JP4283733B2 - Printing system, printing method and printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a printing system that is installed in a store or the like that can be used by an unspecified user and includes an output device configured by a personal computer or the like and a printing device configured by a digital copying machine or the like. printing how, and relates to printing equipment included in the printing system.

  In a store such as a convenience store, a digital copying machine or the like is installed in a state where it is used as a printing apparatus depending on an unspecified output target. This printing apparatus provides a print medium that has been subjected to print processing based on print data not only to a customer at a store that is an unspecified output target, but also to a store owner or a store clerk at a store that is a specific output target. Output.

  When a store clerk or the like uses a printing apparatus installed in a store, print data may not be disclosed to the outside, and it is required that no customer exists near the digital copying machine. Further, when a customer uses a printing apparatus, a plurality of customers may request a single piece of information, and it is necessary to be able to repeatedly print the same print data.

Therefore, in a conventional printing apparatus installed in a store or the like, when print data input from an external output device is stored in the storage unit together with unique authentication information without performing print processing, when authentication information is input In addition, there is a method in which a so-called hold process is performed in which print data corresponding to input authentication information is read from a storage unit and printed on a print medium (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A 62-003322

  The print data that is printed on the print medium after waiting for input of authentication information by the hold process generally differs in an optimal hold state depending on the type of print data due to a difference in output target. However, there is no conventional printing apparatus that performs the hold process in different states depending on the type of print data.

  For example, print data to be provided to a specific output target is often to be erased from the recording unit after printing on the print medium, whereas print data to be provided to an unspecified output target is print medium Even after printing on top, it must be stored in the recording section.

The purpose of this invention, a printing system that can be held in the storage unit of each print data in accordance with the type of print data in an optimum state is to provide a printing method and printing equipment.

  The present invention has the following configuration as means for solving the above problems.

(1) type information each print data is specified to identify the kind to print unspecified users or the data to be provided to the user is the print data provided, and, in the authentication information that identifies the print data An output device that receives an input, and that outputs print data together with the type information and the authentication information input in the output device side input unit;
A billing processing device that performs billing processing for print processing with processing stored in the storage unit;
A storage unit that stores print data input from the output device together with authentication information that identifies the print data, a printing device side input unit that receives an input operation of authentication information, and print processing for a print medium based on the print data A printing unit that performs printing, and print data corresponding to the authentication information input in the printing apparatus side input unit is read from the storage unit and supplied to the printing unit, and each print data is specified based on the type information The print data provided to the user is deleted from the storage unit after the printing process, and the print data provided to the unspecified user is retained in the storage unit even after the charging process in the charging processing apparatus is completed. A printing apparatus that executes a printing process with a process to perform,
It is characterized by including.

  In this configuration, the printing apparatus deletes the print data from the storage unit or stores the print data in the storage unit based on the type information input from the output device after the print process for the print data is completed. Perform processing selectively. Therefore, each print data is held in the storage unit in an optimum state according to the type of print data.

Also, the print data to be stored in the storage unit after the end of the printing process, the printing process is executed after the completion of the charging process. Accordingly, the charging process and the printing process are appropriately performed on the print data to be provided to the unspecified output object for a fee.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) After the printing process for print data is completed, based on the type information input from the output device, the process for erasing the print data from the storage unit or the process for saving in the storage unit is selectively executed. Thus, each print data can be stored in the storage unit in an optimum state according to the type of the print data.

  (2) For print data to be stored in the storage unit after the end of the print process, by executing the print process after waiting for the completion of the charging process, the print data to be provided to the unspecified output object for a fee, Accounting processing and printing processing can be performed appropriately.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system 10 is installed in a store 100 such as a convenience store. A printing system 10 is configured by connecting a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 2 and a money processing apparatus 3 to a digital copying machine 1 which is a printing apparatus of the present invention.

  The digital copying machine 1 is used for a copy process for a customer, a fax transmission process, an image information provision process, and a print process by a store clerk. In the copy process, an image read from a document brought by the customer is printed on a print medium such as paper. In the fax transmission process, the image information of the original brought by the customer is transmitted to the fax machine 300 designated by the customer via the public telephone network 200. In the image information providing process, an image based on print data designated by a customer among print data for service stored in advance is printed on a print medium. In the print processing, an image based on print data designated by a store clerk is stored on a print medium among business-use print data stored in advance.

  Copy processing, fax transmission processing, and image information provision processing for the customer are performed based on billing processing in the money processing apparatus 3. In other words, the money processing apparatus 3 accepts the insertion of money or the insertion of a billing card (cash card, prepaid card, etc.) by the customer prior to the execution of each process, and displays the amount information such as the amount of money to be inserted and the card usage limit. Transmit to the digital copier 1. The digital copying machine 1 stores unit price information determined in advance for copy processing, fax transmission processing, and image information provision processing. The digital copying machine 1 executes operations related to copy processing, fax transmission processing, and image information provision processing within a range not exceeding the amount information transmitted from the money processing apparatus 3 based on the unit price information.

  The service print data related to the image information providing process and the business print data related to the print process are transmitted in advance from the PC 2. Whether it is for service or for business corresponds to the type of print data of this invention. The service print data is print data to be provided to an unspecified output target (customer) of the present invention, and the business print data is print data to be provided to a specific output target (store clerk). The PC 2 attaches at least type information and authentication information to the print data and transmits it to the digital copying machine 1. The type information is information for specifying whether each print data is for providing or for in-store use. The authentication information is information for specifying each print data, and is, for example, a code number composed of a 4-digit number. A customer or a store clerk inputs desired authentication data into the digital copying machine 1 to select desired print data.

  The digital copying machine 1 as a printing apparatus includes a printing unit 11, a paper feeding unit 12, and an image reading unit 13. For example, the printing unit 11 prints an image on a print medium by an electrophotographic image forming operation. The paper feed unit 12 stores a print medium to be supplied to the printing unit 11. The image reading unit 13 reads an image of a document placed on the document table by manual operation or a document conveyed by the document conveying device 14 onto the document table. The document conveying device 14 is disposed with the upper surface of a document table (not shown) in the image reading unit 13 being openable and closable.

  The printing unit 11 and the paper feeding unit 12 are controlled by a process control unit (hereinafter referred to as PCU) 111. The image reading unit 13 is controlled by an image control unit (hereinafter referred to as ICU) 131. The document conveying device 14 is controlled by an original control unit (hereinafter referred to as OCU) 141. The digital copying machine 1 is provided with an operation panel (not shown) provided with a key switch and a display. This operation panel is controlled by an operation panel control unit (hereinafter referred to as OPCU) 112. The key switch of the operation panel and the OPCU 112 correspond to the printing apparatus side input unit of the present invention.

  The PCU 111, ICU 131, OCU 141, and OPCU 112 are controlled by a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 113. The CPU 113 includes a memory 114 including a ROM and a RAM, an HDD 115 serving as a storage unit according to the present invention, a fax interface 116 that communicates with the fax machine 300 via the public telephone network 200, and a printer interface connected to the PC 2. 117 is connected.

  The PC 2 that is the output device of the present invention includes a main body 21, a display 22, a keyboard 23, and a mouse 24. The keyboard 23 and mouse 24 correspond to the output device side input unit of the present invention. The PC 2 reads print data from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a memory card, and accepts print data creation and editing operations by application software installed in the PC 2. The read print data and the print data created or edited are stored in the main body 21 and then output to the digital copying machine 1.

  The money processing apparatus 3 includes a control unit 30 including a CPU 31 including a ROM 32 and a RAM 33. For example, the CPU 31 calculates the amount of coins inserted from the insertion slot 34 and outputs the calculated amount to the digital copying machine 1 as amount data. The CPU 113 of the digital copying machine 1 does not immediately print the print data input from the PC 2, but temporarily stores it in the hard disk 115 by the hold function. Then, the CPU 113 reads out print data selected by operating a specific key switch on the operation panel from the hard disk 115 and supplies the print data to the PCU 111 to perform print processing in the printing unit 11.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for image data output processing in a PC which is an output device of the printing system. When image data that has been read, created, or edited by the PC 2 is output to the digital copying machine 1, when printing processing is instructed by the application software being executed, the display screen G1 of the application software being executed is displayed on the display 22. A print setting screen G2 is displayed over the screen. When the property button 401 is clicked while the digital copier 1 is selected as a printer for print processing in the print setting screen G2, the driver software for the digital copier 1 installed on the PC 2 is displayed on the screens G1 and G2. The detailed setting screen G3 of the digital copying machine 1 is displayed.

  On this detailed setting screen G3, print data type information, authentication information, billing information, and storage information input units 411 to 414, an OK button 416, and a cancel button 417 are displayed.

  The authentication information input unit 411 receives selection of whether the print data to be output is business print data or service print data. The authentication information input unit 412 receives input of code data as authentication information for specifying print data to be output. This authentication information can also be automatically given by the driver software. The billing information input unit 413 receives input of a charge to be collected from the customer for the service print data. The storage information input unit 414 receives an input of a storage period in the hard disk 115 for the service print data.

  The print data billing information and storage information input units 413 and 414 are not essential. By uniformly setting the unit price of the service print data and the storage period of the service print data as defaults, it is possible to omit input of all or part of the charging information and storage information for each print data. The OK button 416 and the cancel button 417 will be described later.

  The driver software of the digital copying machine 1 displays the display screen G1 when the OK button 416 is clicked after all or part of the print data type information, authentication information, billing information, and storage information is input on the detailed setting screen G3. Are added to the print data being displayed, and the detailed setting screen G3 is closed. Next, when the OK button 402 is clicked on the print setting screen G2, the driver software of the digital copying machine 1 outputs print data to which predetermined information is added to the digital copying machine 1.

  In this way, by accepting input of type information or the like on the detailed setting screen G3 displayed by the driver software of the digital copying machine 1, regardless of the type of application software used at the time of image reading, creation or editing work on the PC 2 The type information and the like can be easily given to the print data to be output from the PC 2 to the digital copying machine 1.

  Note that it is also possible to install application software dedicated for image reading, creation and editing in the digital copying machine 1 in the PC 2 and accept input of type information and the like on the print setting screen of this application software.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage state of print data in a digital copying machine which is a printing apparatus of the printing system. The hard disk 115 includes a business print data table TB1 and a service print data table TB2 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, in addition to an area for storing print data. The CPU 113 classifies the print data input from the PC 2 into business print data and service print data with reference to the type information, and stores authentication information, billing information, and storage information given to each print data in the table TB1. And TB2 are stored.

  The business print data table TB1 includes items of input date and time, code number (authentication information), file name, and creator name related to each business print data. The service print data table TB2 includes items of input date and time, code number (authentication information), file name, number of sheets, and unit price (billing information) related to each service print data. The file name, creator name, and number of sheets are information that is generally given to print data.

  The items constituting the tables TB1 and TB2 are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B on the condition that at least the authentication information is included. For example, the items constituting the service print data table can include saved information.

  The tables TB1 and TB2 are displayed on a display included in the operation panel of the digital copying machine 1. That is, when the store clerk or customer selects the output of print data stored by the hold function in the digital copying machine 1 by operating a predetermined key switch on the operation panel of the digital copying machine 1, the CPU 113 selects the table TB1 or The contents of TB2 are supplied to the OPCU 112, and the OPCU 112 displays the contents of the table TB1 or TB2 on the display in the operation panel.

  The OPCU 112 accepts a single print data selection operation by a store clerk or a customer while displaying the contents of the table TB1 or TB2 on the display. This selection operation is performed, for example, by inputting authentication information by operating a key switch in the operation panel. In this case, it is sufficient that at least the authentication information is displayed on the display, and it is not always necessary to display all the items constituting the tables TB1 and TB2.

  In addition, a touch panel may be arrange | positioned on a display and the salesclerk or the customer may select the printing data which desires output based on the file name currently displayed on the display by pressing operation of a touch panel. In this case, it is necessary to display at least the file name on the display, but it is not necessary to display the code number as the authentication information.

  4 and 5 are flowcharts for explaining the printing method of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure in the PC constituting the printing system, and FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure in the digital copying machine. When the PC 2 completes the preparation of print data by reading, creating, or editing (S1) and the print output by the digital copying machine 1 is selected (S2), the PC 2 displays the detailed settings shown in FIG. The screen G3 is displayed and input of information to be added to the print data is received (S3). At this time, only the cancel button 417 and the type information input unit 411 are enabled on the detailed setting screen G3, and the PC 2 first receives the input of type information (S4).

  When the fact that the print data is for business use is input as the type information, the PC 2 enables the authentication information input unit 412 and accepts the input of authentication information (S5 → S6). As described above, the code number as the authentication information is automatically assigned by the PC 2, and the process of S6 can be omitted.

  When the authentication information is input, the PC 2 waits for the OK button 416 to be clicked, adds the type information and the authentication information to the print data, and then outputs the print data to the digital copying machine 1 (S7˜). S9). When the cancel button 417 is operated, the PC 2 clears the type information input unit 411 and the authentication information input unit 412 and returns to S2 (S10 → S2).

  When the fact that the print data for service is input as the type information, the PC 2 validates the authentication information input unit 412, the charging information input unit 413, and the storage information input unit 414, and inputs authentication information, charging information, and storage information. Is accepted (S5 → S11-S13). As described above, the code number as the authentication information is automatically assigned by the PC 2, and the charging information indicating the unit price of the service print data and the storage information for determining the timing at which the print data is deleted after the printing process are the default. As the value is set, the processing of S11 to S13 can be omitted.

  When the authentication information, billing information, and storage information are input, the PC 2 waits for the OK button 416 to be clicked, adds the type information, authentication information, billing information, and storage information to the print data, and then prints this print data. Data is output to the digital copying machine 1 (S14 to S16). When the cancel button 417 is operated, the PC 2 clears the type information input unit 411, the authentication information input unit 412, the billing information input unit 413, and the saved information input unit 414, and returns to S2 (S17 → S2).

  When the CPU 113 of the digital copying machine 1 receives print data input from the PC 2, it reads the type information given to the print data (S31, S32). If the input print data is business print data, the CPU 113 stores the print data together with at least authentication information in a new area in the print data storage area in the hard disk 115 (S33, S34). Further, the CPU 113 stores information given to the input print data in the business print data table TB1 (S35).

  If the input print data is service print data, the CPU 113 stores the print data together with at least authentication information in a new area in the print data storage area of the hard disk 115 (S37). Further, the CPU 113 stores information added to the input print data in the service print data table TB2 (S38).

  A store clerk or customer who desires output of print data stored in the digital copying machine 1 inputs type information and authentication information on the operation panel and operates the print switch. When the print switch in the operation panel is operated, the CPU 113 determines which one of business print data or service print data is selected (S41, S42).

  When the authentication information for specifying the service print data that the customer desires to output is a code number, the correspondence between the service print data and the code number is, for example, posted in the vicinity of the digital copying machine 1, Or it can be made to recognize a customer by displaying on the large sized display with which the digital copying machine 1 is provided.

  When the business print data is selected, the CPU 113 reads out the print data that matches the input authentication information from the hard disk 115 and supplies it to the PCU 111, and executes a print process based on the print data (S43). When this printing process is completed, the CPU 113 deletes the print data in the hard disk 115 (S44). At this time, the CPU 113 deletes the corresponding data from the business use print data table TB1.

  When the service print data is selected, the CPU 113 reads the billing information attached to the print data that matches the input authentication information (S45), and the amount information transmitted from the money processing machine 3 is read. Waiting for the completion of the charging process based on the print data, the print data matching the input authentication information is read from the hard disk 115 and supplied to the PCU 111, and the print process based on the print data is executed (S46, S47).

  Note that if print data that matches the input authentication information does not exist on the hard disk 115, the CPU 113 displays a message indicating that no print data exists on the display in the operation panel.

  Further, the CPU 113 refers to the stored information in the service print data table TB2 at a predetermined timing while waiting for the processing operation, and deletes the service print data from the hard disk 115 at the timing to be deleted from the hard disk 115.

  As described above, in the printing system 10, the print data related to the printing process is business-use print data that should be provided only once to the sales clerk who is the target of the output, or the output result is invalid. Depending on the type of print data that is print data for service that should be repeatedly provided to a specific customer to be output, a process of erasing or continuously storing in the hard disk 115 is selectively performed after the printing process. . Therefore, the print data can be stored in the digital copying machine 1 in an optimum state according to the type.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the display screen of the output process of the image data in PC which is an output device of the said printing system. It is a figure which shows the storage state of the print data in the digital copying machine which is a printing apparatus of the said printing system. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in PC which comprises the said printing system. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence in the digital copying machine which comprises the said printing system.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital copier (printing device)
2 PC (output device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing system 11 Printing part 23 Keyboard (output device side input part)
24 mouse (input unit on the output device side)
112 OPCU (printer side input unit)
113 CPU
115 hard disk

Claims (4)

Type information each print data to identify the type of whether the print data to be provided to the print data is either unspecified users to be provided to a particular user, and accepts the input of authentication information that identifies the print data An output device including an output device side input unit, and outputting print data together with the type information and the authentication information input in the output device side input unit;
A billing processing device that performs billing processing for print processing with processing stored in the storage unit;
A storage unit that stores print data input from the output device together with authentication information that identifies the print data, a printing device side input unit that receives an input operation of authentication information, and print processing for a print medium based on the print data A printing unit that performs printing, and print data corresponding to the authentication information input in the printing apparatus side input unit is read from the storage unit and supplied to the printing unit, and each print data is specified based on the type information The print data provided to the user is erased from the storage unit after the printing process, and the print data provided to the unspecified user is retained in the storage unit even after the accounting process in the accounting processor is completed. A printing apparatus that executes a printing process with a process to perform,
A printing system comprising: The output device further accepts input of storage information that determines the timing for erasing print data after print processing after print processing for print data provided to an unspecified user in the output device side input unit, type information, authentication Print data together with information and storage information,
The printing apparatus supplies the print data to be provided to an unspecified user stored in the storage unit to the printing unit based on the type information and the storage information input from the output device, and then stores the storage unit together with authentication information. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the printing system is selectively erased from the printing system. Type information each print data input to identify a particular kind in the print data is either unspecified users to be provided to the user is the print data to provide the output device side input unit, and, identifying the print data Authentication information to print out together with the print data from the output device to the printing device,
The printing device stores the print data input from the output device in the storage unit together with authentication information for specifying the print data, and print data corresponding to the authentication information input in the printing device side input unit from the storage unit. Read and supply to the printing unit, and for each print data based on the type information, print data to be provided to a specific user is deleted from the storage unit after printing processing and provided to an unspecified user A printing method for executing print processing with processing held in the storage unit even after accounting processing is completed for print data to be printed. A storage unit that stores print data input from an external output device together with authentication information that identifies the print data, a printing device side input unit that receives an input operation of authentication information, and a print process for a print medium based on the print data comprising a printing unit for performing supplies the print data corresponding to the authentication information input at the printing apparatus side input unit to the printing unit is read from the storage unit, each of which is input together with the print data from the output device based on the type information is print data to identify the type of whether the print data to be provided to the print data is either unspecified users to be provided to a particular user, the print data to be provided to a particular user for each print data Executes the process of deleting from the storage after the printing process, and charges for print data provided to unspecified users Printing apparatus characterized by executing the printing process even after the physical has completed involves a process of holding in the storage unit.

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