JPH04184527A - Printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the printing interruption time of a printing system and improve the printing process efficiency of the system by transmitting interrupted printing information to another printing device for substitute printing when the printing device designated to output becomes disabled from printing while the printing device performs a printing process. CONSTITUTION:When paper jamming occurs in a printing device 1 while printing data are transmitted to the device 1 from a host computer 3 through an ordinary communication channel A, the device alternately displays the information about the occurrence of the paper jamming and the number of a printing device 1 for the emergency time on a panel so as to inform the operator of this printing system of the outputting destination for the emergency time. Then the device 1 switches its communication channel to an emergency channel and transmits the un-outputted data remaining in the device 1 to another printing device 2. Thus the printing device itself which becomes disabled from printing can automatically transmit the interrupted remaining printing information to another normal printing device for substitute printing. Therefore, the printing process can be continued efficiently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printing system constructed such that a plurality of printing apparatuses can receive print information wirelessly transmitted from an external device.

[Conventional technology j Conventionally, in this type of wired printing system, when one printing device is configured so that multiple host computers can share it, jams and paper jams occur while printing print information from any host computer. When the printer is in a state where it is impossible to continue printing, such as when there is no printing, the printing process is stopped until an external recovery operation is performed by the operator.

In addition, if multiple printing devices are configured so that multiple host computers can share them, even if another printing device is able to print when printing cannot be continued, print information that remains on the other printing device may remain. There was no automatic switching printing that would automatically take over printing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] For this reason, in a printing system configured such that a plurality of printing devices can be shared by a plurality of host computers, any one of the plurality of printing devices can be used as an output light source. If there are multiple host computers specified as the printing device, if the host computer that specified the printing device first interrupts printing processing due to the above trouble, the printer will not be able to print until the specified recovery operation is completed by the corresponding operator. There were problems such as having to wait for a long time and printing efficiency was significantly reduced.

In order to avoid this problem, the operator of the host computer is forced to perform the troublesome task of searching for and specifying a vacant (printable) print process, which increases the operational burden.

This invention was made in order to solve the above problem, and when the printing device specified for output becomes unable to print during the printing process of print information wirelessly transmitted from an external device, the printing process is interrupted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing system that can shorten printing interruption time and greatly improve print processing efficiency within the system by transmitting printing information to another printing device and performing alternative printing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The printing system according to the present invention includes a monitoring means for monitoring a print-disabled state during processing of print information wirelessly transmitted from an external device, and a print-disabled state based on the output of the monitoring means. The printing apparatus is provided with a control means for specifying and transmitting the received print information that has been lost to another printing apparatus capable of alternative printing.

[Operation] In the present invention, when the monitoring means detects that the printing device becomes unable to print while processing print information wirelessly transmitted from an external device, the control means determines that printing is disabled based on the output of the monitoring means. To control the specified transmission of the received print information that has become lost to another printing device capable of alternative printing, and to continue printing the remaining print information without waiting for recovery.

[Embodiment 1] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system showing an embodiment of the present invention, and 3 is a host computer serving as an external device, which prints print information consisting of print data and control codes. Device 1 or printing bag jl12
Output to.

The printing apparatus 1 includes a control section 11. Wireless data transmitter/receiver 129
Display panel section 13. It is composed of a printer section 14.

The wireless data transmitting/receiving unit 12 has a normal communication channel A or a communication channel B for wirelessly exchanging print data and control codes with the host computer 3;
It has an emergency communication channel for wirelessly exchanging print data and control codes with the printing device 2 for emergency output.

The control unit 11 includes a control means according to the present invention, and controls the entire printing apparatus 1. The printer section 14 is a printing mechanism section for forming a permanent visible image on recording paper based on print information received from the host computer 3.

Further, like the printing device 1, the printing device 2 also includes a control section 21, a wireless data transmission and reception section 222, a display panel section 23, and a printer section 24.
A normal communication channel A or communication channel B that wirelessly exchanges print data and control codes with the host computer 3, and an emergency communication channel that wirelessly exchanges print data and control codes with the printer 1 for emergency output. has.

The alternative print processing operation in the printing system according to the present invention will be explained below.

First, assume that the printing apparatus 1 becomes jammed while print data is being transmitted from the host computer 3 to the printing apparatus 1 through the normal communication channel A.

The printing device 1 alternately displays on the panel a display notifying the operator that a paper jam has occurred and the printing device number in case of an emergency, and notifies the operator of substitute output light in case of an emergency. Next, the printing device 1 switches to the emergency communication channel and transmits the remaining unoutputted data in the printing device 1 to the printing device 2. At this time, if the printing device 2 is in a BUSY state (eg, printing), it continues to wait until the BUSY state is released. If the printing device 2 is in the READY state, print bag fl! using the emergency communication channel! Output the residual data of 1.

After outputting the residual data of printing device 1, printing device 2
switches the receiving frequency to the normal communication channel A and outputs the residual data of the host computer 3. If no data is received from the host computer 3 for a certain period of time, the receiving frequency is returned to communication channel B and the emergency output function is terminated.

In the printing system configured as described above, the monitoring means (in this embodiment, the control unit 11 monitors from the output of a sensor (not shown)) receives information transmitted wirelessly from an external device (in this embodiment, the host computer 3). When it is detected that the printing apparatus 1 has fallen into a print-disabled state during printing information processing, the control means (in this embodiment, the control section 11 controls the wireless data transmitting/receiving section 12) performs the control based on the output of the monitoring means. To control the designated transmission of the received print information that has become unprintable to another printing device capable of alternative printing, and to continue printing the remaining print information without waiting for recovery.

Hereinafter, the alternative print processing operation in the printing system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an alternative print processing procedure in the printing system according to the present invention. In addition,(
11 to (9) indicate each step.

When the printing device 1 receives print information wirelessly transmitted from the host computer 3 via the wireless data transceiver 31 (1), the control unit 11 analyzes the received print information and generates print data (2)0 Next, if the print section 14 is capable of printing, printing processing is started (3).

During this time, whether or not a jam has occurred is monitored according to the output from a sensor (not shown) (4), and if it is normal, it is determined whether the print data is finished or not (51). YES
If so, the process ends; if NO, returns to step (11).

On the other hand, if the judgment in step (4) is YES (when a jam occurs), the jam occurrence 1 alternative cutting edge will be notified on the host computer 3 and operation panel 6), and the channel will be sent to emergency communication for alternative printing. Switch to the channel (7), determine whether the printing device 2 specified for FF switching is in the BUSY state 8), and when it becomes ready, start alternative printing of the interrupted residual data on the printing device 1 9), Print Finish the post-completion process.

In the above embodiment, the case where the printing system is constructed by two printing apparatuses 1 and 2 has been described, but the number of printing apparatuses may be two or more, and in that case, if the printing system becomes unable to continue printing. The printing device may be configured to use the emergency channel to search for an available printing device and wirelessly transmit alternative printing information.

[Effects of the Invention 1] As explained above, the present invention includes a monitoring means for monitoring a print-disabled state during processing of print information wirelessly transmitted from an external device, and a monitor for monitoring a print-disabled state based on the output of the monitoring means. Since the printing device is equipped with a control means that controls the specified sending of printing information to another printing device that can perform alternative printing, it is possible to prevent printing from occurring due to some trouble with the printing device specified as the output destination by an external device. Even if the printing device itself can continue printing, it is possible to automatically send the interrupted remaining print information to another printing device that can continue printing, and perform alternative printing.

Therefore, the burden of instructing the external device to search for a printing device that can continue printing is reduced, and the printing process can be continued more efficiently.In addition, since the printing system is capable of wireless communication, it is possible to It has excellent effects such as being able to be freely moved and placed without being restricted in its placement position, reducing costs for wiring cables, and contributing to environmental beautification.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an alternative printing process procedure in the printing system according to the invention. In the figure, 1 and 2 are printing devices, 3 is a host computer, 1
1.21 is a control unit, 12.22 is a wireless data transmission/reception unit,
13.23 is the display panel section, 14.24 is the printer section,
31 is a wireless data transmitter/receiver. Figure 1 1.2. Printing device diagram 2

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printing system in which a plurality of printing devices are installed, each of which is equipped with a printing unit that receives print information wirelessly transmitted from an external device and performs printing processing, a print failure state occurs during processing of print information wirelessly transmitted from the external device. The printing apparatus is characterized in that the printing apparatus is equipped with a monitoring means for monitoring the information, and a control means for specifying and transmitting the received print information that has become unprintable based on the output of the monitoring means to another printing apparatus capable of alternative printing. printing system.