JP3578201B2 - PRINTING APPARATUS, PRINT CONTROL METHOD IN PRINTING APPARATUS WITH Plurality of Output Bins, and Medium Recording Print Control Program In Printing Apparatus With Plural Output Bins - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing control method in a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins, and a medium recording a print control program in a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins. And a print control method in a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins, and a medium recording a print control program in a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of printing apparatus, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-102816 is known.
In the publication, a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins, when requesting an image output from an external device to a printer unit, compares information obtained from the external device with information stored in a memory, and receives an input from the external device. The CPU forms an image based on the received image information, executes printing on a predetermined recording material, and causes the sorter unit to discharge the printed recording material to an output bin corresponding to the information stored in the memory. In addition to the control, information set for each output bin of the sorter unit is displayed on the display unit.
[0003]
Here, the information acquired from the above-described external device is, for example, a device capable of recognizing a facsimile document from a predetermined transmission destination or a device capable of recognizing a copy output from a connected external device. It is. The information stored in the memory is, for example, that the first output bin specifies ejection of a facsimile document from a predetermined destination A, and the second output bin specifies a destination from another destination B. The other output bins specify the discharge of a copy output. In this case, when the image output request of the facsimile document from the transmission destination A is received from the external device, the facsimile document is printed and the printed paper is discharged from the first output bin.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional printing apparatus, since it is not possible to set a print layout for executing printing of print data on an output bin or a print process to be performed on print data, it is necessary to print several types of print layouts in large quantities. In addition, there is a problem that a user must sort printed papers having various print layouts discharged to one output bin. In addition, even if it is desired to combine printed papers subjected to various types of print processing for each print processing, there is a problem that a user must separate a mixture of printed papers subjected to various types of print processing. .
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is directed to a printing apparatus capable of discharging a printed sheet to an output bin, and a printing apparatus including a plurality of output bins, in a predetermined printing layout or printing process. It is an object of the present invention to provide a print control method and a medium recording a print control program in a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of output bins, and a discharge unit that discharges printed paper to a designated output bin,Output bin-specific control data allocation and holding means for allocating and holding a plurality of control data for determining a printing method for each of the output bins, and specifying an output bin for discharging printed paper, and from the plurality of control data Print data input means for inputting print data designating one control data; and control data allocation output holding means for each output bin. Depending on the printing method specified inIt is configured to include a printing unit that executes printing and specifies the paper discharging unit so as to discharge the printed paper on which the printing has been performed to the output bin specified by the print data.
[0007]
In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the printing apparatus includes a plurality of output bins, and predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins. Here, when a predetermined output bin of the plurality of output bins receives the designated print data, the print data is printed based on the control data, and the printed paper is placed in the designated output bin. Discharge. In such a case, first, the print data input means inputs the print data. Then, the print data is divided into predetermined data and sent to the printing unit. Here, the print data includes image data or document data to be printed on printing paper, and designates one output bin for discharging the printed paper on which the image data or document data is printed in the plurality of output bins. Data. Therefore, the division of the print data referred to here is to divide the image data or the document data into a portion that specifies an output bin for discharging a print result.
[0008]
On the other hand, each of the plurality of output bins is pre-assigned with predetermined control data by an output bin-specific control data holding unit and held, and the printing unit outputs the output data designated by the input print data. The control data corresponding to the bin is selected and acquired from each control data held by the output bin-by-bin control data allocation holding means. Then, the printing unit executes printing of the image data of the print data or the document data on the printing paper based on the obtained control data. When the printing is completed, the printing unit specifies the output bin for discharging the printed sheet to the discharging unit having the plurality of output bins. Then, the discharging unit controls the discharging mechanism of the predetermined output bin so as to discharge the printed sheet from the specified output bin.
That is, when the operator designates an output bin having desired control data from a plurality of output bins as print data at the time of printing, and inputs this print data, printing is performed based on the control data corresponding to the designated output bin. At the same time, the printing result is discharged to a designated output bin. Here, the control data is data for determining a printing method when printing the print data on print paper, and may be related to a predetermined layout or a predetermined print process. Is also good. For example, when an output bin to which a predetermined layout is assigned is specified in the print data, printing of the print data is executed according to the layout, and the print data is discharged to the output bin.
[0009]
When printing is performed, it is mainly performed in units of document files. However, even in the case of the same document file, the configuration is configured in page units when the document file is printed. For example, the first page may be an image desired to be printed in a predetermined layout, and the second page may be an image desired to be printed after being subjected to a predetermined printing process. In such a case, an output bin is designated for each page. That is, it is preferable that the control data assigned to the output bin can be designated for each page unit.
Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the print data specifies an output bin for each page to be printed, and the printing unit performs printing for each page. The paper discharge means is designed to discharge the printed paper to the specified output bin.
In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the print data input by the print data input means is divided into print data in units of pages on print paper, and the print data is divided for each print data divided by the page unit. Specify the output bin to output the page. Then, the printing unit designates the sheet discharging unit to discharge the printed paper on which printing is performed in page units from the specified output bin.
[0010]
Here, it is convenient if the correspondence between the control data allocated to a predetermined output bin and this output bin can be confirmed by the control data allocation and holding unit for each output bin. Therefore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first and second aspects, the output-bin-specific control data allocation holding unit displays a correspondence between the allocated control data and the output bin. The output bin allocation display means is provided.
In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the control data allocation and holding unit for each output bin displays the correspondence between the control data allocated by the output bin allocation display unit and the output bin. Here, the output bin allocation display means may be any as long as it can be displayed so that the correspondence between the allocated control data and the output bins can be recognized, and may be that which is displayed on a display provided in the printing apparatus. Alternatively, the information may be displayed on a display of an external device connected to the printing apparatus. Further, the recognition form may be a correspondence table between the allocated control data and the output bins, and the form is not particularly limited.
[0011]
When printing is performed as described above, an output bin is specified and printing is performed in accordance with a predetermined layout allocated to the specified output bin, or the output bin is allocated to an output bin specified in the print data. The predetermined printing process is performed, and printing is performed. On the other hand, printing a plurality of copies of print data is also a daily use form. At this time, if predetermined control data is already assigned to a plurality of output bins, it becomes impossible to specify an output bin for discharging a plurality of printed sheets. Therefore, it is preferable that a plurality of copies can be specified in the print data, and when the print data of the plurality of copies is input, the plurality of copies can be preferentially executed.
Therefore, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the print data designates printing of a plurality of copies based on the print data. The printing unit is configured to execute the printing of a plurality of copies using a predetermined output bin in accordance with the designation without receiving the control data from the output bin-specific control data allocation holding unit when the designation is input.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the print data input by the print data input means can be designated to perform a plurality of copies based on the print data. Then, the printing unit that has input the print data with the designation of the multi-copy printing, outputs the control data corresponding to the designated output bin to the output bin-specific control data allocation holding unit even if the output bin is designated. The multi-copy printing is performed using a predetermined output bin in accordance with the designation of the multi-copy printing without acquiring the same.
[0012]
The output bin to which the predetermined control data is allocated by the output bin-specific control data allocation holding unit discharges the printed paper printed based on the print data having the control data. However, control data for specifying a print control method is diversified, and it is impossible to provide a plurality of output bins so as to cover all control data. Therefore, it is preferable that a plurality of control data can be assigned to one output bin.
Therefore, the output bin-specific control data allocating and holding means allocates and holds a plurality of control data to one output bin, and prints the print data from the plurality of control data while designating the output bin. Specify the control data of
Configuration as aboveIn the above, the control data allocation and holding means for each output bin allocates and holds a plurality of control data to one output bin. In the case where print data specifies an output bin to which a plurality of control data are assigned, one control data is specified from the plurality of control data. Therefore, the printing unit prints the print data based on the designated one control data.
[0013]
Here, as an example of a specific configuration of the control data described above,Claim 5The invention according to claim 1Claim 4In the printing device according to any one of the above, the control data determines a predetermined layout of the print data on a print sheet, and the printing unit specifies an output bin corresponding to the control data. The print data is printed in accordance with the layout described above.
Configured as aboveClaim 5In the invention according to the invention, the control data is for determining a predetermined layout of the print data on the printing paper, and the printing means prints the output bin corresponding to the control data for the designated print data in accordance with the layout. Execute.
Here, the layout may be any layout that can specify a print position or the like when printing print data on print paper, and may be the top, bottom, left, and right margin lengths of the print paper, or The printing may be performed on both sides of the printing paper. Further, the print data may be printed according to a predetermined enlargement ratio or reduction ratio. Further, predetermined print data may be attached to a predetermined position of the print data and printed.
[0014]
Also, as another specific example of the control data,Claim 6The invention according to claim 1Claim 5In the printing device according to any one of the above, the control data, when performing printing based on the print data in the printing unit, while executing a predetermined print process on the print data, The printing means is configured to perform the printing process on the print data in which the output bin corresponding to the control data is specified, and execute the printing.
Configured as aboveClaim 6In the invention according to the present invention, the control data is for causing a predetermined printing process to be performed on the print data when printing is performed by the printing means based on the print data, and the printing means The above-mentioned printing process is performed on the print data for which the output bin corresponding to is specified, and printing is executed.
Here, the print process may be any process that can execute a predetermined print process on the print data. For example, the print data may be printed at this resolution using the resolution as control data, Further, the print data may be printed by performing the halftone process using the halftone process as the control data.
[0015]
As described above, a plurality of output bins are provided, predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins, and when a predetermined output bin is input with designated print data, the print data is designated based on the control data. It is easy to understand that the method of executing the printing and discharging the printed paper to the designated output bin is not necessarily limited to a substantial device, and also functions as the method.
[0016]
For this reason,Claim 7According to the invention, when a plurality of output bins are provided, predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins, and when the predetermined output bin receives designated print data, the printing is performed based on the control data. A printing control method for a printing apparatus for executing printing of data and discharging printed paper to a designated output bin,A plurality of control data for deciding a printing method is allocated to each of the output bins, held in a predetermined storage medium, an output bin for discharging a printed sheet is designated, and one control data is output from the plurality of control data. A print data input step of inputting print data designated by the user, and obtaining control data of the output bin specified by the print data from the output bin-specific control data allocation and holding step, while obtaining the control data of the output bin specified by the print data. A printing step of executing printing according to the printing method and specifying that the printed paper on which printing has been performed is to be discharged to an output bin specified by the print data; and Discharge process to discharge the printed paper to the output binIs provided.
In other words, there is no difference that the present invention is not necessarily limited to a substantial device and is effective as a method.
[0017]
By the way, when a plurality of output bins are provided, predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins, and when the predetermined output bin is input with designated print data, the printing is performed based on the control data. A printing device that prints data and discharges printed paper to a specified output bin may exist alone, or may be used in a state of being installed in a certain device. The idea is not limited to this, but includes various aspects. Therefore, it can be changed as appropriate, such as software or hardware.
A plurality of output bins are provided as an embodiment of the idea of the present invention. Predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins, and when predetermined print bins are input with designated print data, based on the control data, In the case where the printing data is printed and the software of the printing apparatus that discharges the printed paper to the designated output bin is used, the software naturally exists on the recording medium on which the software is recorded and is used. I have to say.
[0018]
As an example, the invention according to claim 8 includes a plurality of output bins, allocates predetermined control data to the plurality of output bins, and inputs print data in which the predetermined output bin is designated. A medium that executes printing of the print data based on the control data and records a print control program of a printing apparatus that ejects printed paper to a designated output bin,A plurality of control data for deciding a printing method is allocated to each of the output bins, held in a predetermined storage medium, an output bin for discharging a printed sheet is designated, and one control data is output from the plurality of control data. The print data input function for inputting the print data designated by the user, and the control data for the output bin specified by the print data are acquired from the output bin-specific control data allocation holding function, and the control data specified by the control data is obtained. A printing function for executing printing according to the printing method, and specifying that the printed paper on which printing has been performed is to be discharged to an output bin specified by the print data; Computer with a paper ejection function to eject printed paper to the output binThe print control program is characterized in that it is recorded.
[0019]
Of course, the recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium, and any recording medium to be developed in the future can be considered in the same manner. Further, the duplication stages of the primary duplicated product, the secondary duplicated product and the like are equivalent without any question. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the case where the present invention is used even when the supply is performed using a communication line.
Further, even when a part is implemented by software and a part is implemented by hardware, the concept of the present invention is not completely different, and a part is stored on a recording medium and appropriately It may be in a form that can be read.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can provide a printing apparatus capable of discharging a printed sheet to an output bin separately from a predetermined print layout or print processing.Further, control data that is equal to or greater than the physical numerical value of a plurality of output bins can be allocated.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, an output bin can be specified for each page in print data.
Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to easily recognize the correspondence between the allocated control data and the output bin.
Further, according to the fourth aspect of the invention, when printing a plurality of copies, the printing can be performed regardless of the control data assigned to the output bin.
[0021]
further,Claim 5According to the invention, printed paper can be discharged to the output bin for each predetermined layout.
further,Claim 6According to the invention, the printed paper can be discharged to the output bin for each predetermined printing process.
further,Claim 7According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a print control method in a printing apparatus including a plurality of output bins capable of discharging printed paper to an output bin, separately from a predetermined print layout or print processing.
further,Claim 8According to the present invention, there is provided a medium recording a print control program in a printing apparatus having a plurality of output bins capable of discharging printed paper to an output bin while distinguishing between predetermined print layouts and print processing. be able to.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a claim correspondence diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a printing apparatus C1 includes a plurality of output bins C6, allocates predetermined control data to the plurality of output bins C6, and inputs print data in which a predetermined output bin is designated. And prints the printed data on the designated output bin. In such a case, when the print data input unit C4 first inputs the print data, the print data is divided into predetermined data and transmitted to the print unit C3. Here, the print data generally includes print data having image data or document data to be printed on print paper, and discharges the printed paper on which the print data is printed in the plurality of output bins C6. Is provided with bin designation data for designating the output bin C6. Therefore, the above-described division of print data refers to division into print data and bin designation data designating an output bin for discharging a print result.
[0023]
On the other hand, predetermined control data is allocated to each of the plurality of output bins C6 in advance by the output bin-specific control data allocation and storage unit C5, and the output bins C6 are stored. The control data corresponding to the designated output bin C6 is selected and obtained from each control data held by the output bin-specific control data allocation holding unit C5. Then, the printing unit C3 executes printing of the print data on the printing paper based on the obtained control data. When the printing is completed, the printing unit C3 designates the output bin C6 for discharging the printed paper to the discharging unit C2 having the plurality of output bins C6. Then, the discharging unit C2 controls the discharging mechanism of the printed paper so that the printed paper is discharged from the designated output bin C6. That is, when the operator of the printing apparatus C1 designates an output bin C6 having desired control data from a plurality of output bins C6 at the time of printing and causes the print data input means C4 to input the print data, the designated output bin The printing of the print data is executed based on the control data corresponding to C6, and the print result is discharged to the designated output bin C6.
[0024]
Next, an example of a printer system including a multi-bin printer having a multi-bin to which the printing apparatus C1 is applied and a computer is shown in a block diagram of FIG.
Referring to FIG. 1, the printer system includes a computer 10 and a multi-bin printer 20 connected to the computer 10. Here, the computer 10 generally includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, and a hard disk 14 therein, a printer driver 15, a display driver 16 for displaying a predetermined image on a display 18 in accordance with a display command of the CPU 11, When the multi-bin printer 20 is driven by the printer driver 15, an interface 17 for realizing predetermined data communication such as print data is provided. The hard disk 14 stores basic software for starting the computer 10 and various applications operating on the basic software.
The multi-bin printer 20 generally includes a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, an EEPROM 24, a print engine 25, a paper discharge feeder 26, an operation panel 27, an interface 28, a paper feeder 29, And a unit 30. In the present embodiment, the multi-bin unit 30 employs a configuration having ten output bins with bin numbers bin1 to bin10. Of course, the number of output bins can be changed as appropriate.
[0025]
In such a configuration, when a predetermined application stored in the hard disk 14 is activated by the computer 10 and a printing operation is performed on the application, print data accompanying the printing operation is transmitted to the multi-bin printer 20 via the interface 17. Sent to The multi-bin printer 20 receives the print data at the interface 28, analyzes the content of the received print data, and converts the print data into a print data portion and a header portion in which predetermined setting information regarding printing is stored. get. One of the setting information of the header portion stores any one of bin numbers bin1 to bin10 for determining an output bin for discharging a printed sheet on which the print data portion is printed as bin designation data. On the other hand, control data for determining a printing method for printing the print data portion on printing paper is assigned to each of bins 1 to 10 of the multi-bin unit 30 in advance.
[0026]
Therefore, when printing is performed, the print engine 25 takes out a predetermined print sheet from the sheet feeding device 29 and prints the print data on the print sheet based on the acquired control data. When the printing is completed, the print engine 25 controls the paper discharge feeder 26 so that the printed paper is discharged from one of bins 1 to 10 specified by the bin specification data. As a result, the printed paper on which the predetermined print processing has been performed is discharged from the predetermined output bin among the bins 1 to 10.
Here, the operation of previously assigning control data to each of the output bin numbers bin1 to bin10 of the multi-bin unit 30 may be performed from the operation panel 27 of the multi-bin printer 20, or a predetermined May be transferred to the multi-bin printer 20 after the application is started and assigned.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, the present printer system adopts a configuration in which the multi-bin printer 20 and the computer 10 are connected in a pair. Of course, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. A plurality of computers 10 may be connected to the multi-bin printer 20 so that the print data can be sent from each computer 10 and the multi-bin printer 20 can print. The printer 20 may be connected to a plurality of computers 10 to form a printer system.
[0028]
A specific operation when print data is input to the multi-bin printer 20 in the printer system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Each unit shown in FIG. 3 is realized by the configuration of the multi-bin printer 20 described above.
The print data sent from the computer 10 is input to the multi-bin printer 20 and sent to the PDL interpreter 31. The print data is divided into a header section and a print data section, and sent to the header section interpreter 31b and the print data interpreter 31a, respectively, and the contents thereof are interpreted. Here, the header part of the print data includes various setting data such as whether the normally printed paper is discharged face down or face up, or whether the paper is printed in page order or discharged in page down order. It is included. In the present embodiment, in addition to the setting information, a setting is made as to which output bin among the output bin numbers bin1 to bin10 from which the printed paper is discharged. Then, the header interpreting unit 31b acquires the output bin number for discharging the printed paper, and sends it to the status management unit 32 storing the control data and control contents corresponding to the output bin number.
[0029]
Here, the status management unit 32 stores an allocation source table indicating control data and control contents as shown in FIG. 4 and an allocation table in which this control data is allocated to output bin numbers bin1 to bin10 shown in FIG. When the output bin number transmitted from the header interpreting unit 31b is acquired as described above, the control data and the control content corresponding to the output bin number are acquired. Then, this control content is sent to the processing instruction unit 32b, and the processing instruction unit 32b instructs the image generation unit 33 on the control content when printing the print data. Here, the assignment source table and the assignment table stored in the setting storage unit 32a are stored in the EEPROM 24 of the multi-bin printer 20. These tables may be set by the printer driver setting utility in the computer 10 and sent to the multi-bin printer 20 and stored as PDL for status setting. The table may be set on the panel 27 and stored.
[0030]
The image generation unit 33, which has obtained the print data from the print data interpretation unit 31a and obtained the control content from the processing instruction unit 32b, generates image data to be printed on printing paper based on these, and sends it to the engine control unit 34. I do. The engine control unit 34 sends predetermined printing paper from the paper feeder 37 to the engine 36 according to the image data, and prints the above-described image data on the printing paper by the engine 36. Then, the engine control unit 34 designates a bin for discharging the printed paper as the paper discharge feeder 35, and the paper discharge feeder 35 drives the bin selector 38 to discharge the printed paper to a predetermined output bin.
[0031]
In this way, the allocation source table and the allocation table are set, and it is possible to discharge the printed paper on which the printing process has been performed in accordance with the output bin number stored in the header section, to the output bin of this output bin number. Here, the flowchart of FIG. 7 shows the processing contents of the print discharge processing executed by the multi-bin printer 20 which has received the print data in which the output bin numbers as shown in FIG. 6 are stored in the header portion.
Here, since the print data shown in FIG. 6 is formed for each page to be printed, for example, when print data for printing 10 pages is sent from the computer 10, "start-output bin number-print data-stop" 10 data packets will be sent. Therefore, by detecting the number of “starts” of the transmitted print data, it is possible to determine how many pages of the print data.
In FIG. 1, when print data is input from the computer 10 (step S100), a page to be printed is calculated based on the number of data packets of the print data.TheThe number is obtained (step S105). Then, the print data is divided into a print data section and a header section and input to the print data interpretation section 31a and the header section interpretation section 31b, respectively. Here, when the designated output bin number stored in the header section is obtained (step S110), the setting storage unit 32a selects an output bin number that matches this designated output bin number from the allocation table shown in FIG. Then, the stored control data is obtained, and the control content corresponding to the control data shown in FIG. 4 is obtained (step S115). The control content is sent from the processing instruction unit 32b to the image generation unit 33, and the image generation unit 33 generates image data to be printed from the print data sent from the print data interpretation unit 31a according to the control content. The image data is printed on printing paper by the engine control unit 34 and the engine 36 (step S120), and is discharged to a predetermined output bin by the paper discharge feeder 35 and the bin selector 38 (step S125). These processes are repeatedly executed for the number of pages acquired in step S105 (step S135).
[0032]
Next, a case where a plurality of control data are assigned to one output bin of the multi-bin unit 30 will be described. At this time, the allocation table stored in the setting storage unit 32b has a configuration in which three types of control data a to c are allocated to the output bin numbers bin1 to bin10 as shown in FIG. Of course, the control data is not limited to the three types of control data a to c and can be changed as appropriate. FIG. 9 shows print data sent from the computer 10 in such a case. As shown in the figure, the print data in which the designated output bin number and the selection numbers a to c for specifying one control data from the three types of control data in the header portion are sent to the multi-bin printer 20. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of the print discharge processing executed by the multi-bin printer 20 that has received the print data.
In FIG. 5, when print data is input from the computer 10 (step S200), the number of pages to be printed is obtained from the number of data packets of the print data (step S205). Then, the print data is divided into a print data section and a header section, and is input to the print data interpretation section 31a and the header section interpretation section 31b, respectively. Here, when the designated output bin number stored in the header section is acquired (step S210) and the selection number is acquired (step S215), the setting storage unit 32a reads the designated output bin number from the allocation table shown in FIG. A bin number that matches the number is selected, and control data that matches the selection number stored in the header section is obtained (step S115). Then, based on this control data, control contents are acquired from the assignment source table shown in FIG. 4 (step S220). The control content is sent from the processing instruction unit 32b to the image generation unit 33, and the image generation unit 33 generates image data to be printed from the print data sent from the print data interpretation unit 31a according to the control content. The image data is printed on printing paper by the engine control unit 34 and the engine 36 (step S125), and is discharged to a predetermined output bin by the paper discharge feeder 35 and the bin selector 38 (step S130). These processes are repeatedly executed for the number of pages acquired in step S105 (step S135).
[0033]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described.
The user of the printer system first outputs the output of the multi-bin unit 30 on the display 18 of the computer 10 or the operation panel 27 of the multi-bin printer 20.Bin numberAssignment of control contents to bins 1 to 10 is performed. At this time,FIG.Is displayed, and the control contents and the corresponding codes presented on the right side of the screen for the output bin numbers bin1 to 10 are referred to, and the output bin numbers on the left side of the screen are assigned a to a. Set sequentially to c.
When this setting is completed, the “setting” button is selected and stored in the setting storage unit 32a. Then, the allocation table shown in FIG. 8 described above is generated. In such a case, it is necessary to create a code corresponding to the control content on the right side of the screen in FIG. 11 in advance, and generate an allocation source table by storing the code in the setting storage unit 32a.
With the creation of the assignment source table and the assignment table completed in this way, the user activates a drawing application on the computer 10, creates an image as shown in FIG. Let it be reduced to half and printed. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, since the reduction by half is set to the selection number a of the output bin number bin1, the “output bin number” is changed to “output bin number” on the “print bin setting” screen shown in FIG. "1" and "control content" is set to "a". When “print” is selected, print data as shown in FIG. 14 is generated and sent to the multi-bin printer 20. The multi-bin printer 20 that has input the print data executes the print discharge processing (steps S200 to S235) shown in FIG. Then, the user shown in FIG. 15 ejected to the output bin number bin1likeA print result in which the image of FIG. 12 is reduced by half can be obtained.
[0034]
In this manner, by assigning a predetermined print setting to each of the output bin numbers bin1 to bin10 of the multi-bin unit 20 of the multi-bin printer 20, the user sets the predetermined print setting when performing printing. It is only necessary to select the output bin numbers bin1 to 10 having the desired print settings from the output bin numbers bin1 to bin10, and the operation can be simplified.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view corresponding to a claim of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer system to which the printing apparatus is applied.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the multi-bin printer 20.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an allocation source table stored in a setting storage unit 32a.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an allocation table stored in a setting storage unit 32a.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of print data.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a print discharge process executed by the multi-bin printer 20 to which print data has been input.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another configuration of the allocation table stored in the setting storage unit 32a.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of print data.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process of a print discharge process executed by the multi-bin printer 20 to which print data is input.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an output bin assignment setting screen for creating an assignment source table.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an image created by a user.
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a setting screen for setting an output bin when transmitting print data.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of print data.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing that an image created by a user has been reduced to one half.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Multi-bin printer
30 ... Multi-bin
31 PLD interpreter
31a Print data interpreter
31b header interpreting section
32 ... Status management unit
32a ... setting storage unit
32b: Processing instruction section
33 ... Image generation unit
34 ... Engine control unit
35 ... Discharge feeder
36 ... Engine
37 ... Paper feeder
38 ... bin selector

Claims (8)

Discharge means comprising a plurality of output bins and discharging printed paper to a designated output bin,
Output bin-specific control data allocation holding means for allocating and holding a plurality of control data for determining a printing method for each output bin,
Print data input means for specifying an output bin for discharging printed paper and inputting print data specifying one control data from the plurality of control data;
While obtaining the control data of the output bin specified by the print data from the output bin-specific control data allocation and holding means , the printing was executed by the printing method specified by the control data, and the printing was executed. A printing means for designating the paper discharging means to discharge printed paper to an output bin specified by the print data. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein
The print data specifies an output bin for each page to be printed, and the printing unit causes the paper discharging unit to discharge the printed paper that has been printed for each page to the specified output bin. A printing device characterized by specifying. In the printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said output bin-specific control data allocation holding means includes output bin allocation display means for displaying a correspondence between the allocated control data and the output bin. In the printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The print data designates printing of a plurality of copies based on the print data, and when the designation is input, the printing means does not acquire the control data from the output bin-by-bin control data allocation holding means. A printing apparatus, wherein a plurality of copies are printed using a predetermined output bin according to designation. In the printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The control data determines a predetermined layout of the print data with respect to the printing paper, and the printing unit executes printing according to the layout with respect to the print data in which an output bin corresponding to the control data is specified. A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. In the printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The control data is for causing a predetermined print process to be performed on the print data when the print unit performs printing based on the print data, and the print unit corresponds to the control data. A printing apparatus for performing printing by performing the printing process on print data for which output bins to be specified are specified. A plurality of output bins are provided, predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins, and when the predetermined output bin receives designated print data, the print data is printed based on the control data. And a printing control method of a printing apparatus for discharging printed paper to a designated output bin,
A plurality of control data for determining a printing method is allocated to each output bin and held in a predetermined storage medium,
A print data inputting step of specifying an output bin for discharging printed paper and inputting print data specifying one control data from the plurality of control data;
While obtaining the control data of the output bin specified by the print data from the control data allocation and holding process for each output bin, the printing was executed by the printing method specified by the control data, and the printing was executed. A printing step for specifying that the printed paper is to be discharged to an output bin specified by the print data;
A print discharging step of discharging printed paper to a designated output bin among the plurality of output bins . A plurality of output bins are provided, predetermined control data is allocated to the plurality of output bins, and when the predetermined output bin receives designated print data, the print data is printed based on the control data. And a print control program for a printing apparatus for discharging printed paper to a specified output bin,
A plurality of control data for determining a printing method is allocated to each output bin and held in a predetermined storage medium,
A print data input function of specifying an output bin for discharging printed paper and inputting print data specifying one control data from the plurality of control data;
While obtaining the control data of the output bin specified by the print data from the output bin-specific control data allocation holding function, printing was executed by the printing method specified by the control data, and printing was executed. A printing function for specifying that the printed paper is discharged to the output bin specified in the print data;
A medium storing a print control program for causing a computer to realize a paper discharge function of discharging printed paper to a designated output bin among the plurality of output bins .

Images