JP4944650B2 - Printing system, printing apparatus and cart - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, and a cart designation method using a cart on which an image-formed recording sheet is stacked.

  Conventionally, recording paper continuously output from a printer is loaded on a carriage prepared at a discharge port, and the recording paper bundle is transported by the carriage to a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as punching, folding, or bookbinding. There is a printing system. However, in this printing system, the work of preparing the carriage at the discharge port places a heavy burden on the operator (operator).

Therefore, in order to reduce the burden on the operator, there is an automatic supply and discharge method of the carriage, in which a carriage with no recording paper is placed on the upstream side of the discharge port and the carriage with the recording paper is pushed out by the waiting carriage. It has been proposed (Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-104707 A

  In addition to the rotary press capable of securing a standby place for waiting a large number of carriages as in Patent Document 1, in recent years, smaller printing apparatuses for POD (Print On Demand) are spreading in the market. . In such a printing apparatus, it seems difficult to secure a vast standby place. Various problems arise when it is not possible to secure a sufficient waiting area for the carriage.

  For example, when the printing apparatus executes print jobs from a plurality of operators in parallel, the recording sheets of the operators are mixedly loaded on the same carriage. In this case, the operator has to manually distinguish his / her recording paper from among a large number of recording papers mixedly loaded on the carriage, which is troublesome. In particular, when a post-processing step is waiting for the recording paper discharged from the printing apparatus, it is desirable to avoid the recording paper from being mixed as much as possible.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the inconvenience that recording sheets of different operators are stacked on the same carriage, for example. Other problems can be understood from the entire specification.

The printing system of the present invention is used for stacking, for example, a printing apparatus that prints on a recording sheet according to an input print job, and a recording sheet printed by the printing apparatus, and each of which is assigned a different cart identification information. Including multiple trolleys possible. In addition, the printing system includes a designation unit that designates a carriage to be used in a print job among a plurality of carriages, and a discharge port from which the printing apparatus discharges the recording sheets to stack the recording sheets printed by the printing apparatus. detecting a trolley identification information arranged dolly comprises a detection means, if the truck identification information detected by the detecting means is different from the trolley identification information of the carriage designated by designating means, an output means for outputting warning information .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce inconvenience that recording sheets of different operators are stacked on the same carriage.

[First Embodiment]
The printing system according to the embodiment includes a printing apparatus including a digital copying machine and two large-capacity stackers, a post-processing apparatus, and an antenna. Note that the printing apparatus may be called an image forming apparatus, a printer, a copier, or a multifunction machine. The post-processing apparatus is, for example, a paper folding machine, a saddle stitch folding machine, a bookbinding machine, a punching machine, or the like.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a printing system according to an embodiment. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a state in which a printing system is installed on the premises of a printing factory. Hereinafter, alphabetic suffixes (a to z, etc.) attached to reference numerals are symbols for identifying carts and antennas having the same configuration. Note that these suffixes are omitted when describing common items for each carriage and the like.

  The printing system includes a printing apparatus 100, large-capacity stackers 110a and 110b, a deck 120, RFID antennas 140a, 140b and 140c, and a carriage 150a. The RFID antenna 140 is a communication means for communicating with a communication device (such as an RFID tag) mounted on each carriage. Note that an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag exchanges information from an IC tag in which identification information is embedded by wireless communication using an electromagnetic field or a radio wave. The carriage 150 is a movable carriage for loading recording paper discharged from the discharge port of the printing apparatus. That is, the carriage is used in a print job. Note that the recording paper may be called a recording material, a recording medium, a paper, a sheet, a transfer material, or a transfer paper.

  A cart 150b stands by beside the large-capacity stacker 110b. The printing apparatus 100 communicates with a carriage located within a range where radio waves reach through RFID antennas 140a, 140b, and 140c. The range in which radio waves reach is generally a communicable range. The RFID antenna 140 is only an example of an antenna device. The present invention can be used even with an antenna device that employs a standard other than RFID, as long as the antenna device provides a communicable range that can identify the current position of the carriage.

  On the second floor of the printing factory, a punching machine 101, a saddle stitch folding machine 102, a paper folding machine 103, and a bookbinding machine 104 are installed. The RFID antenna 140e provided in the drilling machine 101 can communicate with the carriage 150e located in the communicable range. The RFID antenna 140f provided in the saddle stitch folding machine 102 can communicate with the carriage 150f located in the communicable range. The RFID antenna 140g provided in the paper folding machine 103 can communicate with the carriage 150g located in the communicable range. The RFID antenna 140h provided in the bookbinding machine 104 can communicate with the carriages 150h and 150i located in the communicable range.

An RFID antenna 140i is also installed in the paper storage area. In addition, an RFID antenna 140d is installed in the product storage area, and can communicate with a carriage 150c located in the communicable range. Incidentally, in each antenna, it can not communicate with the dolly 0.99 j present in the outdoors. This is because the carriage 150 j is outside the communicable range from any antenna. Each RFID antenna 140 is connected to the printing apparatus 100 via a network or a cable. Therefore, the printing apparatus 100 can communicate with all the antennas, and can identify the current position of the carriage by specifying the antenna that can communicate with the carriage. For example, when the RFID antenna 140e can communicate with the carriage 150e, the printing apparatus 100 can recognize that the carriage 150e is located around the punch 101.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general configuration of a printing apparatus and a large-capacity stacker. The printing apparatus 100 is a main body of a digital copying machine, for example. A reader unit 200 for reading a document reads an image of a document sent by an automatic document feeder (ADF) or the like.

  The image forming unit 201 forms an image on a recording sheet according to the image read by the reader unit 200. For example, in the electrophotographic system, an image using a developer (eg, toner) is transferred onto a recording paper. The fixing unit 202 fixes an unfixed image on the recording paper. Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to the large-capacity stacker 110a by the discharge roller 203.

  By the way, the recording paper is stored in the right cassette deck 221, the left cassette deck 222, the upper cassette 223, or the lower cassette 224. The printing apparatus 100 is also equipped with an optional deck 120 that can store 3500 recording sheets. A multi-manual feed 254 that can accommodate 50 sheets of recording paper is also provided. The number of recording sheets is only an example.

  In FIG. 2, since the same configuration is adopted for the large capacity stackers 110a and 110b, the large capacity stacker 110a will be described here.

  The recording paper discharged from the printing apparatus 100 is first received by the recording paper receiving unit 261 of the large-capacity stacker 110a and further conveyed downstream. The large-capacity stacker 110a discharges the recording paper to a discharge destination (one of the sample tray 263, the stack tray [cart 150a], and the downstream discharge [large-capacity stacker 110b]) according to the instruction from the printing apparatus 100.

  When the discharge destination is the sample tray 263, the recording paper is discharged to the sample tray 263 via the sample tray conveyance path 262. The sample tray 263 is used when discharging a small number of recording sheets as compared to recording sheets or stack trays that do not require post-processing. In the case of downstream discharge, the recording paper is transported to the large-capacity stacker 110b on the downstream side via the horizontal transport unit 264 and the downstream discharge transport unit 265. In the case of stack tray discharge, recording paper is stacked on the carriage 150a from the stack tray discharge port 267 via the skew feeding correction unit 266 next to the horizontal conveyance unit 264. The skew correction unit 266 corrects an inappropriate inclination of the recording paper being conveyed. The length direction stacking guide 268 and the width direction stacking guide (not shown) move as indicated by the arrows in the drawing with respect to the recording sheets stacked on the carriage 150a. Thereby, the recording paper stacking position is aligned.

  The lifting device 270 gradually lowers the carriage 150a every time several recording sheets are stacked. This is because the uppermost surface of the recording paper bundle always coincides with the stack tray discharge port 267. The cart 150a also descends when an instruction to remove the cart is given. Reference numeral 150a 'denotes a cart that has been lowered to the bottom. A caster is attached to the carriage 150a, and the stacked recording paper bundle can be pulled out from the large-capacity stacker 110a together with the carriage. Thereafter, when the carriage 150a from which the recording paper bundle is removed is set on the large-capacity stacker 110a, the elevating device 270 raises the carriage 150a and aligns the upper surface of the carriage 150a with the stack tray discharge port 267. Here, the coincidence does not need to be an exact coincidence, and it is needless to say that a difference in height difference that allows easy loading of recording paper on the carriage is allowed. For example, a position where the upper surface of the carriage 150a is a predetermined distance (for example, 1 cm) below the stack tray discharge port 267 may be used.

  FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram for a printing apparatus. The CPU 301 is a control unit that comprehensively controls each unit of the printing apparatus 100. In the present embodiment, the CPU 301 also functions as display control means for displaying the current position of each carriage on display means such as a liquid crystal display device.

  The ROM 302 is a storage device that stores control contents (computer programs) to be executed by the CPU 301. A RAM 303 is a storage device used as a work area for the CPU 301. The RAM 303, for example, the number of print jobs executed by the printing apparatus 100, the number of sheets of recording paper loaded on the carriage arranged at the discharge port, the maximum number of carriages loaded, the current of each identified carriage The threshold number of sheets that trigger the display of the position is stored. The RAM 303 may store a user management table, a cart management table (current position management table), a job management table, and the like. Details of each table will be described later. The RAM 303 also functions as a storage unit that stores location information indicating the location where each RFID antenna is installed.

  The operation unit 304 includes an input device such as a switch or a touch panel, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The operation unit 304 is used, for example, to set a print job (for example, a copy job) that the user wants the printing apparatus 100 to execute. In addition, the display device of the operation unit 304 displays, for example, a message for prompting the preparation of the carriage and the current position of each carriage. The display device of the operation unit 304 also functions as an output unit that outputs warning information. Note that the CPU 301 also functions as output control means in order to control output. The output format may not be display, but may be audio output, print output, transmission to another device, or the like.

  The external IF 306 is connected to the TCP / IP network, and is used when receiving a print job execution instruction from a computer connected to the network and transmitting internal information of the printing apparatus 100 to the computer. . In the present embodiment, the external IF 306 is also used as a communication means for communicating with each RFID antenna.

  The image processing unit 307 performs one-sided printing / double-sided printing setting, copy job setting such as enlargement / reduction, and necessary image processing on the image from the reader unit 200, and stores an image to be formed in the RAM 303.

  The recording paper stored in the right cassette deck 221 or the like is fed by the paper feeding unit 310. Next, the recording paper is transported to the image forming unit 201 and the fixing unit 202 by the transport unit 311 to transfer and fix the toner image.

  The post-processing device IF 312 is a communication unit for communicating with the large-capacity stackers 110a and 110b. The CPU 301 transmits, for example, discharge destination designation information and a downstream conveyance instruction to the large-capacity stackers 110a and 110b via the post-processing device IF 312.

  FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram for a high capacity stacker. The CPU 401 is a control unit that comprehensively controls each unit of the large-capacity stacker. The ROM 402 is a storage device that stores control contents to be executed by the CPU 401. A RAM 403 is a storage device used as a work area for the CPU 401.

  The external IF 404 is an interface for connecting to a network using the printing apparatus 100 and another large-capacity stacker. The CPU 401 is used to receive a recording paper conveyance instruction and discharge destination designation information from the printing apparatus 100 via the external IF 404, and to notify the recording paper delivery timing to another large-capacity stacker. . The cart detection unit 410 is detection means for detecting whether a cart is disposed at the discharge port. For example, the cart detection unit 410 can be realized by an RFID antenna 140a installed inside a large-capacity stacker. By setting the communicable distance of the RFID antenna 140a to several tens of centimeters, the CPU 401 can detect whether a carriage is disposed at the discharge port. That is, if the bogie detection unit 410 can communicate with the bogie, it can recognize that the bogie is disposed at the discharge port, and if it cannot communicate, it can recognize that the bogie is not disposed at the discharge port. In addition, the cart detection unit 410 may be a switch that is turned on when the cart is disposed at the discharge port. This switch may be mechanical, optical or other types.

  FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram for the carriage. The control device 501 is a control device that controls each part of the carriage, and includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The battery 502 is a power supply unit that supplies necessary power to the control device 501. The detection sensor 503 is a detection unit that detects a use state of the carriage (eg, whether or not a recording sheet is loaded on the carriage). The detection sensor 503 is an example of a recording sheet detection unit that detects a recording sheet loaded on the carriage. A result (state information) detected by the detection sensor 503 is notified to the RFID tag 504 functioning as a communication unit via the control device 501.

  The RFID tag 504 is a communication device mounted on each cart. The RFID tag 504 is notified from the control device 501 of, for example, unique identification information for identifying the carriage 150 (for example, a carriage number). Note that when a unique identification number or the like is stored in the memory (flash memory or the like) of the RFID tag 504, notification from the control device 501 is unnecessary. The RFID tag 504 also functions as a transmission unit that transmits an identification number and status information to the RFID antenna 140 connected to the printing apparatus 100. Note that the RFID tag may be referred to as a wireless tag, a wireless IC tag, or a wireless semiconductor tag.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration stored in a memory in the RFID tag. The user number 601 and the carriage number 602 are unique identification information for identifying the operator and the carriage, respectively. The user number 601 is an example of user identification information assigned to each operator. The cart number 602 is an example of the cart identification information assigned to each cart.

  The state information 603 is information indicating the use state of the carriage, such as whether the carriage is being used, that is, whether recording paper is loaded. For example, when the detection sensor 503 detects a recording sheet, the control device 501 writes state information indicating “recording sheet present” in the memory of the RFID tag 504. Normally, the state information 603 is variable, but the user number 601 and the carriage number 602 are usually fixed values.

  The RFID antenna 140 includes a wireless communication unit for communicating with the RFID tag 504, a control unit, and a network communication unit for communicating with the printing apparatus 100 via a TCP / IP network. The RFID tag 504 that has received the radio wave transmitted from the RFID antenna 140 reads out the user number 601, the carriage number 602 and the state information 603 from the memory, and returns them to the RFID antenna 140. The RFID antenna 140 can communicate with a carriage 150 located in a wireless communicable range (range of a few meters from the RFID antenna 140). Therefore, if the installation location of the RFID antenna 140 that can communicate with the carriage 150 is known, the current position of the carriage 150 can also be specified. The wireless communicable range is usually within a circle with a radius of several meters, but the RFID antenna 140 may have any size or shape as long as the current position of the carriage 150 can be specified. Of course, it is desirable that the wireless communication range be a relatively narrow range (eg, within 10 m) so that an operator can easily find an unused cart.

  The CPU 301 of the printing apparatus 100 communicates with each RFID antenna 140 via the external IF 306 and functions as an acquisition unit that acquires the current position and state information of the carriage 150. As described above, the CPU 301 and the RFID antenna 140 of the printing apparatus 100 also function as position identification means for identifying the current position of each carriage. The CPU 301 displays the current position of each identified carriage on a display device provided in the operation unit 304 (FIG. 12 and others). Thus, by displaying the current position of each carriage on the display device, the operator can easily find the carriage.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the problem of the present invention. In a printing system to which the present invention is not applied, there is a possibility that the two recording papers are mixedly loaded on the same carriage when the two operators A and B respectively submit print jobs.

  For example, it is assumed that the operator A successively inputs execution instructions for the jobs A1 and A2 to the printing apparatus. On the other hand, it is assumed that the operator B inputs an execution instruction for the job B1 to the printing apparatus. At this time, the operator A expects that the recording sheets of the job A1 and the recording sheets of the job A2 are stacked in order on the carriage. On the other hand, the operator B expects that the recording sheet for the job B1 is loaded on the carriage.

  Here, it is assumed that when the execution instructions from the two operators are input at almost the same timing, the printing apparatus receives the jobs in the order of job A1, job B1, and job A2. Since all of these jobs use the same stack tray as the discharge destination, so-called mixed loading occurs. That is, the recording paper for job A1, the recording paper for job B1, and the recording paper for job A2 are stacked on the carriage so as to overlap each other.

  As described above, when recording sheets from a plurality of operators are mixedly loaded on one carriage, the delivery work of the carriage between the operators becomes complicated, so that the work efficiency is lowered. Such a delivery operation of the cart is likely to occur when a post-processing operation is performed, for example.

  FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart of a cart designation method executed as part of the printing process. This method is characterized in that a cart for loading recording paper is designated from among a plurality of carts, and warning information is output when the designated cart is not disposed at the discharge port.

  In step S <b> 801, the CPU 301 receives a user number input from the operation unit 304. As described above, the CPU 301 and the operation unit 304 function as a reception unit that receives user identification information of an operator who desires to use the printing apparatus. The user number may include characters other than numbers such as “A”, for example. In step S <b> 803, the CPU 301 sets a recording paper discharge destination in accordance with information input from the operation unit 304. The paper discharge destination is, for example, any one of a stack tray, a sample tray, a stack tray or a sample tray of the large-capacity stacker 110a.

In step S804, the CPU 301 determines whether the set paper discharge destination is a stack tray. That is, it is determined whether or not the cart is designated as the discharge destination. If it is not a stack tray, the process advances to step S820, and the CPU 301 executes a print job (such as a copy job). On the other hand, if it is a stack tray , the process proceeds to step S805.

  In step S <b> 805, the CPU 301 confirms whether the carriage 150 is placed on the stack tray set as the discharge destination. The CPU 401 of the carriage 150 determines whether or not the carriage is arranged on the stack tray of the large-capacity stacker 110 using the carriage detection unit 410 in response to an inquiry from the CPU 301 or spontaneously. The cart detection unit 410 starts wireless communication with the RFID tag 504 included in the cart 150 by the RFID antenna 140 arranged inside the stack tray. If the cart detection unit 410 can receive the necessary data from the RFID tag 504, the cart detection unit 410 determines that there is a cart on the stack tray. Of course, if the necessary data cannot be received, the cart detection unit 410 determines that there is no cart on the stack tray. Necessary data includes a user number 601, a carriage number 602, status information 603, and the like. The CPU 401 transmits the detection result of the cart to the CPU 301 by the cart detection unit 410. CPU301 performs the above-mentioned confirmation process according to the received detection result.

  In step S <b> 806, the CPU 301 displays a confirmation result about the carriage on the display device of the operation unit 304. In step S807, a cart for loading recording paper is designated from among a plurality of carts according to information (cart number etc.) input from the operation unit 304. This is in order to prevent the recording paper from being mixed with the recording paper by another job not assumed by the operator.

  For example, a user management table is stored in the ROM 302 or the RAM 303. The user management table is a table for managing the user identification information of each operator in association with the cart identification information of the cart permitted to be used by each operator. The CPU 301 reads the cart identification information corresponding to the user identification information received in S801 from the user management table, and displays the read cart identification information on the display device of the operation unit 304 as a designation candidate. Thus, one or more carts that can be used for each operator may be determined.

  In step S <b> 807, the CPU 301 designates a carriage for loading recording paper among a plurality of carriages according to the information input from the operation unit 304. For example, the operator performs an operation for selecting a desired carriage from the designation candidates displayed on the display device of the operation unit 304. In this way, the carriage used for each job is designated.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of display contents of the operation unit. The display device 901 provided in the operation unit 304 displays information on several carts that are candidates for specifying the discharge destination. For example, a cart number, a job type, a reserved job name, information on whether or not a job is being executed, information on whether or not a cart is ready, and the like are displayed.

  In this example, a large-capacity stacker serving as a paper discharge destination is displayed as an icon in the upper right of the display screen. The cart that can be used by the operator A is No. 1 to 4 units. No. Two carts have two print jobs, one being executed and the other being waiting. No. It can be seen that one copy job is input to the three carriages and is waiting.

  The operator A selects a carriage to be used in the current job from the displayed designation candidates. For example, the display device 901 of the operation unit 304 is provided with a touch panel type input device, and the CPU 301 detects a cart selected by the operator based on a signal from the input device.

In step S808, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the designated cart matches the cart arranged at the discharge port. For example, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the designated bogie number and the bogie number read from the bogie arranged at the discharge port match . Note that the CPU 301 may determine whether or not the user number input in S801 matches the user number read from the cart disposed at the discharge port. If they match, the process proceeds to step 809, and if they do not match, the process proceeds to step S812.

  In step S809, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the recording paper is stacked on the carriage disposed at the discharge port. As described above, the CPU 401 reads the user number 601, the trolley number 602, and the status information 603 from the trolley and transfers them to the CPU 301. The received status information 603 includes information indicating the presence or absence of the recording paper detected by the detection sensor 503. Therefore, the CPU 301 can determine the presence / absence of recording paper from the status information 603.

  Note that the CPU 301 may confirm whether or not there is a reserved job to be executed prior to the current job. The CPU 301 creates a reservation table and manages jobs reserved for each carriage. If there is a reservation job that should be executed before this job, it will be loaded at a future time when this job is executed even if no recording paper is loaded on the cart at this time. become. Therefore, the CPU 301 recognizes that recording paper is loaded even when a reserved job exists. If no recording paper is loaded on the carriage, the process advances to step S817. On the other hand, when the recording paper is loaded on the carriage, the process proceeds to step S810.

  In step S810, the CPU 301 outputs warning information for warning of mixed loading to the display device 901. The reason for warning is that the recording paper of the current job is stacked on the recording paper already loaded. Although the procedure is not described in the flow, the CPU 301 may display on the display device 901 a message that prompts the user to take out the carriage and remove the recording paper on the carriage. Then, when the detection sensor 503 detects that the recording paper on the carriage has been removed, the process proceeds to step S817.

  In step S <b> 811, the CPU 301 determines whether to permit mixed loading based on information input from the operation unit 304. For example, the CPU 301 outputs a message to the display device 901 for inquiring whether to permit mixed loading. The CPU 301 receives an instruction as to whether or not to allow mixed loading input from the operation unit 304 by the operator. If mixed loading is not permitted, the process returns to step S807, and the CPU 301 executes the next cart designation process again. On the other hand, if mixed loading is permitted, the process proceeds to step S817.

  In step S817, the CPU 301 determines whether the upper surface of the carriage is at a height that matches the stack tray discharge port 267. If the two do not match, the process proceeds to step S818, and the CPU 301 transmits an instruction to raise the carriage to the CPU 401. The CPU 401 drives the lifting device 270 to raise the carriage. When the upper surface of the carriage rises to a height that matches the stack tray discharge port 267, the process proceeds to step S819, and the CPU 301 stops the raising operation of the carriage. The lifting device 270 is provided with a detection mechanism for detecting the height of the carriage. Information on the detected height is transferred to the CPU 301 through the CPU 401. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S820.

  As described above, when the carts present in the stack tray as the paper discharge destination do not match the designated carts, in step S812, the CPU 301 identifies the current position of each cart. For example, the CPU 301 tries communication with each cart via each RFID antenna 140.

  In step S813, the CPU 301 creates a current position management table in which identification information (corresponding to installation location information) of the RFID antenna successfully communicated with the carriage and various information read from the RFID tag of the carriage are associated with each other. create.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the current position management table. In the current position management table 1000, an antenna number, an antenna name indicating an installation location, a cart number, and state information are registered.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the current position management table after sorting. The sorted current position management table 1100 is a table in which the cart numbers are rearranged in ascending order. According to FIG. It can be seen that No. 1 cart is not loaded with recording paper and is in the vicinity of the product storage area.

  In step S814, the CPU 301 outputs the current position of each identified carriage to the display device 901. Note that the CPU 301 may function as an extraction unit that extracts, from the current position management table, the current position corresponding to the cart identification information of the designated carriage from the current position management table. The CPU 301 may extract a cart corresponding to the user identification information of the operator from the current position management table. As described above, the CPU 301 outputs the extracted current position of each carriage to the display device 901. If such an extraction process is applied, since the cart that cannot be used by the operator A can be excluded from the display target, there is an advantage that the display is easy to understand.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of the current position of each carriage. According to this display example, the dialog 1201 includes a message indicating the current position of the designated carriage and information on other available carriages (such as the carriage number and the current position). In this display example, no. A cart that cannot be used by the current operator A, such as the cart 9 is excluded from the display target. Thus, since the current position of each cart is displayed, the operator A can easily collect the designated cart from the factory. Thereby, work efficiency and time are shortened. If no. If a cart whose current position is unknown like the cart 6 is required, the operator A may search for a place where radio waves do not reach from any antenna.

  By the way, when the depression of the cart change button 1202 is detected, the CPU 301 changes the cart according to the information input from the operation unit 304. For example, according to the current position of the displayed cart, there may be another cart that is located closer to the first designated cart. In this case, the work time will be shortened if another cart is specified.

  In step S815, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the designated cart is placed at the discharge port. If so, the process returns to step S808. On the other hand, if the designated cart is not arranged at the discharge port, the process proceeds to step S816, and the CPU 301 determines whether or not to change the cart. As described above, when the depression of the cart change button 1202 is detected, the CPU 301 determines to change the cart. When changing a trolley | bogie, it returns to step S807. On the other hand, when not changing, it returns to step S815.

  According to the present embodiment, the operator designates a carriage for loading recording paper among a plurality of carriages, and when the carriage designated by the designation means is not arranged at the discharge port, the CPU 301 controls the operation unit 304. Outputs warning information to the display device. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the inconvenience that recording sheets of different operators are stacked on the same carriage.

  The CPU 301 uses the RFID antenna 140 to identify the current position of each carriage. Then, when the designated cart is not arranged at the discharge port, the CPU 301 outputs the identified current position of each cart to the display device of the operation unit 304. Therefore, the operator can easily search for the designated cart, and the search time can be shortened. Of course, the time during which the printing process is interrupted will also be shortened.

  Furthermore, a detection sensor 503 may be provided as a recording paper detection unit that detects the recording paper loaded on the carriage. In this case, the CPU 301 can output warning information to the display device when the cart designated by the designation means is placed on the discharge port but is loaded with recording paper. Thereby, it is possible to alert the operator that mixed loading may occur.

[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a plurality of printing systems having the same configuration exist and are connected via a network. In addition, since there are many parts in common with the first embodiment, description of the common parts is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cart management system in which a plurality of printing systems are connected via a network. The first printing system includes a printing apparatus 100a and RFID antennas 140a to 140e. The second printing system also includes a printing apparatus 100b and RFID antennas 140f-140x. Each printing system is connected to the TCP / IP network 1300 via the external IF 306. Moreover, all the carts prepared in the printing factory are shared by the plurality of first and second printing systems.

  For example, for the operator, the cart number is “No. 1 and the truck number is No.1. 2 is assigned as a dedicated cart. For example, the first cart is used for loading recording paper, and the second cart is used to carry the recording paper to the post-processing device for post-processing while the first cart is being used. The Here, it is assumed that the operator reserves a print job having the following contents.

First job: Stack tray discharge of the first printing system (automatic selection)
Paper output destination: First car-Second job: Stack tray discharge of the second printing system (automatic selection)
Paper discharge destination: first cart FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another example of the cart management method. The cart management method is executed in each printing apparatus, but in the following, for simplification of description, the description will focus on the processing in the printing apparatus 100a of the first printing system.

In step S1401, the CPU 301 of the printing apparatus 100a of the first printing system accepts input of the first job. It is assumed that the carriage to be used is specified when the job is submitted .

  In step S1402, when the CPU 301 confirms that the designated cart (first cart) is not arranged at the discharge port, the CPU 301 issues a message prompting to arrange (set) the cart at the stack tray discharge port of the large-capacity stacker. The information is displayed on the display device of the operation unit 304.

  In step S1403, the CPU 301 waits for execution of the input first job. For example, the CPU 301 registers the first job (second job) in the job management list for managing the job to be executed, and writes a flag indicating execution / waiting execution.

In step S <b> 1404, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the first cart has been placed on the stack tray of the large-capacity stacker of the first printing system in a state where the operator has not loaded the recording paper. The cart detection process is as described for S805 .

If the cart is not arranged, the process proceeds to step S1405, and the CPU 301 searches for the current position of the designated cart (first cart). This search process is as described in S812 and S813 . Further, the CPU 301 may request another printing system to transmit the current position management table created by the printing system. Thereby, it becomes possible to identify the carts under the control of other printing systems. In this case, the CPU 301 may merge its current position management table with the current position management table received from another printing system. At this time, the current position information such as the antenna name may be edited so that the current position of each cart is under the control of which printing system.

  In step S1406, the CPU 301 determines whether the designated carriage is used by another printing system. That is, the CPU 301 functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not the cart is being used by another printing apparatus from the current position of the cart specified by the specification unit. For example, if the identification number of the first carriage is not registered in its own current position management table and is registered in the current position management table obtained from another printing system, the CPU 301 determines that the desired carriage is another It can be determined that it is being used by the printing system. If it is not used by another printing system, the process returns to step S1404. On the other hand, if it is being used by another printing system, the process advances to step S1407.

  In step S1407, the CPU 301 reserves the first carriage used by another printing apparatus to be used next to the other printing apparatus. Specifically, the CPU 301 transmits a reservation request including an identification number of the reservation target carriage to the other printing apparatus. The CPU 301 of the other printing apparatus writes in the current position management table that the cart to be reserved is reserved by a specific printing apparatus based on the received reservation request. Instead of the current position management table, a dedicated reservation management table may be created to manage the reservation status of the carriage. Alternatively, the reservation status of the carriage may be managed by writing the carriage number of the carriage together with the job for which the carriage is reserved in the job management table.

  When the desired carriage is set as the discharge port in this way, the process proceeds to step S1408. In step S1408, the CPU 301 transmits an instruction to the lifting device 270 to raise the carriage. In step S1409, the CPU 301 reads the user number, the truck number, and the status information of the cart via the RFID antenna provided in the large-capacity stacker. Note that not all information may be read at once. For example, the CPU 301 of the first printing system may read the carriage number and the status information from the carriage after confirming that the user number read from the carriage matches the user number assigned to the first job. Further, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the read cart number matches the identification number of the designated first cart.

  In step S1410, the CPU 301 searches the job management list for a job that designates the first carriage as the discharge destination, and extracts it. In step S1411, the CPU 301 determines whether there is a job that designates the first carriage as the discharge destination. When such a job does not exist, the process proceeds to step S1412, and the CPU 401 waits until a job specifying the first cart as the discharge destination is input.

  On the other hand, if there is a job (first job) that designates the first carriage as the discharge destination, the process advances to step S1413, and the CPU 301 starts preparation for execution of the job. For example, temperature adjustment of the fixing unit 202 is started, or a flapper for switching the conveyance path is driven.

  In step S1414, the CPU 301 determines whether another print job is already being executed. If another print job is being executed, the process waits until the print job is completed before proceeding to step S1415. In step S1415, the first job is executed according to the job execution order managed by the job management list.

  In step S1416, the CPU 301 determines whether the print job is completed. After waiting until the print job is completed, the process proceeds to step S1417. In step S <b> 1417, the CPU 301 determines whether a cart up / down button provided on the operation unit 304 has been pressed. If the cart up / down button is pressed, the process proceeds to step S1418, and it is determined based on the cart management list, the job management list, or the like whether or not the cart currently arranged at the discharge port is reserved. If the cart is not reserved, the process proceeds to step S1422, and the CPU 301 instructs the lifting device 270 to lower the cart.

  On the other hand, if it is reserved, the process advances to step S1419, and the CPU 301 determines whether or not the job that reserves the carriage arranged at the discharge port is a job of its own system. If the job of the own system has reserved the cart, the process advances to step S1420, and the CPU 301 displays a message prompting the user to return the cart to the own system after use on the display unit of the operation unit 304. It is assumed that the CPU 301 shares carriage reservation information by transmitting and receiving carriage reservation information (cart management list and job management list) to and from CPUs of other printing systems.

  On the other hand, if the job that reserves the carriage is a job that has been input to another printing system, the process proceeds to step S1421, and the CPU 301 moves the carriage to the printing system that reserves the carriage. A prompt message is displayed on the display device of the operation unit 304.

  By the way, the operator takes out the first carriage loaded with the recording paper of the first job from the large-capacity stacker of the first printing system, and then transports it to the place of the post-processing apparatus. Therefore, the operator performs post-processing on the stacked recording sheets using the post-processing device. The recording paper for which the post-processing is completed is loaded again on the first carriage from the post-processing apparatus by the operator and is transported to the product storage area. Thereafter, the operator moves the first carriage to the return destination of the carriage referred to in step S1421, and arranges it on the large-capacity stacker of the second printing system.

  Here, the operation in the second printing system will be briefly described. While the first job is being executed in the first printing system, the second printing system continues to display a message prompting the user to set the first cart on the operation unit (S1402 to S1404). When the first carriage is set on the stack tray of the large-capacity stacker of the second printing system, the second printing system raises the carriage (S1408) and reads the user number, carriage number, and status information of the carriage (S1409). ).

  The subsequent processing is almost the same as the processing of the first job in the first printing system. However, while the second job is being executed, the second printing system has no reservation for the next print job using the first carriage (S1418-No). Therefore, there is no reservation job at the time when the second job is finished and the first cart is instructed to descend (S1417-Yes). Therefore, S1421 performed in the first printing system is skipped.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog displayed when a carriage is reserved by another printing system. The dialog 1501 includes a message indicating that the carriage is reserved by another printing apparatus and a message for prompting the carriage to move to another printing apparatus. Further, the dialog 1501 may include a list of jobs that reserve the cart.

  According to the present embodiment, the CPU 301 functions as a determination unit that determines whether or not the carriage disposed at the discharge port is reserved for use by another printing apparatus. Further, the CPU 301 outputs, to the display device, a message for prompting the carriage to be moved to the other printing apparatus when the carriage arranged at the discharge port is reserved for use by the other printing apparatus. To do. This makes it possible to notify the operator where to return the carriage. Of course, the work efficiency of other operators using the same truck will also be improved.

[Third Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, the carriage 150 includes a connector for communicating with a large-capacity stacker instead of the RFID tag. Also, no RFID antenna is installed in the premises of the printing factory. The printing apparatus 100 (specifically, the large-capacity stacker 110) includes a connector corresponding to the connector of the carriage 150, and performs communication with the carriage 150 by cable connection.

  When the cart is disposed on the stack tray of the large-capacity stacker, the communication connector provided on the cart is connected to the communication connector provided on the large-capacity stacker. The CPU 401 of the large-capacity stacker reads the user number, the cart number, and the status information from the cart connected via this connector.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the cart management method. In addition, the same reference number is attached | subjected to the process similar to FIG. Compared with FIG. 8, in FIG. 16, step S805 is replaced with steps S1601 and S1602. Further, steps S812 to S814 are replaced with S1603.

  In step S1601, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the cart 150 is present at the designated stack tray discharge port. For example, if it can communicate with the carriage via the connector, the CPU 301 determines that the carriage is disposed at the discharge port. If the carriage 150 does not exist at the discharge port, the process proceeds to step S806, and the CPU 301 outputs a message indicating that the carriage 150 does not exist to the display device. On the other hand, if the cart 150 exists, the process proceeds to step S1602, and the CPU 301 reads the user number, the cart number, and the state information from the cart. Specifically, the CPU 401 of the large capacity stacker is instructed to read information from the carriage. The CPU 401 transfers information read through the connector to the CPU 301 of the printing apparatus. In step S806, the CPU 301 displays the information read from the cart on the display device of the operation unit 304.

  The operator can confirm the displayed user number and cart number and a message of no cart, and can specify the cart that he / she wants to load recording paper on (S807). If the designated cart is not disposed at the discharge port (S808), the process proceeds to step S1603, and the CPU 301 displays a message indicating that the cart is not prepared on the display device of the operation unit 304.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message indicating that a cart is not prepared. The dialog 1701 includes, for example, information that the designated cart is not prepared, the cart number of the cart to be prepared, and the outlet to which the cart is to be arranged. This will allow the operator to clearly understand where the truck should be located.

  According to the present embodiment, it will be understood that the present invention can be suitably applied to a printing system that employs wired communication means instead of wireless communication means such as RFID.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a prohibition unit that prohibits designation by a designation unit of a cart that is used or reserved in another printing apparatus will be described. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the output unit outputs warning information when the specifying unit attempts to specify a cart that is used or reserved in another printing apparatus.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an example of another cart management method. This flowchart is a subroutine of the cart designation process such as steps S807 and S1401.

  In addition, as described in the second embodiment, each printing apparatus uses the TCP / IP network to receive information about the use state of the carriage (such as the carriage number and state information) and information about the job reservation status (job management table). Etc.).

  In step S <b> 1801, the CPU 301 designates a carriage for loading recording paper among a plurality of carriages according to information input from the operation unit 304. In step S1802, the CPU 301 acquires the use state of the designated carriage and its reservation state from its own printing system and other printing systems via the TCP / IP network. For example, the CPU 301 can read out the usage state in its own printing system from each carriage through each RFID antenna 140. Further, the reservation status in the own printing system can be read from, for example, a job management table stored in the RAM 303. The usage status and reservation status in other printing systems are received, for example, when the CPU 301 makes an inquiry to other printing systems via the TCP / IP network. If the CPU 301 also transfers the cart number of the designated cart at the time of inquiry, there will be an advantage that the amount of information returned from other printing apparatuses can be reduced. This is because it is not necessary to transfer the information of the unspecified cart.

  In step S1803, the CPU 301 determines whether the designated carriage is used or reserved by itself or another printing apparatus. If it is neither in use nor reserved, return to the main routine. On the other hand, if it is in use or reserved, the process proceeds to step S1804.

  In step S1804, the CPU 301 outputs warning information to the display device of the operation unit 304. Note that the CPU 301 may output to the display device that the cart is prohibited from being designated. In this way, the CPU 301 functions as a prohibiting unit. In this case, the process returns to step S1801, and the CPU 301 may designate another cart according to the instruction input from the operation unit 304.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of warning information. The dialog 1901 includes the fact that the designated cart cannot be used, the cart number of the cart, information on the printing system that uses the cart, and guidance for redesignation and designation change.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to limit the number of print jobs discharged to the same carriage to one. This is because even if the operator is the same, by reserving a large number of print jobs, it is possible to suppress the output of recording sheets of a plurality of print jobs overlapping on an unintended carriage.

  In this embodiment, it is prohibited to input a print job for outputting recording paper to the same carriage, but the CPU 301 outputs a warning to the operation unit 304 at the time of job input operation instead of prohibition. May be. By taking a measure of notifying a warning but not a prohibition, the operator can permit an operation of intentionally outputting a plurality of print jobs to the same carriage.

  In this way, different print jobs can be printed on the same carriage by restricting the carriage designated as the paper discharge destination in the preceding print job from being designated as the paper discharge destination in the subsequent print job. It is possible to prevent as much as possible recording papers from being mixed.

1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a printing system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the general structure of a printing apparatus and a high capacity | capacitance stacker. 1 is an exemplary block diagram for a printing device. FIG. FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram for a high capacity stacker. FIG. 3 is an exemplary block diagram for a carriage. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure stored in the memory in a RFID tag. It is a figure for demonstrating the subject of this invention. It is an example flowchart about the designation | designated method of the trolley | bogie performed as a part of printing process. It is a figure which shows an example of the display content of an operation part. It is a figure which shows an example of a present position management table. It is a figure which shows an example of the present position management table after sorting. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the present position of each trolley | bogie. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cart management system in which a plurality of printing systems are connected via a network. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the trolley | bogie management method at the time of performing a print job. It is a figure which shows an example of the dialog displayed when a trolley is reserved by the other printing system. It is a flowchart which shows another example of the cart management method. It is a figure which shows an example of the message which shows that the trolley | bogie is not prepared. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the other cart management method. It is a figure which shows an example of warning information.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printing apparatus 110 ... Large capacity stacker 120 ... Deck 140 ... RFID antenna 150 ... Cart

Claims (10)

A printing device that prints on recording paper according to an input print job;
A plurality of movable carriages that are used for stacking recording sheets printed by the printing apparatus, each assigned different carriage identification information;
A designation means for designating a carriage to be used in the print job among the plurality of carriages;
Detecting means for detecting cart identification information of a cart arranged at a discharge port through which the printing device discharges the recording paper in order to stack the recording paper printed by the printing device ;
If the bogie identification information detected by the detection unit is different from the trolley identification information of the carriage which has been designated by the designation unit, the printing system characterized by an output means for outputting warning information. It further comprises a position identification means for identifying the position where each carriage exists,
The output means outputs a position where the designated carriage exists when the carriage designated by the designation means is not arranged at the discharge port through which the printing apparatus discharges the recording paper. The printing system according to claim 1. Receiving means for receiving user identification information for identifying a user who uses the printing apparatus;
A user management table for managing the cart identification information of the cart permitted to be used for each user identification information;
Read the dolly identification information corresponding to the accepted user identification information from the user management table, further comprising a candidate determination means for determining the carriage identification information read as the designated candidate for specifying by said specifying means The printing system according to claim 1. Further comprising a position management table for managing in association with the position of each truck identified by the position identification means, and a trolley identification information of each truck,
The output means outputs the position where the cart designated by the designation means exists based on the cart identification information of the cart designated by the designation means and the position management table. The printing system described. Further comprising recording paper detection means for detecting that the recording paper is loaded on the carriage,
In the case where the output means detects the carriage identification information detected by the detection means as the carriage identification information of the carriage designated by the designation means, and the recording paper detection means detects that the recording paper is loaded. 5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein warning information is output. A judgment means for judging whether or not each of the plurality of carriages is used by another device or is reserved for use;
The output means outputs a message for prompting the other apparatus to move the carriage when the judging means determines that the arranged carriage is reserved by another apparatus. The printing system according to claim 1. A judgment means for judging whether or not each of the plurality of carriages is used by another device or is reserved for use;
The output means outputs warning information when the judging means judges that the cart designated by the designation means is being used or reserved in another device. Item 4. The printing system according to Item 1. When the bogie designated by said designation means, it is determined by said determining means is or reserved have been used in other devices, characterized by further comprising inhibiting means for inhibiting the designation by the designation unit The printing system according to claim 7. A printing apparatus that prints on recording paper according to an input print job,
A designation unit that designates a carriage to be used in the print job among a plurality of movable carriages that are used to load recording sheets printed by the printing apparatus and are assigned different carriage identification information,
Detecting means for detecting cart identification information of a cart arranged at a discharge port through which the printing device discharges the recording paper in order to stack the recording paper printed by the printing device ;
If the bogie identification information detected by the detection unit is different from the trolley identification information of the carriage which has been designated by the designation unit, the printing apparatus characterized by comprising an output means for outputting warning information. A printing apparatus that prints on recording paper according to an input print job, and a plurality of movable carriages that are used to stack recording paper printed by the printing apparatus and are assigned different carriage identification information. A method for designating a carriage in a printing system,
A determining step for determining cart identification information of a cart designated for use in a print job among the plurality of carts;
A detecting step for detecting cart identification information of a cart disposed at a discharge port through which the printing device discharges the recording paper in order to load the recording paper printed by the printing device ;
Output means, said detection when the bogie identification information detected by the step differs from the trolley identification information of the carriage determined in the determination step, how to specify the truck and having an output step of outputting the warning information .

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