JPH10235973A - Printing system and printing control method in printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select a paper feed part of a printing apparatus being fed with proper printing faces so as to print without confirming the printing faces of papers and solve the problem of printing to a wrong printing face, by managing information of printing faces at the printing apparatus, and taking the information by a computer. SOLUTION: A host computer is provided with a communication part which sends out an order to obtain cassette information such as printing face information, a name, a size, etc., of papers loaded at a paper feed part of a printer. A printing apparatus and the paper feed part which are to carry out printing are determined by a CPU on the basis of the obtained cassette information. Meanwhile, the printer is provided with a communication part 106 which receives the cassette information from the host computer and informs to the CPU 101. The CPU 101 controls a printing operation and a paper discharge operation, etc. In other words, the printing face information obtained from the host computer are managed at the printer, thereby eliminating the need for a user to confirm printing faces of papers at the printer and improving ease of convenience.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing system and a printing control method in the printing system, and more particularly, to a case of saving paper and toner by preventing printing on an incorrect printing surface. And a print control method in the print system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printing apparatus such as a printer, when a user designates a sheet to be used for printing on the printing apparatus, the user designates only the sheet size or designates the sheet size and further specifies The type of paper is specified. In this case, when specifying the paper type, the paper type is specified by a paper name such as OHP or plain paper.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, the use of the backing paper of the paper when performing the test printing, or
Use of paper that needs to distinguish the printing side of postcards, etc.
The printing device may print on a specific printing surface,
In the prior art, there is no method for designating the printing surface. This requires user management and labor to print on the correct print side, such as checking the paper orientation when the user wants to print or setting the paper in a specific direction when feeding paper. And had

Further, in a system in which a printing apparatus is connected to a network, there is a possibility that another user may change a printing surface of a sheet of the printing apparatus. Therefore, the direction of the sheet set in the printing apparatus is correctly grasped. could not. For this reason, useless printing may be erroneously performed, and there is a problem that paper, toner, or printing time is consumed, and time is consumed to check the orientation of the paper of the printing apparatus.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a printing system and a printing system capable of preventing printing on an incorrect printing surface, saving paper, toner, time, and the like. It is an object to provide a print control method in a system.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing system in which a printing apparatus and a computer are connected on a network, wherein the computer is mounted on a paper feeding unit of the printing apparatus. Sending means for sending an instruction for acquiring cassette information such as printing surface information of the obtained paper, paper name, etc., and deciding means for determining a printing apparatus and a paper feeding unit for executing printing based on the acquired cassette information. The printing apparatus has an acquisition unit that acquires a cassette information acquisition instruction from a computer, and a notifying unit that notifies the computer of cassette information based on the acquired cassette information acquisition instruction.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the paper type corresponding to the paper name is a first paper type that does not distinguish between front and back, such as recycled paper and plain paper, and a fixed form such as a postcard. A second paper type that distinguishes front and back, coated paper
This is a third paper type for distinguishing between front and back in a surface processing state such as OHP. In the case of the first paper type, both sides are front when both sides are unprinted, and printed side when one side is printed. In the case of the second paper type, the side on which normal printing is performed is the front side, and the side on which normal printing is not performed is the back side. In the case of the third paper type, general front and back sides are used. The printing surface information is information indicating whether the paper is a front or a back.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus determines a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the first paper type, an unprinted ratio detecting means for detecting an unprinted ratio of a print surface of a print target sheet of the paper supply unit specified by the setting data, and an unprinted ratio of the print surface is equal to or more than a predetermined value. And a printing execution means for executing printing when the unprinted ratio of the reversed printing surface is equal to or more than the predetermined value when the unprinted ratio of the printing surface is less than the predetermined value and the printing surface can be reversed. It is characterized by having a paper discharging means for discharging paper when the printing rate cannot be reversed because the printing rate is less than the predetermined value, and when the unprinted rate on the reversed printing surface is less than the predetermined value.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus determines a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the second paper type, image detection means for detecting, as image data, printed data of the paper to be printed in the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and designation by paper name and printing surface information of the cassette information A first image determination unit that determines whether the image data to be output is the same as the detected image data, and a second image determination unit that determines whether the designated image data and the inverted image data are the same if the image data is not identical and the print surface can be inverted. Image determining means;
And the second image determination unit determines that they are the same, and the print execution unit that executes printing, respectively, and the first image determination unit determines that they are not the same and the print surface cannot be reversed. A discharge unit that discharges the paper when the image determination unit determines that they are not the same.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the printing apparatus, wherein the printing apparatus determines a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the third paper type, a confirmation unit for confirming the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper supply unit specified by the setting data, and printing when the confirmed printing surface matches the printing surface of the cassette information. And a discharge means for inverting and discharging the reversible print surface when the confirmed print surface does not match the print surface of the cassette information and for discharging the print surface as it is when reversal is not possible And characterized in that:

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the printing apparatus is capable of performing double-sided printing without reversing the paper, and capable of reversing the printing surface after printing, and It is characterized in that printed paper can be discharged with its printing surface aligned.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing control method in a printing system in which a printing apparatus and a computer are connected on a network, wherein a printing surface of a sheet loaded in a paper feeding unit of the printing apparatus is provided. A sending step of sending a command for obtaining cassette information such as information and a paper name from the computer to the printing apparatus; an obtaining step of obtaining the cassette information obtaining command by the printing apparatus; and printing the cassette information based on the cassette information obtaining command. The apparatus further comprises a notifying step of notifying the computer from the apparatus, and a determining step of determining a printing apparatus and a paper feeding unit for executing printing based on the cassette information in the computer.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the paper type corresponding to the paper name is a first paper type that does not distinguish between front and back, such as recycled paper and plain paper, and a fixed form such as a postcard. A second paper type that distinguishes front and back, coated paper
This is a third paper type for distinguishing between front and back in a surface processing state such as OHP. In the case of the first paper type, both sides are front when both sides are unprinted, and printed side when one side is printed. In the case of the second paper type, the side on which normal printing is performed is the front side, and the side on which normal printing is not performed is the back side. In the case of the third paper type, general front and back sides are used. The printing surface information is information indicating whether the paper is a front or a back.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the type, an unprinted ratio detection step for detecting an unprinted ratio of the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and when the unprinted ratio of the printing surface is a predetermined value or more, and printing. When the unprinted rate of the print side is less than the default value and the print side can be reversed, the print execution step to execute printing when the unprinted rate of the reverse print side is equal to or more than the default value, and the unprinted rate of the print side is the default value And a discharge step for discharging when the unprinted ratio of the reverse print surface is less than a predetermined value when the print surface cannot be reversed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the type, an image detecting step of detecting, as image data, printed data of a sheet to be printed in the sheet feeding unit specified by the setting data, and image data specified by a sheet name and printing surface information of the cassette information. A first image determination step of determining whether the detected image data is the same; and a second image determination step of determining whether the designated image data and the inverted image data are the same if the print surface is not identical and the print surface can be inverted. A printing execution step of executing printing if the first and second image determination steps determine that the two are the same;
And a discharge step of discharging the paper when it is determined that they are not the same in the image determination step and the print surface cannot be reversed, and when it is determined that they are not the same in the second image determination step.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the type, a confirmation step for confirming the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and a printing execution for executing the printing when the confirmed printing surface matches the printing surface of the cassette information. And a paper discharge step of, if the print surface confirmed and the print surface of the cassette information do not match, invert the print surface if the print surface is reversible and discharge the paper, and otherwise discharge the paper as it is. Features.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, double-sided printing can be performed without reversing the paper, the printed surface can be reversed after printing, and the printed paper can be printed. The paper can be discharged with the surfaces aligned.

[0018]

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

[1] First Embodiment FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a printing system according to a first embodiment. The printing system has a configuration in which a plurality of computers 301, 302, 303, 304 and a plurality of printers 305, 306, 307 are connected on a network 308.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the host computer of the printing system according to the first embodiment. The host computer includes a CPU 201 and a RAM
202, a hard disk 203, a user command input device 204, a display unit 205, a communication unit 206, and a main bus 207. The first
In the embodiment, the hard disk 203 is provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a floppy disk, a CDROM, or the like may be provided.

The function of each section will be described in detail.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a central processing unit that controls each unit of the host computer based on the program of the present invention stored in the hard disk 203. The RAM 202 is a random access memory, and includes a work area used when the CPU 201 performs a host computer main process shown in a flowchart described later. Hard disk 20
3 stores the program of the present invention.

The user command input device 204 is specifically composed of a mouse, a keyboard and the like, and is used when a user inputs a command. Display 205
Displays, to the user, cassette information corresponding to the name of a candidate printer to execute printing based on the control of the CPU 201. The communication unit 206 connects the host computer to a network, and transmits and receives data via the network. The main bus 207 is a CPU 2
01, a RAM 202, a hard disk 203, a user command input device 204, a display unit 205, and a communication unit 206.

In the first embodiment, in the host computer, the CPU 201 controls the RAM 202 and the hard disk 20 via the main bus 207 unless otherwise specified.
3. Control the user command input device 204, the display unit 205, and the communication unit 206 to execute the processing described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of a printer as a printing device of the printing system according to the first embodiment. The printer includes a CPU 101 and a RAM 10
2, a ROM 103, a paper transport device 104, a transfer device 105, a communication unit 106, and a main bus 107. In the first embodiment, the ROM
Although the configuration provided with 103 is not limited to this, for example, a configuration provided with a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CDROM, or the like may be provided.

The function of each unit described above will be described in detail.
A central processing unit 1 controls each unit of the printer based on the program of the present invention stored in the ROM 103. The RAM 202 is a random access memory, and includes a work area used when the CPU 101 performs a printer main process, a printer print process, and the like, which will be described later with reference to a flowchart. The ROM 103 is a read-only memory and stores the program of the present invention.

The paper transport device 104 controls the transport of printing paper inside the printer. The transfer device 105 controls a mechanism for executing printing on printing paper. Communication unit 1
Reference numeral 06 is for connecting the printer to a network, and transmits and receives data via the network.
The main bus 107 includes a CPU 101, a RAM 102, an R
This is a common signal path that connects the OM 103, the paper transport device 104, the transfer device 105, and the communication unit 106.

In the first embodiment, unless otherwise specified, in the printer, the CPU 101 controls the RAM 102, the ROM 103, and the paper transport device 10 via the main bus 107.
4. Control the transfer device 105 and the communication unit 106 to execute the processing described later.

In the first embodiment, the host computer acquires cassette information from a printer,
A program for transmitting print data to a printer selected by the user to execute printing based on the cassette information is provided. On the printer side, a program that detects the current cassette information, sends the cassette information to the host computer, and when receiving print data and setting data from the host computer, executes a program that executes printing with settings according to the setting data. Have.

Next, main processing on the host computer side of the printing system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

With the start of the main processing (step S10)
1), the user creates print data using an application or the like by the host computer (step S10).
2). In this case, the method of creating the print data is not related to the essence of the present invention, and thus the details are omitted. After creating the print data, the user presses a print processing start button provided on the user command input device 204 (step S103). Along with this, the printer driver of the host computer sends the cassette information acquisition command frame shown in FIG. 15 over the network (step S104).

The components of the above-mentioned cassette information acquisition command frame include a command to be executed or a command to be responded, and an address on a destination network where the command is executed (hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, an address indicates a network. Upper address), the source address of the command request, and data if necessary. In this example, when $ PRINTER is specified as the destination of the cassette information acquisition command frame, all printers on the network receive the command and operate.

Here, in the printer, the command of the cassette information acquisition command frame is GET_CASSE.
When TTE_INFO, all the cassette information is acquired (details will be described later), a response frame to the cassette information acquisition command as shown in FIG. 16 is created, and the address of the host computer that issued the cassette information acquisition command as the destination of the frame. HOST_ADDRESS
And send it over the network. This is received by the host computer.

The host computer receives the response frame from all the printers on the network via the communication unit 206, and stores the cassette name corresponding to the printer name in the RAM 2.
02 (step S105). Then, the cassette information is written using a dialog as shown in FIG.
Display to the user on the display unit 205 (step S10
6). Accordingly, the user selects, via the user command input device 204, a printer to execute printing from among those displayed on the display unit 205.

The host computer waits until the user presses the OK button or the cancel button on the above dialog (step S107). If there is a response to the user command input device 204, the printer and its cassette have been selected. Is determined (step S
108). When the printer and its cassette are selected and the OK button is pressed on the dialog, the setting data and the print data are transmitted to the selected printer to the printer spooler (step S109). here,
The setting data is data in which cassette information such as a cassette size, a printing surface, and a paper name of a printer that executes printing selected in step S108 are mounted together with other information necessary for printing.

The printer spooler transmits the setting data and the printing data to the designated printer connected on the network via the communication unit 206 (step S11).
0), the main processing on the host computer side ends (step S112). In step S108, when a cancel such as pressing of a cancel button on the dialog is executed, necessary cancel processing is executed on the application and the operation system (step S111), and the main processing on the host computer side is executed. The process ends (step S112).

In the first embodiment, determination of the printer to execute printing and its cassette is realized by displaying the cassette information of all printers and allowing the user to select the printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, a method of automatically determining the conditions on the host computer based on the conditions obtained in advance from the user may be considered.

Next, main processing on the printer side of the printing system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

With the start of the main processing (step S20)
1), reset the printer (step S202), and wait until data is transmitted from the host computer (step S203). When receiving data from the host computer, the printer determines whether the received data is a cassette information acquisition command frame (step S204).

If the received data is a cassette information acquisition command frame, the process from step S205 is executed. If the received data is not a cassette information acquisition command frame, the process from step S210 is executed.
If the received data is a cassette information acquisition command frame, i is initialized to 0 as a counter and the number of cassettes in the printer is set to MAX_NUM to acquire all cassette information on the printer (step S).
205).

After setting the number of cassettes, i and MAX_
A magnitude relationship with NUM is determined (step S206).
If i is smaller than MAX_NUM, that is, if there is all cassette information that has not been collected, the printer detects the i-th cassette information to create a response frame to the cassette information acquisition command as shown in FIG.
Writing to the RAM 102 (step S207). In this example, it is assumed that the printer automatically detects the cassette information. However, a method in which a user sets the cassette information with a dial, an identification hole, or the like for each cassette is also conceivable. Since the setting method is not related to the essence of the present invention, the details are omitted. Next, i is incremented (step S208), and the process returns to step S206.

In step S206, i is MA
If it is not smaller than X_NUM, that is, if the collection of all cassette information has been completed, the printer creates a response frame to the cassette information acquisition command based on all the cassette information stored in the RAM 102, and transmits the response frame to the communication unit. The data is transmitted to the host computer on the network via the server 106 (step S209), and the process returns to the standby state for data from the host computer (step S2)
03).

In step S204, if the received data is not a cassette information acquisition command frame,
The printer determines whether the data transmitted from the host computer is setting data and print data (step S210). If the data transmitted from the host computer is not the setting data and the print data, it is irrelevant to the essence of the present invention, and is ignored in the first embodiment, and control is returned to step S203 again.

When the data transmitted from the host computer is the setting data and the printing data, the printer uses the cassette specified by the setting data as a cassette for executing printing based on the setting data received from the host computer. Is set (step S211).
Then, a normal printing process is performed using the transfer device 105 (step S212), and a process of discharging the paper to the paper discharge unit using the paper transport device 104 is performed (step S212).
The control is shifted to step S203 again.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the host computer of the printing system stores the cassette information such as the printing surface information, the paper name, and the paper size of the paper loaded in the paper feeding unit of the printer. A communication unit 206 for transmitting a command for obtaining the information, and a CPU 201 for determining a printing apparatus and a paper feeding unit for executing printing based on the obtained cassette information. The printer of the printing system obtains the cassette information from the host computer. It has a communication unit 106 that acquires instructions and notifies the computer of cassette information based on the acquired cassette information acquisition instruction, and a CPU 101 that controls printing operation and paper ejection operation based on a program. Can manage and obtain the printing surface information by the host computer. Without having to check the printed surface of the paper on their own, it is possible to execute printing by selecting the are fed at a suitable printing surface printer cassette.

In this way, especially when the printer is used by a plurality of users on the network, it becomes possible for all users to know the status of the printing surface correctly, so that printing on the wrong printing surface can be prevented. It is effective in saving paper, toner and time. In addition, efficient use of printed paper in test printing is particularly effective in saving paper.

[2] Second Embodiment The printing system according to the second embodiment has a plurality of computers 301 and 30 as in the first embodiment.
2, 303, 304 and a plurality of printers 305, 30
6 and 307 are connected on a network 308 (see FIG. 3).

As in the first embodiment, the host computer of the printing system according to the second embodiment includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a hard disk 203, a user command input device 204, and a display unit. 205, a communication unit 206, and a main bus 207 (see FIG. 2). Note that, instead of the hard disk 203, for example, a floppy disk, a CDROM, or the like may be provided.

Further, the printer of the printing system according to the second embodiment has the same CP as the first embodiment.
It includes a U101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a paper transport device 104, a transfer device 105, a communication unit 106, and a main bus 107 (see FIG. 1 described above). still,
Instead of the ROM 103, for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CDROM, or the like may be provided.

The configurations of the host computer and the respective parts of the printer of the printing system have been described in detail in the first embodiment, so that the description will be omitted. Differences of the second embodiment from the first embodiment will be described later.

In the present invention, printing can be performed by designating the front and back sides of a sheet. However, since the printing side may be mixed on the front and back sides, a method for acquiring the printing side by a printer is as follows. In the case where the information is registered in the printer or the automatic detection is performed only once at the time of paper feeding, correct printing may not be performed. Therefore, erroneous printing can be further reduced by determining whether the printing surface is correct for each sheet. This will be described in a second embodiment. Further, in the case of the second embodiment, the description will be made on the assumption that the printer is provided with a device for turning the printing surface upside down.

Hereinafter, main processing on the printer side of the printing system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the printing process of step S212 in the main process of the printer shown in FIG. Is similar. Therefore, in the second embodiment, only the printing process, which is a different process, will be described from step S310 in FIG. In the present invention, there are three types of paper as shown in FIG. 18, and in the second embodiment, all the paper names used are classified into these three types. It is assumed that a static paper type information table as shown in FIG. 18 is stored in the RAM 102 of the printer.

As described above, steps S301 to S301 in FIG.
The processing in step S309 is performed in step S20 in FIG.
1 to Step S209. Step S
If the received data is not a cassette information acquisition command frame in 304, it is determined whether or not the data transmitted from the host computer is setting data and print data (step S310).

If the data transmitted from the host computer is the setting data and the printing data, the printer obtains the cassette information corresponding to the cassette specified by the setting data from the RAM 102 and obtains the paper name N (step S311). . Next, the paper type k corresponding to the paper name N
From the paper type information table of FIG. 18 (step S312). The printing process changes for each value of the paper type k.

If the paper type k has no distinction between the front and back sides, such as recycled paper and plain paper, that is, if the value of the paper type is 1 in FIG. 18 (the answer in step S313 is yes), it is shown in FIG. The process A is executed (Step S314).

When the paper type k is discriminated between the front and back sides by a fixed form such as a postcard or the like, that is, when the value of the paper type is 2 in FIG. 18 (the answer to the step S315 is yes), FIG. 10 and FIG. Is performed (step S316).

When the paper type k is coated paper or OHP and the front and back sides are distinguished by processing the front side, that is, when the paper type value is 3 in FIG. 18 (the answer to step S317 is yes)
s) Then, a process C shown in FIG. 12 described below is executed (step S318).

First, with regard to the processing A of the printer when the paper type k has no distinction between front and back, such as recycled paper and plain paper,
This will be described with reference to FIG.

With the start of the process A (step S40)
1), the printer sets a flag indicating whether or not the printing surface has been changed upside down as a CHANGE flag and initializes the flag to FALSE (step S402). Next, it is confirmed whether or not there is paper in the cassette specified by the setting data (step S).
403). If there is no paper, it waits until paper is fed. If there is a sheet, the upper print surface is scanned (step S404).

Here, as shown in FIG. 14, when printing is performed with the printer settings at the time of printing, the upper printing surface is the upper printing surface and the lower printing surface is the lower printing surface. Use in the sense of. By scanning the print surface, it is checked whether data has already been printed on the print surface. The scanned image data is examined and the ratio of white pixels to all pixels (unprinted ratio)
Is calculated.

It is determined whether the calculated unprinted ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, that is, whether printing can be executed (step S405). Here, it is assumed that the default value of the unprinted ratio used for the determination is set in the ROM 103 and is used. If the result of the determination is that the unprinted ratio is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, printing is executed using the transfer device 105 as usual, and processing such as discarding the printed data is performed (step S406). The sheet is discharged using the transport device 104 (step S407). Next, it is determined whether the printing of the received print data has been completed, that is, whether there is any unprinted page (step S408). When the printing is completed, the process A is completed (step S40).
9), the process returns to step S303 in FIG. If there is an unprinted page, the process returns to step S403, and print processing is performed on the unprinted page.

In step S405, if the unprinted rate is less than the predetermined value, it is determined that printing is not possible, and whether the upside down has already been performed, that is, the CHANGE flag is TRUE.
Is determined (step S410). CHA
If the NGE flag is TRUE, both sides cannot be printed, so the CHANGE flag is initialized to FALSE (step S411), and the sheet is discharged (step S4).
12) The process proceeds to step S403 to execute printing on the next sheet. In the above step S410, CH
If the ANGE flag is FALSE, since the back side has not been confirmed, the CHANGE flag is set to TRUE (step S413), and the print surface is turned upside down (step S4).
14) In order to confirm the print surface on the back surface of the same sheet, the process proceeds to step S404.

Next, the printing process B of the printer when the front and back sides are distinguished by a fixed form such as a postcard with the paper type k will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.

Here, it is assumed that the image data of the sheet having all the fixed forms to be printed is stored in the ROM 103.

With the start of processing B (step S50)
1) First, the printer acquires the cassette information corresponding to the cassette specified by the setting data received from the host computer from the RAM 102, and obtains the paper name N and the printing surface S
Is obtained (step S502). Next, of the image data stored in the ROM 103, the image data I corresponding to the paper name N is loaded into the RAM 102 (step S50).
3).

Further, similarly to the process A, a flag indicating whether or not the printing surface has been changed is set as a CHANGE flag, initialized to FALSE (step S504), and whether or not there is a sheet in the cassette specified by the setting data. Is checked (step S505). If there is no paper, it waits until paper is fed. If there is a sheet, the upper print surface is scanned, pattern matching between the scanned image data and the image data I loaded in the RAM 102 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether or not the images are the same (step S507). .

If the same image is recognized, the processing A
In the same manner as described above, printing is performed using the transfer device 105 as usual, and processing such as discarding the printed data is performed (step S508), and the paper is discharged (step S509). Next, it is determined whether the printing of the received print data has been completed, that is, whether there is any unprinted page (step S510). When the printing is completed, the process B is completed (step S511), and the process returns to the step S303 in FIG. If you have unprinted pages,
The process returns to step S505, and print processing is performed on the unprinted pages.

If it is determined in step S507 that the images are not the same, it is determined that printing is not possible, as in the process A, and whether or not the upside-down has already been performed, ie, CH
It is determined whether or not the ANGE flag is TRUE (step S512). If the CHANGE flag is TRUE, printing is not possible on both sides. Therefore, the CHANGE flag is initialized to FALSE (step S513), paper is discharged (step S514), and printing is performed on the next sheet. The process moves to step S505. In step S512, the CHANGE flag is set to FALSE.
In the case of, since the back side has not been confirmed, the CHANGE flag is set to TRUE (step S515), and the printing surface is turned upside down (step S516). S506
Transfer processing to

Finally, the processing C of the printer when the front and back sides are distinguished by processing the front side, such as coated paper and OHP, for the paper type k, will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, in the second embodiment, it is assumed that the printer is provided with means capable of discriminating between the front and back of all the sheets whose front and back are distinguished by processing the front. For example, in the case of OHP, it is possible to distinguish between the front and the back by irradiating the surface with light and measuring the reflectance. Since this method is not related to the essence of the present invention, the details are omitted.

With the start of process C (step S60)
1) First, the printer obtains the cassette information for the cassette specified by the setting data received from the host computer from the RAM 102, and obtains a print surface (step S602). Next, it is checked whether or not there is a sheet in the cassette specified by the setting data (step S603).
If there is no paper, it waits until paper is fed. If there is paper, the upper printing surface is checked using a means provided on the printer that can distinguish between the front and back sides of the printing surface, and the orientation (front or back) of the printing surface as a result of the check is set to S2 (step S6
04). Further, it is checked whether or not the printing surface S1 specified by the host computer is the same as the printing surface S2 of the sheet on which printing is actually performed (step S605).

When the printing surface S1 and the printing surface S2 are the same, the printing is executed by using the transfer device 105 as usual, and the data that has been printed together is processed similarly to the processes A and B. Processing such as discarding is performed (step S60).
6), and execute paper discharge (step S607). Next, it is determined whether the printing of the received print data has been completed, that is, whether there is any unprinted page (step S60).
8).

When the printing is completed, the process C ends (step S609), and the process returns to the step S303 in FIG. If there is an unprinted page, the process returns to step S603, and the unprinted page is printed. In step S605, when the printing surface S1 of the setting data and the printing surface S2 for printing are different,
The upper and lower sides of the printing surface are changed (step S610), and the process proceeds to step S606 to execute normal printing.

In the second embodiment, since the use of new paper is a characteristic of the paper type in most cases, the case where the paper is new is described, and it is determined whether or not printing has already been performed. Absent. Here, when it is determined whether or not printing has been performed, the method may be performed in the same manner as in the above-described process A, and thus details are omitted. Further, in the second embodiment, it is assumed that the printer is provided with a device for turning the printing surface upside down, but if the printer is not provided with a device for turning the printing surface upside down, Only the process of discharging the paper is sufficient.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the printer of the printing system determines that the paper type k is recycled paper,
In the case where there is no distinction between front and back, such as plain paper, that is, when the value of the paper type is 1, the processing A shown in FIG.
10 and 11 when the front and back sides are distinguished by a fixed form such as a postcard, that is, when the value of the paper type is 2.
Is performed, and the paper type k is coated paper, OHP
In the case where the front and back sides are distinguished by processing the front side as described above, that is, when the value of the paper type is 3, the processing C shown in FIG. 12 is executed, so that it is determined whether the printing surface is correct for each sheet. This makes it possible to eliminate erroneous printing when printing surfaces are mixed on both sides.

As a result, it is possible to prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, which cannot be dealt with in the first embodiment, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved. is there.

[3] Third Embodiment The printing system according to the third embodiment has a plurality of computers 301 and 30 as in the first embodiment.
2, 303, 304 and a plurality of printers 305, 30
6 and 307 are connected on a network 308 (see FIG. 3).

The host computer of the printing system according to the third embodiment includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a hard disk 203, a user command input device 204, a display 205, a communication unit 206, and a main bus 207 (see FIG. 2). Note that, instead of the hard disk 203, for example, a floppy disk, a CDROM, or the like may be provided.

The printer of the printing system according to the third embodiment is similar to the printer of the first embodiment except that
It includes a U101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a paper transport device 104, a transfer device 105, a communication unit 106, and a main bus 107 (see FIG. 1 described above). still,
Instead of the ROM 103, for example, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a CDROM, or the like may be provided.

Since the configurations of the host computer and the respective parts of the printer of the printing system have been described in detail in the first embodiment, the description will be omitted. Differences of the third embodiment from the first embodiment will be described later.

In the present invention, since it is possible to print by designating the front and back sides of a sheet, in the case of a printing apparatus capable of performing printing without performing sheet inversion on both the front and back sides, It is possible to print regardless of which side is the top or bottom of the paper. For example, if the printing surface of the paper to be printed is checked one by one and printing is performed on the correct printing surface, However, the printed surfaces may not be aligned in one direction. Here, when the printing apparatus has a sheet reversing function, the printing surface of the sheet can be aligned in one direction by using the reversing function. This will be described in a third embodiment.

Hereinafter, a paper discharging process on the printer side of the printing system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The difference between the printer processing in the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that step S213 in the main processing of the printer in FIG.
And the other processes are the same.
Therefore, in the third embodiment, only the portion of the sheet discharging process will be described with reference to FIG.

Here, when performing one-sided printing, the direction of the printing surface used by default (whether upper or lower is printed at the time of executing one-sided printing) is set to S1, and this setting can be obtained from the ROM 103. And In addition, the printer also uses RAM to determine the direction S2 of the printing surface on which printing was actually performed.
It is assumed that it is held at 102.

With the start of the paper discharging process (step S70)
1) First, the printer obtains the default print surface direction S1 stored in the ROM 103,
02 (step S702). Next, the direction S2 of the printing surface of the sheet on which the above-described printing has been performed is acquired (step S703). Further, the printing surface S1 and the printing surface S2 are compared (step S704).

If the printing surface S1 is equal to the printing surface S2, that is, if the printed sheet is oriented in the default direction, the sheet is discharged as it is (step S705), and the process ends (step S706). If the printing surface S1 and the printing surface S2 are different, that is, if the printed paper is not oriented in the direction (default), the printed surface of the printed paper is turned upside down (step S705) and discharged (step S705). (Step S707), and ends (Step S707).

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the printer of the printing system can perform both-side printing without reversing the paper, and can reverse the printing surface after printing. In addition, since it is possible to discharge the printed paper with the printing surface aligned, the printer can print on both the front and back printing surfaces without inverting the paper. In the case of having the reversing function, it is possible to print without reversing the paper at the time of printing, and to align the printing surface of the paper in one direction at the time of discharging the paper. Thereby, it is possible to cope with a case where the printed surfaces are not aligned in one direction, and there is an effect that the user is not confused.

Further, when the paper is reversed before printing by the printer, the transfer device 105 of the printer does not operate while performing the reversal, so that the overall throughput is reduced.
That is, by adopting the method of the third embodiment,
There is an effect that the time required for full printing can be reduced as compared with the case where the paper is reversed before printing.

The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or to an apparatus constituted by a single device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus executes the program code stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by executing the reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of a storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, and CD.
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

Further, when the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS and the like running on the computer are actually executed based on the instructions of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the above-described processing is performed, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0093]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a printing system in which a printing apparatus and a computer are connected on a network, the computer comprises:
A sending unit for sending a command for obtaining cassette information such as print surface information and a sheet name of a sheet loaded in a sheet feeding unit of the printing apparatus; a printing apparatus for executing printing based on the obtained cassette information; Determining means for determining a copy unit, wherein the printing apparatus has an obtaining means for obtaining a cassette information obtaining instruction from a computer, and a notifying means for notifying the computer of cassette information based on the obtained cassette information obtaining instruction. Since the printing surface information can be managed by the printing device and the printing surface information can be obtained by the computer, the user can feed the paper on the appropriate printing surface without checking the printing surface of the paper of the printing device by himself. The printing can be executed by selecting the paper feeding unit of the printing apparatus. Thereby, especially when the printing apparatus is used by a plurality of users on the network, all users can correctly know the status of the printing surface, so that printing on the wrong printing surface can be reduced. This is effective for saving paper, toner and time. In addition, efficient use of printed paper in test printing is particularly effective in saving paper.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the paper type corresponding to the paper name is the first paper type that does not distinguish between front and back such as recycled paper and plain paper, and the first paper type that distinguishes front and back with a fixed form such as a postcard. The second paper type is a third paper type for distinguishing between front and back sides in a surface processing state of coated paper, OHP, or the like.
In the case of the paper type, both sides are front when both sides are unprinted, the printed side is front and the unprinted side is front when one side is printed, and in the case of the second paper type, The side to be printed is the front side, the side that is not normally printed is the back side. In the case of the third paper type, it is a general front and back side, and the printing side information is information as to whether the paper is front or back. Therefore, even when printing is performed on the various types of paper loaded in the paper feeding unit of the printing apparatus, the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes a paper type determining unit configured to determine a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the type, the unprinted ratio detecting means for detecting the unprinted ratio of the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and when the unprinted ratio of the printing surface is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and A print execution unit that executes printing when the unprinted ratio of the reverse print surface is equal to or greater than the default value when the unprinted ratio of the surface is less than the default value and the print surface can be reversed;
When the unprinted ratio of the printed surface is less than the predetermined value and the printed surface cannot be inverted, and when the unprinted ratio of the inverted printed surface is less than the predetermined value, the device has a paper discharging means for discharging the paper. It is possible to determine whether or not the printing surface is correct, and it is possible to eliminate erroneous printing when the printing surface is mixed on both sides. This can prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes: a sheet type determining unit that determines a sheet type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the type, an image detecting unit that detects, as image data, printed data of a print target sheet of the sheet feeding unit specified by the setting data, and image data specified by a sheet name and print surface information of the cassette information. A first image determining unit that determines whether the detected image data is the same, and a second image determining unit that determines whether the designated image data is the same as the inverted image data if the printing surface is not identical and the print surface can be inverted. When the first and second image determination units determine that the print data is the same, the print execution unit that executes the printing, respectively, and the first image determination unit determines that the print data is not the same, and If you can not inverted, and the second
Since the image determining means has a paper discharging means for discharging the paper when it is determined that they are not the same, it is necessary to determine whether or not the printing surface is correct for each sheet in the same manner as in the third aspect of the present invention. This makes it possible to eliminate erroneous printing when printing surfaces are mixed on both sides. This can prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus includes: a paper type determining unit configured to determine a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer; In the case of the type, a confirmation unit for confirming the printing surface of the paper to be printed in the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and the printing execution for executing the printing when the confirmed printing surface matches the printing surface of the cassette information Means, when the confirmed printing surface does not match the printing surface of the cassette information and the printing surface can be reversed, the paper is reversed and discharged;
Since there is a paper discharging means for discharging the paper as it is when the paper cannot be reversed, similar to the above-mentioned invention of claim 3, for each sheet,
It is possible to determine whether or not the printing surface is correct, and it is possible to eliminate erroneous printing when the printing surface is mixed on both sides. This can prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus can perform double-sided printing without reversing the sheet,
After printing, it is possible to reverse the printing surface, and it is possible to discharge the printed paper with the printing surface aligned,
Printing can be performed without reversing the sheet during printing, and the printed surface of the sheet can be aligned in one direction when the sheet is discharged. Thereby, it is possible to cope with a case where the printed surfaces are not aligned in one direction, and there is an effect that the user is not confused.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print control method in a printing system in which a printing apparatus and a computer are connected on a network, wherein printing surface information, a sheet name, etc. of a sheet loaded in a sheet feeding unit of the printing apparatus are provided. Sending an instruction for acquiring cassette information from the computer to the printing apparatus; acquiring the cassette information acquisition instruction in the printing apparatus; and notifying the cassette information from the printing apparatus to the computer based on the cassette information acquisition instruction. Notification step, and a determining step of determining a printing apparatus and a paper feeding unit to execute printing based on the cassette information in the computer, the printing apparatus manages the printing surface information,
Since the printing surface information can be acquired by the computer, the user can select the paper feeding unit of the printing device that is fed with an appropriate printing surface without checking the printing surface of the printing device paper by himself. To execute printing. Accordingly, particularly when the printing apparatus is used by a plurality of users on the network, it becomes possible for all users to correctly know the status of the printing surface, so that printing on the wrong printing surface can be reduced. This is effective for saving paper, toner and time. In addition, efficient use of printed paper in test printing is particularly effective in saving paper.

According to the invention of claim 8, the paper type corresponding to the paper name is the first paper type which does not distinguish between front and back such as recycled paper and plain paper, and the first paper type which distinguishes front and back with a fixed form such as postcard. The second paper type is a third paper type for distinguishing between front and back sides in a surface processing state of coated paper, OHP, or the like.
In the case of the paper type, both sides are front when both sides are unprinted, the printed side is front and the unprinted side is front when one side is printed, and in the case of the second paper type, The side to be printed is the front side, the side that is not normally printed is the back side. In the case of the third paper type, it is a general front and back side, and the printing side information is information as to whether the paper is front or back. Therefore, even when printing is performed on the various types of paper loaded in the paper feeding unit of the printing apparatus, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving setting data from a computer; An unprinted ratio detection step for detecting the unprinted ratio of the printing surface of the paper to be printed in the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and when the unprinted ratio of the printed surface is a predetermined value or more, and the unprinted ratio of the printed surface. If the unprinted ratio of the reverse printing surface is greater than or equal to the default value when the print surface can be reversed and the print surface is less than the default value, a print execution step to execute printing is performed. If you cannot flip it,
And a discharge step for discharging when the unprinted ratio of the reverse print surface is less than a predetermined value, it is possible to determine whether the print surface is correct for each sheet, It is possible to eliminate erroneous printing when both sides are mixed. This can prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, a paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving the setting data from the computer; An image detecting step of detecting, as image data, printed data of a print target sheet of the sheet feeding unit specified by the setting data; and detecting the image data specified by the sheet name and print surface information of the cassette information and the detected image data. A first image determination step of determining whether the image data is the same, a second image determination step of determining whether the designated image data and the inverted image data are the same if the print surface is not identical and the print surface is reversible; If it is determined in the second image determination step that they are the same, it is determined that they are not the same in the print execution step of executing printing and the first image determination step. If you and can not reverse the printing surface,
And a paper discharging step for discharging paper when it is determined that they are not the same in the second image determining step. It is possible to make a determination, and it is possible to eliminate erroneous printing when printing surfaces are mixed on both sides. This can prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, a paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information upon receiving the setting data from the computer; A confirmation step of confirming the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper supply unit specified by the setting data; and a printing execution step of executing printing if the confirmed printing surface matches the printing surface of the cassette information.
If the confirmed printing surface does not match the printing surface of the cassette information and the printing surface can be reversed, the method further comprises a paper discharging step of reversing and discharging the paper if it can be reversed, and discharging the paper as it is if it cannot be reversed. As in the invention of No. 9, for each sheet of paper,
It is possible to determine whether or not the printing surface is correct, and it is possible to eliminate erroneous printing when the printing surface is mixed on both sides. This can prevent printing on an erroneous printing surface caused by a mixture of printing surfaces, so that paper, toner (ink), and time can be further saved.

According to the twelfth aspect, double-sided printing can be performed without reversing the paper, the printed surface can be reversed after printing, and the printed paper can be discharged with the printed surface aligned. Since paper can be printed, printing can be performed without reversing the paper at the time of printing, and the printed surface of the paper can be aligned in one direction when the paper is discharged. Thereby, it is possible to cope with a case where the printed surfaces are not aligned in one direction, and there is an effect that the user is not confused.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a printer of a printing system according to first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a host computer of the printing system according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a printing system according to first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of a host computer of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of a host computer of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of the printer of the printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of a printer of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating main processing of a printer of a printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating print processing A of the printer of the print system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating print processing B of the printer of the print system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating print processing B of the printer of the print system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process C of the printer of the printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a paper ejection process of a printer of a printing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing upper and lower definitions of a printing surface of a sheet according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a cassette information acquisition command frame according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a response frame to a cassette information acquisition command, a list of paper sizes, a list of paper names, and the front and back of paper according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a dialog according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a paper type information table and a list of paper types according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 RAM 103 ROM 104 Paper transport device 105 Transfer device 106 Communication unit 201 CPU 202 RAM 203 Hard disk 204 User command input device 205 Display unit 206 Communication unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A printing system in which a printing device and a computer are connected on a network, wherein the computer obtains cassette information such as printing surface information and paper name of paper loaded in a paper feeding unit of the printing device. And a deciding unit for deciding a printing apparatus and a paper feeding unit for executing printing based on the acquired cassette information. The printing apparatus acquires a cassette information acquiring instruction from a computer. And a notifying unit for notifying the computer of the cassette information based on the obtained cassette information acquisition command. 2. A paper type corresponding to the paper name is a first paper type that does not distinguish front and back such as recycled paper and plain paper, a second paper type that distinguishes front and back by a fixed form such as a postcard,
This is a third paper type for distinguishing between front and back sides in a surface processing state of coated paper, OHP, etc. In the case of the first paper type, both sides are front if both sides are unprinted and printed if one side is printed The printed side as the front, the unprinted side as the back, and in the case of the second paper type, the side to be printed normally as the front and the side not normally printed as the back,
2. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the third paper type is a general front and back, and the printing surface information is information on whether the paper is front or back. 3. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing apparatus receives a setting data from a computer and determines a paper type based on said cassette information.
In the case of the paper type, the unprinted ratio detecting means for detecting the unprinted ratio of the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper supply unit specified by the setting data, and when the unprinted ratio of the printing surface is a predetermined value or more, A print execution unit that executes printing when the unprinted ratio of the reversed print surface is equal to or more than the predetermined value when the unprinted ratio of the printed surface is less than the predetermined value and the print surface can be reversed; The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a paper discharging unit configured to discharge the paper when the printing surface cannot be reversed because the value is less than a predetermined value and when the unprinted ratio of the reversed printing surface is less than the predetermined value. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said printing apparatus receives a setting data from a computer, and determines a paper type based on said cassette information.
In the case of the paper type, image detecting means for detecting, as image data, printed data of the printing target paper of the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and an image specified by the paper name and printing surface information of the cassette information A first image determination unit that determines whether the data and the detected image data are the same, and a second image determination that determines whether the designated image data and the inverted image data are the same if the print surface is not identical and the print surface can be inverted. Means, when the first and second image determination means determine that they are the same, and when the first image determination means determines that they are not the same and the first image determination means determines that they are not the same, and when the print surface cannot be reversed. 3. A printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a paper discharging means for discharging the paper when the second image determining means determines that they are not the same. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing apparatus determines a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer;
In the case of the paper type, a checking unit for checking the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper feeding unit specified by the setting data, and if the checked printing surface matches the printing surface of the cassette information, the printing is executed. A print execution unit, and a discharge unit that inverts and discharges the print surface if the print surface can be reversed when the confirmed print surface does not match the print surface of the cassette information, and discharges the paper as it is when the print surface cannot be reversed. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The printing apparatus is capable of performing double-sided printing without reversing the sheet, reversing the printing surface after printing, and discharging the printed paper with the printing surface aligned. Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that
The printing system according to 3, 4, or 5. 7. A printing control method in a printing system in which a printing device and a computer are connected on a network, in order to acquire cassette information such as printing surface information and paper name of a paper loaded in a paper feeding unit of the printing device. Sending an instruction from the computer to the printing apparatus, an obtaining step of obtaining the cassette information obtaining instruction in the printing apparatus, a notifying step of notifying the computer of the cassette information from the printing apparatus based on the cassette information obtaining instruction, A printing apparatus for performing printing based on the cassette information and a determining step of determining a paper feed unit. 8. A paper type corresponding to the paper name is a first paper type which does not distinguish between front and back such as recycled paper and plain paper, a second paper type which distinguishes front and back by a fixed form such as a postcard,
This is a third paper type for distinguishing between front and back sides in a surface processing state of coated paper, OHP, etc. In the case of the first paper type, both sides are front if both sides are unprinted and printed if one side is printed The printed side as the front, the unprinted side as the back, and in the case of the second paper type, the side to be printed normally as the front and the side not normally printed as the back,
8. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the third paper type is general front and back, and the printing surface information is information indicating whether the paper is front or back. Control method. 9. A paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer, and, if the paper type is the first paper type, a paper supply specified by the setting data. An unprinted ratio detection step for detecting the unprinted ratio of the printing surface of the printing target paper of the paper portion, and a printing surface when the unprinted ratio of the printing surface is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and when the unprinted ratio of the printing surface is less than the predetermined value. If the unprinted ratio of the reversed printing surface is equal to or more than the predetermined value when the printing surface can be reversed, a print execution step is executed. 9. A print control method in a printing system according to claim 7, further comprising a paper discharge step of discharging paper when the unprinted ratio of the surface is less than a predetermined value. 10. A paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer, and, if the paper type is the second paper type, a paper supply specified by the setting data. An image detecting step of detecting, as image data, printed data of a printing target sheet of a paper section; and a first determining step of determining whether the detected image data is the same as the image data specified by the sheet name and printing surface information of the cassette information A second image determination step of determining whether the designated image data is the same as the inverted image data if the print surface is reversible if the two sides are not the same, and the first and second image determination steps If it is determined that they are the same, it is determined that they are not the same in the print execution step of executing printing and the first image determination step, and the printing surface can be reversed. 9. A print control method in a printing system according to claim 7, further comprising a paper discharging step for discharging paper when there is no paper and when it is determined that they are not the same in the second image determining step. 11. A paper type determining step of determining a paper type based on the cassette information in response to receiving setting data from a computer, and, if the paper type is the third paper type, a paper supply specified by the setting data. A confirmation step of confirming the printing surface of the printing target sheet of the paper unit; a printing execution step of executing printing if the confirmed printing surface matches the printing surface of the cassette information; 9. The printing system according to claim 7, further comprising a paper discharge step of, if the print surfaces do not match and the print surface can be reversed, invert and discharge the paper, and if the print surface cannot be reversed, discharge the paper as it is. Print control method. 12. It is possible to perform double-sided printing without reversing the paper, and to reverse the printing surface after printing.
The printed sheet can be discharged with its printing surface aligned.
A printing control method in the printing system according to claim 1.