JP2002273971A - Post-processing printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a post-processing printing system that can be easily identified by a user and can improve operability by a sorting function and a stapling function. A data generation unit for generating image data, a control information generation unit for generating control information of a printing apparatus, a storage unit for externally storing image information and control information, and a post-processing unit for performing post-processing after printing In the printing system of a print printer that has a post-processing designation in the data, it has a software replacement function when the post-processing is not executed due to an unexpected error by printing with a mark that there is a request on the page .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser printer,
The present invention relates to a post-processing printing system applicable to all printing apparatuses such as a black and white and color copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many printing apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) such as laser printers and copying machines have optional functions such as sorting, stapling, and punching. For example, image data is printed. 2. Description of the Related Art There is an apparatus having a sorting function and a stapling function for sorting recording paper by a sorter, binding the sorted bundle of recording paper with a stapler, and binding the book. When using the staple function, the user first selects the sort function and the staple function on the operation display unit (control panel), further sets the binding margin for binding the recording paper, and then presses the print start key. By doing so, it is possible to obtain a recording paper bundle bound by a predetermined number of staples. For this type of prior art,
It is disclosed in an image recording apparatus such as “JP-A-7-89256”.

[0003]

However, the prior art has the following problems. That is, for example, when stapling is specified, if the stapling is canceled in the middle (for reasons such as insufficient staple), it is difficult for the user to identify if there are many sheets of recording paper. Thus, there is a problem that the binding operation cannot be continuously performed by manual operation or the like. Further, when a large number of recording papers are sorted, it is not easy to identify them visually, and the operability by the sorting function and the stapling function is poor. Therefore, it is desired to realize a printing system.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional post-processing printing system, to facilitate the user's identification, and to improve the operability by the sorting function and the stapling function. To provide.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, data generating means for generating image data and control information for a printing apparatus are generated. In a printing system of a print printer having a control information generating unit, a storage unit for externally storing image information and control information, and a post-processing unit for performing post-processing after printing,
If the post-processing is specified in the data, the page is requested to be printed with a mark to indicate that the post-processing has not been executed due to an unexpected error. In the case where the stapling is designated by the staple, even if the stapling is canceled in the middle, the mark can be easily identified manually by the mark. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the case of the first aspect of the present invention, when a color printing unit capable of performing color printing is provided, the color printing unit has a function of identifying a mark print in color. By changing the color (color classification) of the processing mark according to the number of copies, the identification by the user can be improved.

[0006] Further, the invention according to claim 3 is based on claim 1.
In the invention described in (1), when only sorting for performing simple sorting is specified as post-processing, a tag printing function for performing tag printing on paper is provided, and a tag is simultaneously printed at the end of a print page. If an error (cancellation) occurs in the post-processing specified by printing, the sorting can be easily identified. Also, the invention according to claim 4 has a printing function for printing on the side of the paper by printing the position of the tag beyond the edge of the paper when the number of copies is large in the invention according to claim 3. When there are many copies, the tag printing position is printed beyond the edge of the paper, so that the printing range extends to the side of the paper. (Sorting) judgment can be made easily. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the case of the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, when a color printing unit capable of performing color printing is provided, a tag printing function for performing color tag printing is provided. Since the tag to be printed can be printed in color (color-coded), the identification by the user can be further improved.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of a post-processing printing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the printing system. Here, the present embodiment has a data generation unit for generating image data, a control information generation unit for generating control information of the printing apparatus, a storage unit for externally storing image information and control information, and a post-processing unit after printing. The print printer has a software replacement function in the case where post-processing is specified in the data, by printing a mark indicating that the page has the request, and post-processing is not executed due to an unexpected error. Specify post-processing (staple, punch)
To print a mark at the designated position. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, first, it is determined whether or not post-processing is specified (S1). If post-processing is specified, it is determined whether or not stapling is set (S2). If there is a setting, a staple mark is printed (S
3). In the case of the present example, a staple designation command as a post-processing command is set at the upper left as shown in FIG.
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a punch setting (S
4) If there is a punch setting, a punch mark is printed (S5). In this example, the punch specification command is left 2
It is set as a hole. The above processing is performed every time one copy is completed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the printing system. Here, in the present embodiment, when a color printing unit capable of performing color printing is provided, the color printing unit is characterized by having a function of identifying a mark printing by color. A post-processing mark is printed. That is, as shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not post-processing is specified (S1). If post-processing is specified, it is determined whether or not staple setting is performed (S2). If staple is set, a staple mark is set. Printing is performed (S3). In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 4, a staple designation command as a post-processing command is set at the upper left. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a punch setting (S4). If there is a punch setting, a punch mark is printed (S5). In the case of this example, the punch designation command is set as the left two holes. The above processing is performed each time one copy is completed (S6). Then, it is determined whether or not all of the designated number of copies have been completed (S7). If all of the specified number of copies have not been completed, it is determined whether or not color printing is possible (S8). In some cases, as shown in FIG. 4, the staple marks and punch marks of the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy are printed in different colors.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the printing system. Here, in the present embodiment, when only a simple sort (sort) is designated as the post-processing, a feature is provided that a tag is printed on a sheet. In the case of (sort), a tag is printed so as to be easily identified. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, first, it is determined whether or not the post-processing is specified (S1). If the post-processing is specified, it is determined whether or not the sorting (sort) is set (S2). If there is a sort (sort) setting, a sticky mark is printed (S3). The above process is performed each time one copy is completed (S4). In the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the post-processing command is a sort (sort) designation command, and a sticky mark is printed at the end of each print sheet.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the printing system. Here, in the present embodiment, when the number of copies is large, the position of the tag is printed beyond the edge of the sheet, thereby having a function of printing on the side of the sheet. In this case, a sticky mark is printed so that the user can make the judgment. That is, as shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not there is a post-processing designation (S1). If there is a post-processing designation, it is determined whether or not there is a sort (sort) setting (S2), and there is a sort (sort) setting. In this case, it is determined whether or not the number of pages is large (S3). If there are many copies, a side tag mark is printed (S4). On the other hand, if there are not many copies,
A simple sticky mark is printed (S5). The above processing is performed each time one copy is completed (S6). It is determined whether or not there is a sort (sort) setting (S2). If there is no sort (sort) setting, the process shifts to the first embodiment (A). In the case of this example, the post-processing command is a sort (sort) designation command.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the printing system. Here, in the present embodiment, when color printing is possible, color sticky printing is performed by changing the color for each number of copies. That is, as shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not there is a post-processing designation (S1). If there is a post-processing designation, it is determined whether or not there is a sorting (sort) setting (S2), and there is a sorting (sort) setting. In this case, it is determined whether or not the number of pages is large (S3). If there are many copies, a side tag mark is printed (S4). On the other hand, if there are not many copies,
A simple sticky mark is printed (S5). The above processing is performed each time one copy is completed (S6). It is determined whether there is a sort (sort) setting (S2). If there is no sort (sort) setting, the process shifts to the first embodiment (A). Then, it is determined whether or not all of the designated number of copies have been completed (S7). If all of the specified number of copies have not been completed, it is determined whether or not color printing is possible (S8).
If possible, as shown in FIG. 10, the printing of the side face sticky mark and the sticky mark of each of the first copy, the second copy, and the third copy is performed by changing the color. In the case of this example, the post-processing command is a sort (sort) designation command.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a laser printer A applied to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the controller 1 operates according to the control mode set at that time and the control mode from the host (Host Machine) 3.
A control mechanism for converting the print data from the host 3 into video data and outputting the video data to the printer engine (Priter) 15 is composed of the following modules.

That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the host I / F
Reference numeral 5 denotes an interface for receiving a control signal and data from the outside to the printer and transmitting a status signal from the printer. The CPU 9 performs data processing in accordance with the program contents of the ROM 6, and the RAM 10 includes a work area of the CPU 9, data from the host. The NV-RAM 11 is a non-volatile memory that can be used as a reception buffer and an image development area after processing. The NV-RAM 11 can hold data regardless of whether the power is on or off. The Font Rom 7 stores several types of fonts used for printing. Engine I / F 12 is an I / F for transmitting and receiving a control device signal to the controller 1 and the printer engine 15 and a status signal from the engine. An engine (Priter) 15 is a video signal from the controller 1 and control information. Forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor based on the In shall, operation panel (Op Panel) 4 printer status display and the mode, the switch unit capable of changing the printing condition, Network I / F1
3 is an I / F for Internet connection. When a page is completed based on the control information of the print data from the host 3 through the above modules, a printer start command is instructed to the printer engine 15 and printing is started.

[0014]

The present invention is as described above. According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data generating means for generating image data, a control information generating means for generating control information of a printing apparatus, image information, In a printing system of a print printer having a storage unit for externally storing control information and a post-processing unit for performing post-processing after printing, when data specifies post-processing, the page indicates that a request for the post-processing is provided by a mark. The software has a software replacement function when post-processing is not executed due to an unexpected error, so even if the staple or punch designation is canceled due to some error, if the page printing itself is normal, By printing the post-processing mark (mark), there is an effect that identification of post-processing by manual operation can be supported. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the case of the first aspect of the present invention, when a color printing means capable of performing color printing is provided, the color printing means has a function of identifying the color of the mark printing. By changing the (color classification), there is an effect that the identification by the number of copies can be further improved.

[0015] The invention described in claim 3 is based on claim 1.
In the invention described in (1), when only simple sorting (sorting) is designated as post-processing, a tag printing function is provided on a sheet. Therefore, in the case of simple sorting (sorting), a tag is attached to an end of a print page. Can be printed at the same time,
Even if the staple or punch designation is canceled due to some error, if the page printing itself is normal, the post-processing mark (mark) can be printed to support manual post-processing identification. effective. Also, the invention according to claim 4 has a printing function for printing on the side of the paper by printing the position of the tag beyond the edge of the paper when the number of copies is large in the invention according to claim 3. When there are many copies, printing is performed beyond the edge of the page, making it easy to separate the number of copies from the side of the paper even if the paper is overlapped by using the fact that the print range extends to the side of the paper. There is an effect that can be identified. Further, the invention described in claim 5 is the invention according to claim 3 or 4.
In the invention described in (1), when a color printing unit capable of performing color printing is provided, a tag printing function for performing color tag printing is provided, so that identification can be performed by the color of the tag and the position of the tag printing is changed. There is an effect that the printing can be performed without any printing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the system.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the system.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the system.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an entire printer applied in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Controller 3 Host (Host Machine) 5 Host I / F 6 ROM 9 CPU 10 RAM 11 NV-RAM 15 Printer Engine (Priter)

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04N 1/387 G03G 21/00 382 F term (Reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 AR01 BB10 BB15 CK01 CK04 JJ02 2C087 AA09 AA13 AC08 BA07 CA05 CA12 CA13 CB13 2H027 FA21 FA30 FD03 FD08 FD10 ZA07 5B021 AA01 AA19 KK06 KK08 LE08 LG07 5C076 AA14 BA02 BA06 CA08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A data generating means for generating image data, a control information generating means for generating control information of a printing apparatus, a storage means for externally storing image information and control information, and a post-processing means for performing post-processing after printing In the printing system of a print printer having a function, when the post-processing is specified in the data, by printing a mark indicating that the page has the request, the software replacement function in a case where the post-processing is not executed due to an unexpected error is provided. Post-processing printing system characterized by having. 2. The post-processing printing system according to claim 1, wherein when a color printing means capable of performing color printing is provided, a function of enabling color identification of mark printing is provided. 3. The post-processing printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a tag printing function for printing a tag on paper when only sorting for performing simple sorting is designated as post-processing. 4. A printing function for printing on the side of a sheet by printing the position of the tag beyond the edge of the sheet when the number of pages is large. Processing printing system. 5. The post-processing printing system according to claim 3, further comprising a tag printing function for performing color tag printing when a color printing unit capable of color printing is provided.