JPH1120278A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a printer in which a sheet can be printed even if the length of a sheet ≠ the length of a logic page so long as the length of the sheet is equal to integer times of the length of logic page by providing a print control means for receiving and printing the print data of a print job when the length of the sheet is equal to integer times of the length of logic page. SOLUTION: The data receiving/analyzing section 6 of a printer 2 receives an FCB for designating the print format at the time of starting a print job and compares the length of a continuous form 20 being set with a logic page length (FCB length) designated by the FCB. When the length of the sheet is equal to integer times of the length of FCB, a print data is received from a host 1 and stored in a holding data memory 5. When the number of pages of the holding data is equal to the integer times, i.e., the sheet length is two times as long as the logic page, a printing is commanded at a print control section 8 after two pages of print data is received and held in the holding data memory 5. According to the arrangement, a plurality of jobs having different logic page length can be printed efficiently and continuously.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to printing on continuous paper,
The present invention relates to a printer that cuts at a fold (hereinafter referred to as a perforation) of continuous paper.

2. Description of the Related Art In a continuous paper printer having a cutting (cut) function as a post-processing mechanism for paper, conventionally, cutting is performed in order to guarantee storage in a paper stack after cutting (to prevent poor folding or collapse). The position is fixed at the perforation of the paper.

If the logical page length of the print data is longer than the paper length of the continuous paper (interval between perforations), the page may be folded or cut in the middle of the page. Are not the same length, printing is not accepted, that is, only one page is printed within one sheet length.

For this reason, continuous paper matching the logical page length is loaded each time, or the logical page length is set to match the paper length of the already loaded continuous paper. In the method, replacement takes time and in the latter method, there is a problem that paper is wasted.

On the other hand, a continuous paper printer of recent years continuously prints a plurality of print jobs not including a cut instruction from a host device, and cuts an arbitrary number of prints according to an instruction from an operator panel of the printer. And the function of cutting in units of stackers are added, and the above-mentioned condition that printing is not accepted unless (paper length = logical page length) is eased to allow cutting at any perforation. Printer device is required.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional example, and illustrates a schematic configuration of a continuous paper printer having a paper cutting function (cutting section) and an example of a printing format on continuous paper.

In FIG. 6, when the paper end 24 (see the details of the continuous paper 20 in FIG. 6) is inserted into the loader 32, the continuous paper 20 stored in the hopper 31 is moved to a predetermined position by a sensor S or the like. Is loaded (cueing out). When printing is started, the continuous paper 20 is conveyed from this position into the printing mechanism 10 at a predetermined speed, and is printed by the print head H in the print format specified by the FCB (Forms Control Buffer) output from the host 1. After passing through the cutter 12a, it is stored in the stacker 36 while being folded at the perforation 21. And the next perforation 21 on the last page where the cut instruction is inserted
(C in FIG. 6) is cut at the timing when it reaches the cutter 12a.

The cutter 12a has a structure in which two sets of rollers sandwich the continuous paper 20 in the width direction of the continuous paper 20.
At the time of cutting, the cutting is performed by rotating both sides of the perforation 21 in such a direction as to tear the both sides of the continuous paper 20 therebetween.

The continuous paper 20 is prepared with a perforation interval (paper length) such as 7 inches or 10 inches. When the operator loads the continuous paper 20, the setting lever 35 sets the continuous paper. Set a paper length of 20.

The FCB designates a print format such as the number of print digits, the character interval, the number of print lines, and the print interval, and is sent from the host 1 prior to print data. This FCB has a logical page length [a print area of one page is determined in a print format,
With reference to the length (for example, 5.5 inches) obtained by adding the print prohibition area to the length of the continuous paper 20, the length of the continuous paper 20 (for example, 7 inches) (hereinafter referred to as FCB length) is also specified. The receiving unit 33 compares the FCB length with the set paper length, and if they match, receives the print data and passes it to the print control unit 34 for printing.

Thus, one page of print data is always printed on one sheet length.

[0012]

As described above, in the conventional continuous paper printer with a cutter, the paper length of the set continuous paper and the F are set with the perforation interval as the paper length.
Printing is accepted only when the logical page length specified by CB matches.

This is because, for example, if data having a logical page length of 7 inches is to be printed on continuous paper having a sheet length of 10 inches, printing is perforated up to the tenth sheet, and the page is not divided. In order to cut at a perforation, it is necessary to print at least 10 sheets, and it is not possible to cut at an arbitrary perforation.

In order to cut at an arbitrary perforation based on this condition, it is sufficient to specify 10 inches as the logical page length instead of 7 inches. Occurs. To avoid this waste, it is only necessary to use continuous paper having a paper length equal to the logical page length. However, it is necessary to replace the continuous paper every time the logical page length changes. Therefore, there is a problem that a plurality of print jobs having different logical page lengths cannot be continuously printed without wasting paper.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of relaxing the restriction of logical page length = paper length and cutting at an arbitrary perforation.

[0016]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a printer according to the present invention is configured as follows, as shown in the principle diagram of the present invention in FIG. (1) First Invention A first invention is a printer that continuously prints logical pages on a continuous sheet 20 having folds 21 at predetermined intervals based on the folds 21 and cuts the folds at the folds 21. A comparing unit 13 for comparing the sheet length with the logical page length of the notified print job, using one interval of the fold 21 of the set continuous sheet 20 as the sheet length.
When the comparison result shows that the paper length is an integral multiple of the logical page length, the print control unit 14 receives and prints the print data of the print job.

As described above, even if the paper length is equal to the logical page length, printing is possible if the paper length is an integral multiple of the logical page length. Therefore, it is possible to print a plurality of pages of print data in one paper length. It is possible, and fold (perforation) 21
Can be cut at an arbitrary perforation 21 because it does not overlap the page.

As a result, the logical page length can be set to an integral number of the paper length, and a print job having a small logical page length can be printed with less waste of paper without replacing the continuous paper 20. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to easily cope with continuous printing of a plurality of print jobs having different logical page lengths. (2) Second invention In the second invention, in the first invention, when the logical page length is switched during execution of the print job, if the logical page immediately before the switching has not reached the fold 21,
A blank page creating section 4 is provided for creating and printing blank pages 22 of the number reaching the fold 21.

In general, when the logical page length is switched in the FCB, it is the time when the print job is switched. Therefore, the perforation 21 with the logical page length before the switching is used so that printing can be performed from the first page of the print job after the next perforation. Is created and the blanks up to the next perforation 21 are filled.

Thus, even when a plurality of pages are printed within one sheet length, the new print job is printed from the perforation 21, so that the print result can be easily viewed. (3) Third invention According to the third invention, in the first invention, when a cut command is given from a higher-level device, if there is a page that is missing an integral multiple thereof in the paper of the page, the shortage is determined. After the blank page 22 is created, incorporated into the subsequent pages, and printed, the blank page creating unit 4 that cuts at the next fold 21 is provided.

As described above, even if a plurality of pages are printed within one sheet length when a print job with a cut instruction is executed, the perforation 21 next to the page for which the cut instruction has been issued is performed.
It is possible to cut with. (4) Fourth invention In a fourth invention according to the second invention or the third invention, the held data memory 5 is provided, and the received print data is held in the held data memory 5 for an integral multiple of the number of logical pages. After that, the output is output to the printing mechanism, and the blank page creating section 4 creates blank pages 22 whose number of held data pages matches the integral multiple and incorporates them into the held data memory.

By holding the print data for an integral multiple and printing it out in this manner, the presence or absence of a missing page can be easily determined, and the blank page 22 can be easily incorporated.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals represent the same object throughout the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment, FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart at the time of FCB reception, FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart at the time of print data reception, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a printing example. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which, when a continuous print job is executed, cutting is performed in print job units in accordance with an instruction from an operator panel of the printer device. In this cut instruction, when a new FCB is sent from the host device and the FCB in the printer device is switched, a cut operation described later is performed at that time assuming that the print job has been switched to a new print job.

When executing a print job in which a cut instruction is output at the end of a print job from a higher-level device, F
Since the cut instruction is output before CB reception, FCB
Is not performed. Further, in the present invention, since the page to be printed does not straddle the perforation 21, it is possible to cut at an arbitrary perforation, such as cutting by designating the number of sheets as in the conventional case. The description of the instruction is omitted. In the printer device 2 of FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 denotes a data reception analysis unit,
And a part of the function of the print control means 14, which receives the FCB specifying the print format at the start of the print job, and sets the paper length of the set continuous paper 20 and the logical page length specified by the FCB ( FCB length).
When the paper length is an integral multiple of the FCB length, print data is received from the host 1 and stored in the holding data memory 5. Then, when the number of pages of the held data becomes the integer multiple, for example, when the paper length is twice the logical page length, when the print data for two pages is received and held in the held data memory 5, The print control unit 8 is instructed to print. Also, when print data including a cut instruction or FCB is received, it is determined whether the number of retained data pages in the retained data memory 5 has reached an integer multiple, and if not, a blank page is created. The unit 4 causes the blank page to be created and added after the page (insufficient processing), and the number of retained data pages is set to an integral multiple to instruct the print control unit 8 to print.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a control table TB, which is a sheet length (area TBA) of the set continuous paper 20, a current FCB length (TBB),
Paper length / FCB length (TBC), current number of retained data pages (T
BD), FCB cut presence / absence information (TBE), and the like are stored and used during print control.

An FCB setting memory 11 stores the latest contents of the FCB received from the host device, and prints data in a print format based on the contents. A blank page creation unit 4 creates a designated number of blank pages having a designated logical page length, and stores the created blank pages in the held data memory 5 as print data.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a retained data memory having a capacity for storing print data for at least the maximum paper length. Reference numeral 8 denotes a print control unit which analyzes the FCB received from the data reception analysis unit 6 to determine a print format, and
The print data stored in the data receiving / analyzing unit 6 is extracted and output to the printing mechanism 10, and the mechanical control unit 9 is instructed to print. When a cut instruction is output during print data or from the operator panel 3,
In an operation described later, a cut instruction is output to the mechanical control unit 9 after printing of the paper being printed (between the perforations of the continuous paper 20) is completed.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a mechanical control unit, which feeds the continuous paper 20 at a predetermined speed, obtains a feed distance based on the speed and time, prints consecutively the logical pages based on the perforations 21,
When a cut instruction is received, the cutter 12a is driven at the timing when the perforation reaches the position of the cutter 12a to cut the continuous paper 20 at the perforation.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an operator panel, which has a key for inputting whether to cut or not (hereinafter, referred to as FCB cut) when the print job is switched (FCB switching). Is set to

In the above configuration, the following printing operation is performed. 2 to 5 (Operation of Data Analysis Unit at the Time of FCB Reception) When the FCB is received, the data reception analysis unit 6 performs the following control. (A) When the FCB is received, the current FCB length and the received new F
Compare with CB length. (B) If the current FCB length does not match the new FCB length, calculate the paper length / new FCB length. (C) If a surplus occurs, report an error to the host 1 as printing impossible. (D) If there is no surplus, and if the current FCB length matches the new FCB length in (A) above, printing is permitted, and a search is made as to whether stored data is present in the stored data memory 5. (E) The presence or absence of retained data is determined as the number of retained data pages.
It is recorded in the control table 7 (TBD), and (TBC) = paper length / FCB length of the control table 7 is compared with the number of held data pages. (F) If the comparison results in a mismatch, the blank page creation unit 4 is instructed to create a blank page until it matches, and the blank page is added to the held data memory 5. (G) When the comparison result matches, the held data is transmitted to the print control unit 8 and printed, the sheet length / new sheet length is set in the control table 7, and the contents of the FCB 11 are updated with the new FCB. (H) The print control unit 8 instructs the mechanical control unit 9 and the printing mechanism 10 to perform printing, and also controls the FCB in the control table 7.
The presence or absence of a cut instruction is searched, and if there is a cut instruction, a cut instruction is issued to the mechanical control unit 9. Thereby, the mechanical control unit 9
Cuts at the next perforation 21 on the printed paper.

As described above, printing can be performed even when the sheet length / FCB length is an integral multiple, and the cut can be performed by switching the FCB according to the cut instruction from the operator panel 3.

In the case of the FCB cut, a blank page is similarly supplemented with the last page of the last job, and
If the cutter 21 is stopped at the position of the cutter 12a, the cutting can be performed manually. Automatic cutting is of course also possible.

Further, printing may be stopped during printing due to running out of paper or the like. For this reason, the print control unit 8 is also provided with the above logics (A) to (G), and when printing is resumed, the paper length / FCB length is checked.
If it is not an integral multiple of the B length, an error is displayed on an operator panel or the like. (Explanation of the operation of the data analysis unit when receiving print data) FCB
Then, the operation when print data is received is as follows. (1) When print data is received, if there is no cut instruction, the held data memory 5 is stored in the held data memory 5 until the number of held data pages matches the contents of (TBC) of the control table 7, ie, the value of paper length / FCB length. The received print data is held. (2) When the print data matches, the print data is sent to the print control unit 8 and printed. (3) When a cut instruction is given in the print data, the page is the last page.
Until the value of the CB length is matched, a blank page 22 is created and held in the holding data memory 5. (4) When the number of holding data pages matches the value of the paper length / FCB length, the held data is printed. The print is sent to the unit 8 and the next perforation
Cut at 21.

As a result of the above, the print data was converted to the paper length / FCB
Since printing is performed after the data is stored in the stored data memory 5 for a long time, even when a cut instruction is output in the print data, it can be replenished with blank pages and cut before the next print job.

In the embodiment, a blank page is held in the holding data memory 5 as print data. However, if the mechanism control section 9 has a blank page printing mechanism, the mechanism control section 9 prints a blank sheet up to the perforation. It may be.

FIG. 5 shows a continuous paper 20 having a paper length of 14 inches.
JOB1 of 7 inches FCB length and JOB2 of 3.5 inches FCB length are printed continuously, and the FCB is switched.
Or, an example of cutting at the perforation 21 based on a cut command is shown. Since there is a margin on a sheet on which the last page of JOB1 is printed, a blank page 22 is printed, and then cutting is performed at the next perforation 21. Then, based on the cut perforations 21, four pages of JOB
2 shows the printed state.

As described above, printing is permitted when the paper length / the logical page length is an integral multiple, so even if the logical page length is significantly smaller than the paper length, the logical page length is reduced to one-integral. By setting it, multiple pages can be printed within one sheet length, reducing unnecessary space on the sheet, and efficiently printing multiple print jobs with different logical page lengths on the same continuous sheet. Can be.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, printing is enabled when paper length / logical page length = integer multiple, so even if the logical page length is significantly smaller than the paper length,
By setting the logical page length to an integer fraction of the paper length, it is possible to print a plurality of pages within one paper length, thereby reducing unnecessary blank space on the paper and making it possible to print a plurality of print jobs having different logical page lengths. Printing can be performed efficiently and continuously on the same continuous paper.

Further, by setting paper length / logical page length = integer multiple, it is possible to cut at an arbitrary perforation on the printer side.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart at the time of FCB reception.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart when print data is received.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printing example.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper device, host 2 Printer device 3 Operator panel 4 Blank page creation part 5 Retained data memory 6 Data reception analysis part 7 Control table 8 Print control part 9 Mechanical control part 10 Printing mechanism 11 FCB storage memory 12 Cutter part 12a Cutter 13 Comparison Means 14 Print control means 20 Continuous paper 21 Perforation, fold 22 Blank page 23 Logical page length 24 Paper edge 30 Printer body 31 Hopper 32 Loader 33 Receiver 34 Print controller 35 Setting lever 36 Stacker S Sensor H Print head

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printer device for continuously printing logical pages on continuous paper having folds at predetermined intervals and cutting the continuous paper at the folds, the printer comprising: Comparing means for comparing the sheet length with the logical page length of the notified print job, using the one interval of the fold as a sheet length; and, when the comparison result indicates that the sheet length is an integral multiple of the logical page length, A print control unit that receives print data of a print job and prints the print data. 2. When a logical page length is changed during execution of a print job, if a logical page immediately before the change does not reach a fold, blank pages are created and printed to the number of blank pages reaching the fold. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 3. When a cut command is given from a higher-level device, if a page missing by an integral number of times occurs on the paper of the page, a blank page corresponding to the shortage is created, and the blank page is inserted and printed after the page. 2. The printer device according to claim 1, further comprising a blank page creating unit that cuts at the next fold after the operation. 4. A storage data memory, wherein the received print data is stored in the storage data memory for the integral multiple of the number of logical pages, and then output to a printing mechanism. 4. The printer device according to claim 2, wherein blank pages whose number is equal to the integral multiple are created and incorporated in the held data memory.