JP5909876B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing system in which a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed ports is connected to a host device via a network .

  Printing devices such as printers and copiers have a plurality of paper feed ports (a paper supply mechanism unit that supplies stored print sheets one by one to the printing mechanism unit in accordance with the paper size, paper quality, paper color, etc. ) And print processing. For example, papers of different paper sizes and quality can be stored in multiple paper feed slots, the paper feed slots containing the same paper type can be grouped together, and that group can be specified during paper feed operations. By selecting the automatic paper feed port among multiple paper feed ports belonging to the same group, the relay paper feed control is performed to automatically switch the paper feed port and start feeding from the next paper feed port when there is no more paper. Yes.

  In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of paper feed trays are divided into a plurality of groups, and then a certain host device transmits print information to the printing apparatus, and the specified group is set in the printing apparatus. If the group specified in the printing apparatus is not set, printing is performed by selecting the automatic paper feed tray. It is.

JP 2006-185377 A

  However, in the above conventional method, when the host device transmits print data to the printing apparatus, group designation information is added to the print data. Therefore, it is necessary to change the group designation information by application software executed by the host device. Further, when the group designation information is not added to the print data, it is necessary to perform a group designation setting operation from the operation unit or the like of the printing apparatus during the printing process. Further, in the case of the printing system disclosed in Patent Document 1, an automatic paper feed tray is always selected when a designated group is not set in the printing apparatus.

SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a printing system that can efficiently perform a printing process.

The printing system of the present invention is a printing system in which a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed ports is connected to a host device via a network, and the host device is a paper set corresponding to the paper feed port. Size setting information from the printing apparatus, group setting means for classifying the plurality of paper supply ports into a plurality of groups based on the acquired size information, and the plurality of paper supply ports in association with predetermined data And a group to which the sheet feeding port designated by the sheet feeding port designation unit belongs is selected from the plurality of groups classified by the group setting unit. group selection means and the binary specific identification information for identifying whether the sheet feeding port to impart into the paper identification information predetermined de belonging to the group selected by said group selection means for And a transmitting means for transmitting to the printing apparatus together with the data, assigned to the printing device, when printing based on the predetermined data obtained from the host device, the paper feeding port identification information by said transmitting means Control means for feeding paper from a paper feed port belonging to the group selected by the group selection means based on the binary identification information thus made is provided.

According to the present invention , printing processing can be performed efficiently.

1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing apparatus for explaining Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a paper feed port group arrangement | sequence storage part. It is a flowchart explaining the creation process of a selection object arrangement | sequence. It is a figure which shows the example of the selection object arrangement | sequence produced. FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of a printing apparatus for explaining a second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram of a printing apparatus for explaining a third embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a printing apparatus for explaining the first embodiment.
In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) as a host device and a WEB (world wide web) browser terminal 2 via a LAN (local area network) line. Here, the WEB browser terminal 2 is a terminal device capable of operating browser software capable of browsing and displaying a WEB page via an Internet line such as a personal computer (PC), a mobile phone, or a PDA (personal digital assistant). is there.

  The personal computer (PC) transmits print data created according to the application to the printing apparatus 1 via the LAN line. Further, the personal computer (PC) or the WEB browser terminal 2 transmits a control signal to be described later to the printing apparatus 1 via the LAN line.

The printing apparatus 1 includes an interface controller (hereinafter referred to as an I / F controller) 4 and an engine unit 5. The configuration of the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is the same as that of the engine unit 5 in order to specifically describe the circuit configuration of the I / F controller 4 arranged in the printing apparatus 1. They are displayed separately.
The I / F controller 4 includes a reception control unit 6, an analysis / drawing unit 7, a print control unit 8, an image memory 9, an operation panel 10, an operation panel control unit 11, a paper feed port group array storage unit 12, and a WEB control unit. 13. The print control unit 8 includes a memory 8a.
The reception control unit 6 receives print data output from a personal computer (PC), and transmits print data to the analysis / drawing unit 7 when receiving print data for one page, for example.

  The analysis / drawing unit 7 performs a command analysis of the print data transmitted from the reception control unit 6 and stores the drawing data included in the print data in the image memory 9. Also, control data such as paper feed port designation information included in the print data is transmitted to the print control unit 8. Control data such as paper feed port designation information is described in the print data head, for example, analyzed by the analysis / drawing unit 7, and transmitted to the print control unit 8.

  On the other hand, the WEB browser terminal 2 transmits a control signal to the WEB control unit 13 via the LAN line, and the WEB control unit 13 sets the paper feed port group information in the paper feed port group array storage unit 12 according to the control signal. . Further, an operation signal from the operator is input from the operation panel 10 to the paper feed port group array storage unit 12, and paper feed port group information is set in the paper feed port group array storage unit 12 according to the control of the operation panel control unit 11. Done.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the sheet feed port group array storage unit 12. The paper feed port group array storage unit 12 includes a paper feed port information storage unit 15 and a group information storage unit 16, and a paper feed port group according to a control signal from the WEB browser terminal 2 or an operation signal from the operation panel 10. The array storage unit 12 stores the setting information of the group to which the paper feed port belongs for each paper feed port. For example, in the example shown in the figure, the first sheet feeding port is not set, the second sheet feeding port is set to the A group, the third sheet feeding port is set to the A group, and the fourth The B group is set for the paper feed port, and the B group is also set for the fifth paper feed port.
The arrangement information of the sheet feed port group shown in FIG. 2 is merely an example, and each supply is performed by an administrator or the like from the WEB browser terminal 2 or the operation panel 10. The group setting conditions for the paper mouth can be changed arbitrarily and written.
In accordance with the group arrangement setting information set in this way, the WEB control unit 13 or the operation panel control unit 11 rewrites the desired group setting information to the sheet feeding port group information in the sheet feeding port group arrangement storage unit 12. In this case, the storage area is designated by designating the ordinal number of each paper feed slot assigned to the storage area for storing the group information of each paper feed slot, and the group information is read and written. Therefore, hereinafter, the number (N) used for designating the storage area of the paper feed port group information is referred to as an index.

  When there is a notification of completion of the drawing process to the image memory 9 by the analysis / drawing unit 7, the print control unit 8 refers to the setting information of the sheet feeding port group set in the sheet feeding port group array storage unit 12 and will be described later. A selection target array is automatically created, and a print request is output to the engine unit 5. When the print request is output from the print control unit 8, the engine unit 5 reads the drawing data from the image memory 9, and performs a printing process on the paper based on the drawing data.

  At this time, the paper used for the printing process is fed from the paper feed port selectively activated according to the selection target array created in the print control unit 8 with reference to the paper feed port group array storage unit 12. Paper.

Next, selection target array creation processing by the print control unit 8 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a selection target array creation process. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a selection target array created by the print control unit 8. Is created. In the present embodiment, this selection target array table is created in the memory 8 a provided in the print control unit 8. Further, since the table of the selection target array is information set individually for each sheet feeding port, each ordinal number for each sheet feeding port is similar to the setting information of the sheet feeding port group array. A storage area is specified. That is, as described above, the storage area of the selectability information for each sheet feeding port is selected and designated by the index “N”, and reading / writing is performed.

  First, the print control unit 8 refers to the paper feed port group array storage unit 12 and selectively selects the ordinal number of the paper feed port for which the control data is instructed from the paper feed port group array storage unit 12 as the paper feed port group array. The paper feed slot group information is accessed as an index to be designated, and “group information of the paper feed slot designated by the control data” is obtained (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). In the description of this example, it is assumed that the control data transmitted to the print control unit 8 has the designation of the second paper feed port.

  Therefore, for example, when the array data shown in FIG. 2 is set in the sheet feed port group array storage unit 12, the print control unit 8 controls the use of the second sheet feed port as described above. , And information obtained by referring to the paper feed port group array storage unit 12, information on the A group is obtained as “group information of the paper feed port specified by the control data”.

  Next, it is determined whether the setting of “group information of the sheet feeding port designated by the control data” exists in the group arrangement (S2). In the case of this example, as described above, since the group A is set as the group information of the second paper feed port specified by the control data (S2 is YES), the selection availability information for each paper feed port is sequentially displayed. As a setting operation, first, the first sheet feeding port is set with the index “N” for selecting and specifying the storage area of the selection target arrangement table as “N = 1” (S3). If there is no group information setting corresponding to the paper feed port specified by the control data in the paper feed port group array (S2 is NO), the paper feed port specified by the control data as it is regardless of the group setting. Is used to perform printing processing (S4).

  Next, it is determined whether a set of selectability information has been processed up to the fifth paper feed slot “N = 5” as an index “N” for selecting and specifying the storage area of the selection target array table (S5). Is NO, and “group information of the Nth sheet feeding slot” is obtained from the sheet feeding slot group array storage unit 12 using N as an index (S6). Then, it is determined whether or not “the group of paper feed ports specified by the control data” (in this embodiment, the second paper feed port is designated) and “the group of the Nth paper feed ports” are the same (S7). ).

  As described above, the first sheet feeding port (N = 1) is set as N at this time, and referring to the sheet feeding port group array storage unit 12, the first sheet feeding port of the sheet feeding port information storage unit 15 is set. In the group information storage unit 16 corresponding to, information without setting is stored. Therefore, in this case, “the group of paper feed ports specified by the control data” (A group) and “group of the Nth paper feed port (N = 1)” (no setting) are different (S7 is NO), and FIG. The table information corresponding to the index of N (first paper feed port) in the selection target array shown in FIG.

  Next, N is incremented (+1) (S10), and it is determined whether or not N is set up to the fifth paper feed port “N = 5” (S5). In this case, N has been set in the second paper feed slot (N = 2) from the process described above, and this determination (S5) is NO. Accordingly, as described above, “group information of the Nth paper feed slot” is obtained from the paper feed slot group array storage unit 12 using N (N = 2) as an index (S6). Then, it is determined whether or not “the group of paper feed ports specified by the control data” and “the group of the Nth paper feed port” are the same (S7).

  In this case, the second paper feed slot (N = 2) is set as N from the processing progress up to the above, and referring to the paper feed slot group arrangement storage unit 12, the second paper feed slot information storage unit 15 has the second. A group information is stored in the group information storage unit 16 corresponding to the sheet feed slot, and the “group of the sheet feed slot specified by the control data” and the “group of the Nth sheet feed slot” are the same ( “YES” in S7), “selection” information is set as table information corresponding to the index of N (second paper feed slot) in the selection target array shown in FIG. 4 (S9).

  Thereafter, similarly, N is sequentially incremented (S10), and the third paper feed port, the fourth paper feed port, and the fifth paper feed port are group information storage corresponding to the paper feed port information storage unit 15 shown in FIG. “Select” or “Non-select” is set in the unit 16 (S5 to S10). With the above processing, “selected” is set corresponding to the third paper feed port of the paper feed port information shown in FIG. 4, and “non-selected” is set corresponding to the fourth paper feed port of the paper feed port information. “Non-selected” is set in correspondence with the fifth paper feed port of the paper feed port information.

  After that, since N has been set up to the fifth paper feed slot from the above processing progress, the determination (S5) is YES, and the print control unit 8 is the feed for which “selection” in the selection target array is set. Printing processing is performed with the paper mouth as the target of automatic feeding (S11). That is, in the example shown in FIG. 4, when the control data indicates the second paper feed port, the second paper feed port and the third paper feed port in which “selection” information is set in the selection target array are automatically set. Print processing is performed as a target of paper feed.

  In this case, for example, paper of the same size is stored in the second paper supply port and the third paper supply port, and when the paper stored in the second paper supply port is insufficient, the third paper supply port automatically The printing process can be continued without switching the sheet feeding port and stopping the machine to perform the sheet feeding process.

  In addition, for example, the second paper feed port and the third paper feed port automatically set the paper feed ports in which the same high-quality paper is stored or the same color paper is stored and the same paper type is stored. The printing process can be performed efficiently.

  In the above description of the embodiment, the case where the second paper feeding port is designated as the control data has been described. However, the first paper feeding port or the third paper feeding port is not limited to the second paper feeding port. The same processing can be performed when the paper feed port is designated. Further, the present embodiment is not limited to a printing apparatus having five paper feed ports as paper feed ports.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a system configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 20 of the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as the printing apparatus 1 described with reference to FIG. 1 described above. The printing apparatus 20 is a personal computer (host device) via a LAN (local area network) line. PC), a mobile phone, a PDA, etc., connected to a WEB browser terminal 2 that operates browser software capable of browsing and displaying a WEB page.

  Also, the printing apparatus 20 includes an I / F controller 4 and an engine unit 5. As described above, the I / F controller 4 includes a reception control unit 6, an analysis / drawing unit 7, a print control unit 8, an image memory 9, an operation. It comprises a panel 10, an operation panel control unit 11, a paper feed port group array storage unit 12, and a WEB control unit 13. The reception control unit 6 receives print data output from a personal computer (PC), transmits the print data to the analysis / drawing unit 7, and the analysis / drawing unit 7 prints the print data transmitted from the reception control unit 6. Data command analysis is performed and drawing data is stored in the image memory 9.

  The analysis / drawing unit 7 of the present embodiment further performs a selection target array creation process that has been performed by the print control unit 8 described above. This process is the same as the process performed by the print control unit 8 described above, and information on the selection target array shown in FIG. 4 is created according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the analysis / drawing unit 7 refers to the paper feed port group array storage unit 12, and uses the paper feed port specified by the control data from the paper feed port group storage unit 12 as an index “feed specified by the control data”. The “group information of the mouth” is obtained (S1), and the information of the A group is acquired as, for example, “group information of the paper feed port designated by the control data” (YES in S2).

  First, the first sheet feeding port is set by setting the index N for designating the sheet feeding port of the arrangement information to “N = 1” (S3), and the group of the first sheet feeding port is set from the sheet feeding port group array storage unit 12. With reference to the information (S5, S6), it is determined whether or not the “sheet feeding port group specified by the control data” and the “first sheet feeding port group” are the same (S7). If “the group of the paper feed ports specified by the control data” and “the group of the Nth paper feed port” are different (NO in S7), the index of the first paper feed port in the selection target array shown in FIG. When “non-selection” information is set (S8), and “the group of the sheet feeding port specified by the control data” and “the group of the Nth sheet feeding port” are the same (YES in S7), the first feeding Information of “selection” is set in the index of the paper mouth (S9).

In the same manner, the array designation index N is sequentially incremented (+1) (S10), the paper feed port information is set from the second paper feed port to the fifth paper feed port, and the selection target shown in FIG. Complete the array.
In the present embodiment, the information on the selection target array created by the analysis / drawing unit 7 is transmitted to the print control unit 8, and when the print control unit 8 performs print control, the selection target array information is referred to. Paper is fed from the paper mouth. For example, when paper of the same size is stored in the second paper supply port and the third paper supply port, if the paper stored in the second paper supply port is insufficient, the paper is automatically supplied to the third paper supply port. The printing process can be continued without switching the paper mouth and stopping the machine to perform the paper feeding process.

In addition, for example, the second paper feed port and the third paper feed port automatically set the paper feed ports in which the same high-quality paper is stored or the same color paper is stored and the same paper type is stored. The printing process can be performed efficiently.
By processing in this way, it is not necessary to create information on the selection target array on the print control unit 8 side, and the burden on the print control unit 8 can be reduced.

  In the description of the above embodiment, the case where the second paper feeding port is designated as the control data has been described. However, the first paper feeding port or the third paper feeding port is not limited to the second paper feeding port. The same processing can be performed when a mouth or the like is designated. Further, the present embodiment is not limited to a printing apparatus having five paper feed ports as paper feed ports.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6 is a system configuration diagram of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printing apparatus 22 of the present embodiment has the same configuration as the printing apparatus 1 described with reference to FIG. 1, and the printing apparatus 22 is a personal computer (PC) that is a host device via a LAN (local area network) line. It is connected to a WEB browser terminal 2 that operates browser software capable of browsing and displaying a WEB page such as a mobile phone and a PDA.

  The printing apparatus 22 includes an I / F controller 4 and an engine unit 5. As in the above, the I / F controller 4 includes a reception control unit 6, an analysis / drawing unit 7, a print control unit 8, an image memory 9, and an operation. It comprises a panel 10, an operation panel control unit 11, a paper feed port group array storage unit 12, and a WEB control unit 13. The reception control unit 6 receives print data output from a personal computer (PC), transmits the print data to the analysis / drawing unit 7, and the analysis / drawing unit 7 prints the print data transmitted from the reception control unit 6. Data commands are analyzed and drawing data is stored in the image memory 9.

  A printer driver of a personal computer (PC) connected to the printing apparatus 22 according to the present embodiment is provided with a sheet feeding port group array storage unit 23. An instruction to transmit information on what kind of paper (paper type, paper size, etc.) is set in each of the first to fifth paper feed openings is issued. Further, the printer driver performs group setting of the paper feed ports based on the information of the plurality of paper feed ports transmitted from the printing apparatus 22 in accordance with the transmission instruction. Then, the set paper feed group information is stored in the paper feed group array storage unit 23, and the above-mentioned selection is performed using the information on the paper feed designated by the print data actually created by the application software. Create the target sequence.

  The creation of the selection target array is similar to the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the printer driver refers to the sheet feed port group array storage unit 23 and is designated by the control data from the sheet feed port group array storage unit 23. Obtaining “group information of the paper feed port specified by the control data” using the selected paper feed port as an index (S1), for example, obtaining the information of the A group as “group information of the paper feed port specified by the control data” (S2 is YES).

  First, the first sheet feeding port is set by setting the index N for designating the array to “N = 1” (S 3), and the group information of the first sheet feeding port is referred to from the sheet feeding port group array storage unit 23 ( S5, S6), it is determined whether “the group of the sheet feeding port specified by the control data” and “the group of the Nth sheet feeding port” are the same, and “the group of the sheet feeding port specified by the control data” If the “group of the Nth paper feed slot” is different (S7 is NO), information of “non-selection” is set in the index of the first paper feed slot of the selection target array (S8), and “specified by the control data” If the “feed slot group” and the “Nth feed slot group” are the same (YES in S7), “selection” information is set in the index of the first feed slot (S9).

  Thereafter, in the same manner, the index N for designating the array is sequentially incremented (+1) (S10), the paper feed port information is set from the second paper feed port to the fifth paper feed port, and the selection target array is completed. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the information on the selection target array created by the printer driver of the personal computer (PC) is transmitted to the printing apparatus 22 together with the print data, and when the print control unit 8 performs print control, this selection target array information. The sheet is fed from a sheet feeding port that can be selected with reference to FIG.

  By processing in this way, it is not necessary to create information on the selection target array on the printing device 22 side, and the burden on the printing device 22 can be reduced.

  In the description of the above embodiment, the case where the second paper feeding port is designated as the control data has been described. However, the first paper feeding port or the third paper feeding port is not limited to the second paper feeding port. The same can be done when a mouth or the like is designated. Further, the present embodiment is not limited to a printing apparatus having five paper feed ports as paper feed ports.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is included in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims at the beginning of the filing of the present patent application will be added.

Appendix 1
In a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed ports for feeding paper and performing printing processing on the paper based on print data transmitted from a host device,
Print data analysis and drawing means for receiving the print data, analyzing the print data and generating image drawing data to be recorded on paper and control data for controlling the operation of the printing apparatus;
Setting means for setting a group of the plurality of paper feed ports in advance;
Storage means for storing the group information of the paper feed slot set by the setting means;
According to the paper feed port designation information included in the control data, the group information of the paper feed port stored in the storage means is confirmed, and selectability information setting means for setting whether each paper feed port is selectable,
A paper feed control means for automatically switching a paper feed port to be operated based on information set in the selectability information setting means, and performing paper feed processing;
A printing apparatus comprising:

Appendix 2
2. The printing according to claim 1, wherein the group of paper feed ports set in advance by the setting unit is performed by an operation of an operation panel or a control signal supplied from an external terminal device via a network. apparatus.

Appendix 3
The printing apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the change of the paper feed port is changed during a print control process.

Appendix 4
The printing apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2, wherein the change of the paper feed port is changed during a print data analysis process.

Appendix 5
In a host device connected via a network to a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed openings,
Execution means for executing application software to generate print data and transmitting the print data to the printing apparatus;
Transmission instruction means for instructing the printing apparatus to transmit information of the plurality of paper feed ports;
Setting means for setting a group of paper feed ports in advance based on the information of the plurality of paper feed ports transmitted from the printing apparatus according to the transmission instruction means;
Storage means for storing the group information of the paper feed slot set by the setting means;
According to the paper feed port designation information included in the print data, the group information of the paper feed port stored in the storage unit is confirmed, and selectability information setting unit for setting whether each paper feed port is selectable,
Paper feed control means for adding information specifying a paper feed port to be operated based on information set in the selectability information setting means to the print data;
A host device characterized by comprising:

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus 2 ... WEB browser terminal 4 ... I / F controller 5 ... Engine part 6 ... Reception control part 7 ... Analysis / drawing part 8 ... Print control part 9 ... Image memory 10 ··· Operation panel 11 ··· Operation panel 7 control unit 12 ··· Paper slot group array storage unit 13 ··· Web control unit 15 ··· Paper port information storage unit 16 ··· Group information storage unit 20 .. Printing device 22... Printing device 23...

Claims (2)

A printing system in which a printing apparatus having a plurality of paper feed ports is connected to a host device via a network,
The host device is
Group setting means for acquiring size information of paper set corresponding to a paper feed port from the printing apparatus, and classifying the plurality of paper feed ports into a plurality of groups based on the acquired size information;
Paper feed port designating means for designating one of the plurality of paper feed ports in association with predetermined data;
A group selection unit that selects a group to which the sheet feeding port designated by the sheet feeding port designation unit belongs among a plurality of groups classified by the group setting unit;
Transmission that adds binary identification information for identifying whether or not the paper feed port belongs to the group selected by the group selection unit to the paper feed port identification information and transmits it to the printing apparatus together with the predetermined data Means,
With
When the printing apparatus performs printing based on the predetermined data acquired from the host device, the group of the printing apparatus is based on the binary identification information given to the paper feed port identification information by the transmission unit. A printing system comprising control means for feeding paper from a paper feed port belonging to a group selected by a selection means. 2. The group setting unit classifies the plurality of paper feeding ports into a plurality of groups based on paper type information prior to designation of a paper feeding port by the paper feeding port designation unit. The printing system described in .