JPH06155834A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correctly recognize an order of a plurality of output units by applying a sequence number, and to make sending of separator information by a host computer unnecessary, automatically print a separator (intermediate (front, rear) separator) of a job, a job list by a printer side, correctly print and insert the separator even if a thickness of a print sheet is varied, in this printer. CONSTITUTION:A printer 4 has job information 2 for designating a job name and number of prints and a separator generating process 8 for generating a separator basing on the information 2, and holds the information 2 of which the printer 4 is informed by a host computer 1. When number of prints reaches a predetermined number, the process 8 refers to the information 2 to generate the separator having the job name and the number of prints to print and to discharge it.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus which prints and inserts a separator on a printing paper.

When the printing apparatus is equipped with a post-processing mechanism (for example, a cutter mechanism of a continuous form printing apparatus, a stacker of a single-cut printing apparatus, etc.), it is necessary to divide a job into a plurality of jobs according to the maximum processing amount of the post-processing mechanism. . At this time, the maximum number of sheets to be processed by the post-processing mechanism changes depending on the thickness of the paper. Further, when printing the same job on different paper sizes, the job is divided into a plurality of jobs even when output to a plurality of stackers. Therefore, there is a demand for a printing apparatus that automatically outputs a job separator so that the divided jobs can be identified.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional printing apparatus having a post-processing mechanism has a structure as shown in FIG. In the case of the number of sheets, if there are 300 or more continuous prints, the host computer 21 issues an output instruction of the intermediate separator and a post-processing operation command in order to show that the divided jobs are the same job.
The intermediate separator was printed and inserted. The configuration and operation of FIG. 7 will be briefly described below.

FIG. 7 shows an explanatory view of the prior art. In FIG. 7, the host computer 21 causes the printing device 22 to issue a print instruction, and causes the post-processing device 28 for printed printing paper to perform post-processing (such as cutting continuous forms or stacking single-cut sheets). Here, the job start separator data, print data (page unit),
It sends and issues intermediate separator data, post-processing operation commands, print data, job end separator data, and the like.

The printer 22 is a host computer 21.
To print on paper in response to instructions from
/ F23, print data expansion processing 24, print control 25, post-processing command processing 26, and the like.

The I / F 23 exchanges data with the host computer 21. The print data expansion processing 24 is performed by the I / F 23 from the host computer 21.
Expand print data (page unit) received via
It is a dot pattern that can be printed.

The print control 25 controls a printer mechanism (not shown) to perform printing. Post-processing command processing 2
6 receives and analyzes a post-processing operation command and the like, and instructs the print control 25 on the corresponding post-processing.

The print sheet 27 is a print sheet printed by a printer mechanism (not shown) under the control of the print control 25. The post-processing device 28 performs post-processing of printing paper (cutting a continuous form, stacking cut sheets, etc.).

Next, the operation will be briefly described. (1) The host computer 21 sends the job start separator data to the printing device 22. This is the printing device 2
The I / F 23 of 2 receives, the print data expansion processing 24 expands, the print control 25 prints the job start separator,
The printing paper 27 is conveyed to the post-processing device 28.

(2) The host computer 21 sends print data to the printing device 2 page by page. The I / F 23 of the printing device 22 receives this, the print data expansion processing 24 expands the received print data, the print control 25 prints, and the print paper 27 is conveyed to the post-processing device 28,
For example, stack.

(3) The host computer 21 sends the intermediate separator data to the printing device 22 and issues a post-processing operation command in consideration of the maximum number of stacks of the post-processing device 28. Upon receipt of this, the print development processing 24 develops, and the print control 25 prints the intermediate separator of the job (the intermediate separator on which the content to that effect has been printed because the maximum number of stacks has been reached) is printed. Insert in position. In response to the host computer 21 issuing the post-processing operation command, the post-processing command processing 26 receives and analyzes the post-processing operation command, and instructs the print control 25 to perform post-processing (for example, stack switching processing). To do.

(4) Similarly, the host computer 21 sends the print data to the printing device 22, performs printing, conveys the print paper 27 to the post-processing device 28, and stores it in the stacker.

As described above, the host computer 21 manages all the conventional job start separators, intermediate separators, job end separators, etc., and instructs these to the printing device 22 and the post-processing device 28, and the separators are stacked. I was supposed to print and insert it after or at the beginning.

[0014]

As described above, the conventional printing device 22 determines the maximum number of stacks of the post-processing device 28 based on the printing paper used by the host computer 21, and outputs the output instruction of the intermediate separator and Since the post-processing operation command is issued, there is a problem that the maximum stack number changes when the printing paper is changed, and the maximum stack number is newly set in the host computer 21.
There was a problem that it became necessary to set to. Furthermore, there is a problem that there is no way to confirm if the maximum stack number is set incorrectly.

Further, the conventional printing device 22 has a problem that when the same job is divided into a plurality of units and outputted, information for knowing the output sequence indicating the division order is not printed and inserted as a separator or the like. .

Further, the conventional printing device 22 has a problem that it cannot know the job information during printing. In addition, the conventional printing device 22 has a problem that the same job cannot be recognized when the same job is output to a plurality of stackers.

The present invention solves these problems.
Based on the job information sent from the host computer, the printer automatically prints the job separator (intermediate separator, (front, back)), job list, etc.
Even if the thickness of the printing paper changes, the separator is correctly printed and inserted, the sequence number is added to correctly recognize the order of multiple output units, and the host computer does not need to send the separator information. The purpose is to do.

[0018]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Means for solving the problems will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the host computer 1 informs the printing device 4 of the job information 2 and the like to print the information.

The job information 2 specifies a job name and the number of output sheets. The printing device 4 prints based on print data or prints a separator based on the job information 2 and the number of printed sheets.
And the separator generation processing 8 and the like.

The separator generation process 8 is to generate and print a separator. The print control 10 causes the printing mechanism to print.

[0021]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the printer 4 holds the job information 2 in response to the notification of the job information 2 from the host computer 1, and the number of printed sheets reaches a predetermined number. At this time, the separator generation process 8 refers to the job information 2 to generate a separator having a job name and the number of prints, print it, and discharge it.

Further, a separator having a job name and a number of prints is given a sequence number of the separator and printed. In addition, when a separator is generated and printed, and is output to the stacker 13 at the time of discharging to switch the separator, the separator having the job name, the number of prints, and the sequence number is printed and inserted at the end of the stacker 13 and the switched stacker 13 is switched. A separator having a job name and a sequence number is printed at the beginning of and is inserted.

Further, in response to the input of the job information output instruction to the printing device 4 which is currently printing, the separator generation process 8 refers to the job information 2 to generate a list of jobs currently being printed and print it. I am trying to let you.

Further, in response to the input of the print job information output instruction to the printer 4, the separator generation process 8 generates a printed job list based on the job information 2 and the history information. I am trying to print.

Therefore, based on the job information 2 sent from the host computer 1, the printer 4 automatically prints job separators (intermediate separators (front and rear)) and a job list. , Even if the thickness of the printing paper changes, the separator is correctly printed and inserted, the sequence number is given to correctly recognize the order of a plurality of output units, and the host computer 1 does not need to send the separator information. It is possible to do things like.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the host computer 1 performs various business processes according to a program, and here notifies the job information 2 and print data 3 to the printing device 4.

The job information 2 specifies a job name and the number of output sheets. The print data 3 is data to be printed, and is print data for each page, for example.

The printing device 4 prints based on the print data 3 and prints a separator based on the job information 2 and the number of printed sheets. The I / F 5, the job information storage area 6, It comprises a separator sequence management process 7, a separator generation process 8, a print data expansion process 9, a print control 10, and the like.

The I / F 5 is an interface, which is job information 2 transmitted from the host computer 1.
The print data 3 and the job end are received.

The job information storage area 6 stores and holds the job information 2 sent from the host computer 1 and received by the I / F 5. The separator sequence management process 7 is for generating and storing a sequence number when the same job is divided into a plurality of jobs, managing the sequence number, and further managing history information.

The separator generation process 8 is to generate a separator from the job information 2, the number of printed sheets, and history information held in the job information storage area 6. This separator includes: -Job name-Output number (printed number) -Sequence number (number when dividing the same job) -Others, which are printed (see FIG. 6).

The print data expansion processing 9 expands the print data transmitted from the host computer 1 into a dot pattern. The print control 10 is
The print data is expanded into a dot pattern by the print data expansion process 9 and the separator generated by the separator generation process 8 is printed by a printing mechanism (not shown).

The printing paper 11 is printed by a printing mechanism (not shown) under the control of the printing control 10, and the post-processing device 12
To be discharged to. The post-processing device 12 performs post-processing for printing on the ejected printing paper 11 by a printing mechanism (not shown). The post-processing device 12 is a cutter mechanism in the case of continuous forms, and a stacker 13 in the case of single-cut sheets. is there.

Next, the operation of the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in detail according to the order shown in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 2, S1 receives and stores the job information. The job information is the job information 2 transmitted from the host computer 1, received by the I / F 5 of the printing device 4, and stored and stored in the job information storage area 6. This job information is job information shown in FIG. 6 which will be described later. For example, print job name = XYZ output number of sheets = 500 (sheets).

In step S2, print data is received in page units. This is the print data 3 transmitted from the host computer 1 and received by the I / F 5 of the printing device 4. The print data 3 is print data for each page.

In S3, the printing operation is performed. The print data development processing 9 develops the print data 3 received in S2 into a dot pattern, and the print control 10 prints by controlling a printing mechanism (not shown). The printed printing paper 11 is discharged to the post-processing device 12.

In step S4, the number of printed sheets is counted up. In step S5, it is determined whether the number of printed sheets has reached the specified number.
In the case of YES, the number of printed sheets reaches the specified number of sheets, and it is necessary to divide the job, so the process proceeds to S6. On the other hand, NO
In the case of, it is determined that the number of printed sheets does not reach the specified number, and the process returns to S2.

In step S6, a separator is generated from the stored job information 2. In step S7, the separator (rear) is printed. This prints, for example, the separator in FIG. 6; print job name: XYZ-1; output number: 100/500.

In step S8, the cutter operation is performed and the sheet is discharged. In S6 to S8, since the number of printed sheets reaches the specified number by YES in S5, it is necessary to divide the job.
Generate a Separator (after), print and insert at the end of the print sheet.

In step S9, the separator (front) is printed. Prior to starting the printing of the next new job, the separator (previous) is printed and inserted at the beginning. In S10, it is determined whether there is a job list output instruction.
In the case of YES, it progresses to S11. If NO, S
Return to 2.

In step S11, it is determined whether the output list is being printed.
If YES, the job list being printed is printed in S12. This is a list of jobs being printed, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the output example of the in-printing job list, the print job list, the job name: XYZ, one copy is printed and inserted at the beginning. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S11, since it has been determined that the job list has been printed, the printed job list is printed in S13. This is based on the history information, as shown in the output example of the printed job list of FIG. 6, the print job list, the job name: ABC two copies, and the job name: DEF. 3rd output ・ Job name: UVW 4th output is printed.

As described above, when the job information 2 is received and stored, and subsequently the print data 3 is sequentially received page by page, when the number of printed sheets is counted to reach the specified number, the job information is 2. A separator (rear) is printed and cut based on the number of printed sheets and history information, and a separator (front) is printed and inserted at the next head.
When a job list output instruction is issued, the job list being printed or the job list already printed is also printed and output. As a result, only the job information 2 and the print data in page units are received from the host computer 1, and based on the job information 2, the number of printed sheets, and the history information held inside the printing apparatus 4, at the end of the job division. The separator (post) is printed and inserted, and the separator (previous) can be printed and inserted at the beginning of the next job, and at the same time, it is possible to print a list of jobs that are being printed or have been printed.

Next, the operation of the configuration of FIG. 1 will be described in detail according to the order shown in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, S21 receives and stores the job information. The job information is the job information 2 transmitted from the host computer 1, received by the I / F 5 of the printing device 4, and stored and stored in the job information storage area 6.
This job information is job information shown in FIG. 6 which will be described later. For example, print job name = XYZ output number of sheets = 500 (sheets).

In step S22, print control data is received.
This is the print control data transmitted from the host computer 1 and received by the I / F 5 of the printing device 4.

In step S23, print data is received. This is the print data 3 transmitted from the host computer 1 and received by the I / F 5 of the printing device 4. The print data 3 is print data for each page.

In step S24, it is determined whether the sheets are different. YE
In the case of S, the sheets are different and it is necessary to switch the stacker 13, so the processes of S25 to S28 are performed. On the other hand, if NO, the process proceeds to S29.

In step S25, a separator is generated from the stored job information. S26 is an intermediate separator (rear)
Print. This prints, for example, the separator in FIG. 6; print job name: XYZ-1; output number: 100/500.

In S27, the stacker is switched. S
28 prints the intermediate separator (front). Since the stacker is switched in S27, the separator shown in FIG. 6 is printed at the beginning.

YES in S24 above, S25 to S28
If the paper is different, the intermediate separator (rear) is printed and inserted last based on the job information 2 and the number of printed sheets, and then the separator (front) is printed and inserted at the beginning of the switched stacker 13. . As a result, before and after the stacker 13 is switched, the intermediate separator (rear) and the intermediate separator (front) can be printed and inserted respectively on the printing device 4 side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the present invention. Figure 4
(A) shows a job output example. In this example, 100 sheets of job A (number of output sheets), 100 sheets of job B-1 (sheets of output), 100 sheets of job B-2 (sheets of output), 50 sheets of job B-3 (sheets of output), and job C- 1 100 sheets (output sheet number) -Job C-2 30 sheets (output sheet number) are sequentially printed with separators and output. Here, for example, in 100 sheets of job B-1, B represents the job name, 1 represents the sequential number, and 100 represents the number of printed sheets.

FIG. 4B shows job list output.
This shows a list of printed jobs. Here, the job list: -Job name: A output: 1 copy-Job name: B output: 3 copies-Job name: C output: 2 copies

FIG. 5 shows an example of the stacker of the printing apparatus. Here, the upper stacker 13 and the lower stacker 13
There is. An operation panel 14 on the upper right is an operation panel for inputting a job list instruction and various print controls.

FIG. 6 shows an example of printing the separator / job list of the present invention. 7 shows an example of job information received from the host of FIG. Here, the host computer 1 notifies the printing apparatus 4 of the job information 2 that print job name = XYZ print number = 500 (sheets).

An example of printing the separator of FIG. 6 is shown. This separator is an intermediate separator (front), an intermediate separator (rear), or the like, and here, print job list, job name: XYZ 1 copy is printed.

An output example of the printed job list of FIG. 6 is shown. This printed job list is a list of printed jobs. For example: -Print job list-Job name: ABC 2 copies being output-Job name: DEF 3 copies being output-Job name: UVW 4 copies being output Print.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the printing device 4 automatically prints job separators (intermediate separators (front and rear)) and a job list based on the job information 2 sent from the host computer 1. , Even if the thickness of the printing paper 11 changes, the separator is correctly printed and inserted, the sequence number is given to correctly recognize the order of a plurality of output units, and the host computer 1 does not need to send the separator information. You can do things like As a result, (1) the job separator is automatically output by the printing device 3, so that it is possible to cope with a change in the output unit of the job separator.

(2) A sequence number can be printed on the separator to correctly recognize the order of a plurality of output units. (3) Since the host computer 1 does not need to send data for printing the separator, the amount of data can be reduced.

(4) It is possible to easily confirm the job information 2 being printed or already printed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example of a stacker of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a print example of a separator / job list according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Host computer 2: Job information 3: Print data 4: Printing device 5: I / F 6: Job information storage area 7: Separator sequence management processing 8: Separator generation processing 9: Print data expansion processing 10: Print control 11: Printing paper 12: Post-processing device 13: Stacker 14: Operation panel

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus for printing a separator on printing paper and inserting the separator, job information (2) for specifying a job name, the number of prints, etc., and a separator for generating a separator based on this job information (2). The generation device (8) is provided in the printing device (4), the job information (2) notified from the host computer (1) to the printing device (4) is held, and when the number of printed sheets reaches a predetermined number, the above A printing apparatus characterized in that the separator generation processing (8) is configured to generate a separator having a job name and the number of prints by referring to the job information (2), print it, and discharge it. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a separator having the job name and the number of prints is given a sequence number of the separator for printing. 3. A separator having a job name, the number of sheets to be output, and a sequence number is printed at the end of the stacker (13) when the separator is generated and printed, and is output to the stacker (13) at the time of discharging to switch. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stacker (13) is inserted and printed with a separator having a job name and a sequence number printed at the beginning of the switched stacker (13). 4. The separator generation process (8) refers to the job information (2) in response to input of a job information output instruction to the printing device (4) that is currently printing, and is currently printing. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job list is generated and printed. 5. The separator generation process (8) is based on the job information (2) and history information in response to input of an output instruction of printed job information to the printing device (4). The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the printing apparatus is configured to generate and print a printed job list.