JP6493054B2 - Printing system, information processing apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, an information processing apparatus, and a program.

In Patent Document 1, when the number of pages related to a single-sided print job becomes equal to or less than the number of pages on the conveyance path between the first engine and the second engine, printing related to the suspended double-sided print job is resumed. The process to do is disclosed.
Patent Document 2 discloses a first printing device that prints at least one surface, a second printing device that prints at least the other surface, and a table of continuous paper on which one surface is printed by the first printing device. A continuous paper printing system is disclosed that includes a reversing device that reverses the back side and conveys it to a second printing device.
Patent Document 3 discloses a means for printing a mark for recognizing the number of pages by a first printer, a means for storing a number corresponding to the mark printed last by the first printer, and a second printer. A printer system comprising means for recognizing a mark is disclosed.

JP 2012-116153 A JP 2012-011598 A JP 2010-036547 A

In an image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring an image onto a continuous sheet, when the image is transferred onto the continuous sheet, print data corresponding to the image can be deleted.
Here, when an error such as a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, reprinting may be performed. However, once the print data is deleted as described above, the reprinting cannot be performed. In such a case, it is necessary to retransmit the print data from the host or the like to the image forming apparatus, and it takes time to reprint.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the trouble of reprinting performed when an error occurs in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on continuous paper.

The invention according to claim 1 sequentially forms an image based on a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and sequentially transfers the image to a continuous paper transported by a transfer unit, An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a continuous sheet; grasping means for grasping a printing work state of a printed material for a print job after being transferred by the transfer unit; and a transfer located downstream of the transfer unit Holding the print job corresponding to the completed page for each print job and in the order in which the transfer is completed, and holding means for deleting the print job in order from the print job in which the transfer has been completed first. When the number of transferred pages for a subsequent print job that has been transferred following the print job exceeds a predetermined number, the print job is deleted. A printing system and performs.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is provided with a sheet storage unit that sequentially feeds continuous sheets after image transfer and stores the continuous sheets, and the holding unit includes: after the transfer already page reaches to the sheet accommodating unit, a printing system according to claim 1, characterized in that deletes the print job corresponding to the transfer already page.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is provided with a paper storage portion that stores a transferred page located downstream of the transfer portion, and the grasping means is configured to print a printed matter. For each transferred page, it is determined whether the transferred page has reached the paper storage unit, and the image forming apparatus performs reprinting after an error that has occurred in the image forming apparatus. In this case, the printing system according to claim 1, wherein reprinting is performed from a transferred page that is not recognized as having reached the paper storage unit.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, images are sequentially formed on the basis of a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and the images are sequentially transferred by a transfer unit to the continuous paper that is conveyed. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image forming apparatus, a grasping means for grasping a printing work status of a printed material after the image is transferred by the transfer unit, and a transmitting means for transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus. Holding means for holding a print job corresponding to a transferred page located downstream of the transfer unit for each print job and in the order in which the transfer has been completed, and deleting the print job in order from the print job in which the transfer has been completed first; And the holding means, when deleting a print job, the number of transferred pages for a subsequent print job transferred after the print job is less than or equal to a predetermined number of pages. When a is an information processing apparatus characterized by the deletion of the print job.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the grasping means grasps the printing work status of the printed matter, the transferred page located downstream of the transfer unit is used as the storage destination of the transferred page. Whether or not the sheet storage unit provided in the apparatus has been reached is ascertained for each transferred page, and the transmission unit is configured to reprint the sheet when reprinting is performed after an error that has occurred in the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein a print job corresponding to a transferred page that is not recognized as having reached the storage unit is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, images are sequentially formed on the basis of a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and the images are sequentially transferred to a continuous paper that is conveyed by a transfer unit. An image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image forming apparatus, a grasping means for grasping a printing work status of a printed material after the image is transferred by the transfer unit, and a transmitting means for transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus. And the grasping means, when grasping the printing work status of the printed matter, a transferred page located downstream of the transfer portion is a sheet provided in the image forming apparatus as a storage destination of the transferred page. Whether or not the storage unit has been reached is ascertained for each transferred page, and the transmission unit performs transfer in the transfer unit when reprinting is performed after an error that has occurred in the image forming apparatus. I Of the print data included in the print job, except for the print data corresponding to the transferred page that is recognized to have reached the paper storage unit, it corresponds to the transferred page that is not determined to have reached the paper storage unit. An information processing apparatus that transmits print data to the image forming apparatus.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, images are sequentially formed on a computer based on a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and the images are sequentially transferred to a continuous paper to be conveyed by a transfer unit. A function of grasping a print work status of a printed material for a print job after being transferred by the transfer unit in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a continuous sheet, and a function of transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus The print job corresponding to the transferred page located downstream of the transfer unit is held in the storage unit for each print job and in the order in which the transfer is completed, and is deleted in order from the print job in which the transfer has been completed first. The function to delete the print job is the number of transferred pages for the subsequent print job that has been transferred following the print job. If equal to or more than the number of pages defined because a program characterized by the deletion of the print job.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage area for holding the print job is compared with the case of holding the preceding print job even if the number of transferred pages of the subsequent print job exceeds the predetermined number of pages. The capacity of can be reduced.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the capacity of the storage area for holding the print job is compared with the case where the print job is held even after the image on the continuous paper reaches the paper storage unit of the image forming apparatus. Can be reduced.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transfer the image once transferred to the continuous paper to the continuous paper again.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the memory for holding the print job is stored as compared with the case where the preceding print job is held even when the number of transferred pages of the subsequent print job exceeds a predetermined number of pages. The capacity of the area can be reduced.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transfer the image once transferred to the continuous paper to the continuous paper again.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to transfer the image once transferred to the continuous paper to the continuous paper again.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the memory for holding the print job is retained as compared with the case where the preceding print job is retained even when the number of transferred pages of the subsequent print job exceeds the predetermined number of pages. The function of reducing the capacity of the area can be realized by a computer.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to an exemplary embodiment. (A), (B) is a figure explaining the process in the condition grasping part of a print server. It is a figure explaining the process in the condition grasping | ascertainment part of a print server. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the process demonstrated in FIG. 2 (A) and FIG. It is a figure explaining other examples of processing in a situation grasping part of a print server. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of reprint processing due to an error occurrence.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system 100 according to the present embodiment.
The printing system 100 according to the present embodiment is provided with an image forming apparatus 200 that forms an image on the continuous paper P. The printing system 100 is provided with a print server 300 as an example of an information processing apparatus that is connected to the image forming apparatus 200 and stores print data used for printing. Further, a host device (host PC) 400 that transmits print data to the print server 300 is provided.

  The image forming apparatus 200 includes a paper stacking unit 210 on which the continuous paper P (continuous paper) in a folded state is placed, a transport mechanism 220 that transports the continuous paper P placed on the paper stacking unit 210 to the downstream side, An image forming unit 230 that forms an image on the continuous paper P that has been formed, and a paper storage unit 240 that sequentially feeds the continuous paper P on which an image is formed by the image forming unit 230 and stores the continuous paper P are provided.

Further, the image forming apparatus 200 includes a UI unit (User Interface unit) 250 that is configured by a touch panel or the like and receives information display and an instruction from an operator.
Further, the image forming apparatus 200 includes an information storage unit 260 that includes a hard disk device and stores information such as print data. In addition, a transmission / reception unit 270 that transmits / receives information to / from the print server 300 is provided.

The image forming unit 230 includes a photosensitive drum 231 that functions as an image holding member, and forms an image (toner image) on the photosensitive drum 231 using a so-called electrophotographic method. Then, the image on the photosensitive drum 231 is transferred to the continuous paper P at the transfer unit T, and the image is formed on the continuous paper P.
In other words, the image forming unit 230 sequentially forms an image on the photosensitive drum 231 based on the print data, and sequentially transfers the formed image to the continuous paper P being conveyed, and the image is transferred to the continuous paper P. Form.

The print server 300 will be described.
The print server 300 receives the print data transmitted from the host device 400. The print server 300 transmits the received print data to the image forming apparatus 200.

  The print server 300 includes a communication interface and the like, and is provided with a receiving unit 310 that receives print data transmitted from the host device 400. In addition, the print server 300 includes a data holding unit 320 that is configured by a hard disk device or the like and functions as a holding unit that holds print data (print job). Further, the print server 300 includes a transmission unit 330 that is configured by a communication interface or the like and functions as a transmission unit that transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 200.

  The print data transmitted from the host device 400 is received by the receiving unit 310 of the print server 300. The print data received by the reception unit 310 is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 by the transmission unit 330. The print data received by the receiving unit 310 is held by the data holding unit 320.

Further, the print server 300 is provided with a situation grasping unit 340 that functions as a grasping means for grasping the state of image formation in the image forming apparatus 200.
In this embodiment, the progress of image formation is notified from the image forming apparatus 200 to the situation grasping unit 340, and the situation grasping unit 340 grasps the progress (that is, the printing work situation of the printed matter) in the image forming apparatus 200. .
The situation grasping unit 340 is realized by the CPU reading a program stored in the ROM and executing the program using the RAM as a work area.

  As a form of provision related to the program used in the print server 300, there is a form that is provided in a state stored in the ROM in advance and loaded into the RAM. Further, when a rewritable ROM is provided, after the CPU is set, only the program is installed in the ROM and loaded into the RAM. Further, there is a form in which a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet, installed in a ROM, and further loaded into a RAM. Furthermore, there is a form that is loaded into the RAM from an external recording medium such as a DVD-ROM or a flash memory.

2A, 2 </ b> B, and 3 are diagrams illustrating processing in the status grasping unit 340 of the print server 300.
In the present embodiment, the progress of image formation in the image forming apparatus 200 is sequentially notified from the image forming apparatus 200 to the situation grasping unit 340. Then, as shown in the “job management list” in FIG. 2A, the situation grasping unit 340 grasps the situation of each print job performed in the image forming apparatus 200. A print job includes print data for one or more pages.

  In the job management list shown in FIG. 2A, “JOB-00001” indicates the first print job on which image formation has been performed. In this example, the print job “JOB-00001” has a status of “deleted”, and the status grasping unit 340 deletes the print data corresponding to the print job “JOB-00001”. You know that you are

The status “Deleted” indicates a state in which the image on the continuous paper P reaches the paper storage unit 240 of the image forming apparatus 200 (see FIG. 1) and the print data corresponding to the image has already been deleted. Yes.
In other words, the print data is not held by the data holding unit 320 provided in the print server 300 (see FIG. 1), and the data holding unit 320 has already deleted the print data. .

More specifically, in this embodiment, when the images of all the pages included in the print job have reached the paper storage unit 240, the status grasping unit 340 includes the images as shown in FIG. Move the corresponding print job to the deleted job list.
In this embodiment, the data holding unit 320 deletes print data corresponding to the print job on the deleted job list from the plurality of print data held.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2A, for the print jobs “JOB-00002” to “JOB-00007”, the status grasping unit 340 knows that the status is “transfer completed”.
The status “transfer complete” indicates that the image (transferred image) formed on the continuous paper P by the print data corresponding to each of the print jobs “JOB-00002” to “JOB-00007” is still in the paper storage This shows a situation where the ink does not reach the portion 240 (see FIG. 1) and is located between the transfer portion T and the paper storage portion 240.

More specifically, in the image forming apparatus 200, the transfer unit T and the paper storage unit 240 are separated from each other, and an image for a plurality of pages is located between the transfer unit T and the paper storage unit 240.
Each image formed on the continuous paper P based on “JOB-00002” to “JOB-00007” has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240 and is positioned between the transfer unit T and the paper storage unit 240. doing.

In addition, the status grasping unit 340 knows that the print job “JOB-00008” has a status of “printing”.
The status “printing” indicates that the image corresponding to the print job “JOB-00008” is being transferred to the continuous paper P by the transfer unit T.

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a printing situation in the comparative example.
In this comparative example, for the print job corresponding to the image transferred by the transfer unit T, the print data corresponding to each print job is deleted immediately after the transfer.
Therefore, in this comparative example, the print data corresponding to the print jobs “JOB-00001” to “JOB-00007” are deleted except for the print job “JOB-00008” being transferred. It is in the state.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the process in the situation grasping unit 340 will be described more specifically. In FIG. 3, unlike FIG. 2, the print job that is executed earlier is shown in the lower part of the drawing.

The situation grasping unit 340 generates a job management list shown in FIG.
Further, when a new print job is transmitted from the host apparatus 400 to the print server 300 or printing (transfer) to a new page is started in the image forming apparatus 200, the status grasping unit 340 receives a job management list. Update.

In the job management list shown in FIG. 3, the print jobs “X0001-0006” to “X0001-0001” and “X0000-0002” indicate that they are print jobs including images for two pages. “X0000-0001” indicates that the print job includes 10 pages of images.
In addition, this job management list indicates that the image of the second page among the images of two pages included in the print job “X0001-0006” is being transferred to the continuous paper P. Yes.

Here, in the present embodiment, the situation grasping unit 340 is based on the sheet size of the continuous sheet P that is currently conveyed by the image forming apparatus 200, and the number of pages positioned between the transfer unit T and the sheet storage unit 240. (Hereinafter referred to as “reference page number”). In the present embodiment, the reference page number is used as an example of the predetermined number of pages.
More specifically, the continuous paper P is formed with perforations, folds, and boundary lines extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is located between the perforations, fold lines, and boundary lines adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction. The size of the part to be used becomes the paper size. The situation grasping unit 340 grasps the reference page number based on the sheet size.

  Specifically, for example, when the paper size of the continuous paper P is 11 inches, the situation grasping unit 340 grasps that the reference page number is 6 pages. In this case, the seventh page that exceeds six pages means that the sheet storage unit 240 is reached.

Here, the reference page number varies depending on the paper size of the continuous paper P. The smaller the paper size, the larger the reference page number, and the larger the paper size, the smaller the reference page number.
The situation grasping unit 340 grasps the reference page number by, for example, storing a table describing the correspondence between the paper size and the reference page number in the print server 300, and the situation grasping unit 340 refers to this table. Thus, the status grasping unit 340 grasps the reference page number.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in the rightmost column of the job management list (see FIG. 3), the situation grasping unit 340 calculates the total value by adding the number of pages for which transfer has been completed.
More specifically, the page that was most recently transferred is the first page, and the number of pages transferred before this page is added in order for each print job, and the total value is calculated. obtain.

  More specifically, the status grasping unit 340 includes pages that are included in each print job that has already been transferred with respect to the number of pages that have already been transferred out of the number of pages that are included in the print job that is being transferred. The numbers are sequentially added to obtain a total value for each print job.

Then, the status grasping unit 340 compares the total value with the reference page number (in this embodiment, the reference page number is 6) every time transfer to a new page is performed and a new total value is obtained. . Then, the status grasping unit 340 sets the status to “deleted (discharge completed)” for the print jobs whose total value exceeds the reference page number among the print jobs.
Here, in the example shown in FIG. 3, for print jobs “X0001-0002” to “X0001-0001” and “X0000-0002” to “X0000-0001”, the total value exceeds the reference page number, and the status is “ "Deleted".

For the print job “X0001-0003”, the total value is 7, and the total value exceeds the reference page number, but the print job “X0001-0004” subsequent to the print job “X0001-0003”. Is less than 6.
In this case, a part of the images for a plurality of pages formed by the print job “X0001-0003” is still positioned between the transfer unit T and the paper storage unit 240. In this case, the status is not “deleted” and the status remains “transfer complete”.

Here, the status grasping unit 340 places the print job whose status is “deleted” in the deleted job list as described with reference to FIG.
As a result, the print data corresponding to the print job on the deleted job list is deleted in the data holding unit 320. More specifically, the print data corresponding to the print job on the deleted job list is deleted from the plurality of print data held by the data holding unit 320.

Here, in the example shown in FIG. 3, four print jobs “X0001-0002” to “X0001-0001” and “X0000-0002” to “X0000-0001” have a total value exceeding the reference page number. The status of these four print jobs is “deleted”, and the print data corresponding to these four print jobs is deleted.
On the other hand, the total values of the print jobs “X0001-0005” to “X0001-0003” do not exceed the reference page number, and the status of these print jobs remains “transfer complete”.

  More specifically, all the images formed on the continuous paper P based on the four print jobs “X0001-0002” to “X0001-0001” and “X0000-0002” to “X0000-0001” are paper. The storage unit 240 (see FIG. 1) has been reached, and in this embodiment, the print data that is the source of the image that has reached the paper storage unit 240 is deleted.

On the other hand, the image formed on the continuous paper P based on the print jobs “X0001-0006” to “X0001-0003” has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240 and the source of the image that has not reached the paper storage unit 240. The print data that has been changed is not deleted but held in the data holding unit 320.
More specifically, in the present embodiment, even if the print data has been transferred, the print data corresponding to the reference page number (in this example, six pages) is retained, and the print data exceeding the reference page number is stored. Is deleted.

  In other words, the status grasping unit 340 prints the print job for the print job after being transferred by the transfer unit T, that is, the print job corresponding to the transferred page located downstream from the transfer unit T. Keep track of progress. Then, when grasping the progress status of the print job, the situation grasping unit 340 grasps whether or not the transferred page has reached the paper storage unit 240 for each transferred page. If the transferred page has reached the paper storage unit 240, the transferred page is not positioned between the transfer unit T and the paper storage unit 240, and the discharge has been completed. On the other hand, if the transferred page has not reached the paper storage unit 240, the transferred page is located between the transfer unit T and the paper storage unit 240, and it can be said that the discharge has not yet been completed.

Further, the data holding unit 320 holds the print jobs corresponding to the transferred pages for which transfer has been completed for each print job and in the order in which the transfer has been completed, and deletes the print jobs in order from the print job for which transfer has been completed first. Then, after the transferred page reaches the paper storage unit 240, the data holding unit 320 deletes the print job corresponding to the transferred page.
That is, when print jobs are continuously transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200, the total number of transferred pages for one or more subsequent print jobs transferred after the previous print job is the reference page. If the number exceeds the number, the last page of the preceding print job has already reached the sheet storage unit 240. Therefore, the data holding unit 320 deletes the preceding print job.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, first, when image formation is started in the image forming apparatus 200, the situation grasping unit 340 clears the total value in the rightmost column of the job management list shown in FIG. 3 (step 101). ).
When image formation is started in the image forming apparatus 200, the progress of image formation is notified from the image forming apparatus 200 to the situation grasping unit 340, and the situation grasping unit 340 determines the status of each print job (in units of pages). (Progress status in step 2) is grasped (step 102).

Next, the status grasping unit 340 acquires (calculates) a new total value for each print job every time transfer to a new page is performed (step 103).
Next, every time a new total value is obtained, the status grasping unit 340 determines whether the total value exceeds the reference page number for each print job (step 104).

  When the total value of a certain print job (hereinafter referred to as “preceding print job”) exceeds the reference number of pages in step 104, the status grasping unit 340 follows this preceding print job (this preceding print job). Attention is focused on the total value of print jobs (hereinafter referred to as “subsequent print jobs”) in which print processing is performed after the print jobs. Then, the status grasping unit 340 determines whether or not the total value of the subsequent print jobs is equal to or greater than the reference page number (step 105).

If the status grasping unit 340 determines in step 105 that the total value of the subsequent print jobs is equal to or greater than the reference page number, the status of the preceding print job is set to “deleted” (step 106). Put the job on the deleted job list.
Next, the data holding unit 320 deletes the previous print job (print data) on the deleted job list (step 107).
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 104 that none of the total values exceeds the reference page number, or if it is determined in step 105 that the total value of subsequent print jobs is less than the reference page number. Then, the processing after step 103 is performed again.

In the present embodiment, as described above, it is determined whether the total value of the subsequent print jobs is equal to or greater than the reference page number. Here, when the total value of the subsequent print jobs is less than the reference page number, some pages such as the last page of the preceding print job have not reached the sheet storage unit 240 (see FIG. 1) (the transfer unit T and A state in which it is still located between the sheet storage unit 240 and the sheet storage unit 240.
In other words, some of the images for a plurality of pages included in the preceding print job are still positioned between the transfer unit T and the sheet storage unit 240.

  In such a case, if this preceding print job is deleted, this reprinting will be time-consuming when reprinting is performed later (details will be described later). For this reason, in this embodiment, even if the total value exceeds the reference page number, the print job is not immediately deleted, and the total value of the subsequent print jobs is also referred to.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, another example of processing in the situation grasping unit 340 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of processing in the status grasping unit 340 of the print server 300. In the job management list shown in FIG. 5, as in FIG. 3, the print jobs that are executed earlier are shown in the lower part of the drawing. Further, the print job shown in FIG. 5 has a larger data amount (number of pages) than the print job shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the reference page number is 6.

The job management list shown in FIG. 5 indicates that the print jobs “Y0001-0001” to “Y0001-0003” are print jobs including images for 1000 pages. In the job management list, the transfer is finished for the print jobs “Y0001-0001” and “Y0001-0002”, and the fifth page of the 1000 pages of images included in the print job “Y0001-0003” is displayed. This image indicates that the image is being transferred to the continuous paper P (during printing).
Furthermore, as shown in the rightmost column of the job management list, for each print job, the total value obtained by adding the number of pages that have been transferred is in the order of “Y0001-0001” to “Y0001-0003”. “2005”, “1005”, and “5”.

  Here, the print jobs “Y0001-0001” and “Y0001-0002” are determined to be print jobs whose total value exceeds the reference page number (6 pages in this example) in step 104 of FIG. In addition, the print job “Y0001-0001” has a total value “1005” of the subsequent print jobs “Y0001-0002” and is equal to or more than the reference page number. That is, the print job “Y0001-0001” is determined in step 105 in FIG. 4 that the total value of the subsequent print jobs is equal to or greater than the reference page number, and the status is “deleted”. In other words, the status of the print job “Y0001-0001” becomes “deleted” when the total value of the subsequent print job “Y0001-0002” is recognized as “6” by the status grasping unit 340. Then, the data holding unit 320 deletes the print job “Y0001-0001”.

  On the other hand, for the print job “Y0001-0002”, the total value of the subsequent print jobs “Y0001-0003” is “5”, which is less than the reference page number. That is, the print job “Y0001-0002” is determined in step 105 of FIG. 4 that the total value of the subsequent print jobs is less than the reference page number, and the status remains “transfer complete”. In other words, after this, the processing of the image forming apparatus 200 proceeds, and when the total value of the subsequent print job “Y0001-0003” is grasped as “6” by the situation grasping unit 340, the print job “Y0001-0002”. The status is “Deleted”. Then, the data holding unit 320 deletes the print job “Y0001-0002”.

  Here, in this embodiment, when an error (alarm) such as a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 200, the fact that an error has occurred is displayed on the UI unit 250 of the image forming apparatus 200. Also, the operation content after the cause of the error is resolved is received from the operator through the UI unit 250.

  If the operator wishes to stop image formation, the image forming apparatus 200 deletes the print job. When the operator desires to continue image formation, reprinting (recovery printing) is performed. Note that the reprinting usually removes all the continuous paper P located in the image forming apparatus 200 when an error occurs, and then converts the image to be formed on the removed continuous paper P into a new continuous paper P. Form against.

  In this embodiment, when reprinting is performed, reprinting is performed for a print job whose status is “printing” or “transfer complete” in the job management list illustrated in FIG. Reprinting is not performed for print jobs that are “deleted”.

When reprinting is performed in the present embodiment, print data (print job) for reprinting is read from the data holding unit 320 of the print server 300 and read by the transmission unit 330. Print data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200.
Here, for a print job whose status is “printing”, print data corresponding to the transferred page is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 by the transmission unit 330.
In addition, for a print job whose status is “transfer complete”, there are transferred pages that have reached the paper storage unit 240, and there are transferred pages that have not yet reached the paper storage unit 240. Therefore, the transmission unit 330 transmits print data corresponding to a page that has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240 (that is, a page that has not yet been ejected) to the image forming apparatus 200. However, the transmission unit 330 may transmit print data for all pages of the print job whose status is “printing” or “transfer complete”. Based on the received print data, the image forming apparatus 200 performs reprinting from a page that has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240 (a page that has not been completely discharged).

As described above, in this embodiment, printing is guaranteed for a print job in which an image on the continuous paper P reaches the paper storage unit 240 (considering that printing is normally completed), and the re-printing is performed in the paper storage unit 240. Printing is performed for a print job that has not reached the image.
More specifically, a print job whose status is “printing” or “transfer complete” is not deleted, is held by the data holding unit 320, and is held by the data holding unit 320. This print job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 to perform reprinting.

Here, in the present embodiment, re-printing does not require re-transmission of the print job from the host apparatus 400 to the print server 300, and compared with the case where re-transmission of the print job from the host apparatus 400 to the print server 300 is necessary. Reprinting can be performed more easily.
In the comparative example shown in FIG. 2B, since the print data is deleted when the transfer is completed, it is necessary to retransmit the print job from the host device 400 to the print server 300. Therefore, it takes time to reprint.

In the case of the comparative example shown in FIG. 2B, the status of whether or not the transfer has been completed can be grasped for each print job, but it is unknown whether or not the discharge has been completed.
For this reason, in the comparative example shown in FIG. 2B, an error such as a paper jam occurs, and when reprinting is performed, the operator visually checks the paper storage unit 240 of the image forming apparatus 200. It is necessary to confirm whether any print job has been completed.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is possible to grasp the status until “discharge completion”. In other words, the status of “deleted” can be regarded as the status of “discharge completed”, and the status up to “discharge completed” can be grasped. In the present embodiment, it is clearly understood that image formation has been completed for a print job whose status is “discharge completed”. For this reason, in this embodiment, it is not necessary to visually check the paper storage unit 240 to check which print job has been completed, and a print job that has not yet been “discharge completed”. Reprinting may be performed.

  When an error occurs, if the print job being transferred has not yet been discharged, the image of the print job transferred before that has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240. Therefore, in addition to the print job being transferred, the print job transferred before that is also transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200. In the image forming apparatus 200, reprinting is performed for pages that have not yet been ejected based on the received print job.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of reprint processing due to the occurrence of an error.
When an error such as a paper jam occurs, the fact that an error has occurred is displayed on the UI unit 250. Then, it is determined whether or not a reprint request is received from the operator through the UI unit 250 (step 201). If it is determined that reprinting has not been accepted (NO in step 201), the process flow ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that reprinting has been accepted (YES in step 201), the status grasping unit 340 grasps the status of each print job from the job management list (step 202).

  Here, the status grasping unit 340 determines whether there is a print job whose status is “transfer complete” (step 203). If there is no “transfer complete” print job (NO in step 203), the process proceeds to step 209 described later. On the other hand, when there is a “transfer complete” print job (YES in step 203), the status grasping unit 340 selects the print job having the largest total value among the “transfer complete” print jobs (step 204). In other words, the situation grasping unit 340 selects the print job that has been transferred first. Then, the status grasping unit 340 determines whether or not the total value of the selected print jobs exceeds the reference page number (step 205).

  If the total value exceeds the reference page number (YES in step 205), the selected print job includes a transferred page that has reached the paper storage unit 240, or a transfer that has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240. There is also a page. Therefore, the transmission unit 330 transmits print data corresponding to the transferred page that has not yet reached the paper storage unit 240 to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 206). For other “transfer complete” print jobs (that is, print jobs subsequent to the selected print job), none of the pages has reached the paper storage unit 240 yet. Therefore, the transmission unit 330 transmits all other “transfer complete” print jobs to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 207).

In step 205, if the total value is equal to or smaller than the reference page number (NO in step 205), all pages including the selected print job and all the “transfer complete” print jobs are still in the paper storage unit 240. Not reached. Therefore, the transmission unit 330 transmits all the “transfer complete” print jobs to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 208).
After step 207, after step 208, or when a negative determination (NO) is made in step 203, the transmission unit 330 transmits a print job whose status is “printing” to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 209). ). Furthermore, when an error occurs, the transmission unit 330 transmits a print job (hereinafter referred to as “unprinted job”) that has not been transferred yet and will be transferred to the image forming apparatus 200 (step 210). Then, this processing flow ends.

Finally, a flow of a series of processes of the printing system 100 of this embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, first, a print job (print data) is transmitted from the host apparatus 400 (see FIG. 1) to the print server 300, and then the print job is transmitted from the print server 300 to the image forming apparatus 200. At this time, the print job (print data) is held by the data holding unit 320 of the print server 300.

Next, image formation on the continuous paper P is started in the image forming apparatus 200.
When image formation is started in the image forming apparatus 200, the progress status in the image forming apparatus 200 is notified to the print server 300, and the status grasping unit 340 of the print server 300 performs the processing shown in FIGS. Is used to grasp the status of each print job.

Specifically, as described above, the status grasping unit 340 sets the status to “transfer complete” for the print job to which the image has been transferred. In addition, regarding a print job in which an image has reached the paper storage unit 240 for all pages, the status is set to “deleted (discharge completed)”.
Here, as described above, the print job in the status of “transfer completed” is not deleted but is held by the data holding unit 320. A print job having a status of “deleted” is deleted.

When an error such as a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 200, the image forming operation (paper conveying operation or image forming operation) in the image forming apparatus 200 is stopped, and further the fact that the error has occurred is displayed in the image. The forming apparatus 200 notifies the print server 300.
Thereafter, all the sheets in the image forming apparatus 200 are removed by the operator, and then reprinting is performed.

In reprinting, the transmission unit 330 (see FIG. 1) of the print server 300 holds a print job whose status is “transfer complete” among the print jobs on the job management list (held by the data holding unit 320). Print job) to the image forming apparatus 200.
In addition, the transmission unit 330 transmits a print job whose status is “printing” to the image forming apparatus 200. Further, when an error occurs, the transmission unit 330 transmits to the image forming apparatus 200 a print job (that is, an unprinted job) to which transfer is not performed yet and is to be performed.

Then, the transmission / reception unit 270 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 200 receives these print jobs, and image formation is performed based on these print jobs.
The image forming apparatus 200 first forms an image for a print job having a status of “transfer complete” when an error occurs during image formation. Here, the image forming apparatus 200 forms an image on a page that has been transferred but not yet discharged. Next, image formation is performed for a print job having a status of “printing” when an error occurs. Thereafter, image formation is performed based on the unprinted job.

  Although the present invention has been described using the embodiment, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternative embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Printing system 200 ... Image forming apparatus 210 ... Paper stacking part 220 ... Conveying mechanism 230 ... Image forming part 240 ... Paper storage part 250 ... UI part 260 ... Information storage part 270 ... Transmission / reception part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 300 ... Print server, 310 ... Reception part, 320 ... Data holding part, 330 ... Transmission part, 340 ... Situation grasping part, 400 ... Host apparatus, T ... Transfer part, P ... Continuous paper

Claims (7)

An image that sequentially forms an image based on a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and that sequentially transfers the image to a continuous sheet that is conveyed, and forms an image on the continuous sheet A forming device;
A grasping means for grasping a printing work status of a printed matter for a print job after being transferred by the transfer unit ;
Holding means for holding a print job corresponding to a transferred page located downstream of the transfer unit for each print job and in the order in which the transfer has been completed, and deleting the print job in order from the print job in which the transfer has been completed first; Prepared,
The holding unit deletes the print job when the number of transferred pages for a subsequent print job transferred after the print job exceeds a predetermined number of pages. To do
A printing system featuring . The image forming apparatus is provided with a paper storage unit that sequentially feeds continuous paper after image transfer and stores the continuous paper,
The printing system according to claim 1 , wherein the holding unit deletes a print job corresponding to the transferred page after the transferred page reaches the sheet storage unit. The image forming apparatus is provided with a paper storage unit that stores a transferred page located downstream of the transfer unit.
The grasping means grasps, for each transferred page, whether or not the transferred page has reached the paper storage unit for grasping the printing work status of the printed matter,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the re-printing is performed from a transferred page that is not recognized as having reached the sheet storage unit when re-printing is performed after an error that has occurred in the image forming apparatus. The printing system described in. An image forming apparatus that sequentially forms an image based on a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and sequentially transfers the image to a continuous sheet conveyed to form an image on the continuous sheet. A grasping means for grasping a print work status of a printed matter for a print job after being transferred by the transfer unit;
Transmitting means for transmitting a print job to the image forming apparatus ;
Holding means for holding a print job corresponding to a transferred page located downstream of the transfer unit for each print job and in the order in which the transfer has been completed, and deleting the print job in order from the print job in which the transfer has been completed first; Prepared,
The holding unit deletes the print job when the number of transferred pages for a subsequent print job transferred after the print job exceeds a predetermined number of pages. To do
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above . When the grasping means grasps the printing work status of the printed matter, the transferred page located on the downstream side of the transfer unit is stored in a sheet storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus as a storage destination of the transferred page. For each page that has been transferred,
When the reprinting is performed after an error that has occurred in the image forming apparatus, the transmission unit sends a print job corresponding to the transferred page that is not grasped to have reached the paper storage unit to the image forming apparatus. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing apparatus transmits the information processing apparatus. An image forming apparatus that sequentially forms an image based on a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and sequentially transfers the image to a continuous sheet conveyed to form an image on the continuous sheet. A grasping means for grasping a print work status of a printed matter for a print job after being transferred by the transfer unit;
Transmission means for transmitting a print job to the image forming apparatus ,
When the grasping means grasps the printing work status of the printed matter, the transferred page located on the downstream side of the transfer unit is stored in a sheet storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus as a storage destination of the transferred page. For each page that has been transferred,
When the reprinting is performed after an error that has occurred in the image forming apparatus, the transmission unit reaches the paper storage unit out of print data included in the print job transferred by the transfer unit. Except for the print data corresponding to the transferred page that is recognized as having been transferred, the print data corresponding to the transferred page that has not been determined to have reached the paper storage unit is transmitted to the image forming apparatus.
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above . On the computer,
An image forming apparatus that sequentially forms an image based on a print job capable of forming an image for one or a plurality of pages, and sequentially transfers the image to a continuous sheet conveyed to form an image on the continuous sheet. A function of grasping the printing work status of the printed matter for the print job after being transferred by the transfer unit;
A function of transmitting a print job to the image forming apparatus ;
A function for holding a print job corresponding to a transferred page located downstream from the transfer unit in the storage unit for each print job and in the order in which the transfer is completed, and deleting the print job in order from the print job in which the transfer has been completed first And realized
The deletion function is such that when a print job is deleted, the number of transferred pages for a subsequent print job transferred after the print job becomes equal to or more than a predetermined number of pages. To delete
A program characterized by

Images