JPH10151837A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To let a printing system output a required image to a predetermined paper by a predetermined printing apparatus in accordance with set management information when a printer output signal is received, by only setting the management information to a controller as a management center of the whole system. SOLUTION: A controller 5 is provided with a management control part 7 which stores a paper management information 8 of individual paper data, e.g. sizes, colors, types and the like of papers, and a printing means management information 9 corresponding to contents of output efficiency data of a printing means, etc. Moreover, the controller 5 is provided with a selecting means 10 which selects a suitable paper and a suitable printing means based on contents of a printer output signal, paper management information 8 and printing means management information 7. Further, the controller 5 has a transfer drive means 11 which controls driving of a transfer means to transfer the paper selected by the selecting means 10 to the printing means selected by the selecting means 10, and a printing drive means 12 for controlling driving of the selected printing means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing system for printing on paper, and more particularly, to a printing system for transporting and printing paper on a plurality of printing means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, when a plurality of host devices 110 to 112 are connected on the same network 101 and a plurality of printers 120 to 122 are connected via controllers 130 to 132. There is. In such a case, the printers 120 to 122 generally have different characteristics, and each has an optimum use. For example, when printing a large number of black and white pages, a black-and-white laser printer with a high printing speed is suitable, and when printing for the purpose of design proof, the color reproduction range of the printer is suitable. However, a color printer which is wider than the color gamut of the print file and has good color reproduction accuracy is suitable.

The different printers 120 to 122
When a plurality of printers are connected on a network, as described in JP-A-6-143755, the host device 110 having data to be printed is
The specification information is received from the printer 122, and the content of the data to be printed (monochrome / color, required printing accuracy, etc.) is compared with the received specification information to select one of the printers 120 to 122 that is optimal for printing the data. Then, data to be printed is transmitted to the printer, for example, the printer 122. Each of the printers 120 to 122 is provided with one to several types of dedicated hoppers. Each hopper is loaded with a sheet of a different size. Therefore, the host apparatus 110 specifies the sheet size and switches the sheet. Had gone.

[0004]

However, when a plurality of printers are connected, the same sheet may be loaded in a hopper of a different printer. Did not. Also, even if multiple printers using the same paper are connected,
If the printer you are trying to print on runs out of paper, you may not be able to output it even if you have the same paper in another printer,
Or the only option was to output the data to another printer that might not be optimal for printing. Further, since the number of hoppers in a printer is limited, the type, color,
Many sizes could not be arranged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is only necessary to set management information such as paper data and printing means data in a controller serving as a management center of the entire system. Upon receiving the printer output signal, the printing system according to the set management information,
An object is to output a desired image on a predetermined sheet by a predetermined printing device.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, a printing system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a paper storage unit for storing a plurality of different papers, a plurality of different types of printing means, A transport unit that is disposed between the paper storage unit and the printing unit and transports the paper stored in the paper storage unit to the printing unit, and when print data is received from a higher-level device, an appropriate printing unit is selected for the print data. And a controller for controlling the conveying means to convey a sheet suitable for the print data to the selected printing means and causing the printing means to perform a printing operation.

In the printing system according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the controller receives the print data from the host device, the controller selects an appropriate print unit for the print data and controls the transport unit. The paper is conveyed from the paper storage unit for storing the paper suitable for the print data to the selected printing means, and the printing means is controlled to perform the printing operation on the conveyed paper.

A printing system according to a second aspect of the present invention has a configuration similar to that of the first aspect, but the controller has printing unit management information relating to characteristics of a plurality of printing units.

The printing system according to the present invention has the same operation as the printing system according to the first embodiment, but the controller determines whether the printing system is suitable for the printing data based on the received printing data and the printing system management information. Select

A print system according to a third aspect has the same configuration as that of the second aspect, but the controller has sheet management information relating to the characteristics of the sheet.

The printing system according to the present invention has the same function as the printing system according to the second embodiment, but the controller determines the printing data based on the received printing data, printing means management information and paper management information. Paper and printing means suitable for the printer, and controlling the transport means to transport the selected paper to the selected printing means.

A printing system according to a fourth aspect has the same configuration as that of the third aspect, but the controller includes an operation unit for inputting paper management information or printing means management information. .

The printing system according to the present invention has the same function as the printing system according to the third embodiment, but paper management information or printing means management information is input by the operation unit.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of a print system according to the present invention. The paper rack 1 is connected to a printing unit 4 via a conveying unit 3. A controller 5 is connected to the transporting means 3 and the printing means 4.
The paper rack 1 is provided with several types of paper stackers 21 (see FIG. 4 for details) in which a plurality of sheets 2 of the same type are stacked, and the paper 2 in each paper stacker 21 has the size, color, and type of paper. , Thickness, etc. are different. These sheets 2 are conveyed to a printing unit 4 by a conveying unit 3 described later. The printing means 4 is provided with several printing means having different printing speeds such as printing means A and printing means B (4a, 4b, etc.), printable size, color / monochrome printing, printable paper type, and the like. For example, a color inkjet printer for A4 / A3 size, a high-speed monochrome laser printer for A4 size, a dot printer for A4 / A3 size, and the like.

The transport means 3 and the printing means 4 are driven by a controller 5. The controller 5 controls the transporting means 3 and the printing means 4 according to the printer output signal 6 sent from the host device.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of the controller 5 shown in FIG. The controller 5 includes a management control unit 7
The management control unit 7 corresponds to the contents such as the paper management information 8 (see FIG. 5 for details) of the individual paper data such as the size, color, and type of the paper, and the output capability data of the printing unit 4. The printing unit management information 9 (see FIG. 6 for details) is stored.

When the controller 5 receives the printer output signal 6, the controller 5 determines the content of the output signal 6 and the paper management information 8 and the printing unit management information 9 of the management control unit 7.
A selection means 10 for selecting an appropriate paper 2 and an appropriate printing means 4 is provided. Further, the controller 5 includes the selection unit 1
A transport drive unit 11 for driving and controlling the transport unit 3 for transporting the paper 2 selected by 0 to the printing unit 4 selected by the selection unit 10 and a drive control of the selected printing unit 4c. Drive means 1 for
2 is provided.

Then, the controller 5, for example, A3
Upon receiving an output signal containing color graphic information in the size, the selection means 10 selects the paper 2 made of A3 size, white, and plain paper from the paper management information 8 and the printing means management information 9, The printing means 4 comprising an ink jet printer is selected, and the transport driving means 11 is selected.
Controls the driving of the conveying means 3 to convey the selected paper 2 to the selected printing means 4, and the print driving means 12 controls the driving of the selected printing means 4, and performs color control based on the color graphic information. Print the graphic on paper 2.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the details of the paper management information 8. The paper management information 8 includes paper size information 31 on paper sizes such as A4 and A3, paper color information 32 on paper colors (white, pink, yellow, etc.), plain paper, recycled paper, bond paper, Paper type information 33 on the type of paper such as OHP paper and synthetic paper, and the thickness of the paper (45 kg)
Paper thickness information 34 relating to paper, 55 kg paper, 90 kg paper, etc.)
Are stored in association with each sheet stacker.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing details of the printing unit management information 9. The printing unit management information 9 includes color information 36 relating to the color of ink of the printing unit such as color printing and monochrome printing, printing speed information 37 relating to the printing speed of one sheet, an ink jet printer, a laser printer, and the like. , A printing method information 38 relating to a printing method of a dot printer or the like, and printable paper information 39 relating to a printable paper (OHP paper, thick paper, etc.) are stored in association with each printing means.

The controller 5 is connected to the operation unit 13 and designates a selection mark to be displayed, so that a display screen 14 on which all operations can be performed, a paper size, a color,
It has a function of an input operation unit 15 for inputting management information corresponding to contents such as individual paper data such as types and output capability data of the printing means. The operation unit 13 is used at the time of adding the printing unit 4 and the paper stacker 21 and at the time of initial setting.

FIG. 3 shows a specific configuration of the transport means 3 of FIG. The transport unit 3 is provided with a transport path that connects each paper stacker 21 and each printing unit. The paper feed rollers 19 (19a, 19b...) And the transport rollers 20 (20
a, 20b,...), and a paper moving roller 17 for transporting the paper in the transport path is provided downstream thereof.
(17a, 17b...) Are provided. Moving guides 16 (16a, 16b...) For transporting the paper from the transport path to the printing means are provided upstream of each printing means, and further downstream of each printing means 4 (4a, 4b.
..) and feed rollers 18 (18a, 18b,...)
・) Is provided.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the vicinity of the sheet stacker 21. The paper stacker 21 transports the paper fed by the paper feed roller 19 sequentially from the uppermost sheet of the paper 2 stacked on the paper stacker 21 and the paper fed by the paper feed roller 19 through the right paper guide 22. Roller 17
And a transport roller 20 for transporting the toner. A paper size sensor 2 is provided on the bottom of the paper stacker 21.
3, a color detection sensor 24 and a paper type detection sensor 25 are installed. Each of the sensors 23 to 25 is connected to the controller 5 as shown in FIG. 8, and each detection information is sent to the controller 5. It is controlled as paper management information 8.
Each sheet stacker 21a has the same configuration as described above.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the vicinity of the printing means 4.
A paper guide 50 is disposed in front of and behind the feed roller 18, and a printing unit 4 is connected downstream of the paper guide 50.
Are each provided with a paper discharge tray 51.

Next, the operation of the printing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The following Si (i = 1, 2,...) Indicates each step of the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the printer output signal 6 from the host device
Is received by the controller 5 (S1), the management control unit 7
Then, the paper management information 8 and the printing means management information 9 are obtained (S2), compared with the contents of the printer output signal 7, and the selection means 10 selects the paper 2 and the printing means 4 under the optimum conditions (S3). . Then, the transport unit 3 is driven by the transport drive unit 11 that controls the transport of the selected paper 2 (for example, paper d2d) to the selected printing unit 4 (for example, printing unit C4c) (S4).

More specifically, the paper feed roller 19 is connected to the paper stacker 2.
The sheet 2d on the sheet 1 is fed, and the conveying roller d20d is conveyed to the sheet moving roller 17 via the sheet guide 22. At this time, it is confirmed whether or not the sheet 2 d is suitable for the sheet indicated by the print output signal 6 based on the detection information of the sensors 23 to 25. Then, the moving guide 16c moves in the direction of the printing unit so that the sheet 2d can be sent to the printing unit C4c selected by the selecting unit 10 by the sheet moving roller 17, and conveys the sent sheet 2d to the feeding roller C18c. The feed roller C18c feeds the paper 2d further to the printing means C4c. When printing is completed, the printed paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 51.

Next, the printing means C4c receives a command from the printing driving means 12 of the controller 5, and prints on the conveyed paper d2d (S5).

For example, on the first paper stacker 21a, coated paper (A4 size, 75 g / m ² , white) dedicated to an ink jet printer is laminated, and on the second paper stacker 21b, another paper (plain paper PPC) is placed. Paper, A4 size, 64 g / m ² , white). The first printing means 4a is a color inkjet printer (pigment ink, 720 dpi, A4 size, one sheet per minute), and the second printing means 4b is a monochrome laser printer (A4 size).
For example, if the print output signal is A4 size color information, the first sheet is obtained from the sheet management information 8 and the printing unit management information 9 (S2). The sheet 2a stacked on the stacker 21a is selected, the first printing unit 4a is selected (S3), the sheet 2a is conveyed to the printing unit 4a (S4), and printing is performed based on the print output signal 6. Is performed (S5).

Similarly, if another print output signal 6 is A4 size monochrome character information, the second paper stacker 21b is selected, and the second printing means 4b is selected. 6, printing is performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the input operation unit 15 can perform all operations such as selecting a paper, a printing unit, and the like (for example, used when an error occurs) by specifying a selection mark displayed on a display screen. It may be. The management information 8 and 9 are
Contents such as individual paper data such as paper size, color and type, and output capability data of the printing means may be input.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description,
In the printing system according to the first aspect, since a plurality of different papers can be stored in the paper storage unit and can be conveyed to a plurality of printing devices, a plurality of types of papers can be shared among the plurality of printing devices. There is an effect that can be.

Further, in the printing system according to the second aspect, since the controller can centrally manage the printing means, it is effective in managing the printing means.

Further, in the printing system according to the third aspect, the controller can centrally manage the sheets on the sheet rack, which is effective for sheet management and inventory management.

Further, in the printing system according to the fourth aspect, since the controller is provided with the operation unit, there is an effect that the operation of switching the data of the paper and the printing means can be easily performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a controller used in a print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a conveying unit used in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a paper feed roller used in a print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of paper management information used in the print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of printing unit management information used in the printing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view near a printer used in a print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a sensor of a paper stacker used in the print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the print system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paper rack 2 Paper 3 Conveying means 4 Printing means 5 Controller 6 Printer output signal 10 Selection means 11 Conveying driving means 12 Printing driving means 13 Operation part 14 Display screen 15 Input operation part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hirohiro Kondo 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside (72) Inventor Masafumi Suzuki 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside the corporation

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A paper storage unit for storing a plurality of different paper sheets, a plurality of printing units of different types, and a paper sheet disposed between the paper storage unit and the printing unit and stored in the paper storage unit. When print data is received from a higher-level device, the printer selects the appropriate printing means for the print data, and controls the transport means to transport the appropriate paper to the printing means. And a controller for causing the printing means to perform a printing operation. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes printing unit management information on characteristics of the plurality of printing units, and selects a printing unit suitable for the printing data from the printing unit management information and the received printing data. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes paper management information on paper characteristics, selects a paper and a printing unit suitable for the printing data from the paper management information, the printing unit management information, and the received printing data, and conveys the paper. 3. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein the paper selected by the means is transported to the selected printing means. 4. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein the controller includes an operation unit for inputting the paper management information or the printing unit management information.