JPH08230258A - Postscript print processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To carry out the postscript printing fully automatically by providing a means for printing a postscript data on a printing paper by means of control of a printing head in compliance with the sensing result of a paper-setting- information sensing means or the like. CONSTITUTION: A postscript print processing system consists of a serial printer 20 for printing a postscript data provided as a printing data of unit of line, a printing data file 21 for storing the printing data and a host device 22 for instructing the printing of the postscript data to the serial printer 20. The serial printer 20 is provided with perfecting printing function used heretofore and constituted of 8 CPU, a program storage ROM, a data storage RAM, a line buffer, a printing head, a hammer driver, an LF motor, a carrier transfer motor, a turning-over motor, a motor driver, various kinds of sensors, sensor drivers and interfaces and the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a write-once print processing system for printing write-once data on printing paper, and more particularly to a write-once print processing system for realizing complete automation of print-once data.

There is a write-once print processing system in which print data such as order data is additionally printed in units of days, weeks, etc., instead of printing the print data all at once on a printing paper. In such a write-once print processing system, it is necessary to print the write-once data without bothering the user.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art In a write-once print processing system, a paper identification code is printed on the upper left portion of a print paper,
The configuration is such that when printing is executed, it is read and corresponding additional write data is printed.

For example, when the additional recording data for each customer is printed on the printing paper prepared for each customer, the customer code is printed on the left end portion of the printing paper as shown in FIG. The configuration is such that when printing is executed, it is read and the additional data of the customer indicated by it is printed.

In such a write-once print processing system, conventionally, the user is responsible for setting print sheets. In addition, when printing is executed, if the set form of the print paper is not proper,
If the paper identification code cannot be read, a configuration is provided to display an alarm to that effect to the user, and a configuration is required to reset the printing paper to a regular format. There is.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional write-once print processing system, it is assumed that the user is near the system. That is, there is a problem that when the print sheet contains a mis-set, the print of the additional write data cannot be completed unless the user is nearby.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new additional write print processing system which realizes complete automation of additional write data printing.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows the principle configuration of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a write-once print processing system equipped with the present invention, which prints write-once data on a print sheet.

The write-once print processing system 1 includes a first paper feed means 10, a second paper feed means 11, a print execution means 13 having a print head 12, and a detection means 14.
And an instruction means 15 and a control means 16.

The first paper feed means 10 is located upstream of the print head 12 and feeds print paper to the print head 12.
Or the process of returning the print paper from the downstream side of the print head 12 is executed.

The second paper feeding means 11 is the print head 1
The print sheet passing through 2 is sent to the outside, or the print sheet is reversed and returned to the print head 12. Further, a process of sending the print paper passing through the print head 12 to the outside, reversing the print paper and returning it to the print head 12, or returning the print paper to the print head 12 without inverting it is executed.

The print executing means 13 drives the print head 12 to print the additional write data on the print paper. Detection means 1
Reference numeral 4 is for detecting the paper set information recorded on the print paper, for example, a sensor means 17 arranged on the print head 12 for reading the paper set information in the barcode recording format recorded on the print paper. It comprises a recognition unit 18 for recognizing the paper set information by analyzing the read value of the sensor unit 17.

The instructing means 15 instructs the first and second sheet feeding means 10 and 11 to feed the sheet in accordance with the detection result of the detecting means 14. The control means 16 includes the detection means 1
The additional recording data is printed on the printing paper by controlling the print head 12 according to the detection result of No. 4.

[0014]

According to the present invention, when the paper setting state of the print paper for printing the additional write data is detected according to the detection processing of the detecting means 14, the instructing means 15 instructs the first and second paper feeding means 10 and 11. By instructing to feed the paper,
Without passing the printing paper as it is to the print head 12, returning the printing paper to the printing head 12 after passing the printing head 12 once, or returning the printing paper to the printing head 12 once passing the printing head 12 and then inverting The print head 12 prints the additional write data by returning it to the print head 12 or by passing the print sheet once through the print head 12 and then reversing it and then passing it through the print head 12 again. Achieve a paper set state that can.

In this way, when the paper set state in which the print head 12 can print the additional write data is realized, the control means 16 follows the detection processing of the detection means 14 so that the paper set state becomes a regular print paper flow. When it is determined whether or not it matches the normal print sheet flow, the print execution unit 13 prints the additional write data in a form that matches the normal movement direction of the print head 12. When it is determined that the flow is the reverse of the regular print paper flow, the print execution unit 13 executes the print of the additional write data in a form matched with the reverse movement direction of the print head 12. To control.

As described above, according to the write-once print processing system 1 of the present invention, even if the printing paper to be printed has a setting error, the setting state of the printing paper is made normal without the user's intervention. Since the additional write data is printed after that, complete automation of additional write data printing can be realized.

[0017]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the system configuration of a write-once print processing system including the present invention. As shown in this figure, the write-once print processing system of the present invention includes a serial printer 20 that prints write-once data provided as print data in units of lines, and a print data file 21 that stores print data. And a host device 22 for instructing to print additional write data.

This serial printer 20 has a conventionally used double-sided printing function, and as shown in the figure, a CPU, a program storing ROM, a data storing RAM, a line buffer, a print head, a hammer driver, It is composed of an LF motor, a carrier moving motor, a reversing unit motor, a motor driver, various sensors, a sensor driver, an interface and the like.

FIG. 3 shows the mechanical structure of the peripheral portion of the print head 30. As shown in this figure, the serial printer 20 sends a print paper picked from the hopper to the print head 30, and returns a print paper returned from the print head 30 to the hopper side. A first paper detection sensor 32 for detecting a print paper passing through the first paper feed roller 31; a platen 33 arranged at a position facing the print head 30 for sending and returning the print paper; The print sheet sent from the platen 33 is ejected from the platen 33 by a mark reading sensor 34 arranged on the head 30 for reading the sheet set information in the bar code recording format to be recorded on the printing sheet and a plurality of sheet feeding rollers. A second paper feed low for feeding to the exit or reversing the printing paper fed from the platen 33 and returning it to the platen 33. 35, the second
Of the printing paper that passes through the second paper feeding roller 35 and the switching guide 36 that operates in cooperation with the paper feeding roller 35 to switch the printing paper to the paper discharge port or to reverse and return it to the platen 33. And a second sheet detection sensor 37 for detecting.

According to this mechanical structure, the serial printer 2
When 0 is printed on both sides of the printing paper, first, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper reversing mode, and the first
By controlling the sheet feeding roller 31, the platen 33, and the second sheet feeding roller 35, the printing sheet is flowed from the upstream side to the downstream side to perform printing on the surface of the printing sheet, and then the first sheet feeding roller. By controlling 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feed roller 35, printing is performed on the back surface of the printing paper while flowing the paper from the downstream side to the upstream side while reversing the printing paper, and finally, the switching guide 36 is used. By setting the discharge mode and controlling the first paper feed roller 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feed roller 35,
The printing paper is flown from the upstream side to the downstream side and sent out to the paper discharge port.

Here, in the conventional serial printer 20 having a double-sided printing function, the second paper feed roller 35 needs to have a function of returning the printing paper sent from the platen 33 to the platen 33 without inverting it. However, the present invention may have this function. Therefore, in the case of the present invention, the second paper feed roller 35 feeds the print paper fed from the platen 33 to the paper discharge port or reverses the print paper fed from the platen 33 and returns it to the platen 33. In addition to the above, a process of returning the printing paper sent from the platen 33 to the platen 33 without inverting may be performed.

The present invention employs a configuration in which the serial printer 20 having such a double-sided printing function is used to execute the print processing of additional write data in an unmanned manner, and in order to realize this, printing paper is used. If the mis-setting of the direction is not taken into consideration, as shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the customer code, for example, the information indicating that the front side is the front side of the printing paper is recorded by a barcode on the upper left side of the printing paper. At the same time, on the back surface of the printing paper, the information indicating the back surface is recorded by a barcode.

Further, in the case of considering the setting mistake of the direction of the printing paper, as shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the customer code, for example, in the upper left portion and the upper right portion of the printing paper, the surface of the printing paper is The fact that it is the front side and the information that indicates whether it is the normal direction or the reverse direction are recorded by a bar code, and that the back side of the printing paper is the back side and whether it is the normal direction or the reverse direction. Information that indicates whether or not is recorded by a barcode.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a processing flow executed by the serial printer 20 of the present invention when the barcode recording configuration of FIG. 4 is adopted, and FIG. 7 shows an example of the processing flow when the barcode recording configuration of FIG. 5 is adopted. 1 illustrates an example of a processing flow executed by a serial printer 20 of the invention. Next, the present invention will be described in detail according to these examples.

When the processing flow of FIG. 6 is followed, first, in step 1, the serial printer 20 receives a sheet suction command from the host device 22 and starts sucking print sheets. That is, the paper pick roller, which is omitted in FIG. 3, is activated, and the first paper feed roller 31,
By controlling the platen 33 and the second paper feed roller 35, one printing paper placed on the hopper is picked,
The print head 30 is processed so as to be delivered from the upstream side to the downstream side.

Subsequently, in step 2, it is judged whether or not the printing paper can be picked according to the processing of step 1,
When it is determined that picking is not possible, that is, when there is no printing paper in the hopper, the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the picking has been completed, the process proceeds to step 3, where the mark reading sensor 34 records on the printing paper while moving the print head 30 in the printing direction in response to the bar code reading command from the host device 22. Bar code information (customer code + front / back surface code)
Is read and transferred to the host device 22.

In response to the transfer processing of the bar code information in step 3, the host device 22 recognizes the customer name to be printed on the picked printing paper, and the printing paper flows on the surface. Recognize whether it came from or on the back. Then, when recognizing that it has flowed on the front side, the additional write data pointed to by the customer name is read from the print data file 21 and a print execution command is issued. Issue a paper inversion command to invert, and then
The additional data pointed to by the customer name is added to the print data file 21.
Read out from and issue a print execution command.

In response to the command from the host device 22, the serial printer 20 judges whether or not the paper reversal command is issued from the host device 22 in the following step 4, and the paper reversal command is not issued. , That is, when it is determined that the read bar code information indicates the front side of the printing paper,
In step 5, the print execution command from the host device 22 is received, and the additional write data (update data) is printed on the printing paper in a form that matches the normal movement direction of the print head 30. Then, in the following step 6, the switching guide 36 is set in the paper discharge mode, and the print paper is discharged from the paper discharge port.

On the other hand, when it is judged in step 4 that the paper reversal command is issued from the host device 22, that is, when it is judged that the read bar code information indicates the back surface of the printing paper, step 7 is executed. Proceed to step 2, and receive the paper reversal command from the host device 22,
By setting the switching guide 36 in the paper reversing mode and controlling the first paper feeding roller 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feeding roller 35, the printing paper is reversed and returned to the print head 30.

Then, in step 5, the print head 3 receives a print execution command from the host device 22.
The additional write data (update data) is printed on the printing paper in a form matched with the reverse movement direction of 0, and in the subsequent step 6, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper discharge mode and
By controlling the sheet feeding roller 31, the platen 33, and the second sheet feeding roller 35 of the
It is sent from the upstream of 0 to the downstream and discharged from the paper discharge port.

In this way, the serial printer 20
In the case of following the processing flow of FIG. 6, when determining that the read bar code information indicates the front surface of the printing paper, as shown in FIG. The additional write data is printed according to the form shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is judged that the read bar code information indicates the back side of the print sheet,
As shown in FIG. 0, the print sheet is passed through the print head 30 once, then inverted and returned to the print head 30,
The additional write data is printed according to the form shown in FIG.

According to this printing process, even if there is a setting error on the surface of the printing paper, it is possible to print the additional write data without the intervention of the user. Since the print timing is determined by using the detection value of the first paper detection sensor 32, when the print form of FIG. 10 is executed, the print paper is actually placed up to the position of the first paper detection sensor 32. Overrun, then return a little and then start additional write processing.

On the other hand, when the processing flow of FIG. 7 is followed, the serial printer 20 first receives a sheet suction command from the host device 22 in step 1 and starts sucking the printing sheet. That is, by activating the paper pick roller, which is omitted in FIG. 3, and controlling the first paper feed roller 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feed roller 35, one printing paper placed on the hopper is picked. The print head 30 is processed so as to be delivered from the upstream side to the downstream side.

Then, in step 2, it is judged whether or not the printing paper can be picked according to the processing of step 1,
When it is determined that picking is not possible, that is, when there is no printing paper in the hopper, the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the picking has been completed, the process proceeds to step 3, where the mark reading sensor 34 records on the printing paper while moving the print head 30 in the printing direction in response to the bar code reading command from the host device 22. Barcode information (customer code + front / back surface code +
Host device 22 by reading the normal direction / reverse direction code)
Transfer to.

In response to the barcode information transfer processing in step 3, the host device 22 recognizes the customer name to be printed on the picked printing paper, and the printing paper is printed in the front / normal direction. Recognize whether the flow is flowing, the back surface / normal direction, the front surface / reverse direction, or the back surface / reverse direction.

Then, when recognizing that the flow is in the front / normal direction, the additional write data pointed to by the customer name is read from the print data file 21, a print execution command is issued, and the flow is in the back / normal direction. When recognizing that, the paper reversal command for instructing the reversal of the printing paper is issued, the additional write data pointed to by the customer name is read from the print data file 21, and the print execution command is issued to change the front / back direction. When recognizing that it has flowed, a paper direction conversion command for instructing the direction conversion of the print paper is issued, the additional write data pointed to by the customer name is read from the print data file 21, and a print execution command is issued. When recognizing that it has flowed in the reverse / reverse direction, the paper reversal direction conversion command From by issuing the command, reads the additional data pointed to by the customer name from the print data file 21, issues a print execution command.

In response to the command from the host device 22, the serial printer 20 determines whether or not the paper reversal command / paper reversal direction conversion command has been issued from the host device 22 in the following step 4, and determines whether or not the paper reversal command has been issued. When it is determined that the inversion command / paper inversion direction conversion command is not issued, that is, when it is determined that the read bar code information is displaying the front surface of the printing paper, the process proceeds to step 5 and the host device 22 It is determined whether the paper direction conversion command has been issued.

According to the judgment processing of step 5, when it is judged that the paper direction conversion command is not issued,
That is, when it is determined that the read bar code information indicates the normal direction of the printing paper, it means that the printing paper has flowed in the front surface / normal direction in the end. Upon receiving the print execution command from the device 22, the additional write data (update data) is printed on the printing paper in a form that matches the normal movement direction of the print head 30. Then, in the following step 7, the switching guide 3
6 is set in the paper discharge mode, and the print paper is discharged from the paper discharge port.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step 5 that the paper orientation conversion command is issued from the host device 22,
That is, when it is determined that the read bar code information indicates the reverse direction of the print paper, it means that the print paper has flowed in the front / back direction.
Proceeding to step 8, by receiving the paper direction conversion command from the host device 22, by controlling the first paper feed roller 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feed roller 35, the print head is not inverted and the print head is not inverted. Return to 30.

Then, in step 6, the print head 3 receives the print execution command from the host device 22.
The write-once data (update data) is printed on the printing paper in a form adapted to the reverse movement direction of 0, and in the following step 7, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper discharge mode and
By controlling the sheet feeding roller 31, the platen 33, and the second sheet feeding roller 35 of the
It is sent from the upstream of 0 to the downstream and discharged from the paper discharge port.

On the other hand, when it is judged in step 4 that the paper reversal command / paper reversal direction conversion command is issued, that is, when it is judged that the read bar code information indicates the back surface of the printing paper, In step 9, it is determined whether the paper orientation conversion command has been issued from the host device 22.

When it is judged that the paper direction conversion command is not issued according to the judgment processing of step 9,
That is, when it is determined that the read bar code information indicates the normal direction of the printing paper, it means that the printing paper has flowed in the back / normal direction, so the process proceeds to step 10 and the host In response to the paper reversing command from the device 22, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper reversing mode, and the first paper feeding roller 31,
By controlling the platen 33 and the second paper feed roller 35, the print paper is returned to the print head 30 while being reversed.

Then, in step 6, the print head 3 receives the print execution command from the host device 22.
The write-once data (update data) is printed on the printing paper in a form adapted to the reverse movement direction of 0, and in the following step 7, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper discharge mode and
By controlling the sheet feeding roller 31, the platen 33, and the second sheet feeding roller 35 of the
It is sent from the upstream of 0 to the downstream and discharged from the paper discharge port.

On the other hand, when it is judged in step 9 that the paper orientation conversion command is issued from the host device 22,
That is, when it is determined that the read barcode information indicates the reverse direction of the printing paper, it means that the printing paper has flowed in the back / reverse direction.
Proceeding to step 11, in response to the paper direction conversion command from the host device 22, by controlling the first paper feed roller 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feed roller 35, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper reversal mode. The first paper feed roller 31, the platen 33, the second
By controlling the paper feed roller 35, the print paper is returned while being reversed while passing through the print head 30.

Then, subsequently, in step 12, the first paper feed roller 31, the platen 33, and the second paper feed roller 35 are controlled to send the print paper toward the print head 30 again, and then in step 6 Then, the host device 2
In response to the print execution command from 2, the additional write data (update data) is printed on the print paper in a form that matches the normal movement direction of the print head 30, and in the subsequent step 7, the switching guide 36 is set to the paper discharge mode. Then, the printing paper is ejected from the paper ejection port.

In this way, the serial printer 20
In the processing flow of FIG. 7, when it is determined that the read bar code information indicates the front surface / regular direction of the printing paper, the printing paper is sent to the print head 30 as it is, as shown in FIG. Meanwhile, the additional write data is printed according to the form shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is judged that the read bar code information indicates the back side / normal direction of the printing paper, as shown in FIG.
Then, the additional write data is printed according to the form shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is judged that the read bar code information indicates the front surface / reverse direction of the printing paper, the printing paper is passed through the print head 30 once and then inverted as shown in FIG. Without returning to the print head 30, the additional write data is printed according to the form shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when it is judged that the read bar code information indicates the back surface / reverse direction of the printing paper, the printing paper is passed through the print head 30 once as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Print head 30 after reversing
, The print sheet is sent to the print head 30 as it is, and the additional write data is printed according to the form shown in FIG.

According to this printing process, even if there is a setting error on the surface or the direction of the printing paper, it becomes possible to print the additional write data without the intervention of the user. Since the print timing is determined by using the detection value of the first paper detection sensor 32, when the print form of FIG. 10 or 12 is executed, the print paper is actually set to the first paper detection sensor 32. Overrun to the position of, and then return a little, and then start the additional recording process.

While the invention has been disclosed according to the illustrated embodiments,
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the embodiment, the configuration in which the sheet setting information of the printing sheet is recorded by using the barcode is adopted, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0053]

As described above, according to the write-once print processing system of the present invention, even if there is a setting error in the printing paper to be printed, the setting state of the printing paper is made normal without the intervention of the user. By adopting a configuration in which the additional write data is printed after the additional write data is printed, complete automation of additional write data printing can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an example of a system configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a mechanical configuration diagram of a serial printer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a print sheet for realizing the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a printing paper for realizing the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a processing flow executed by the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a processing flow executed by the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a write-once printing process of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a print mode of additional write data.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a write-once printing process of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a print mode of additional write data.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a write-once print process of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a write-once printing process of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a write-once printing process of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Write-once print processing system 10 1st paper feed means 11 2nd paper feed means 12 Print head 13 Print execution means 14 Detection means 15 Instructing means 16 Control means 17 Sensor means 18 Recognition means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A write-once print processing system for printing write-once data on a print paper, which is located upstream of a print head and sends the print paper to the print head or returns the print paper from the downstream side of the print head. A first paper feeding means for executing the above, a second paper feeding means for sending out the print paper passing through the print head to the outside, or inverting the print paper and returning it to the print head, and recording on the print paper. Detecting means for detecting the paper set information, an instruction means for instructing the first and second paper feeding means to feed the paper according to the detection result of the detecting means, and a detection result of the detecting means. And a control unit that prints the additional write data on the printing paper by controlling the print head. 2. A write-once print processing system for printing write-once data on a print paper, which is located upstream of a print head and sends the print paper to the print head or returns the print paper from the downstream side of the print head. First paper feeding means for executing the above, and processing for sending the print paper passing through the print head to the outside, inverting the print paper and returning it to the print head, or returning the print paper to the print head without inverting Second paper feeding means for executing the above, detection means for detecting the paper set information recorded on the printing paper, and paper feeding for the first and second paper feeding means according to the detection result of the detection means. A write-once printing process, characterized by comprising: instruction means for giving an instruction, and control means for printing the write-once data on the print paper by controlling the print head according to the detection result of the detecting means. system. 3. The write-once print processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection means is a sensor means arranged on the print head for reading paper set information recorded on the print paper, and a read value of the sensor means. A write-once print processing system characterized by comprising a recognition means for recognizing the paper set information by analyzing the. 4. The write-once print processing system according to claim 3, wherein the sensor means performs processing so as to read the paper set information in the barcode recording format recorded on the print paper.