JPH11277855A - Printer with electronic sorting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continue printing even if unprintable pages, etc., occur and add the unprintable pages, etc., simply later. SOLUTION: The printer is equipped with a storage means 25 that stores print data for more than one page, an error detection section 28 that detects unprintable pages, a message memory 29 where error messages are stored, a read control section 30 which usually reads repeatedly print data page by page through a page buffer 22 from the storagte means and reads the error message from the message memory 29 when the unprintable page is detected and a printing section 31 that prints read data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer having an electronic sorting function, and more particularly to a printer capable of continuing a printing operation even if an unprintable page or a non-foldable page occurs, and a non-printable page or a non-foldable page. The present invention relates to a printer having an electronic sorting function that allows pages to be easily refilled later.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Instead of conventional mechanical sorting, one page to the last page is received only once, stored in a storage device, and then print data of each page is read out repeatedly and printed. Electronic sorting that realizes sorting is, for example,
No. 121 is described. Recently, a technique has been proposed in which print data having different sizes for each page is printed on paper having different sizes, and the printed pages are folded into an appropriate size by a paper folding device and then sorted.

[0003]

In the prior art described above, in order to effectively use the memory capacity of the storage device, the received data is stored in the storage device after being coded and compressed, and is expanded again at the time of printing. However, if an encoding error occurs for some reason during the encoding compression, the print data of the page is lost, so that the page cannot be expanded on the page buffer at the time of printing. If printing and electronic sorting are continued ignoring such unprintable pages, it becomes impossible to determine whether there is a page shortage or the position where the page shortage has occurred. did not become.

Similarly, in a printer equipped with a paper folding device, the number of times of folding is limited according to the size of the document. Pages cannot be sorted properly. Therefore, even when such a non-foldable page occurs, the printing itself has to be interrupted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to continue printing even if an unprintable page or a non-foldable page occurs. An object of the present invention is to provide a printer having an electronic sorting function which can be easily refilled later.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, print data for a plurality of received pages is temporarily stored, and the read data is repeatedly read out by a predetermined number of pages in order and printed. Storage means for storing print data for a plurality of pages, first error page detection means for detecting an unprintable page, and a first message in which a first message is stored. A storage unit, and, at all times, print data is repeatedly read out in order from the storage unit in page units, and a first message is output from the first message storage unit when an unprintable page is detected by the first error page detection unit. And read means for reading the read data and printing means for printing the read data.

According to the above configuration, when an unprintable page occurs, a message sheet is inserted at a position where the page should be originally inserted, so that the occurrence of a page shortage can be recognized at a glance, and the missing page can be determined. And insertion of missing pages becomes easier. Therefore, even when an unprintable page occurs, the electronic sorting process can be continued.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, a multifunction peripheral having a copy function and a printer function will be described as an example.

The print data receiving section 21 receives print data transmitted from the host computer 10 and develops the print data on the page buffer 22 in page units. At this time, print content information received together with the print data, for example, information on the presence / absence of sorting, information on the presence / absence of slip sheets, information on the number of copies, information on the paper size, and the like are stored in the print content memory 26.

A document reading section 23 optically reads a set copy document and develops it on the page buffer 22 in page units. At this time, print content information regarding the presence or absence of the slip sheet input from the operation unit 27 by the operator is also stored in the print content memory 26. The compression / decompression unit 24 encodes and compresses the print data expanded on the page buffer 22 in page units and stores the encoded data in the secondary storage device 25, and converts the compressed data stored in the secondary storage device 25 into page data. The data is expanded on a page buffer 22 basis.

The error detecting section 28 is provided with the compression / decompression device 2
4 detects an expansion error caused by poor compression or poor expansion. The message memory 29 stores a slip sheet message 29a to be printed on the slip sheet and an error message 29b for notifying the operator of the development error. The read control unit 30 is connected to the print content memory 26.
Based on the print content information stored in the secondary storage device 25, the print data stored in the secondary storage device 25 is repeatedly read out by the predetermined number of copies in order on a page basis through the page buffer 22. When the development error is detected, the error message 29b is read from the message memory 29 for the page and output to the printing unit 31.

The printing unit 31 includes a plurality of paper trays 32 and 33 containing papers of different sizes, and prints paper from one of the paper trays 32 and 33 based on the paper size information stored in the print content memory 26. Is read, the print data or message read by the read control unit 30 is printed and discharged.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above-described first embodiment. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, an example in which print data consisting of all five pages is printed will be described. .

In step S1, when a print request sent from the host computer 10 is received, in step S2, information (print content information) on the content of the print data to be subsequently transmitted is received and stored in the print content memory 26. I do. In step S3, the necessity of the slip sheet is determined based on the print content information, and if insertion of the slip sheet is instructed, in step S4, the read control unit 30 reads the slip sheet message 29a from the message memory 29 and reads the slip sheet message 29a. Output to the printing unit 31. The printing section 31 prints and outputs a slip sheet message on a sheet of a predetermined size. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the slip sheet, in which the part number “1” is used.
Is printed.

In step S5, it is determined which copy the next print is. Since the first copy is the first copy, the flow advances to step S6. In step S6, bin information indicating the number of prints of the print data to be received next is received and stored in the print content memory 26. Thereafter, when one page of print data is received in step S7, it is developed on the page buffer 22 in step S8.

In step S 9, the print data expanded on the page buffer 22 is encoded and compressed by the compression / decompression unit 24 and stored in the secondary storage device 25. In step S11, the print data expanded on the page buffer 22 is read out by the print control unit 30, transferred to the print unit 31, and printed. In step S18, the printed sheet is discharged. In step S19, it is determined whether or not printing of the last page has been completed. At first, it is determined that printing has not been completed, and the process returns to step S5.

Thereafter, the printing of the second and subsequent pages of the first copy is continued in the same manner.
If it is determined that the printing of the last page (fifth page) of the copy has been completed, it is determined in step S20 whether the printing of the designated number of copies has been completed. Return to S3. Then, in step S4, the slip sheet on which the part number "2" is printed is output, and
When the process proceeds to step S5, since this is not the first copy, step S22 is performed.
Proceed to.

In step S22, print data is read from the secondary storage device 25 in page units.
In step S23, the read print data for one page is decompressed by the compression / decompression unit 24 and expanded on the page buffer 22. In step S24, it is determined whether or not the expansion processing in step S23 has been successful. In other words, if the compression processing in step S9 fails and print data is lost, the decompression / expansion processing in step S23 ends unsuccessfully. If it is determined that the page buffer 22 has been loaded, the process proceeds to step S11.
The above print data is printed.

In step S25, the message memory 2
9, the error message 29a is read out, and the printing unit 3
1 and the message sheet is printed. This message sheet is ejected instead of the page.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the message sheet. In the present embodiment, an error message notifying that an unprintable page has occurred is printed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a printing result in the present embodiment, and a slip sheet 80 on which the part number is printed is inserted at the head of each part. Further, in the present embodiment, since the print data of the third page is lost due to poor compression by the compression / expansion unit 24, the print data as shown in FIG. Message sheet 81 notifying that an impossible page has occurred
Is inserted. In the first copy, since each page is read directly from the page buffer 22, the third page is also printed properly.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when an unprintable page occurs, the message sheet 81 is inserted at the position where this page should be inserted.
Even if the electronic sorting process is continued when an unprintable page occurs, the occurrence of a page shortage can be recognized at a glance, and the determination of the missing page and the insertion of the missing page become easy.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those described above denote the same or equivalent parts.

In the present embodiment, a paper folding device 34 that folds a sheet printed by the printing unit 31 in a predetermined format,
Output port 35 for electronically sorting and outputting print results
And a discharge port 36 for discharging a printed sheet, which cannot be folded as specified, without folding the sheet. The state in which the paper folding device 34 cannot be folded is detected by the error detection unit 28.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above-described second embodiment. In the steps denoted by the same reference numerals, the same or equivalent processing is executed. Here, a case in which print data consisting of all five pages is printed as shown in FIG. 10 will be described as an example. Note that among the five pages, the first, fourth, and fifth pages need not be folded, and the second, third pages are designated to have been folded.

In step S1, when a print request sent from the host computer 10 is received, in step S2, the print content information transmitted subsequently is received and stored in the print content memory 26. In this embodiment, information on the necessity of folding is added.

After that, in steps S3 to S9, the same processing as that of the above-described first embodiment is executed. In step S10, the paper folding information stored in the print content memory 26 is notified to the paper folding device 34. You. Further, in step S11, the print data in the page buffer 22 is printed by the printing unit, and in step S12, it is determined whether or not the page is instructed to be folded.
If sheet folding is not instructed as in the first, fourth, and fifth pages, the sheet is directly discharged from the discharge port 35 in step S18.

If the sheet is to be folded, as in the second and third pages, the error detector 28 determines in step S13 whether the page can be folded as specified. Is done. Whether or not paper folding is possible can be determined based on, for example, the designated folding direction and the number of foldings, and the designated number of foldings exceeds the upper limit or paper folding cannot be performed in relation to the paper size. When folding in the direction is instructed, it is determined that paper folding is not possible.

If it is determined in step S13 that paper folding is not possible, in steps S14 and S15, as shown in FIG. 12, a message sheet on which a message indicating that the outlet has been changed and a message indicating the insertion position are recorded. 8
3 and a printed sheet that cannot be folded are continuously discharged from the discharge port 36. Further, in step S16, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the message sheet 82 on which the message indicating that the corresponding page cannot be folded is discharged to another discharge port (discharge port 36) is discharged instead of the original printed paper. It is discharged from the outlet 35.

If it is determined in step S13 that the paper can be folded, the process proceeds to step S17.
In step S18, the sheet is folded, and the sheet is discharged from the discharge port 35 in step S18.

FIG. 11 shows an outlet 3 for electronic sorting.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a print result discharged from No. 5,
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a print result discharged from the discharge port 36 for a non-foldable sheet.

In FIG. 11, a slip sheet 80 is inserted at the head of each of the electronically sorted parts. In this embodiment, since it is determined that the second page cannot be folded, the message sheet 82 shown in FIG. 7 is inserted at that position instead of the original print result. Further, in the present embodiment, since the print data of the fourth page is lost due to compression failure or the like, the insertion position of the fourth page of the second copy is replaced by the message sheet 8 shown in FIG.
1 is inserted.

In FIG. 12, a message sheet 83 on which a message indicating that the discharge port has been changed and the insertion position is recorded, and a print result of the second page discharged as it is without being folded, are alternately displayed. Has been exhausted. The operator confirms the insertion position of the second page based on the message sheet 83, pulls out the message sheet 82, and replaces it with the print result of the second page.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a non-printable page or a non-foldable page occurs, a message sheet is inserted at the position where these pages should be inserted. Even if the electronic sorting process is continued when an unfoldable page occurs,
The occurrence of a page shortage can be recognized at a glance, and the determination of the missing page and the insertion of the missing page become easy.

In each of the above-described embodiments, a message sheet is output when an unprintable page or an unfoldable page occurs. The message may be printed on a completed sheet, or a sticker on which the message is recorded may be attached.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be achieved. (1) If a non-printable page or a non-foldable page occurs,
Since the message sheet is inserted at the position where these pages should be inserted, the occurrence of a page shortage can be recognized at a glance, and the determination of the missing page and the insertion of the missing page become easy. (2) Inserting a message sheet at the position of a page shortage allows the operator to recognize at a glance whether a page shortage has occurred and to easily identify the missing page and insert the missing page. The electronic sorting process can be continued even when an impossible page occurs. (3) A non-foldable page is ejected to another outlet different from the original outlet together with the message where the insertion position is recorded, so that the non-foldable page can be easily moved to the position where it should be inserted. Be able to insert.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an electronic sorting result in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a slip sheet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an error message.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an error message.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of print data according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing an electronic sorting result in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a method of discharging a non-printable page.

[Explanation of symbols]

21: print data receiving unit, 22: page buffer,
23: Document reading unit, 24: Compression / expansion unit, 25: Secondary storage device, 26: Print content memory, 27: Operation unit, 28 ...
Error detection unit, 29: message memory, 31: printing unit, 32, 33: paper tray, 80: slip sheet, 81, 8
2,83… Message sheet

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printer having an electronic sorting function for temporarily storing received print data for a plurality of pages, and repeatedly reading out and printing a predetermined number of copies in order in page units. Storage means for storing; first error page detection means for detecting an unprintable page; first message storage means for storing a first message; Reading control means for reading out a first message from the first message storage means when an unprintable page is detected by the first error page detection means; and data read by the read control means. A printing unit for printing an image, wherein the printing unit is provided with an electronic sorting function. Data. 2. A paper folding means for selectively folding printed paper, a second error page detecting means for detecting a non-foldable page, and a folded paper page and a paper unnecessary page from a first discharge port. Outlet selecting means for discharging and discharging a non-foldable page from a second outlet, second message storing means storing a second message, and third message storing a third message Storage means, wherein the read control means reads each message stored in the second and third message storage means when the second error page detection means detects a non-foldable page. Reading, the discharge port selecting means discharges the message sheet on which the second message is printed from the first discharge port instead of the non-foldable page, and outputs the third message. Claim, characterized in that for discharging the printed message sheet and folding impossible page from the second outlet 1
A printer provided with an electronic sorting function according to 1. 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first message is a message notifying that an unprintable page has occurred. 4. The electronic sorting function according to claim 2, wherein the second message is a message notifying that a non-foldable page has been discharged to another discharge port. Printer. 5. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the third message is a message for notifying that the discharge port has been changed and an insertion position of a non-foldable page. Printer with sorting function. 6. A printer having an electronic sorting function for temporarily storing received print data for a plurality of pages and repeatedly reading out and printing a predetermined number of copies in order in page units. Storage means for storing; paper folding means for selectively folding printed paper; error page detection means for detecting a non-foldable page; first message storage means for storing a first message; And a second message storage unit in which the message is stored. The print data is always repeatedly read out from the storage unit in page units. When the error page detection unit detects a non-foldable page, the first and the second data are read. From the second message storage means, the first and second
Readout means for reading out the message, and a printing means for printing the data read out by the readout control means; ejecting the folded pages and the unnecessary folding pages from the first discharge port, and A discharge sheet selecting means for discharging from a second discharge port, the discharge sheet selecting means comprising: a message sheet on which a first message is printed when the error page detecting means detects a non-foldable page; An electronic sorting function for discharging a message sheet printed with a second message and a non-foldable page from the second discharge port, instead of the unnecessary pages. With a printer. 7. The printer according to claim 6, wherein the first message is a message notifying that a non-foldable page has been discharged to another discharge port. 8. The electronic sorting function according to claim 6, wherein the second message is a message for notifying that the discharge port has been changed and an insertion position of a non-foldable page. Equipped printer.