory 34 indicates ON or OFF. The CPU 32 proceeds to S12 when the disconnection setting value indicates ON (YES in S10), and proceeds to S20 when the disconnection setting value indicates OFF (NO in S10).

In S12, the CPU 32 sets the media-size included in the Validate-Job req received from the PC 100 before the Create-Job req to the size of the paper sheets stored in the memory 34 (ie It is determined whether or not it is half the paper size of the cut paper 56 . Here, media-size is the paper size of cut paper to be printed, which is specified by the user of the PC 100 . The CPU 32 proceeds to S14 if the media-size (for example, A5 size) is half the accommodated paper size (for example, A4 size) (YES in S12), and if the media-size is not half the accommodated paper size (NO in S12). ) to S16.

In S14, the CPU 32 causes the print executing section 22 to print the image represented by the print data received from the PC 100 after the Create-Job req, and causes the cutting section 24 to cut the printed cut paper. Specifically, the CPU 32 first drives the rollers 58 and 60 of the transport section 20 to transport the cut paper 56 stored in the storage section 18 to the print executing section 22 . Here, the cut paper 56 is conveyed along the direction in which the long side extends. The size of the image represented by the print data corresponds to the media-size included in the Validate-Job req. The size of the image (for example, A5 size) corresponds to half the accommodated paper size (for example, A4 size) (YES in S12). Then, the CPU 32 rotates the image represented by the print data by 90 degrees to generate a rotated image, and instructs the print execution unit 22 to print the rotated image. As a result, the print execution unit 22 prints the rotated image on the downstream half area of the cut paper 56 (that is, the downstream half area in the transport direction). That is, nothing is printed on the upstream half area of the cut paper 56 (that is, the upstream half area in the transport direction).

Next, the CPU 32 drives the rollers 60 , 62 , 64 of the transport section 20 to transport the printed cut paper 56 to the cutting section 24 . Then, the CPU 32 instructs the cutting section 24 to cut the printed cut paper 56 . As a result, the cutting section 24 cuts the boundary between the downstream half area and the upstream half area of the cut paper 56 . That is, the cutting unit 24 cuts the cut paper 56 in half along a straight line connecting the intermediate positions of the pair of long sides of the cut paper 56 . As a result, a cut sheet on which the rotated image is printed and a cut sheet on which no image is printed are formed. Each of the two cut sheets has a size (eg, A5 size) indicated by media-size above.

Next, the CPU 32 drives the rollers 64 and 66 of the transport section 20 to transport the two cut sheets to the discharge tray 50 . This provides the user with two pre-cut sheets of paper. When S14 ends, the process of FIG. 3 ends.

In S<b>16 , the CPU 32 displays a disconnection impossible error on the display unit 12 . The uncuttable error indicates that the cut sheet cannot be cut because the media-size (for example, A4 size) is not half the accommodated paper size (for example, A4 size) even though the cut setting value indicates ON (YES in S10). contains a message indicating that When S16 ends, the process of FIG. 3 ends.

In S20, the CPU 32 determines whether or not the media-size included in the Validate-Job req is equal to or smaller than the accommodated paper size stored in the memory . The CPU 32 proceeds to S22 if the media-size is equal to or smaller than the accommodated paper size (YES in S20), and proceeds to S24 if the media-size is greater than the accommodated paper size (NO in S20).

In S22, the CPU 32 causes the print execution unit 22 to print the image represented by the print data. Specifically, the CPU 32 first conveys the cut paper 56 accommodated in the accommodation unit 18 to the print execution unit 22 . The size of the image represented by the print data matches the accommodation paper size (ie, media-size=accommodation paper size in S20) or is smaller than the accommodation paper size (ie, media-size<accommodation paper size in S20). Then, the CPU 32 instructs the print executing section 22 to print the image represented by the print data. As a result, the print execution unit 22 prints the image on the cut paper 56 . If the size of the image matches the paper size to be accommodated (that is, media-size=accommodated paper size in S20), for example, an A4 size image is printed on A4 size cut paper. Alternatively, if the size of the image is smaller than the accommodated paper size (that is, media-size<accommodated paper size in S20), for example, an A5 size image is printed on A4 size cut paper.

Next, the CPU 32 drives the rollers 60 , 62 , 64 , 66 of the transport section 20 to transport the printed cut paper 56 to the paper discharge tray 50 . The CPU 32 does not instruct the cutting section 24 to cut the printed cut paper 56 .

In S24, the CPU 32 displays a paper size error on the display section 12. FIG. The paper size error includes a message indicating that printing cannot be executed because the media-size is greater than or equal to the accommodated paper size (NO in S20). When S24 ends, the process of FIG. 3 ends.

In this embodiment, the PC 100 has a generic driver 102 rather than a dedicated driver. If the PC 100 has a dedicated driver for the printer 10 capable of cutting cut paper, the PC 100 can allow the user to select whether or not to cut the cut paper on the print setting screen. However, the general-purpose driver 102 makes it difficult for the user to make this selection. This is because printers capable of cutting cut paper are not widely known, so there is a high possibility that the setting item for executing the selection is not provided on the print setting screen. Therefore, the printer 10 does not receive a cut request command from the PC 100 to cut the cut paper.

Even if the printer 10 does not receive a cutting request command from the PC 100, the printer 10 can switch whether or not to cause the cutting section 24 to cut the cut paper based on the cutting setting value stored in the memory 34 ( S10 in FIG. 3). That is, the printer 10 causes the cutting unit 24 to cut the cut paper 56 when the cutting setting value indicates ON (YES in S10), and cuts when the cutting setting value indicates OFF (NO in S10). The cutting section 24 is not caused to cut the paper 56 . Therefore, the printer 10 can switch whether to cut the cut paper without receiving a cut request command from the PC 100 .

Further, when the cutting setting value indicates ON (YES in S10), the printer 10 causes the cutting section 24 to cut the cut paper based on whether media-size is half the size of the accommodated paper. (S12). That is, when the media-size is half the accommodated paper size (YES in S12), the printer 10 causes the cutting unit 24 to cut the cut paper 56 (S14), and the media-size is half the accommodated paper size. If not (NO in S12), the cutting section 24 is not caused to cut the cut sheet 56 (S16). Therefore, when the paper size (ie, media-size) specified by the user is half of the cut paper 56, the printer 10 can appropriately provide the user with cut paper having that paper size.

(Specific case; Figures 4 and 5)
A specific case realized by the process of FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. The user sets the A4 size cut paper 56 in the storage unit 18 of the printer 10 at T10.

When the printer 10 (that is, the CPU 32) accepts the setting of the cut paper 56 at T10, the paper input screen is displayed on the display unit 12 at T12. The paper input screen includes a message for asking the user about the size of the cut paper set in the storage unit 18 (that is, paper feed tray), an area for selecting the size of the paper to be stored, and an OK button. At T14, the printer 10 receives the user's selection of the accommodation paper size "A4" and selection of the OK button. In this case, the printer 10 stores the accommodated paper size "A4" in the memory 34 at T16. Note that, in a modified example, the printer 10 may include a sensor that detects the size of the accommodated paper. In this case, it is not necessary for the user to select the accommodated paper size.

At T20, the PC 100 receives an access operation including input of the IP address of the web server in the printer 10 from the user. In this case, the PC 100 transmits an access request including the IP address as the destination address to the printer 10 at T22.

Upon receiving an access request from PC 100 at T22, printer 10 can function as a web server and transmit various screen data representing web pages to PC 100. FIG. In this embodiment, at T24, the printer 10 transmits to the PC 100 selection screen data representing a selection screen for allowing the user to select whether or not to cut the cut paper.

The PC 10 receives the selection screen data from the printer 10 at T24, and displays the selection screen at T26. At T28, the user selects disconnection "ON" included in the selection screen. In this case, the PC 100 transmits selection result information indicating "on" to the printer 10 at T30. In this way, the user can access the web server of the printer 10 and change the setting as to whether or not the cut sheet should be cut.

When the printer 10 receives the selection result information from the PC 100 at T30, the printer 10 stores the disconnect setting value "ON" in the memory 34 at T32. In this way, the printer 10 can pre-store the cutting settings in the memory 34 before printing.

After that, the user executes a print operation on the PC 100 at T40. The print operation includes an operation of selecting image data representing an image to be printed and an operation of activating general-purpose driver 102 . As a result, the general-purpose driver 102 executes subsequent processing. When the PC 100 accepts a print operation from the user at T40, the PC 100 transmits a Get-Printer-Attributes (hereinafter referred to as "GPA") req according to the IPP method to the printer 10 at T42. GPA req is a command requesting transmission of the capability information of the printer 10 .

When the printer 10 receives the GPA req from the PC 100 at T42, at T44 the printer 10 specifies the accommodation paper size "A4" stored in the memory 34, and includes the specified accommodation paper size "A4" as media-ready. Send a GPA response to the PC 10 . Below, response is described as "res". Note that, in a modified example, the specified accommodation paper size “A4” may be transmitted as media-col-ready.

Upon receiving GPA res from the printer 10 at T44, the PC 100 displays a print dialog at T46. The print dialog includes a preview image showing an image to be printed, a size selection area for selecting the size of cut paper to be printed, and a print button. "A4" included in GPA res is displayed in the size selection area. At T48, the PC 100 receives an operation to change the size selection area from "A4" to "A5" and the selection of the print button from the user. In this case, the PC 100 transmits Validate-Job req according to the IPP method to the printer 10 at T50. Validate-Job req includes media-size indicating the paper size "A5" specified by the user in the print dialog.

When the printer 10 receives Validate-Job req including media-size "A5" at T50, it transmits Validate-Job res to the PC 10 at T52. As a result, the printer 10 receives the Create-Job req from the PC 10 at T52 (triggering the processing in FIG. 3).

When the printer 10 receives Create-Job req at T52, the printer 10 determines that the disconnect setting value in the memory 34 is ON (YES at S10). The printer 10 also determines that the media-size "A5" included in the Validate-Job req is half the paper size "A4" stored in the memory 34 (YES in S12). The printer 10 then transmits Create-Job res to the PC 10 at T56.

Upon receiving the Create-Job res from the printer 10 at T56, the PC 100 converts the image data to be printed and generates print data having a data format that the printer 10 can interpret. The image represented by the print data has a size corresponding to the media-size "A5" included in the Validate-Job req. Then, the PC 100 transmits Send-Document req to the printer 10 at T58, and transmits print data to the printer 10 at T60.

The printer 10 receives the Send-Document request from the PC 100 at T58, and receives the print data from the PC 100 at T60. In this case, the printer 10 transmits Send-Document res at T62, and executes print processing at T64 in FIG. 5 (S14). Specifically, the printer 10 rotates the A5 size image represented by the print data by 90 degrees to generate a rotated image, prints the rotated image on the downstream half area of the A4 size cut paper, and prints the image. The boundary between the downstream half area and the upstream half area of the finished cut sheet is cut. As a result, a sheet of A5 size on which the rotated image is printed and a sheet of A5 size on which no image is printed are formed.

Upon receiving Get-Attributes req from the PC 100 at T66, the printer 10 transmits Get-Attributes res including the Job-state "completed" indicating that the printing process has ended to the PC100 at T68.

(Effect of the first embodiment)
The printer 10 cuts the cut paper 56 if the cutting instruction has already been obtained before the PC 100 executes the print operation (YES in S10 of FIG. 3), and If the cutting instruction has not already been acquired (NO in S10), the cut sheet 56 is not cut. Therefore, the printer 10 can switch whether to cut the cut paper 56 without receiving a cutting request command for the cut paper 56 from the PC 100 .

(Second embodiment; FIG. 6)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the memory 34 stores a size table 38 instead of the cutting setting values of the first embodiment. The size table 38 stores, for each of a plurality of paper sizes that can be cut by the printer 10 (that is, A3, A4, and Letter), size information indicating the paper size and cutting setting values in association with each other. . The cut setting value indicates either "on" indicating that the printer 10 cuts the cut paper, or "off" indicating that the printer 10 does not cut the cut paper.

In the PC 100 and the printer 10, the same processes as T10-T22 in FIG. 4 are executed. At T124, the printer 10 transmits paper size setting screen data representing a paper size setting screen. The paper size setting screen is a screen for allowing the user to specify whether or not to cut cut paper having each of a plurality of paper sizes (that is, A3, A4, and Letter).

The PC 10 receives the paper size setting screen data from the printer 10 at T124, and displays the paper size setting screen at T126. At T128, the user selects "OFF" for A3 size, "ON" for A4 size, "OFF" for Letter size, and selects the OK button. In this case, the PC 100 transmits selection result information including A3 "OFF", A4 "ON", and Letter "OFF" to the printer 10 at T130.

Upon receiving the selection result information from the PC 100 at T130, the printer 10 stores each cutting setting value indicated by the selection result information in the size table 38 in the memory 34 at T132.

Next, in the PC 100 and the printer 10, processing similar to T40 to T62 in FIG. 4 is executed. The printer 10 acquires the accommodated paper size "A4" from the memory 34 at T164, and acquires the cutting setting value "ON" associated with the A4 size from the size table 38 at T166. Accordingly, the printer 10 determines that the cutting setting value associated with the A4 size is ON (YES in S10 of FIG. 3). Also, the printer 10 determines that the media-size "A5" included in the Validate-Job req is half the accommodated paper size "A4" (YES in S12). Next, the printer 10 executes print processing at T64 (S14). The print result is the same as in the case of FIG. T64 to T68 in FIG. 6 are the same as T64 to T68 in FIG.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
In this embodiment, the printer 10 associates each of a plurality of paper sizes with a cut setting value indicating whether or not cut paper having that paper size should be cut, and stores the corresponding paper size in the memory 34. (T132 in FIG. 6). Therefore, even if the printer 10 does not receive a cutting request command from the PC 100, it can switch whether to cut the cut paper according to the accommodated paper size.

(Third embodiment; Fig. 7)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the memory 34 stores a user table 40 instead of the cutting setting values of the first embodiment and the size table 38 of the second embodiment. The user table 40 associates and stores a user ID for identifying the user, a password, and a disconnection setting value for each of a plurality of users.

In the PC 100 and the printer 10, the same processes as T10-T22 in FIG. 4 are executed. Printer 10 transmits user setting screen data representing a user setting screen to PC 100 at T224. The user setting screen is a screen for allowing a user (for example, an administrator of the printer 10) to specify whether or not cut sheets should be cut for each of a plurality of users.

The PC 10 receives the user setting screen data from the printer 10 at T224, and displays the user setting screen at T226. In T228, the user selects "on" for the user ID "U1", selects "off" for the user ID "U2", and selects the OK button. In this case, the PC 100 transmits the selection result information including the user ID "U1" "on" and the user ID "U2" "off" to the printer 10 at T230.

Upon receiving the selection result information from the PC 100 at T230, the printer 10 stores each cutting setting value indicated by the selection result information in the user table 40 in the memory 34 at T232.

Next, in the PC 100 and the printer 10, processing similar to T40 to T50 in FIG. 4 is executed. Next, in T252, the printer 10 transmits Authorization Required (hereinafter referred to as "Auth") according to the IPP method to the PC100. Auth is a command requesting transmission of user information.

Upon receiving the Auth from the printer 10 at T252, the PC 100 displays an authentication screen at T254. The authentication screen includes a user ID input area, a password input area, and an OK button. At T256, the user enters the user ID "U1" and password "P1" and selects the OK button. In this case, the PC 100 transmits a Validate-Job req including media-size "A5", user ID "U1", and password "P1" to the printer 10 at T258.

Next, in the PC 100 and the printer 10, the same processes as T52 to T62 in FIG. 4 are executed. In T264, the printer 10 acquires the disconnection setting value "ON" associated with the user U1 from the user table 40 (YES in S10). Also, the printer 10 determines that the media-size "A5" included in the Validate-Job req is half the accommodated paper size "A4" (YES in S12). Next, the printer 10 executes print processing at T64 (S14). The print result is the same as in the case of FIG. Note that T64 to T68 in FIG. 6 are the same as T64 to T68 in FIG.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
In this embodiment, the printer 10 associates the user ID of each of a plurality of users with a cut setting value indicating whether or not the cut sheet should be cut, and stores the same in the memory (see FIG. 7). T232). Therefore, the printer 10 can switch whether to cut the cut paper according to the user without receiving a cut request command from the PC 100 .

(correspondence relationship)
The PC 10 is an example of a 'terminal device' and an 'external device'. The cutting unit 24 is an example of a "processing execution unit". The instructions at T30 in FIG. 4, T130 in FIG. 6, and T230 in FIG. 7 are examples of "predetermined process instructions." The selection screen, the paper size setting screen, and the user setting screen are examples of the "selection screen". A disconnect setting value is an example of a "setting value."

T22 in FIG. 4 is an example of processing implemented by the "access request receiving unit". T24 in FIG. 4, T124 in FIG. 6, and T224 in FIG. 7 are an example of processing implemented by the "screen data transmission unit". T30 in FIG. 4, T130 in FIG. 6, and T230 in FIG. 7 are examples of processing implemented by the "result information receiving unit". T32 in FIG. 4, T132 in FIG. 6, and T232 in FIG. 7 are examples of processing implemented by the "first storage control unit". T54 in FIG. 4 is an example of processing implemented by the "command receiving unit". T64 in FIG. 5, T64 in FIG. 6, and T64 in FIG. 7 are an example of processing implemented by the 'print control unit'. T64 in FIG. 5, T64 in FIG. 6, and T64 in FIG. 7 are an example of processing implemented by the "processing control unit". T132 and T166 in FIG. 6 are examples of processing implemented by the "second storage control unit" and the "acquisition unit", respectively. T232 and T258 in FIG. 7 are examples of processing implemented by the "third storage control unit" and "user information reception unit", respectively.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. Modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

(Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the printer 10 acquires a disconnection instruction by transmitting screen data to the PC 100 and receiving selection result information from the PC 100 . Alternatively, the printer 10 may acquire the disconnection instruction by receiving an operation on the software switch of the printer 10 from the user. The soft switch may be realized, for example, by causing the display unit 12 to display a screen on which ON indicating that the cut paper should be cut and OFF indicating that the cut paper should not be cut can be selected. . In another modification, the printer 10 may acquire the disconnection instruction by receiving an operation on a physical switch of the printer 10 from the user. A physical switch may be provided on the housing of the printer 10, for example. In another modification, the cutting section 24 may be removable from the housing of the printer 10 . In this case, the printer 10 stores the cutting set value "on" when the cutting unit 24 is attached to the housing, and stores the cutting setting value "off" when the cutting unit 24 is removed from the housing. You may That is, the printer 10 may acquire the cutting instruction by accepting an operation of mounting the cutting section 24 on the housing from the user. Note that in any of the above modifications, the printer 10 does not need to store in the memory 34 a set value indicating whether or not to cut the cut paper. It may be determined whether or not the instruction has been acquired. In this modified example, the “first control unit”, the “access request reception unit”, the “screen data transmission unit”, and the “result information reception unit” can be omitted.

(Modification 2) S12 in FIG. 3 may be omitted. That is, the printer 10 may execute printing and cutting when the cutting setting value indicates ON in S10. Generally speaking, the 'cutting control section' may cause the cutting section to cut the cut sheet when the 'second sheet size' is specified as the sheet size of the cut sheet to be printed.

(Modification 3) Instead of the cutting section 24, the printer 10 may be provided with a perforation applying section for perforating cut sheets. When the cut paper is perforated, the user can easily cut the cut paper along the perforations. In another modified example, the printer 10 may be provided with a creasing section for creasing cut sheets instead of the cutting section 24 . When the cut sheet is creased, the user can easily cut the cut sheet along the crease. Generally speaking, the "predetermined process" may be any process related to cutting the cut sheet.

(Modification 4) The printer 10 does not have to cut the cut paper in half. For example, if the media-size is A5 and the accommodated paper size is A3, the printer may cut the cut paper into quarters.

(Variation 5) The PC 100 does not have to include the general-purpose driver 102 . In this case, the PC 100 has a dedicated driver instead of the general-purpose driver 102 . A proprietary driver is a dedicated printer driver for a certain printer.

(Modification 6) In the above-described embodiment, the cut sheet is cut after the cut sheet is printed. Printing may be performed. Generally speaking, the 'processing execution section' may be arranged upstream of the 'print execution section' in the cut paper transport direction.

(Modification 7) In the above embodiment, the printer 10 acquires the cutting setting value in S10 of FIG. 3 after receiving the Create-Job req. Alternatively, the printer 10 may obtain the disconnect settings prior to receiving the Create-Job req. For example, the printer 10 may acquire the cut setting value when the power of the printer 10 is turned on, or may acquire the cut setting value when receiving a Get-Printer-Attributes req or a Validate-Job req. good too.

(Modification 8) In the above embodiment, each process in FIGS. 3 to 7 is implemented by software, but at least one of these processes may be implemented by hardware such as a logic circuit.

In addition, the technical elements described in this specification or in the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the techniques exemplified in this specification or drawings achieve multiple purposes at the same time, and achieving one of them has technical utility in itself.

2: Communication system, 4: LAN, 10: Printer, 12: Display unit, 14: Communication interface, 16: Operation unit, 18: Storage unit, 20: Transport unit, 22: Print execution unit, 24: Cutting unit, 30 : control unit, 32: CPU, 34: memory, 36: program, 38: size table, 40: user table, 50: discharge tray, 52: transport path, 56: cut paper, 58 to 66: rollers, 68: Inkjet head, 100: PC, 102: general-purpose driver

Claims (12)

a printer,
a storage unit for storing cut paper;
a transport unit that transports the cut paper from the storage unit;
a print execution unit that executes printing on the cut paper;
a processing execution unit that executes a predetermined processing related to cutting the cut paper;
a control unit;
The control unit
a command receiving unit that receives a print execution command from the terminal device when a print operation for causing the printer to print an image is executed by the terminal device;
print control for causing the transport unit to transport the cut paper and causing the print execution unit to print the image on the cut paper in response to receiving the print execution command from the terminal device; Department and
If a predetermined process instruction indicating that the predetermined process should be performed on the cut sheet is acquired before the print execution command is received from the terminal device, the predetermined process on the cut sheet is performed. causing the processing execution unit to execute the processing, and not causing the processing execution unit to execute the predetermined processing on the cut paper when the predetermined processing instruction is not acquired before the print execution command is received from the terminal device. a processing control unit;
a printer. The control unit further comprises a memory,
a first storage control unit configured to store, in the memory, a setting value indicating whether or not the predetermined process for the cut sheet should be executed before the print execution command is received from the terminal device; with
the predetermined process instruction is acquired when the set value indicates that the predetermined process should be performed on the cut sheet;
2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined process instruction has not been acquired when said set value indicates that said predetermined process should not be performed on said cut sheet. The control unit further
an access request receiving unit that receives an access request requesting access to the web server in the printer from an external device;
Screen data transmission for transmitting selection screen data representing a selection screen for selecting whether or not to execute the predetermined processing on the cut paper to the external device when the access request is received from the external device. Department and
A result information receiving unit for receiving result information indicating a selection result from the external device when whether or not to execute the predetermined process on the cut sheet is selected on the selection screen displayed on the external device. and
The first storage control unit
storing in the memory the set value indicating that the predetermined process should be performed on the cut sheet when the result information indicates that the predetermined process should be performed on the cut sheet;
storing in the memory the set value indicating that the predetermined process should not be performed on the cut sheet when the result information indicates that the predetermined process should not be performed on the cut sheet; 3. The printer according to Item 2. The processing control unit
When the predetermined process instruction is obtained before the print execution command is received from the terminal device, and the terminal device designates a first paper size as the paper size of the cut paper to be printed. causing the process execution unit to execute the predetermined process on the cut sheet;
The predetermined process instruction is acquired before the print execution command is received from the terminal device, and a paper size of cut paper to be printed is a paper size different from the first paper size from the terminal device. 4. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when a paper size of 2 is designated, said processing execution unit is not caused to execute said predetermined processing on said cut paper. The control unit further comprises a memory,
The control unit further
A set value indicating whether or not the predetermined process should be executed for each of a plurality of paper sizes and cut sheets having the relevant paper size before the print execution command is received from the terminal device. and a second storage control unit that associates and stores in the memory,
an acquisition unit that acquires the paper size of the cut paper stored in the storage unit when the print execution command is received from the terminal device,
if the setting value associated with the obtained paper size indicates that the predetermined processing should be performed on the cut paper, the predetermined processing instruction is obtained;
Claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined processing instruction is not acquired when the setting value associated with the acquired paper size indicates that the predetermined processing should not be performed on the cut paper. A printer according to any one of the preceding paragraphs. The control unit further
memory;
user information for identifying each of a plurality of users, a setting value indicating whether or not to execute the predetermined process on cut paper, and a third storage control unit that associates and stores in the memory;
A user information receiving unit that receives target user information that identifies a user of the terminal device from the terminal device,
if the setting value associated with the received target user information indicates that the predetermined processing should be performed on the cut paper, the predetermined processing instruction is acquired;
2. When the setting value associated with the received target user information indicates that the predetermined processing should not be performed on the cut paper, the predetermined processing instruction has not been acquired. 6. The printer according to any one of 5. 7. The predetermined process is any one of a process of cutting the cut sheet, a process of perforating the cut sheet, and a process of folding the cut sheet. Printer as described in section. The predetermined process is any of a process of cutting the cut paper in half, a process of perforating a half position of the cut paper, and a process of folding a half position of the cut paper. 8. A printer according to claim 7. 9. The printer according to claim 8, wherein said predetermined process is a process of cutting said A4 size cut sheet into A5 size. the terminal device comprises a general-purpose printer driver;
10. The printer according to claim 1, wherein said command receiving unit receives said print execution command from said general-purpose printer driver of said terminal device. 11. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the process execution unit is arranged downstream of the print execution unit in the transport direction of the cut paper. A computer program for a printer, comprising:
The printer is
a storage unit for storing cut paper;
a transport unit that transports the cut paper from the storage unit;
a print execution unit that executes printing on the cut paper;
a processing execution unit that executes a predetermined processing related to cutting the cut paper;
a computer;
The computer program causes the computer to:
a command receiving unit that receives a print execution command from the terminal device when a print operation for causing the printer to print an image is executed by the terminal device;
print control for causing the transport unit to transport the cut paper and causing the print execution unit to print the image on the cut paper in response to receiving the print execution command from the terminal device; Department and
If a predetermined process instruction indicating that the predetermined process should be performed on the cut sheet is acquired before the print execution command is received from the terminal device, the predetermined process on the cut sheet is performed. causing the processing execution unit to execute the processing, and not causing the processing execution unit to execute the predetermined processing on the cut paper when the predetermined processing instruction is not acquired before the print execution command is received from the terminal device. a processing control unit;
A computer program that acts as

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