JPH07178985A - Printing processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically print an unavailable indication so that a utilizer can easily identify an unavailable printed face in the case where a sheet whose one face is already printed is reutilized to be printed. CONSTITUTION:A printing processing apparatus 2 having a printing control section 4 and a printing mechanism section 6 is provided with a means for automatically printing an unavailable indication 9 showing that the printed face of a sheet 8 is unavailable, in accordance with arbitrary instructions from an operation panel 3 or from a host apparatus 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention makes it possible for a user to easily recognize an invalid printed surface as an invalid one when reusing a single-side printed sheet and printing on the unprinted side. The present invention relates to a print processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the advent of printers and copying machines capable of double-sided printing, the number of double-sided printed materials has increased in the office. On the other hand, the demand for effective use of paper resources is increasing more and more, so that the reuse of paper printed only on one side is also increasing. For this reason, in the office, a large amount of printed materials that are valid for both double-sided information by double-sided printing and printed materials that are valid only for single-sided information printed by reusing single-sided printed paper have become available. There is.

However, in the latter print material in which the paper on which one side has been printed is reused, one side of the material is invalid, so it is necessary for the user to recognize each invalid one side. In such a case, conventionally, invalid identification information such as an X is manually written on each invalid one side, or the user must implicitly recognize the invalid one side from the information content without taking a special method. It was common to expect.

[0004]

Conventionally, when printing is performed by reusing the unprinted side of a sheet printed on one side, if any invalid display is made on the invalid printed side, manual entry work is required. Was needed. However, this filling process is often omitted because of the large amount of paper that can be reused and because the user is busy, so that there is no invalid display on one side. There was a case where the double-sided printed material was used as it was, causing trouble.

It is an object of the present invention to automatically print an invalid display so that a user can easily recognize an invalid printed surface when printing is performed by reusing a single-side printed sheet. .

[0006]

According to the present invention, in a print processing apparatus having a print control section and a print mechanism section, the printed side of a sheet is invalidated by an arbitrary instruction from an operation panel or a host apparatus. A means for automatically printing an invalid display indicating that is provided.

FIG. 1 shows the basic configuration of a print processing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a host device that outputs print control information and print data.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a print processing device for printing on a print sheet based on the print control information and print data output from the upper level device 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes an operation panel used for displaying a control state and inputting a control instruction. In particular, in the present invention, it is used for setting an invalid print processing mode of an operating state for printing an invalid display.

Reference numeral 4 is a printing mechanism section including a print head, a platen, a carrier feeding mechanism, a paper feeding mechanism and the like. 5
Is a print control unit that performs paper feed and carrier feed based on print control information, print head drive control based on print data, and the like, and particularly has a control function for printing an invalid display according to the present invention.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a mode setting means, which sets an invalid print processing mode in accordance with an instruction from the operation panel 3 or the higher-level device 1 when executing printing using a single-sided recycled paper. The invalid print process is applied to the reused paper that is printed during the period when this mode is set.

Reference numeral 7 is an invalid print control means that is activated when the invalid print processing mode is set in the mode setting means 6, and has predetermined contents or instructions for the reused paper to be fed. Depending on the contents, the control for printing the invalid display is performed unconditionally or when a certain condition is satisfied.

Reference numeral 8 is a printing sheet using a reused sheet printed on one side. Reference numeral 9 is an invalid display using an X mark as an example. Reference numeral 10 denotes a sensor that detects whether or not the printing paper is a single-sided reused paper based on the presence or absence of print characters and the like.

[0013]

The invalid display printing process based on the configuration of the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

When the user reuses the one-side printed sheet previously printed as the printing sheet 8, for example, the operation panel 3 is used.
Perform the operation to set the invalid print processing mode. As a result, the information indicating the invalid print processing mode is set in the mode setting unit 6 and is retained until the setting is released.

When the invalid print processing mode is set, the invalid print control means 7 operates to feed the printing paper 8 and unconditionally display the set contents, for example, the invalid display 9 of the X mark pattern. Alternatively, printing is performed on the invalid printed surface of the printing paper 8 on condition that the sensor 10 detects the reused paper.

When the printing mechanism unit 4 does not have a paper reversing mechanism, the unprinted surface of the printing paper 8 is fed face up,
The normal data and the invalid display "back side invalid" as shown in FIG. 3 (e) are printed at once, or the unprinted side is fed face up and fed, and normal data printing is performed. The printed side is fed to the front side, and the process of printing only the invalid display such as the X mark pattern in FIG. 1 is performed separately.

On the other hand, when the printing mechanism unit 4 is provided with a paper reversing mechanism, the unprinted surface of the printing paper 8 is fed with the unprinted surface facing up, and after performing normal data printing, the paper is reversed. The invalid display such as X is printed on the printed surface.

In this way, the fact that the printed surface of the reused paper is invalid is directly indicated by printing an invalid indication such as an X mark, or an invalid indication such as "reverse side invalid" is used. Can be indirectly indicated.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 4 is a printing mechanism section, 5 is a print control section,
11 is a printing paper using a cut paper type recycled paper,
12 is a paper feed path, 13 is a print head, 14 is a platen, 15 is a paper reversing mechanism, 16 is a reversing drum, 17 is a stacker, 18 is a sensor for detecting whether or not printing has been completed, 1
Reference numeral 9 is a CPU, 20 is a program R in a memory in which a print control program including an invalid print processing program is stored.
OM, 21 is a RAM used as a work area, 22 is an operation panel that can be used for setting invalid print processing mode, etc.
Reference numeral 23 is a printing mechanism control unit, and 24 is a printer mechanism driver, which is connected to a carrier motor, a paper feed motor, a reversing unit motor, a print head, and a detection sensor in the printing mechanism unit 4 to control the mechanism operation. Reference numeral 25 denotes an interface control unit for exchanging information with a host device, 2
Reference numeral 6 is a port for taking in the detection signal of the sensor 18.

Reference numeral 27 is a data bus, and 28 is an invalid print processing control register in which information defining the contents of invalid print processing is set, and is provided in the area of the RAM 21. Further, 29 is a print control program, and 30 is an invalid print processing program.

The basic operation of the apparatus of this embodiment is as follows. The CPU 19 controls all operations by executing the print control program in the program ROM 20. The print control information and print data sent from the host device are read into the RAM 21 via the interface control unit 25 and analyzed. As a result, the control information is set in the print mechanism controller 23, and the printer mechanism driver 24
The printing mechanism unit 4 is controlled via the.

In the printing mechanism section 4, the cut-sheet type printing paper 11 is drawn into the paper feeding path 12 and is fed between the print head 13 and the platen 14 in the right direction, so that the print head 13 removes the printing paper 11 from the printing paper 11. Printing is performed on the surface.
The printed printing paper is normally discharged to the stacker 17 through the paper reversing mechanism 15.

On the other hand, when an instruction is given to print on the back surface of the printing paper 11, the printing paper is rotated around the reversing drum 16 and fed back to the left side, and when passing through the print head 13, the back surface is printed. Is printed. After that, the printing paper is sent again to the paper reversing mechanism 15 and discharged to the stacker 17.

Next, the operation of the invalid printing process according to the present invention is as follows. When the apparatus power is turned on or a specific key on the operation panel 22 is operated, a menu is displayed on the operation panel 22 to set the invalid print processing mode with the content desired by the user. Information indicating the contents of the set invalid print processing mode is stored in the invalid print processing control register 28.
Is set to.

The setting contents of the invalid print control register 28 include the pattern type and display position of the invalid display and whether or not the invalid display is printed only when the sensor 18 detects that the reused paper is printed on one side. To print on, the invalid display on the front side or the back side of the paper, and the like.

The invalid print processing program 30 stored in the program ROM 20 controls the invalid display to be printed based on the instruction content of the invalid print processing control register 28.

FIG. 3 shows a specific example of the invalid display pattern.
(A) is the printing paper surface on which the old material before the invalid display printing is printed, (b) is an example in which a large X pattern is printed on the surface of (a), (c) is a mesh pattern of (a) Example of printing on the surface, (d) is an example of printing "invalid" characters on the surface of (a), (e) is the back side of the surface on which the new material is printed ((a)
The “invalid side” is printed to indicate that the “invalid side” is invalid.

The invalid print processing control register 28 shown in FIG.
If the sensor 18 detects that the old material is printed on the back side of the paper, the invalid print processing program determines that the fed paper is the paper feed path. The sensor 18 reads a signal from the port 26 when the sensor 18 optically detects the reflection on the back surface of the sheet when the sheet 12 passes, and checks for the presence of print information. And if some print information is confirmed, the paper is judged to be reused paper,
The invalid display is printed according to the separately set contents. In this case, if the print information is not confirmed on the back side, the invalid display printing process is not performed.

FIG. 4 shows the processing flow of the apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, in which FIG. 4A shows the invalid print processing mode designation processing procedure, and FIG. 4B shows the print processing procedure. When printing using recycled paper, first, in FIG. 4A, the invalid print processing mode is set from the operation panel 22, and necessary contents are designated. The designated contents are written in the invalid print processing control register 28 as control information.

Next, in FIG. 4B, the printing process is started, the paper is fed, and the paper is first fed to determine the print start position of the paper. At this time, the sensor 18
Check if there is print information on the back side of the paper. Next, printing is performed on the front surface of the paper with the given print data, and thereafter back surface printing is performed when necessary. Therefore, the process is divided depending on whether it is a recycled paper, whether it is the invalid print processing mode, and whether double-sided printing is instructed.

First, in the case of the reused paper and the invalid print processing mode, the paper is inverted by the paper reversing mechanism 15 and then based on the contents set in the invalid print processing control register 28 of FIG. The invalid display patterns as shown in (b), (c), and (d) are printed at the designated position, and the paper is ejected. On the other hand, even if it is a reused paper, if the invalid print processing mode is not set, the paper is not inverted and is ejected.

Further, when the reuse paper is not used, that is, when there is no print information on the back side,
Further, the process is divided depending on whether double-sided printing is instructed. When double-sided printing is instructed, the paper is reversed, the given print data is printed on the back side, and the paper is ejected.However, if double-sided printing is not instructed, nothing is done. Discharge.

After performing the above processing, if there is a print instruction for the next paper, the above processing is repeated, and if there is no next instruction, the print processing ends. The processing flow described above is 1
This is merely an example, and it is possible to always print the invalid display in the invalid print processing mode without confirming the presence or absence of print information on the back surface by the sensor. In addition, regardless of whether or not the apparatus has the paper reversing mechanism, it is of course possible to print the invalid display as shown in FIG. 3E on the front surface without reversing the paper in the invalid print processing mode. Further, a sensor for detecting whether or not the surface of the paper is printed at the time of feeding is provided, and when this sensor detects print information, (b), (c), (d) of FIG.
It is also possible to print an invalidation display as shown in FIG. Furthermore, the setting of invalid print processing mode is
It is also possible to use a special command from the host device instead of using the operation panel.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when it is desired to perform new printing on the back side of a sheet that has already been printed due to reuse of the sheet, the old print content can be visually invalidated with a simple operation. It is possible to create a printed matter in which necessary information and unnecessary information do not mix, and it is possible to improve work efficiency in the office.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an invalid display pattern used in the device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a processing flow of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper device 2 Print processing apparatus 3 Operation panel 4 Printing mechanism section 5 Printing control section 6 Mode setting means 7 Invalid printing control means 8 Printing paper using recycled paper 9 Invalid display 10 Sensor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mode setting for setting an invalid print processing mode for printing an invalid display indicating that a predetermined surface of a print sheet is invalid on a print sheet in a print processing apparatus having a print control section and a print mechanism section. A print processing apparatus comprising: means and an invalid print control means for printing an invalid display indicating that a predetermined surface of the printing paper is invalid when the invalid print processing mode is set. 2. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting whether or not the fed printing paper is a reused paper having a printed surface, the invalid printing control means is set to an invalid printing processing mode, and A print processing apparatus, which prints an invalidation display indicating that the printed surface is invalid when the sensor detects that the reused paper has a printed surface. 3. The paper reversing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the invalid printing control means is configured to print the paper when the surface of the invalid printing paper is the surface opposite to the surface currently printing. A print processing apparatus, which prints invalid display after reversing a printing paper by a reversing mechanism.