JP6639611B2 - Printing apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of storing a print job and executing the stored print job, a control method therefor, and a program.

  Conventionally, there is a printing device that supports a plurality of types of media (sheets). With such a printing device, it is possible to create a complex and high-value-added output product by using a plurality of types of sheets. It is. For example, high-quality printing using high-quality sheets using coated paper is used for the front and back covers, high-quality paper is used for the middle paper, and it is used on the page of the chapter boundary of the content. For the partition paper, colored paper is used. As another example, of the pages that make up the content, a high-quality sheet that can provide high-quality output by color printing is used for pages that include color images, while plain paper is used for monochrome image pages. It is also conceivable to use such as using.

  In addition, a printing apparatus having a job hold function has appeared. The job hold function is a function of temporarily or permanently holding a plurality of print jobs in a printing apparatus, and selecting and printing a desired print job from the held print jobs at a later stage. That is. Further, when a plurality of print jobs are selected and the selected print jobs are collectively printed, the subsequent print job can be executed simultaneously with the end of the preceding print job. The time required for interaction between them can be saved. For this reason, it is possible to improve the operation rate of the printing apparatus and, consequently, to improve the productivity at the time of producing a printed matter by the printing apparatus.

JP 2011-9980 A

  In a printing press capable of printing using various types of sheets as described above, a complex printed matter combining various types of sheets can be obtained. However, when a plurality of such complex print jobs in which a plurality of types of sheets are combined are further selected and a print instruction is issued, the following cases can be considered. That is, even if the printing press is provided with a plurality of paper feed stages, it is assumed that a plurality of types of sheets used by the selected print jobs are completely loaded in the paper feed stage at the start of printing. I can't say. If printing is started in a state where the sheet to be used by the print job is not loaded in any of the paper feed trays, the printing apparatus generates an error such as no sheet at the stage of feeding the sheet. Display and print processing is interrupted. Here, the printing process can be resumed if the user loads a sheet used by the print job into any of the paper feed stages. However, after the user selects a plurality of print jobs and issues a print instruction at once, the user may leave the printing apparatus and perform another process, and the print process may be interrupted due to no sheet or the like. You may not even notice if you do. When such a situation occurs, a useless stoppage time of the printing apparatus becomes long, and other users are inconvenienced.

  In order to prevent such a situation from occurring, if the user waits in the vicinity of the printing apparatus in preparation for a situation in which there is no sheet, the printing apparatus may be in a printing suspended state for a long time. Can be avoided. However, this is not desirable from the viewpoint of the productivity of the original printing apparatus and the convenience of the user.

  An object of the present invention is to prevent the occurrence of an error due to a sheet necessary for executing a print job not being set in a paper feed cassette when a print job stored in a printing apparatus is selected and executed. It aims to provide technology.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A printing apparatus that can convey a sheet from at least one of a plurality of sheet storage units and print an image on the conveyed sheet,
Holding means for holding one or more print data;
Determining means for determining whether or not a sheet is present in at least one or more sheet storage units used for printing one or more print data held by the holding means;
Notifying means for notifying that there is no sheet used for printing the print data based on the determination by the determining means,
First receiving means for receiving from a user a selection instruction for selecting at least one print data from the print data held in the holding means;
Second receiving means for receiving, from a user, a print execution instruction based on the print data selected by the selection instruction,
Executing means for executing printing based on the print data selected by the selection instruction, according to the execution instruction being received,
The notifying unit notifies that there is no sheet used for printing the print data before accepting the execution instruction from the second accepting unit .

  According to the present invention, when a print job stored in a printing apparatus is selected and executed, it is necessary to prevent an occurrence of an error indicating that there is no sheet due to a sheet required for execution of the print job not being set in a paper cassette. Can be prevented.

FIG. 1 illustrates a digital printing system according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a computer (PC) according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of the operation unit of the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining a program of the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exemplary view illustrating a configuration of a program included in the computer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of a job hold function displayed on an operation unit in the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet management table for managing information on sheets loaded in each paper feed stage in the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view for explaining sheet information used by each job of JobA, JobD, and JobE shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of a job hold function displayed on an operation unit in the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of a job hold function displayed on an operation unit in the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet management table for managing information on sheets loaded in each paper feed stage in the digital printing press according to the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart for describing processing by the digital printing machine according to the first embodiment. 9 is a flowchart for explaining details of a mismatch check process (S1307) when a mismatch check button is pressed according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of a job hold function displayed on an operation unit in the digital printing press according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 13 is a flowchart illustrating details of a mismatch check process (S1307) when a mismatch check button is pressed according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of a job hold function displayed on an operation unit in the digital printing press according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a printing system according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a controller of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of a controller of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment and a peripheral configuration thereof. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a list of hold jobs displayed on a UI of a printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a paper substitute screen displayed on a UI of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. 15 is a flowchart for describing processing for displaying a job list screen by the controller of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. 16 is a flowchart for describing processing for determining a media mismatch state of a plurality of selected jobs by the controller of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. 15 is a flowchart for describing processing in which a controller of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment displays a paper substitute screen. 15 is a flowchart for describing processing in which the controller of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment determines whether there is a media mismatch for each sheet. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing for displaying a job list screen by a controller of a printing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 17 is a flowchart for explaining processing for determining whether there is a media mismatch for each sheet by the controller of the printing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. .

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a digital printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this printing system, a digital printing machine (printing apparatus) 102 and a computer 101 are connected via a network 100.

  The digital printing press 102 is configured such that a plurality of devices having different roles are interconnected and capable of performing complicated sheet processing. Hereinafter, each part constituting the digital printer 102 will be described.

  The printer unit 1000 forms (prints) an image on a medium (sheet) fed from the sheet feeding unit using toner based on the image data. The configuration and operating principle of the printer unit 1000 are as follows.

  A light beam such as a laser beam modulated in accordance with image data is reflected by a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror or the like) and is irradiated as scanning light on the photosensitive drum. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum by the laser light is developed by toner, and the toner image is transferred to a sheet attached to the transfer drum. By performing this series of image forming processes sequentially for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) toners, a full-color image is formed on a sheet. Further, in addition to these four colors, a configuration may be adopted in which a toner called a special color or a transparent toner can be transferred. The sheet on the transfer drum on which the full-color image has been formed is conveyed to the fixing device. The fixing device includes a roller, a belt, and the like, and incorporates a heat source such as a halogen heater in the roller.

  The printer unit 1000 of the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment includes a scanner 224 and an operation unit 204 (FIG. 4) disposed on the upper surface of the printer unit 1000. Since the operation unit is arranged on the upper surface of the printer unit 1000, it is not shown in FIG. The operation unit 204 provides various interfaces when a user performs various settings and operations of the printer unit 1000 according to the first embodiment.

  Further, the digital printing machine 102 is configured such that various attached devices can be mounted in addition to the printer unit 1000.

  The large-capacity paper feeding devices 221, 222, and 223 are paper feeding devices that can be attached to and detached from the printer unit 1000. These sheet feeding devices include a plurality of sheet feeding units 233 to 241. With such a configuration, the printer unit 1000 can perform a printing process on a large-capacity sheet.

  The large-volume stackers 225 and 226 are devices for stocking printed sheets. In the system including the above-described large-capacity sheet feeding device, the generated printed matter also has a large capacity, and thus a large-capacity stacker is required. It should be noted that the number of these large-volume stackers and large-volume paper feeders is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG.

  The large-volume stackers 225 and 226 can open the outer lid for taking out the sheets stacked on the internal stacking tray by a user's instruction operation. At the same time, the outer lid can be automatically opened according to an instruction from the printer unit 1000. When the outer lid opening process is performed, the stacking process of the printed sheets on the large-volume stackers 225 and 226 is controlled to be stopped in advance.

  Further, the large-volume stackers 225 and 226 have a shift sheet discharging function of shifting the stacking position of an arbitrary sheet when stacking printed sheets. Thus, a large number of stacked sheets can be sorted in a unit of a certain bundle. The folding device 232 is a device for performing various folding processes such as middle folding, Z folding, three-folding, and four-folding on a sheet. The saddle stitching apparatus 227 performs stapling processing, saddle folding, punch processing, shift paper discharge processing, and the like when sheets are printed by the printer unit 1000 when performing stapling processing and bookbinding output. Various units are provided. In the digital printing machine 102 described in the first embodiment, when the saddle stitching output is created using the saddle stitching apparatus 227, the saddle stitching apparatus is not used without using the folding function of the folding device 232. The output product is formed by combining the saddle folding function and the saddle binding function provided in.

The cutting device 230 is a device that conveys the bookbinding output saddle-stitched by the saddle stitching machine 227, cuts a portion corresponding to the fore edge, and forms the fore edge on a plane. The inserter 228 inserts the sheet held in the inserter 228 into the sheet sent from the printer unit 1000 at an appropriate timing based on the setting. With this inserter 228, a sheet that does not require printing can be inserted between printed sheets. The inserter 228 includes a plurality of large-capacity paper feeding points so as to withstand a large-capacity printing process, similarly to the large-capacity paper feeding devices 221, 222, and 223.
The case binding machine 229 is a device for forming a case-bound output product by gluing a cover sheet to one bundle of sheets printed by the printer unit 1000 or discharged from the inserter 228. In addition, the bookbinding machine 229 can also perform a bookbinding process corresponding to a binding process without a cover.

  The digital printing machine 102 can be roughly divided into three parts with the printer unit 1000 as a boundary. In FIG. 1, a device disposed on the right side of the printer unit 1000 is called a sheet feeding device, and the main role of the sheet feeding device is to continuously load sheets loaded therein at an appropriate timing in the printer unit. Supply 1000. The device also detects the amount of remaining sheets loaded therein. A paper feed unit 231 is also provided inside the printer unit 1000, and can perform the same function as a paper feed system device. These paper feed units included in the printer unit 1000 will also be referred to as paper feed devices in the description.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 1, a device arranged on the left side of the printer unit 1000 is called a sheet processing device. It is also called a sheet processing device or a post-processing device. The sheet processing apparatus performs processing such as adding or processing various types of processing to a sheet on which printing has been completed. The above-mentioned sheet feeding apparatus and sheet processing apparatus are collectively referred to as a sheet processing apparatus 200 in the following description.

  The computer 101 is a general-purpose computer connected to the digital printing machine 102 via the network 100. Here, various application programs can be executed, and a print job can be transmitted to the digital printer 102.

  Next, a configuration (mainly, a software configuration) of the digital printer 102 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the digital printer 102 according to the first embodiment. Note that the blocks shown in FIG. 2 are divided into units as a system, and therefore, there are portions that do not necessarily correspond to the units of the device configuration shown in FIG.

  The digital printer 102 includes a non-volatile memory such as a hard disk 209 (hereinafter, HDD) capable of storing data of a plurality of jobs to be processed in its own apparatus. In the first embodiment, the example of the digital printer 102 using a hard disk is described. However, the storage device is not limited to a hard disk as long as the storage device has a similar large capacity and non-volatile storage.

  The digital printing machine 102 has a copy function of storing data received from the scanner 224 in the HDD 209, reading the data from the HDD 209, and printing the data in the printer unit 1000. In addition, the printer unit 1000 has a printing function of storing job data received from an external device via the external I / F unit 202 as an example of a communication unit in the HDD 209, reading the job data from the HDD 209, and printing the job data with the printer unit 1000. The digital printing machine 102 is a multi-function processing device (MFP) having such a plurality of functions (also referred to as an image forming device). The digital printer 1000 may be capable of color printing or monochrome printing.

  The scanner 224 reads a document image, performs image processing on image data obtained by reading the document, and outputs the processed image data. The external I / F unit 202 transmits and receives image data and the like to and from a facsimile, a network connection device, and an external dedicated device. The HDD 209 also stores various types of management information that are permanently stored, changed, and managed by the digital printer 102. In addition, the digital printing machine 102 includes a printer unit 1000 that executes print processing of data of a job to be printed stored in the HDD 209. The digital printing machine 102 also includes an operation unit 204 having a display unit, which corresponds to an example of a user interface unit. A controller unit (control unit) 205, which is an example of a control unit included in the digital printing machine 102, includes a CPU 212, and comprehensively controls processes, operations, and the like of various units included in the digital printing machine 102. The ROM 207 stores various control programs necessary for the first embodiment, including programs for executing various processes in a flowchart described below, which are executed by the CPU 212. The ROM 207 also stores a display control program for displaying various UI screens on the display unit of the operation unit 204 including a user interface screen (hereinafter, UI screen).

  When the CPU 212 of the controller unit 205 reads and executes the program stored in the ROM 207, various operations according to the first embodiment are executed by the digital printing machine 102. The ROM 207 also has a program for executing an operation in which the CPU 212 interprets page description language (hereinafter abbreviated as PDL) data received from an external device via the external I / F 202 and develops the image into raster image data (bitmap image data). Is stored in Similarly, a program for the CPU 212 to interpret and process a print job received from an external device via the external I / F 202 is also stored in the ROM 207. These are processed by software. The ROM 207 is a read-only memory in which programs such as a boot sequence and font information and various programs such as the above programs are stored in advance. Details of various programs stored in the ROM 207 will be described later. The RAM 208 is a readable and writable memory, and stores image data sent from the scanner 224 and the external I / F 202, various programs, setting information, and the like.

  The HDD 209 stores the image data compressed by the compression / decompression unit 210. The HDD 209 can hold a plurality of data such as print data of a job to be processed. The controller unit 205 stores the job data to be processed, which is input via various input units such as the scanner 224 and the external I / F unit 202, in the HDD 209, reads out the data from the HDD 209, and outputs the data to the printer unit 1000. Print. The controller unit 205 also controls so that the job data read from the HDD 209 can be transmitted to an external device via the external I / F 202. As described above, the controller unit 205 executes various output processes of the data of the processing target job stored in the HDD 209. The compression / decompression unit 210 compresses or decompresses image data and the like stored in the RAM 208 and the HDD 209 by various compression methods such as JBIG and JPEG.

  The controller unit 205 also controls the operation of the sheet processing apparatus 200. The sheet processing apparatus 200 corresponds to the sheet feeding apparatus and the sheet processing apparatus described with reference to FIG. The sheet management unit 211 is a module for managing information on the types of sheets that can be processed by the digital printing machine 102 and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the computer (PC) 101 according to the first embodiment.

  In the figure, a CPU 301 executes programs such as an OS, a general application, and a bookbinding application stored in a program ROM of a ROM 303 or loaded from a HDD 311 into a RAM 302. The ROM 303 also has a font ROM and a data ROM. The RAM 302 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 301. A keyboard controller (KBC) 305 controls inputs from a keyboard 309 and a pointing device (not shown). The display controller 306 controls display on the display unit 310. A disk controller (DKC) 307 controls access to the HDD 311 that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, and the like. The network controller (NC) 312 is connected to the network 100 and executes a communication control process with another device connected to the network 100. The bus 304 connects the CPU 301 with the RAM 302, the ROM 303, various controllers, and the like, and carries data signals and control signals.

  FIG. 4 is a top view of the operation unit 204 of the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment.

  The operation unit 204 includes a key input unit 402 that can receive a user operation by a hard key, and a touch panel unit 401 as an example of a display unit that can receive a user operation by a soft key (display key). The screen displayed on the display unit of the touch panel unit 401 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of an operation screen displayed under the control of the controller unit 205. The items displayed on the display unit or the items that can be operated on the display unit change according to the operation on the screen by the user or various states of the device.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a program of the digital printing press according to the first embodiment.

  These programs are stored in the ROM 207, read out and executed by the CPU 212 of the controller unit 205 of the digital printing machine 102.

  The boot loader 501 is a program that is executed immediately after the power of the digital printer 102 is turned on. These programs include programs for executing various startup sequences required for starting the system. The operating system 502 is a program for providing an execution environment for various programs for realizing the functions of the digital printing machine 102. This mainly provides functions such as resource management of the memory of the digital printer 102, that is, the ROM 207, the RAM 208, and the HDD 209, and basic input / output control of each unit shown in FIG. The data transmission / reception program 503 performs transmission / reception processing performed when a data input / output request occurs via the external I / F 202. Specifically, it includes a protocol stack such as TCP / IP and controls communication of various data exchanged with an external device or the like connected via the network 100. The communication processing performed here is processing specialized for communication processing of a data packet transmission / reception level, an HTTP server, and the like, and does not include analysis processing regarding the content of received data described later. The data analysis process is executed by the controller unit 205 based on the description contents of another program.

  The JDF function program 504 is a program that executes a JDF print function executed by the controller unit 205 in accordance with an instruction from the external I / F 202 when JDF job data is received by the digital printer 102 via the external I / F 202. . In the JDF print function, the controller unit 205 sequentially instructs the operation of each device in an appropriate order based on the processing order and processing conditions described in the program. As a result, control is performed so that the JDF print processing is finally executed. Each device includes a sheet processing apparatus 200, a printer unit 1000, an HDD 209, a compression / decompression unit 210, a RAM 208, and the like. In addition, analysis processing of JDF job data received via the external I / F 202, determination processing as to whether or not an incorrect setting is included in the JDF as a result of the analysis processing, and setting change for eliminating the incorrect setting And the like.

  The copy function program 505 is for executing the copy function executed by the controller unit 205 in accordance with the instruction from the operation unit 204 when the user of the digital printing machine 102 instructs the execution of the copy function from the operation unit 204. It is a program. In the copy function performed by the controller unit 205, the resources of the digital printing machine 102 are sequentially instructed by the controller unit 205 in an appropriate order based on the processing order and processing conditions described in the program. Thereby, control is performed so that the copy processing is finally executed. These devices include a scanner 224, a printer unit 1000, a sheet processing apparatus 200, an HDD 209, a compression / decompression unit 210, a RAM 208, and the like.

  The scan function program 506 is a program for executing a scan function executed by the controller unit 205 according to an instruction from the operation unit 204 when a user of the digital printing machine 102 instructs execution of the scan function from the operation unit 204. is there. Modules such as the scanner 224, the HDD 209, the compression / decompression unit 210, and the RAM 208 are controlled by the controller unit 205 according to the processing order and processing conditions described in this program. At this time, by sequentially instructing the operations of these devices in an appropriate order, control is performed so that the scan processing is finally executed.

  The PDL function program 507 executes a PDL print function executed by the controller unit 205 when PDL data (print job data) is received by the digital printer 102 via the external I / F 202. In the PDL print function performed by the controller unit 205, the operation of each device is sequentially instructed by the controller unit 205 in an appropriate order based on the processing order and processing conditions described in the program. As a result, control is performed so that the PDL print processing is finally executed. These devices include a sheet processing apparatus 200, a printer unit 1000, an HDD 209, a compression / expansion unit 210, a RAM 208, and the like.

  The BOX function program 508 executes a BOX function executed by the controller unit 205 in response to an instruction from the operation unit 204 when the user of the digital printing press 102 instructs execution of the BOX function from the operation unit 204. In the BOX function, the BOX processing is executed by sequentially instructing the operations of these devices in an appropriate order by the controller unit 205 based on the processing order and processing conditions described in the program. These devices include a scanner 224, a printer unit 1000, a sheet processing apparatus 200, an HDD 209, a compression / decompression unit 210, a RAM 208, and the like. Further, the job function can be executed by changing the setting of the job data stored in the HDD 209 at the time of storing the job data by the box function.

  The UI function program 509 is a program for controlling the operation unit 204. The UI function program 509 identifies the contents input by the user of the digital printing press 102 from the operation unit 204, and performs appropriate screen transition and a processing request instruction to the controller unit 205.

  The sheet management program 510 is a program for executing a management function related to a sheet that can be used by the digital printing machine 102. Sheet related information managed by this program is stored in the HDD 209.

  The job hold function program 511 is a program executed by the controller unit 205 when the user of the digital printing machine 102 instructs execution of the job hold function from the operation unit 204. The job hold function is a function of storing data to be printed in the HDD 209 of the digital printing machine 102 until a print instruction is issued from the user, and thereafter performing printing in accordance with the data received from the user. In the job hold function, the print processing by the job hold is executed by sequentially instructing the operations of these devices in an appropriate order by the controller unit 205 based on the processing order and processing conditions described in the program. These devices include a printer unit 1000, a sheet processing apparatus 200, an HDD 209, a compression / decompression unit 210, a RAM 208, and the like. The stored job data can be changed and executed at the time of storage.

  The storage of print job data from the computer 101, which is an external device, to the job hold function of the digital printing machine 102 is performed according to the following procedure. That is, the PDL function program 507, the JDF function program 504, or the like instructs storage for the job hold function instead of printing the job data. Whether the PDL function program 507 or the JDF function program 504 instructs printing or performs storage processing in the job hold function depends on the designation of a printing application operating on the computer 101 to which the job is input. This designation is reflected in the setting attribute of the job data to be processed by the PDL function program 507 or the JDF function program 504, etc., and the PDL function program 507 or the JDF function program 504 switches the processing based on the setting attribute. I do.

  Note that it is not necessary to include all of the functional programs shown in FIG. 5, and a configuration including a part thereof or a functional program other than those described above may be employed.

  The storage document storage area 512 is a storage area for storage job data managed by the job hold function program 511. The job data to be saved received from the external device is stored in the saved document storage area 512 together with the print settings.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a program included in the computer 101 according to the first embodiment.

  The operations of the boot loader 601 and the operating system 602 are the same as those of the boot loader 501 and the operating system 502 in FIG. The device driver 603 is a program for controlling various hardware connected to the computer 101. The device driver 603 also includes a program for controlling the KBC 305, the display controller 306, the DKC 307, and the like. The print application program 604 is a general term for a program that runs on the computer 101 and aims to provide various functions and services to the user of the printing system. The print application program 604 has a function of creating or editing print job data. The print application program 604 has a function of converting various print specifications set from a setting screen (not shown) of the application 604 into corresponding print settings.

  Further, the print application program 604 can also convert the settings included in the print settings into internal information necessary to control the display items on the setting screen of the corresponding print application program 604. Further, the print application program 604 has a function of selecting a print setting file stored in the HDD 311 and creating print job data. The print application program 604 has a capability of converting print settings into a PDL command format or JDF format and synthesizing with print target data to create print job data.

  The network control program 605 is a program that is executed when the print job data created by the print application program 604 is transmitted to the digital printer 102 connected via the network 100. The program 605 can be configured to also have a function of transmitting print data and, after transmission, acquiring progress information of a print job executed by the digital printer 102. The other programs 607 include a program group that does not correspond to any of the above, but a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of the job hold function displayed on the operation unit 204 in the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment. This screen includes a plurality of display areas, a plurality of operation buttons, and the like. Hereinafter, important points for describing the first embodiment will be described. The job hold function is a function of storing data to be printed in the HDD 209 of the digital printing machine 102 until a print instruction is issued from the user, and thereafter performing printing in accordance with the data received from the user. Note that the job printing function allows the digital printing machine 102 to store a plurality of data in the HDD 209.

  The job hold list 702 is an area for displaying a list of print job data stored in the stored document storage area 512 of the digital printer 102. In the example of FIG. 7, six print job data are displayed. Note that the digital printer 102 can store more print job data in the HDD 209 than can be displayed simultaneously in the job hold list 702. For example, when seven or more print job data are stored, the user can sequentially display all the stored print job data in the job hold list 702 by pressing the scroll buttons 705 and 706. . In the print job data displayed in the job hold list 702, a job name 710, a user name 711, and a date / time field 712 indicating the date and time when the print job was stored in the digital printing machine 102 are displayed. .

  The user who operates the job hold screen is assumed to select a job to be printed based on the information.

  Now, it is assumed that the user who operates the job hold screen in the job hold function of the digital printing machine 102 is “Operator A”. Of the plurality of jobs shown in the job hold list 702 in the figure, there are three jobs whose user name is “OperatorA”. That is, the jobs are “JobA”, “JobD”, and “JobE”.

  Here, there may be a use case in which a user operating the digital printing machine 102 selects and prints a print job of a user who does not match the user name of the user. However, in a main use case, a user often selects his or her own print job as a print job to be printed and prints it. For the above reasons, in the following description, a case will be described as an example where the user selects his or her own print job and performs printing. However, a case where the user selects a print job that is not the user's own print job and executes printing is also applicable to the present invention.

  Here, when the user presses the print job portion displayed on the job hold list 702 with a finger or the like, the print job is selected, that is, the print job is selected as a print job to be printed. . This print job selection process will be described in detail with reference to the subsequent drawings.

  The print job list 703 is for displaying a list of print jobs for which print processing has been started in the digital printing machine 102. In the example of FIG. 7, there is no print job whose print processing has been started. That is, this indicates that the printer unit 1000 of the digital printing machine 102 is in an idle state.

  A print start button 708 is a button for instructing start of print processing of the print job selected in the job hold list 702. The stop button 709 is a button for stopping the execution of the print job in a state where the print processing has been started by the print start button 708.

  The mismatch inspection button 704 is a button for instructing a collation process between sheet information used by the print job selected in the hold job list 702 and a sheet loaded in the digital printing machine 102. The collation processing referred to here is to check whether a sheet used by the print job stored in the HDD 209 is not loaded in any of the paper feeding units provided in the digital printing machine 102. That is, for example, it is assumed that the print job 1 is set to use only “sheet A”. Then, it is assumed that “Sheet A” is set in one of the paper feeding units included in the digital printing machine 102 and that “Sheet A” is loaded (Case 1). When the mismatch check button 704 is pressed in this state, it is determined that “Sheet A” to be used by the print job 1 is available as a result of the comparison.

  As another example, when the print job 1 is set to use only “Sheet A”, “Sheet A” is set in one of the paper feeding units included in the digital printing machine 102. It is assumed that the remaining amount of “sheet A” in the sheet feeding unit is zero (case 2). When the mismatch check button 704 is pressed in this state, “Sheet A” scheduled to be used by the selected print job as a result of the collation is prepared to be usable, but the remaining amount of “Sheet A” is It turns out that there is no state. As a workaround in this case, the user may supply "sheet A" to the sheet feeding unit.

  Further, another case is assumed. Assume that the selected print job 1 is set to use only “sheet A”. Then, it is assumed that “sheet A” is not set in any of the sheet feeding units provided in the digital printing machine 102 (case 3). If the mismatch check button 704 is pressed in this state, it is found from the result of the comparison that “Sheet A” to be used by the selected print job is not available. As a workaround in this case, the user must set “Sheet A” as setting information in one of the sheet feeding units and supply “Sheet A” to the sheet feeding unit.

  In case 2 and case 3 described above, if the user presses the print start button 708 with a print job selected, an unprepared sheet is attempted to be fed. The printing process stops. That is, the productivity of the digital printer 102 is reduced.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the function provided by the mismatch check button 704 determines whether the sheet used in the selected print job can be used in the digital printing machine 102 before pressing the print start button 708. User can confirm. This is because the printing process can be started after setting or replenishing the sheet based on the inspection result by the mismatch inspection button 704. As a result, the user can prepare the sheets before the start of the print job. Therefore, after starting the execution of the print job, an out-of-paper error occurs, the print processing by the digital printing machine is interrupted, and the productivity is reduced. Can be reduced.

  A detail / change button 707 is a button for confirming the details of the print job selected in the job hold list 702 or changing to a screen for changing the print specifications.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet management table that manages information on sheets loaded in each paper feed unit in the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment. This sheet management table is stored in the HDD 209 and is referred to by the CPU 212.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, information on the size 812, the sheet type 813, and the remaining amount 814 is managed for each of the ten paper feeding units included in the digital printing machine 102 using the paper feeding unit ID 811 as a key. .

  For example, reference numeral 801 indicates that the size of the sheet loaded in the sheet feeding unit (ID = 1) is A4, the sheet type is plain paper 1, and the remaining amount is 3. The numerical value indicated by the remaining amount 814 has the following meaning. 3: full (100%), 2: small remaining amount (25%), 1: extremely small remaining amount (less than 5%), 0: no remaining amount (0%). Note that the accuracy of the remaining amount detection of the sheet can be made finer by increasing the accuracy of the remaining amount sensor. However, the digital printer 102 according to the first embodiment detects the remaining amount of the specifications described above.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating sheet information used by each job of JobA, JobD, and JobE shown in FIG.

  The information shown here is held by storing the print settings at the same time that the job hold function program 511 of FIG. 5 stores the print job data in the storage document storage area 512. The sheet information used by the print job is included in the print settings.

  FIG. 9A shows a total of two types of sheets, JobA, a sheet of size A4 and sheet type “plain paper 1”, and a sheet of size A4 and sheet type “double-side coated paper 1”. Indicates use. Further, FIG. 9B shows that JobD is composed of a total of two types of sheets, a sheet having a size of LTR and a sheet type of “plain paper 1” and a sheet having a size of 11 × 17 and a sheet type of “plain paper 1”. Indicates use. Similarly, FIG. 9C shows a sheet in which JobE has a size of A4 and a sheet type of “plain paper 1”, a sheet of size A4 and a sheet type of colored paper (red), and a sheet of size A3. This indicates that three types of sheets, “double-side coated paper 2”, are used.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of the job hold function displayed on the operation unit 204 in the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment. Here, a display example immediately after the operator A operates the operation screen of the job hold function displayed on the operation unit 204 and selects a print job is shown. Parts common to those in FIG. 7 are indicated by the same symbols. Here, the operator A sequentially selects JobA, JobD, and JobE, and three jobs are selected. The job in the selected state is indicated by a selection mark (1001, 1002, 1003) on the left of the job name field, and is further given a numerical value indicating the order of selection. Reference numeral 1004 denotes the last selected JobE, which is highlighted. This indicates that the job is currently selected in the job hold list 702. That is, when the detail / change button 707 is pressed in this state, it is possible to check the detailed information of JobE and change the setting.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of the job hold function displayed on the operation unit 204 in the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment. Here, an example of a screen displayed immediately after the mismatch check button 704 is pressed in the job hold list 702 in the state shown in FIG. 10 is shown. Portions common to those in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

  In FIG. 10, for each of three jobs (JobA, JobD, and JobE) selected by the user, it is checked whether a sheet to be used by each print job matches a sheet set in a sheet feeding unit of the digital printing machine 102. are doing.

  In JobA, the sheets to be used by the print job are set in the sheet feeding unit as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the remaining amount of sheets is not zero. Therefore, in this case, when the user presses the print start button 708, the user can know that the possibility of running out of paper is extremely low before giving an instruction to start printing.

  As for JobD, sheets to be used by the print job are set in the sheet feeding unit as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, but some sheets have a remaining amount of sheets of zero. Specifically, the remaining amount of the sheet of the size “11X17” and the sheet type “plain paper 1” set in the “paper feed unit 9” is 0. Therefore, when the print start button 708 is pressed in this state, a paper-out error occurs at the stage where an attempt is made to feed a sheet of size “11 × 17”, and the printing process stops. This is indicated by a warning mark 1101. The user who recognizes that the mark 1101 has been displayed may perform an appropriate action, that is, replenish the sheet feeding unit 9 with a sheet of size “11X17” and sheet type “plain paper 1”.

  Further, in the case of JobE, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, there are sheets that are not set in any of the sheet feeding units as the sheets to be used by the print job. Specifically, a sheet having a size A3 and a sheet type of “double-side coated paper 2” is not set in any of the sheet feeding units. This is indicated by a warning mark 1102. Therefore, if the user presses the print start button 708 in this state, the user is notified before the instruction to start printing that the print job is stopped due to an out-of-paper error at the stage of feeding the sheet. You can know. After confirming that the mark 1102 is displayed, the user specifies an appropriate action, that is, another sheet feeding unit (a sheet feeding unit that has not been determined to be used in the job is desirable), and the user specifies that sheet feeding unit. The sheet setting of the paper section is changed to size A3 and the sheet type is changed to “double-side coated paper 2”. Further, the user supplies a corresponding sheet to the sheet feeding unit. If there is a sheet originally contained, the user may replace the sheet with a corresponding sheet. A warning mark 1101 indicates that the sheets used by the print job are set in the sheet feeding unit, but the remaining amount is zero, and a warning mark 1102 indicates that the sheet used by the print job is which sheet feeding unit. Also indicates that it is not set. By changing the shape of the warning mark 1101 and the warning mark 1102, the user can determine whether the sheet of the job is not set in any of the sheet feeding units, or the job sheet is set but the remaining amount is 0. Can be distinguished and recognized.

  As described above, when the mismatch check button 704 is pressed, the above-described marks 1101 and 1102 are displayed in association with the print job in which the paper may run out, thereby preventing the user from stopping the print job. It is possible to do.

  When the user presses the details / change button 707 in the state of FIG. 11, the sheet size and sheet type (for example, FIG. 9C) used by the selected Job E are displayed. Here, the sheet information (A3, double-sided coated paper in this case) that is not set in any of the paper feed units is displayed, for example, in reverse, so that the user is not set in any of the paper feed units. A sheet can be presented.

  When the user selects JobD and presses the detail / change button 707 in the state of FIG. 11, the sheet size and sheet type (for example, FIG. 9B) used by JobD are displayed. Here, the CPU 212 blinks the sheet information whose remaining amount is zero. Further, the CPU 212 blinks the display of the sheet feeding unit in which the sheet is set. Accordingly, the user can grasp the sheet information of the remaining sheet size and the sheet type used by JobD and the remaining sheet amount is zero, and the sheet feeding unit. As described above, even when the sheet size and the sheet type are displayed, the display method of the sheet information when the sheet is not set in any of the sheet feeding units and the display of the sheet information having the remaining amount of the sheet of zero are displayed. And change the way. Thus, the user can distinguish and know whether the displayed sheet of the size and type is not set in any of the sheet feeding units or whether the remaining amount of the sheet is zero.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet management table that manages information on sheets loaded in each paper feed unit in the digital printing machine 102 according to the first embodiment. 9 shows the sheet management table after the user has performed the avoidance process. The sheet management table in FIG. 12 is also stored in the HDD 209 and is referred to by the CPU 212.

  The difference from the table shown in FIG. 8 is that the sheet type of the sheet feeding unit (ID = 4) is changed to “double-side coated paper 2” and sheets are replenished (the remaining amount is 3). Another difference is that sheets in the sheet feeding unit (ID = 9) are replenished and the numerical value of the remaining amount changes from 0 to 3.

  When the user presses the mismatch check button 704 in FIG. 11 again in a state where the sheet registration and replenishment processing is performed so that the state shown in FIG. 12 is obtained, the screen returns to the screen shown in FIG. That is, it can be seen that the warning marks 1101 and 1102 indicating the cause of the absence of paper have been deleted.

  When the user presses the print start button 708 in this state, the user can know before the start of printing that the possibility of running out of paper is extremely low after the digital printing machine 102 starts the printing process. Accordingly, the labor productivity of the user can be improved, and the operation rate of the digital printing machine 102 can be increased. As a result, the convenience of the digital printer 102 for the POD market can be improved.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process performed by the digital printer 102 according to the first embodiment. This processing is achieved by the CPU 212 of the controller unit 205 executing a program read from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209 and expanded in the RAM 208. This process is started in a state where the screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 204.

  First, in step S1301, the CPU 212 enters a state in which the user waits for a user operation on the screen illustrated in FIG. Here, the process stays in S1301 until some operation is performed by the user. If the user performs any operation on the operation unit 204, the process advances to step S1302, and the CPU 212 determines whether the operation is an operation for selecting a print job displayed on the job hold list 702. If the CPU 212 determines that the operation is to select a print job displayed in the job hold list 702 (YES in step S1303), the CPU 212 determines whether the selected print job is already in a selected state. If it is determined that the print job has already been selected (YES in step S1304), the CPU 212 cancels the print job selection and returns to step S1301. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1303 that the selected print job is not already in the selected state, the process advances to step S1305, and the CPU 212 sets the print job in the selected state. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 212 attaches and displays a mark (1001, 1002, 1003) indicating that the selected print job is in the selected state, and returns to S1301.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1302 that the operation in step S1301 is not an operation for selecting a print job displayed in the job hold list 702, the process advances to step S1306. In S1306, the CPU 212 determines whether the mismatch check button 704 has been pressed. If it is determined that the mismatch inspection button 704 has been pressed, the process advances to step S1307, and the CPU 212 performs a mismatch check process and advances to step S1301. The processing in S1307 will be described later with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S1306 that the mismatch check button 704 has not been pressed, the process advances to step S1308, and the CPU 212 determines whether the operation in step S1301 is a process of pressing the print start 708 button. If the print start 708 button has been pressed, the process advances to step S1309, and the CPU 212 executes print processing for the selected print job, and returns to step S1301 again when print processing for all the selected print jobs ends. On the other hand, if the print start 708 button is not pressed in S1308, the CPU 212 advances the process to S1310 because the operation in S1301 does not correspond to any of the above-described processes. In S1310, the CPU 212 executes a process corresponding to the operation, and returns to S1301 when the process ends. Note that the details of the processing in step S1310 are not important in describing the effects of the present embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating details of the mismatch check processing (S1307) when the mismatch check button 704 according to the first embodiment is pressed. This processing is achieved by the CPU 212 of the controller unit 205 executing a program read from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209 and expanded in the RAM 208.

  First, in step S1401, the CPU 212 acquires information on the type of sheet and the remaining amount of sheets set in each sheet feeding unit provided in the digital printing machine 102. The processing in S1401 is performed by the CPU 212 instructing the sheet management unit 211 to refer to, for example, a sheet management table as shown in FIG. The process advances to step S1402 to determine whether the mismatch check process has been completed for all print jobs. If the mismatch check process has been completed for all print jobs, the process ends. The process proceeds to S1403. In step S1403, the CPU 212 determines the next print job to be subjected to the mismatch check process. Then, the processing proceeds to step S1404, and the CPU 212 acquires information on sheets used by the print job as shown in FIG. 9 regarding the print job determined in step S1403. Next, the processing proceeds to step S1405, where the CPU 212 performs initialization processing of two types of flags (Flag1, Flag2) for holding the result of the mismatch check. If Flag1 is true, it indicates a mismatch state, that is, the print job specifies a sheet that is not set in any of the paper feed units. If Flag2 is true, it indicates that the print job is set to a sheet feeding unit but specifies a sheet whose remaining amount is zero. Note that these two flags are set in the RAM 208.

  Next, the processing advances to step S1406, and the CPU 212 determines whether or not the check processing has been completed for all the sheets extracted in step S1404, which are to be used by the print job, in the print job determined in step S1403. If the determination result in S1406 is false, that is, if all the sheets have not been checked, the process proceeds to S1407, and the CPU 212 determines the next check target sheet among all the sheets to be used by the print job. decide. In step S1408, the CPU 212 checks whether the check has been completed for all the sheet feeding units. If not, the process proceeds to step S1409 to determine the next sheet feeding unit. On the other hand, if the check has been completed for all the sheet feeding units, the process advances to step S1406 to perform a comparison process for the next sheet.

  If the result of the determination in S1408 is false, there is a paper feed unit that has not yet been subjected to the comparison process, and the flow advances to S1409. The CPU 212 determines the next paper feed unit to be compared, and advances to S1410. . In step S1410, the CPU 212 determines whether the sheet determined in step S1407 matches the sheet size and sheet type set in the sheet feeding unit determined in step S1409. If they do not match, the process returns to step S1408 to execute the next paper feed unit check process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1410 that the determined sheet matches the sheet size and sheet type set in the determined sheet feeding unit, the process advances to step S1411, and the CPU 212 sets the value of Flag1 to "false". To "." Then, the process proceeds to S1412, where the CPU 212 checks the remaining amount of sheets in the sheet feeding unit determined in S1409. If it is determined that there is a remaining sheet, the process advances to step S1413. The CPU 212 sets the value of Flag2 to "false" and returns to step S1408. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1412 is false, the process returns to S1408.

  If the result of the determination in S1406 is true, that is, for all the sheets used by the determined print job, the mismatch with the sheets of all the paper feeding units of the digital printing machine 102 and the check of the presence or absence of the sheets are completed. Proceed to S1414. In S1414, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the value of the flag Flag1 is “true”. If the value of the flag Flag1 is "true", any of the sheets used by the print job determined in S1403 is not set in any of the paper feed units included in the digital printing machine 102. Means Therefore, in that case, the process proceeds to S1415, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a warning mark 1102 indicating a mismatch state is displayed in the print job column of the job hold list 702, and the process proceeds to S1402. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in S1414 is false, the process proceeds to S1416, and it is determined whether or not the value of the flag Flag2 is “true”. In other words, it is determined whether any sheet used by the print job selected in step S1403 is set in any of the paper feeding units included in the digital printing machine 102, and whether the remaining amount of the sheet is zero. Determine. If the determination result is true, the process proceeds to S1417, and the CPU 212 displays a warning mark 1101 indicating a sheet absence state in the print job column of the job hold list 702, as illustrated in FIG. 11, for example, and proceeds to S1402. . If the determination result of S1416 is false, the process proceeds to S1402.

  The above is the detailed description of the mismatch check processing in S1307 of FIG.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the sheet used by the print job is set in the sheet feeding unit before the print processing of the print job stored in the digital printing machine 102 is performed by the job hold function. It can be determined whether or not it has been performed. Further, it is possible to determine whether the sheet exists in the sheet feeding unit before starting the printing process. Also, at this time, whether the sheet used by the selected print job is set in the sheet feeding unit, and whether the sheet is set in the sheet feeding unit and the sheet actually exists. Can also be determined. [Embodiment 2]
In the above-described first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, an example of a case of displaying one of the warning marks 1101 and 1102 has been described. However, the state where the sheet is set in the sheet feeding unit and the remaining amount is zero and the state where the sheet used by the print job is not set in any of the sheet feeding units may occur at the same time. For example, suppose that a print job uses a plurality of sheets, and it is assumed that the selected print job specifies sheet A and sheet B here.

  Here, sheet A is set in the sheet feeding unit, but the remaining amount is zero. It is also assumed that sheet B is not set in any of the sheet feeding units. In this case, sheet A corresponds to the condition for displaying the warning mark 1101 shown in FIG. 11, and sheet B corresponds to the condition for displaying the warning mark 1102. In the example of FIG. It cannot be confirmed that there is no remaining sheet in the section.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen of the job hold function displayed on the operation unit 204 in the digital printing press 102 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Parts common to those in FIG. 7 are indicated by the same symbols. Note that FIG. 15 shows the screen after the mismatch inspection button 704 is pressed, but other behaviors and components of the screen are the same as those in the above-described first embodiment. Omitted. The hardware configuration of the digital printer 102 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

  As shown in the figure, both warning marks 1503 and 1504 are displayed in the JobD portion. This allows the user to set a state in which a plurality of sheets are set in the sheet feeding unit but the remaining amount is zero, and that the sheet is not set in any of the sheet feeding units and the sheet is not set. However, it can be confirmed that there is no paper feed unit.

  In FIG. 15, when the detail / change button 707 is pressed while, for example, JobD is selected, a sheet size and a sheet type (for example, FIG. 9B) used by JobD are displayed. Here, the sheet having the remaining amount of zero is displayed so as to be identifiable, and the display of the sheet feeding unit in which the sheet is set blinks. Also, a sheet type that is not set in any of the sheet feeding units is highlighted. As a result, a user can be presented with a sheet having a remaining amount of zero in the sheet size and sheet type used by JobD, a sheet feeding unit thereof, and a sheet type not set in any of the sheet feeding units.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating details of the mismatch check processing (S1307) when the mismatch check button 704 according to the second embodiment is pressed. The parts common to FIG. 14 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. This processing is realized by the CPU 212 of the controller unit 205 executing a program read from the ROM 207 or the HDD 209 and expanded in the RAM 208.

  The difference from FIG. 14 is that in FIG. 14, the process transits to S1402 after the mismatch icon is displayed in S1415. On the other hand, in FIG. 16, after the mismatch icon (1503 in FIG. 15) is displayed by shifting to S1416 after S1415, if there is no sheet, the no-sheet icon (1504 in FIG. 15) is displayed. It can transition to the process for doing.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, for one print job, a warning mark 1503 indicating that the sheet setting is not present in any of the sheet feeding units, and a sheet corresponding to any of the sheet feeding units is displayed. A warning mark 1504 indicating that there is no such information can be displayed at the same time.
[Embodiment 3]
In FIG. 7 according to the first embodiment, when the mismatch check button 704 is pressed, only the print job selected in the job hold list 702 at the time when the button 704 is pressed is checked. And

  Here, as shown in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the print job is deselected after the warning marks 1101 and 1102 are displayed by pressing the mismatch check button 704. An embodiment in which the display state of the warning mark 1101 or the warning mark 1102 is maintained even after performing such an operation is considered.

  The user performs various operations using the operation screen of the job hold function as shown in FIG. 7, and it is greatly assumed that various trial and error operations are naturally performed in the process. That is, the print job that has been once selected is set to the non-selected state, and the print job is set to the selected state again at a later timing. Considering the convenience at the time of such a user's operation, even if the print job is in a non-selected state, the print job selected once by the user and subjected to the mismatch check is selected again at a later timing. Print job candidates. In consideration of such a situation, it is not always advisable to reset the display of the warning marks 1101 and 1102 when the print job in the selected state is set to the non-selected state. It seems that it is preferable to maintain

Therefore, in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, even when the selected print job (JobD) is changed to the non-selected state, the warning marks 1503 and 1504 displaying the result of the mismatch inspection are displayed. Keep the display state.
[Embodiment 4]
After the mismatch inspection button 704 is pressed, a warning mark 1101 or a warning mark 1102 is displayed for each of the jobs displayed in the hold job list 702 in FIG. 11 and equivalent diagrams. After these marks are displayed, the mismatch check button 704 is pressed again, and their display states are maintained until they are updated.

  A further effect can be obtained by storing the display state in a nonvolatile manner together with the print job data and print settings stored in the storage document storage area 512. That is, the result of the mismatch check can be stored in a permanent form. Thus, for example, even when the power of the digital printing press 102 is turned off and then turned on again, it is possible to retain the result of the mismatch inspection performed before the power was turned off at the next power-on. is there. Thus, when the power is turned on, the result of the mismatch inspection performed before the power is turned off can be displayed on the hold job list 702 without pressing the mismatch inspection button 704 again.

  This makes it easy to continue work even when the user turns off the digital printing press to interrupt the work during the work and turns on the power to resume the work, for example. Will be able to confirm.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the gist of the present invention, and those are excluded from the scope of the present invention. is not. For example, in the present embodiment, the CPU of the control unit 205 of the digital printing machine 102 is the main body of the various controls, but a part of the various controls is controlled by an external controller or the like separate from the digital printing machine 102. Alternatively, all of them may be configured to be executable.
[Embodiment 5]
In the present embodiment, an example in which only a selected job is checked for the presence or absence of a sheet type required for the job and whether or not there is a remaining amount of sheets, and a sheet replacement process after the check is performed will be described.

  Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the present embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention. .

  FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a printing system according to the fifth embodiment.

  In FIG. 18, reference numerals 1801 to 1803 denote host computers. The printing apparatus 1800 is connected to host computers 1801 to 1803 via a network 1804. Print jobs sent from the host computers 1801 to 1803 are received by the printing apparatus 1800 via the network 1804.

  FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a controller 1900 of a printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment.

  19, reference numeral 1900 denotes a controller, 1901 denotes a CPU, 1902 denotes a RAM, 1903 denotes a program ROM, and 1904 denotes a data ROM. The CPU 1901 controls the operation of the printing apparatus 1800 based on a program stored in the program ROM 1903. The RAM 1902 is used as a main memory when the CPU 1901 operates and an area (work area) for temporarily storing information. The data ROM 1904 stores fixed information such as fonts called when the CPU 1901 executes a program. A network interface (I / F) 1905 connects to the network 1804 and receives a job from the host computer. A printer interface (I / F) 1906 connects the printer engine 1908 and the controller 1900. The external storage device 1907 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk or a flash memory. The CPU 1901, RAM 1902, ROM 1903, 1904, interface 1905, 1906, external storage device 1907, and UI (user interface) 1909 are connected via a system bus 1910. The UI 1909 includes an operation panel including a touch panel, a hard key, a display unit, and the like that receive an operation by the user.

  FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating the software configuration of the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment and its peripheral configuration.

  The UI control unit 2001 connects the UI 1909 and the job control unit 2004. The network control unit 2002 controls the network interface 1905. The document management unit 2003 stores the job. The job control unit 2004 controls execution of a job by the controller 1900. The image processing unit 2005 develops the input job and generates image data for printing. The printer control unit 2006 controls the printer engine 1908 via the printer interface 1906. The setting storage unit 2007 stores various kinds of setting information set from the UI 1909, and sheet settings are also stored here. Reference numerals 2010 to 2014 denote paper feed stages mounted on the printer engine 1908, and here, five paper feed stages are mounted.

  With the above configuration, the hold job input from the outside is temporarily stored in the external storage device 1907 (FIG. 19) and managed by the document management unit 202003. Note that the control processing and management processing of the parts indicated by 2001 to 2007 are realized by the CPU 1901 executing the program in the program ROM 1903.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hold job list displayed on the UI 1909 of the printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

  Reference numeral 2101 denotes a list of hold jobs held in the external storage device 1907, and a predetermined number of held jobs are displayed. In the job list 2101, there are two states in which a job is selected. That is, there are a current selection state selected as an operation target for one job, and a multiple selection state selected as an operation corresponding to a plurality of jobs. The currently selected job is always included in the multiple selection job.

  Reference numeral 2102 denotes a currently selected job, which is represented by a colored background of the job display. Three jobs denoted by reference numerals 2102 to 2103 indicate a plurality of selected hold jobs, and the selected order is represented by a number attached. In FIG. 21, job1 (job 1) to job3 (job 3) are selected in this order. An update button 2104 is an icon indicating that the job is a media mismatch. Pressing the update button 2104 updates the mismatch icon 2105 to the latest state. If there are no selected jobs, the update button 2104 is grayed out and cannot be pressed. The paper replacement button 2106 is a transition button to a paper replacement screen for performing paper replacement (switching the paper feed destination) for the currently selected job. The print button 2107 is a button for instructing printing so that a plurality of selected hold jobs are executed and printed in the order of selection. If there is no currently selected job, the paper substitute button 2106 is grayed out and cannot be pressed. If there are more hold jobs than can fit in the job list 2101, the user can press the scroll button 2108 to display other hold jobs that are not currently displayed.

  In FIG. 21, a media mismatch has occurred in job 1. That is, when the job 1 requests a paper size and a paper type set in each paper feed stage to be used, the size and the paper type of the paper actually set in each paper feed stage are The request is identifiably indicated as being different from the request. In this case, when the user presses the paper substitute button 2106 in a state where the job 1 is selected as shown in FIG. 21, the screen changes to the screen of FIG.

  FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sheet replacement screen displayed on the UI 1909 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment. This screen is displayed by pressing the paper replacement button 2106 in a state where the currently selected job (for example, job 1) is selected as in the screen of FIG.

  Reference numeral 2201 denotes a paper list used by the currently selected job (job 1). [] At the left end of this list indicates a paper feed tray. For example, 2202 requests that the job 1 request the paper feed tray 1 for a paper size A4 and a media type (Plain (plain paper)). Is displayed. Further, no substitute paper is set for the paper in the paper feed stage 1, and no media mismatch has occurred. That is, it is indicated that the sheet of the size and type requested by the job 1 is set in the sheet feed tray 1.

  Reference numeral 2203 denotes the currently selected paper feed stage, and by adding its background color, indicates that the paper feed stage is being selected. In 2203, the job 1 requests the paper feed tray 3 for the paper size A3 and the media type (Heavy (thick paper)), but the paper set in the paper feed tray 3 does not satisfy the conditions. . That is, the paper feed stage 3 is in a state of no paper. Therefore, by changing the paper feed destination to the paper feed stage 4, the setting is made so that the paper of the size and type requested by the job 1 can be fed. Reference numeral 2204 denotes an icon indicating that a media mismatch has occurred in the paper feed stage 3. That is, the job 1 requests the sheet size A3 and the medium type (Heavy (thick paper)) from the sheet feeding stage 3, but no sheet meeting the conditions is set in the sheet feeding stage 3. Media mismatch has occurred. Then, instead of the paper feed tray 3, a paper feed tray 4 containing sheets of paper size and type requested by the job 1 is designated.

  A “change paper selection” button 2205 is a button for transitioning to a screen for selecting an alternative paper. A “to paper destination before change” button 2206 is a button for canceling the substitute setting in paper units. An OK button 2207 is a button for confirming the selected alternative sheet. A cancel button 2208 is a button for canceling the substitute sheet provisionally set on this screen.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment displays a job list screen. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM 1903, and this processing is achieved by the CPU 1901 executing the program.

  This process is started when an event instructing display of the job list screen is issued. First, in step S601, a list of hold jobs managed and stored in the document management unit 2003 is displayed in a predetermined order, as shown in FIG. 21, for example. Here, the hold job is a job for which printing has been executed or a job which has not been printed and stored in the external storage device 1907. When the job list screen is displayed first or when switched from another function and displayed, in step S <b> 602, the CPU 1901 sets “currently selected job” and “multiple-selected job” to “none”. In step S603, the CPU 1901 waits for a user input operation using the UI 1909.

  If there is any input in S603, the process proceeds to S604, and the CPU 1901 determines what the input is. Here, if the input is, for example, the user's finger touched the job in the job list 2101, that is, if the job is a job selection instruction, the process proceeds to S 605, and the CPU 1901 proceeds to step S 605. ) Is determined. If not, the process advances to step S606, and the selected job is set as the currently selected job, and the job is displayed with a background color as indicated by reference numeral 2102 in FIG. In step S607, the CPU 1901 determines whether the job is already a target of multiple selection. If the job is not a target of multiple selection, the CPU 1901 proceeds to step S608 and assigns a number in the selection order as one of the multiple selection jobs. To display the job list 2101 again. The process advances to step S603 to wait for the next input from the UI 1909. If it is determined in step S607 that the job has already been selected, the process proceeds to step S603 without performing any selection order number.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S605 that the job is already the current selection job, the process advances to step S609, and the CPU 1901 determines that the selected job is an instruction to remove the job from the current selection job, and displays the job without the background color. Then, the process proceeds to S610, where the job is also included in a plurality of selection targets, so that the job is also excluded from the selection, the selection order is renumbered to each job, and the job list 2101 is displayed again. The process advances to step S603 to wait for the next input from the UI 1909.

  If it is determined in step S604 that the update button 2104 has been pressed in a state where there is a selected job, the process advances to step S611, and the CPU 1901 updates the media mismatch status for a plurality of selected jobs and obtains the result. Displayed in the job list 2101. The process advances to step S603 to wait for the next input from the UI 1909. The process of S611 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  If another button is operated in step S604, the process advances to step S612. In S612, it is determined whether or not the paper substitute button 2106 has been pressed. If the paper substitute button 2106 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to S615, the process corresponding to the pressed button is performed, and the process proceeds to S603. In step S612, when it is determined that another button, for example, the print button 2107 has been pressed, respective processes such as printing a plurality of selected jobs in the order of selection are performed. I do.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S612 that the sheet replacement button 2106 has been pressed, the process advances to step S613, and the CPU 201 displays, for the currently selected job, sheet information for displaying a sheet replacement screen, for example, as shown in FIG. Execute display processing. Then, the process advances to step S614 to update the media mismatch state of the job and display the job list 2101 again. The above processing is continuously executed until the job list screen is switched to another screen. The processing of S613 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  According to this process, a list of hold jobs is displayed on the UI 1909, and the user can select a desired job from the list of jobs and print it. At this time, it is also possible to easily confirm whether the size and type of paper used for printing by the selected job matches the size and type of paper set in the paper feed tray. If the size and type of paper used by the selected job for printing does not match the size and type of paper set in the paper feed tray, the size and type of paper used for that job are stored. The job can be executed by designating another paper feed tray that is present.

  FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment to determine a media mismatch state of a plurality of selected jobs. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM 1903, and this processing is achieved by the CPU 1901 executing the program. This process corresponds to the details of the process of S611 in FIG.

  First, in step S701, the CPU 1901 determines whether there is a job for which a media mismatch state has not been determined among information of a plurality of selected jobs. If the processing for all the selected jobs has been completed, the processing proceeds to step S709. Proceed to. In step S709, the CPU 1901 obtains the determination result of the media mismatch state of the selected job, and ends this processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S701 that there is a job that has not been subjected to the media mismatch state determination process, the process advances to step S702 to determine whether or not the job is a target job for the media mismatch determination. If it is determined that the job is not a target job, the process advances to step S701 to perform processing for the next job. If it is determined in step S702 that the job is a target of a media mismatch determination, the process advances to step S703, and the CPU 1901 determines whether information on paper to be used in the job has been acquired. If it is determined that the job has not been acquired, the process advances to step S704 to acquire and store the information of the paper used by the job in three attributes of a paper feed stage, a size, and a media type (paper type), and the process advances to step S705. Here, when the same paper feed stage, paper size, and media type are used for different pages of one job, they are grouped as the same paper. If it is determined in step S703 that the information of the paper to be used in the job has been acquired, the process advances to step S705.

  In step S705, the CPU 1901 determines whether the determination process has been completed for all the paper feed trays used in the job. When the determination process is completed for all the paper feed trays, the process proceeds to S708, where the CPU 1901 selects the next job among the selected jobs, and proceeds to S701.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S705 that the determination process has not been completed for all the paper feed stages used in the job, the process advances to step S706. Determine if there is a media mismatch and save the result. Then, the process proceeds to S707, and the process proceeds to S705 with the next paper feed stage as a determination target. When the processing of all of the plurality of selected jobs is completed in S701 in this way, the stored determination results of each job are obtained, and this processing is completed.

  With this, in the selected job, whether the paper size and paper type of the paper feed tray requested by the job match the paper size and paper type actually set in the paper feed tray Can be determined. When a plurality of jobs are selected, for each of the plurality of jobs, the paper size and paper type of the paper source requested by the job, and the paper size actually set in the paper source It can be determined whether or not the paper type matches.

  FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment displays a sheet replacement screen. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM 1903, and this processing is achieved by the CPU 1901 executing the program. This processing corresponds to the details of the paper substitute screen display processing in S613 of FIG.

  First, in step S801, when the CPU 1901 determines that there is no currently selected job or that the job is not a sheet replacement target job, the CPU 1901 ends this processing without performing the sheet replacement screen display processing. If not, the process advances to step S802, and the CPU 1901 determines whether or not the paper information used for the job has been acquired. If the sheet information has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S804. If not, the process proceeds to step S803, and similarly to step S704 of FIG. Acquire and save with the 3 attributes. Then, the process proceeds to S804.

  In step S804, the CPU 1901 determines whether the process of determining a media mismatch has been completed for all sheets used in the job. If the determination process has been completed for all sheets, the process proceeds to step S807; Proceed to. In step S805, the CPU 1901 determines a media mismatch of each sheet. Then, the process advances to step S806. If the alternative sheet has already been set, the information of the alternative sheet and the media mismatch state of the sheet are displayed, and the process advances to step S804. The processing in S805 will be described later with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  In step S807, the CPU 1901 displays a list of paper information used in the job as shown in FIG. 22 in a state where no paper is selected. The process advances to step S808 to wait for an input from the UI 1909. If there is an input from the UI 1909, the process proceeds to S809, and the CPU 1901 determines the input. In step S809, if the CPU 1901 determines that the instruction is to select a sheet, the process advances to step S810, and the CPU 1901 determines whether the sheet has not been selected. If it is determined that the sheet has not been selected, the process advances to step S811 to display the selected sheet with a background color, and the process advances to step S808. On the other hand, if it is determined that the selected sheet has already been selected, the process proceeds from S810 to S812, and the CPU 1901 removes the selected sheet from the selected sheet, displays without the background color, and proceeds to S808. The processing of S809 to S812 is processing for switching between selection / non-selection of paper information.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S809 that the “change paper selection” button 2205 of “change paper selection” has been pressed, the process advances to step S814 via S813. In S814, the CPU 1901 tentatively sets the sheet selected on the changed sheet selection screen as a substitute sheet, and proceeds to S816. If the “to paper before change” button 506 is pressed in step S809, the process advances to step S815 via step S813. In step S815, the CPU 1901 deletes an alternative sheet if the selected sheet is set, and proceeds to step S816. In step S816, the CPU 1901 determines a media mismatch for the selected sheet. The process advances to step S817 to update the display of the icon 2204 indicating the mismatch state of the selected sheet, and returns to step S808. The processing of S816 will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  If it is determined in step S808 that the OK button 2207 or the cancel button 2208 has been pressed, the process advances to step S818. In the case of the OK button 2207, the process proceeds to S819, in which the CPU 1901 determines and saves the substitute sheet information set on this screen as an actual one instead of a temporary one, and ends the processing. On the other hand, in the case of the cancel button 2208, the process proceeds to S 820, where the substitute sheet and the deletion instruction set on this screen are discarded, and the original substitute sheet information is validated, and the process ends.

  FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the fifth embodiment determines whether there is a media mismatch for each sheet. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM 1903, and this processing is achieved by the CPU 1901 executing the program. This processing corresponds to the details of the processing of S706 in FIG. 24 and S805 and S816 in FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 901, the CPU 1901 obtains, from the printer engine 1908, information on the paper set in each paper feed tray of the printer engine 1908. The information of this sheet is stored not only in the printer engine 1908 but also in some devices inside the controller 1900. In this case, the information is obtained from the setting storage unit 2007. In step S902, the CPU 1901 determines whether a substitute sheet is set for the sheet obtained from the job. If an alternative sheet has been set, the process advances to step S903, and the CPU 1901 determines the alternative sheet as the determination target and advances to step S905. On the other hand, if the substitute sheet has not been set, the process proceeds to S904, and the CPU 1901 proceeds to S905 with the sheet itself as a determination target.

  In step S <b> 905, the CPU 1901 determines whether or not the information of the paper feed stage, the size, and the media type of the target sheet all match the sheet information of the printer acquired in step S <b> 901. If they match, the process proceeds to S906, where the CPU 1901 determines that there is no media mismatch, and proceeds to S908. On the other hand, if they do not match, the process proceeds to S907, and the CPU 1901 determines that there is a media mismatch, and proceeds to S908. In step S908, the CPU 1901 writes the determination result in the sheet information, and ends the processing.

  According to the above-described processing, the operator displays a list of hold jobs, selects a plurality of jobs to be printed, and presses the update button 2104 before instructing the start of printing, so that the media is changed for each of the selected jobs. The mismatch is determined and the result is displayed.

  Even if there are many hold jobs, the number of jobs to be actually printed is usually not so large, and is at most several to 100 at most. For this reason, the determination of the media mismatch requires only a few seconds of processing, even for a non-high performance CPU.

  The media mismatch determination is performed only when the operator intentionally presses the update button 2104. For example, when the job list is scrolled to search for a job, the media mismatch determination is not performed. For this reason, the operator does not feel stress such as slow display.

  Further, when a job in which a media mismatch has occurred is selected and a paper replacement screen is displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 22, it is possible to know which paper is the media mismatch in paper units. Further, when the paper is replaced with another sheet in order to avoid the media mismatch, there is an advantage that it can be immediately determined whether or not the media mismatch is eliminated.

  As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, when a print of a hold job is instructed, the paper of the paper feed tray designated by the job matches the paper actually stored in the paper feed tray. The user can confirm whether to perform printing before giving an instruction to start printing. Further, since the media mismatch determination is performed only for the selected job and the media mismatch determination is not performed for the other jobs, the time and load required for performing the media mismatch determination can be reduced.

  Further, when the paper mismatch occurs, the user can specify the paper of the replaceable paper feed stage by a simple operation, so that there is an effect that the troublesome operation of the operator can be eliminated.

[Embodiment 6]
In the above-described fifth embodiment, by selecting a plurality of jobs from a plurality of hold jobs and pressing an update button 2104, it is determined whether or not the selected jobs have a media mismatch. On the other hand, even if the presence or absence of a media mismatch when executing the job is determined at the moment when the job is selected, the processing time can be shortened if there is only one job. Hereinafter, a sixth embodiment in which the presence / absence of a media mismatch in a job is determined at the timing when the job is selected will be described. Note that the hardware configuration and system configuration of the device according to the sixth embodiment are the same as those of the above-described fifth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention displays a job list screen. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM 1903, and this processing is achieved by the CPU 1901 executing the program.

  Note that the processing of S1001 to S1008 and S1010 to S1016 is the same as S601 to S615 in the flowchart of FIG.

  The difference from the fifth embodiment is that in step S1007, the CPU 1901 determines whether the job is already a target of multiple selection. If the job is not a multiple selection target, the process advances to step S1008 to add the job to one of the multiple selection jobs. A number in the selection order is assigned, and the process proceeds to S1009. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1007 that a plurality of objects are already selected, the process advances to step S1009. In step S1009, the CPU 1901 determines whether or not there is a media mismatch for the job. If the job does not match, the CPU 1901 adds an icon to redisplay the job list 2101, advances to step S1003, and waits for the next input.

  According to the processing described above, the operator displays a list of hold jobs, selects a job to be printed, and determines whether or not there is a media mismatch for each job each time the job is selected. Since such processing is performed for each job, even a non-high-performance CPU requires only about several tens of milliseconds. Therefore, it is considered that the operator does not feel stress due to delay in display of the screen.

  Also, as in the fifth embodiment, when scrolling the job list to search for a job, the presence or absence of a media mismatch is not determined, so that stress such as slow display is not felt there.

  In addition, if the UI is not one by one from the job list but can be selected from the top 100 jobs in a batch or a UI that allows a range to be specified, it takes time in several seconds to determine whether there is a media mismatch. Maybe. However, since it is the same as pressing the update button after selecting the job, the operator does not seem to feel any particular discomfort. Note that even if a job is selected, an operator who does not need to determine the presence / absence of a media mismatch may be switched to the method of the fifth embodiment.

[Embodiment 7]
In the above-described fifth embodiment, the presence or absence of a media mismatch is determined on the assumption that all information such as the paper size, paper feed stage, and media type is included in the paper used by the job. However, there are not many cases in which all of the information is set on the paper of a job actually input. For example, there is a case in which the printing apparatus searches for a sheet suitable for the job from the sheet feeder and feeds the sheet as “AUTO” (automatic) without specifying the sheet feeder in job specification. In some cases, such as the front cover, the back cover, and the insertion sheet, the job is specified only in the paper feed stage, and the paper size and media type are not specified. In such a case, only the paper feed stage matches, and the paper size and the media type do not match, so that all jobs with an inserted paper are determined to be media mismatch.

  As another problem, the paper size and the media type are set as the information of the paper set in the paper feed tray, but there is a case where the paper feed tray is pulled out in the actual printing apparatus and the paper cannot be fed. . Further, there is a case where the paper feed stage is closed but no paper is stored therein (out of paper).

  In the following, a seventh embodiment in which the presence or absence of a media mismatch is determined in these cases will be described. Note that the hardware configuration and system configuration of the device according to the seventh embodiment are the same as those of the above-described fifth embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the controller 1900 of the printing apparatus 1800 according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention determines whether there is a media mismatch for each sheet. A program for executing this processing is stored in the program ROM 1903, and this processing is achieved by the CPU 1901 executing the program. This processing corresponds to the details of the processing of S706 in FIG. 24 and S805 and S816 in FIG. Here, the processing from S1101 to S1104 is the same as the processing from S901 to S904 in FIG. 26, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In step S <b> 1105, the CPU 1901 determines whether or not the sheet feeder for the target job is set to “AUTO”. If so, the process proceeds to step S <b> 1106. In step S <b> 1106, the CPU 1901 determines whether or not any of the paper feed trays of the printing apparatus 1800 has a paper feed tray that accommodates paper of the specified paper size and media type. If there is a matching paper feed stage, the process advances to step S1107, and the CPU 1901 determines whether the paper feed stage is out of paper. If it is determined in step S1107 that the sheet is not out of paper, the process advances to step S1108, and the CPU 1901 determines whether the sheet feed tray is in a pulled-out state. If it is determined that it is not in the pulled-out state (open), the process proceeds to S1109, and the CPU 1901 determines that there is no mismatch, and proceeds to S1111.

  On the other hand, in step S1106, if none of the paper feed stages has the same paper size and media type, or if the paper feed stage is out of paper in step S1107, or if the paper feed stage is open in step S1108, the process proceeds to step S1110. move on. In step S1110, the CPU 1901 determines that there is a mismatch, and proceeds to step S1111. The CPU 1901 writes the determination result in the sheet information of the job, and ends the process.

  Also, in step S1105, the CPU 1901 proceeds to step S1112 if the paper feed stage specified by the target job is not “AUTO” and the paper feed stage is specifically specified, and the CPU 1901 further proceeds to step S1112. Check the paper size and media type of the job. If neither is specified, the process advances to step S1113, and the CPU 1901 obtains information on the size and media type of the paper set in the specified paper feed tray from the paper setting information of the printing apparatus. Then, as the job paper size and media type, the paper size and media type set in the paper feed stage are adopted, and the flow advances to step S1114. If it is determined in step S1112 that the job specifies one or both of the paper size and the media type, the process advances to step S1114.

  In step S <b> 1114, the CPU 1901 determines whether the paper size and the media type of the paper in the specified paper feed tray match. If there is a matching paper feed stage, the process advances to step S1107; otherwise, the process advances to step S1110. In step S1110, the CPU 1901 determines that there is a mismatch, and proceeds to step S1111. The CPU 1901 writes the determination result in the sheet information of the job, and ends the process.

  According to the above-described processing, when the specification of the paper feed source of the paper used by the held job is “AUTO”, the paper size and the media type match among the paper feed sources of the printing apparatus. Search for the paper source containing paper. Here, if there is a paper feed stage, there is no media mismatch, but if there is no matching paper in any of the paper feed stages, it is determined that there is a media mismatch.

  Also, if the paper used by the job includes a cover, back cover, insert paper, or other paper that is simply fed without being printed and overlaid on the product, check that there is no media mismatch. Set the specified paper size and media type for the specified paper source.

  As a result, if there is paper in the paper feed stage, no media mismatch occurs, and if there is no paper, a media mismatch without paper occurs.

  Further, when the paper in the paper feed stage is out of paper, or when the paper feed stage is open and cannot be fed as it is, it is determined that there is a media mismatch.

(Other embodiments)
Although various examples and embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art are not limited to the specific description in the present specification.

  The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program and reads the program. This is the process to be performed.

  102: digital printing machine, 200: sheet processing apparatus, 204: operation unit, 209: HDD, 224: scanner, 1000: printer unit

Claims (11)

A printing apparatus that can convey a sheet from at least one of a plurality of sheet storage units and print an image on the conveyed sheet,
Holding means for holding one or more print data;
Determining means for determining whether or not a sheet is present in at least one or more sheet storage units used for printing one or more print data held by the holding means;
Notifying means for notifying that there is no sheet used for printing the print data based on the determination by the determining means,
First receiving means for receiving from a user a selection instruction for selecting at least one print data from the print data held in the holding means;
Second receiving means for receiving, from a user, a print execution instruction based on the print data selected by the selection instruction,
Executing means for executing printing based on the print data selected by the selection instruction, according to the execution instruction being received,
The printing apparatus, wherein the notifying unit notifies that there is no sheet to be used for printing the print data before receiving the execution instruction from the second receiving unit. The notifying unit is configured to, when the determining unit determines that a sheet does not exist in at least one or more sheet storage units used for printing the one or more print data held in the holding unit, output the print data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein notification is made that there is no sheet to be used for printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a list of one or more print data stored in the storage unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the notifying unit performs the notification by displaying a display item indicating that there is no sheet used for printing the print data on a screen. The notifying unit performs the notification by displaying information for identifying print data determined to have no sheet to be used in the list and a display item indicating that there is no sheet in the list in association with each other. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: A receiving unit that receives the print data via the network,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit holds the print data received by the receiving unit. Storage means for storing identification information for identifying the plurality of sheet storage units and attribute information of a sheet to be stored in each sheet storage unit in association with each other;
Identifying means for identifying one or more sheet storage units associated with attribute information corresponding to a sheet used for printing one or more print data held by the holding means,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether a sheet exists in the one or more sheet storage units specified by the specification unit. . The notifying unit notifies, based on the specification by the specifying unit, that there is no sheet storage unit in which the attribute information is set so as to store a sheet used for printing the print data. Item 8. A printing device according to Item 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination by the determination unit is performed at least in accordance with a predetermined user operation being performed. A control unit that has a holding unit that holds one or a plurality of print data, conveys a sheet from at least one of the plurality of sheet storage units, and controls a printing apparatus that can print an image on the conveyed sheet; The method
A determining step of determining whether or not a sheet exists in at least one or more sheet storage units used for printing one or more print data held by the holding unit;
A notification step of notifying that there is no sheet used for printing the print data based on the determination by the determination step;
Receiving from a user a selection instruction for selecting at least one print data from the print data held in the holding unit;
Accepting a print execution instruction from the user based on the print data selected by the selection instruction, and
An execution step of executing printing based on the print data selected by the selection instruction, according to the execution instruction being received,
The control method, wherein the notifying step notifies, before receiving the execution instruction, that there is no sheet used for printing the print data. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the control method according to claim 10 .

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