JP4428078B2 - Printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, and more particularly to a printing system capable of instructing printing from a plurality of client devices via a network to an electrophotographic printing device capable of using continuous paper.

  In general, an electrophotographic printing apparatus first receives print data (reception processing), expands the received print data into bitmap data (development processing), and expands it to a mechanical controller that controls printing. Transfer bitmap data (transfer process). Then, the photosensitive drum is exposed and developed based on the bitmap data (exposure and development processing), transferred to paper (transfer processing), the transferred toner is fixed, and the stacker is discharged sequentially. It is like that.

  Here, the transfer process, the fixing process, and the discharge process are performed by sequentially moving the sheet to each processing unit. In print data composed of a plurality of pages, a transfer process, a fixing process, and a discharge process are sequentially performed for each page. For example, as shown in Table 1, the fixing process for the first page and the transfer process for the second page are performed. Simultaneously, the discharge process for the first page, the fixing process for the second page, and the transfer process for the third page are performed simultaneously, and the discharge process for the second page and the fixing process for the third page are performed simultaneously. However, the distance of paper movement to each processing unit differs depending on the engine (printing device) (between the transfer process and the fixing process) and there may be a case where paper movement of a plurality of pages is necessary (between the fixing process and the discharge process). In this case, the processing cannot be performed continuously as described above, but, for example, the discharge processing for the first page and the transfer processing for the second page are performed simultaneously.

  In such a printing apparatus, the printing process for the page is completed at the time when the paper discharge to the stacker for storing the printed paper is completed. If a paper jam or the like occurs before being discharged to the stacker, it is not guaranteed whether or not the page has been printed normally, and reprinting is necessary. For this reason, the client apparatus that has issued the print instruction determines whether or not the printed job has been normally printed based on the stacker page count (number of pages discharged to the stacker) notified from the printing apparatus.

  However, until the last page of the job is in a state where only the transfer process has been performed, until the client device recognizes that the paper has been discharged to the stacker by printing the next job or discharging the paper from the operator panel, etc. The previous job is secured in the spool, and the print data is deleted from the spool when the discharge to the stacker is recognized. Here, if an error that requires recovery (for example, paper jam) occurs before discharging to the stacker, the client device performs processing so that recovery processing can be traced back to the previous job. Do. Specifically, the print data of the page corresponding to the error is printed back to the previous job.

On the other hand, as an error notification method, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In the technique described in Patent Literature 1, it is proposed to perform control so that a user to be notified is selected according to a mode when a print error occurs.
JP-A-11-327854 (first page, FIG. 1)

  However, the processing at the time of an error of the printing apparatus as described above can be performed in a printing system in which the client apparatus and the printing apparatus are connected in a one-to-one relationship, but a plurality of client apparatuses are connected via a network. In a printing system connected in this manner, there are cases where recovery processing when an error occurs cannot be traced back to the previous job.

  In other words, in a printing system in which a plurality of client devices are connected via a network, only one printing can be performed at a time. Therefore, as shown in FIG. When this acquisition process is successful, print data is transmitted and printing is performed. When printing is completed, the printing apparatus is released. Even if another client device B makes a print device acquisition request between the acquisition and release of the print device, it is notified that printing is in progress and the print device acquisition process cannot be performed. Then, after the current printing is completed, the printing apparatus is acquired by the client apparatus B and printing is performed. Here, when printing from the first client apparatus A is completed, the last page is at a position where only the transfer process is completed in the printing apparatus. In this state, the first client device A has to perform a printing device release process with the job being printed. Thereafter, printing from the subsequent client device B is started. Even if an error that requires recovery occurs before the last page of printing from the first client device A is discharged to the stacker, the first client device A Since the connection with is not maintained, recovery cannot be performed. For this reason, there is a problem that the operator has to confirm the print result and give a necessary page print instruction again from the client apparatus A, which requires a complicated operation.

  Moreover, although the technique described in Patent Document 1 mentions error notification, it does not mention the solution of the above-described problems.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and can easily cope with an error occurrence in a printing system capable of instructing printing from a plurality of client devices via a network. An object is to provide a printing system.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a printing system capable of instructing printing from a plurality of client devices to a printing device via a network, and the client device and the printing device at the time of printing In the communication connection with the printing apparatus, when the transfer of the last page of the print data received from the client apparatus is completed, the client apparatus releases the communication connection in a state where the print data related to the printing is suspended, and the communication In the state where the connection is released and printing is executed by another client device, when a paper jam abnormality occurs between the release of the communication connection and the discharge of the recording medium after the transfer, the other client Move the print right to print from the device and restart the communication connection to print the print data corresponding to the abnormality. After the printing apparatus has performed the transfer acquired again while moving the printing rights to another client device, the client device at the time of opening the resumed the communication connection, transfer recording medium which has been completed is discharged Is characterized in that the print data held by is deleted.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the communication connection between the client apparatus and the printing apparatus when printing is performed by making a print request from the client apparatus to the printing apparatus, the client apparatus performs the printing when the transfer is completed. Since the communication connection is released in a state where the print data related to is held, printing requested from another client device can be started immediately upon completion of transfer . Further, since the recording medium transfer is completed deletes the print data held in the client device when it is discharged, before the transfer is completed and the recording medium is ejected, when an abnormality of the paper jam occurs, printing The apparatus can acquire print data corresponding to the abnormality from the client apparatus again.

  In other words, even if the communication connection between the client apparatus and the printing apparatus is released, the print data requested for printing is held, so that the printing apparatus cannot acquire print data corresponding to the error when an error occurs. This eliminates the need for the operator to perform complicated operations such as checking the print result and re-instructing the client device to print the required page, and can easily handle errors. Can do.

Further , as in the first aspect of the present invention, the paper jam occurs between the time when the communication connection is released and the recording medium after the transfer is discharged in a state where the communication connection is released and printing is executed by another client device. When an abnormality occurs, the printing right for printing from another client device is transferred and the communication connection is resumed. After the printing device acquires the print data corresponding to the abnormality and performs the transfer , the transfer is resumed. By transferring the print right to another client device and releasing the resumed communication connection, print data corresponding to the error can be acquired from the client device that made the previous print request and printed. It becomes.

The invention described in claim 1 can be applied to an electrophotographic printing apparatus capable of continuous paper printing, in which continuous paper is applied as a recording medium.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to easily cope with an error occurrence in a printing system capable of instructing printing from a plurality of client devices via a network. .

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus capable of printing on continuous paper applied to a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 12 includes a hopper 18 that accommodates the continuous paper P, an image recording unit 20 that records an image on the continuous paper P using an electrophotographic method, and an image recorded by the image recording unit 20. A fixing device 22 for fixing and a stacker 24 for accumulating image-recorded continuous paper P are provided. The continuous paper P used in the printing device 12 according to the embodiment of the present invention is in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. These perforations are formed at regular intervals, and are accommodated in the hopper 18 in a state of being folded at these perforations.

  The continuous paper P accommodated in the hopper 18 is conveyed to the image recording unit 20 by a tractor unit 26 provided above the hopper 18. As a result, an image is formed on the continuous paper P by the image recording unit 20, and the image is fixed by the fixing device 22. Although not shown, the continuous paper P is provided with a transport mechanism for transporting the continuous paper P in addition to the tractor unit 26 as well as the tractor unit 26. Up to 24, the continuous paper P is conveyed.

  The image recording unit 20 includes a photoconductive drum 28, a cleaner unit 30, a charge eliminating unit 32, a pre-charging unit 34, an optical unit 36, a developing unit 38, and a transfer charging unit 40. Residual toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 28 is cleaned, the residual charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum is neutralized by the static eliminator 32, and the photosensitive drum 28 is charged by the pre-charging unit 34. A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28 by the light emitted from 36. A toner image is formed by attaching toner to the latent image by the developing unit 38. Then, the toner on the photosensitive drum 28 is transferred to the continuous paper P by the transfer charging unit 40, an image is recorded on the continuous paper P, and the continuous paper P is fixed by the fixing device 22 provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the continuous paper P. The upper toner image is fixed. The continuous paper P on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the stacker 24.

  The printing apparatus 12 is provided with a page buffer 42 for storing print data for recording an image with the optical unit 36 of the image recording unit 20, and is based on the print data stored in the page buffer 42. By controlling the light emitted from the optical unit 36, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 28.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the printing system according to the embodiment of the present invention and the functions of the printing apparatus 12 applied to the printing system.

  The printing apparatus 12 is connected to a network 16 to which a plurality of client apparatuses 14 are connected, and is configured so that a printing instruction can be issued from the plurality of client apparatuses 14.

  The printing apparatus 12 includes a network communication control unit 44, a paper transport unit 46, a print control unit 48, a stacker discharge detection unit 50, a user interface 52, a page buffer 42, an image processing unit 54, an abnormality detection processing unit 56, and controls them. The main control unit 58 is connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other.

  The network communication control unit 44 controls communication such as print instructions and print data from the plurality of client apparatuses 14. For example, the network communication control unit 44 performs control such as accumulation of print data received from the client device 14 in the page buffer 42, and transfer of print rights that occupy the printing device.

  The paper transport unit 46 controls the transport of paper such as the continuous paper P, and performs a series of paper transports from the hopper 18 to the image recording unit 20, from the image recording unit 20 to the fixing device 22, and from the fixing device 22 to the stacker 24. Control.

  The print control unit 48 converts the print data accumulated in the page buffer 42 into data that can be printed by the printing apparatus 12 (for example, bitmap data) and controls the optical unit 36 to the continuous paper P. The light irradiation is controlled.

  Since the distance between the image recording unit 20 and the stacker 24 is determined in advance, the stacker discharge detection unit 50 calculates the moving distance of the continuous paper P based on the distance and the signal from the paper transport unit 46. It is detected whether the printed page is discharged to the stacker 24 or not.

  The user interface 52 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal panel and an operation device such as a numeric keypad, so that settings and operations of the printing device can be performed via the operation device based on information displayed on the display device. It is configured.

  The page buffer 42 accumulates the print data transmitted from the client device 14 as described above, transmits the print data to the image processing unit 54, performs image processing described later, and then prints according to the printing status of the print control unit 48. Printing is performed by transmitting data to the print control unit 48.

  The image processing unit 54 converts the print data accumulated in the page buffer 42 into data (for example, bitmap data) that can be processed by the printing apparatus 12.

  The abnormality detection processing unit 56 detects a paper jam or the like based on information from various sensors provided in the printing apparatus 12.

  The main control unit 58 includes a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, various peripheral devices, and the like. The main control unit 58 controls the above-described functions in an integrated manner. The ROM of the main control unit 58 includes A program or the like for controlling various operations of the printing apparatus 12 is stored, and the printing apparatus 12 is comprehensively controlled by executing a program or the like stored in the ROM.

  Note that a print instruction from the client device 14 connected via the network 16 to the printing device 12 is performed by using print management software, a printer management module, or the like installed in advance in each client device 14.

Next, an example of the operation of the printing system configured as described above will be described.
[First Embodiment]
First, the flow of processing performed on the print management module side of each client device 14 that issues a print instruction to the printing device 12 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing performed by each client device 14 according to the first embodiment.

  In the client device 14, when a printing instruction is given to the printing device 12, in step 100, a printing right acquisition request of the printing device 12 is output to the printing device 12, and the process proceeds to step 102 to obtain the printing right. It is determined whether or not it has been acquired. This determination is made by determining whether or not acquisition of the printing right from the printing apparatus 12 is permitted. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 104 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, after a predetermined time elapses, the process returns to step 100 and a print right acquisition request is made to the printing apparatus 12.

  If the determination in step 102 is affirmative, that is, if the print right has been acquired, the process proceeds to step 106 where print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 12.

  Next, in step 108, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. The determination is made by determining whether or not a notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred has been received from the printing apparatus 12. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 110.

  In step 110, the process waits until a re-request for print data corresponding to the abnormality is received from the printing apparatus 12, and the process proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, it is set to perform retransmission from the print data corresponding to the abnormality, and the process proceeds to step 106.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 108 is negative, that is, if no abnormality has occurred in the printing apparatus 12, the process proceeds to step 114 as it is.

  In step 114, it is determined whether printing is completed. This determination is made by determining whether or not the transmission of the print data from the client device 14 is completed. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 106 and the above-described processing is repeated. When the determination is YES, the routine proceeds to step 116.

  In step 116, a print right release notification is transmitted to the printing apparatus 12, so that the printing apparatus 12 can grant the printing right to other client apparatuses 14.

  In step 118, print information is acquired. That is, it is monitored whether or not a page for which printing has been requested by the printing apparatus 12 and printing has been completed is discharged to the stacker 24.

  Subsequently, in step 120, as in step 108, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. If the determination is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 122, waits until there is a request for print data, and then proceeds to step 124.

  In step 124, it is set to perform retransmission from the print data corresponding to the abnormality, and the process proceeds to step 106.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 120 is negative, the process proceeds to step 126 as it is.

  In step 126, it is determined whether or not the last page requested for printing to the stacker 24 has been discharged. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 120 and the above processing is repeated, and the determination in step 126 is affirmed. Now, the process proceeds to step 128.

  In step 128, the printing apparatus 12 is opened. In other words, the communication connection with the printing apparatus 12 is disconnected, and the series of processing ends.

  Next, the flow of processing performed by the printing apparatus 12 will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by starting a program stored in the printing apparatus 12 according to the first embodiment.

  In step 200, it is determined whether a print acquisition request has been made from the client device 14. The process waits until the determination is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 202.

  In step 202, a print right acquisition OK notification is notified to the client apparatus 14 and acquisition NG setting is performed to reject a print right acquisition request from another client apparatus 14, and the process proceeds to step 204. That is, the print right acquisition request from another client device 14 is rejected by the acquisition NG setting in step 202.

  In step 204, the print data transmitted from the client device 14 is received and accumulated in the page buffer 42, and the process proceeds to step 206.

  In step 206, print processing based on the print data stored in the page buffer 42 is performed. That is, the image recording operation by the image recording unit 20 is performed. Specifically, cleaning of the photosensitive drum 28 by the cleaner unit 30, neutralization of the photosensitive drum 28 by the neutralization unit 32, charging of the photosensitive drum 28 by the pre-charging unit 34, formation of a latent image by the optical unit 36, and by the development unit 38 Development, transfer to the continuous paper P by the transfer charging unit 40, and fixing of the toner image by the fixing device 22 are performed, and an image based on the print data is recorded on the continuous paper P.

  Next, in step 208, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. This determination is made by determining whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has been detected by the abnormality detection processing unit 56. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 210 and an abnormality process described later is performed. The process proceeds to step 212.

  If the determination in step 208 is negative, the process proceeds to step 212 as it is.

  In step 212, it is determined whether printing is completed. This determination is made by determining whether or not the last page has been transferred. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 204 and the above processing is repeated, and the determination at step 212 is affirmed. After that, the routine proceeds to step 214.

  In step 214, printing is completed and the printing right is released to the other client device 14. That is, a print request from another client device 14 is accepted, and a print right acquisition request from another client device 14 is thereby permitted. If the print right has been transferred from another client, the print right is returned to the original client.

  Subsequently, in step 216, it is determined whether a print information acquisition request has been made from the client device 14 that has completed printing. The process waits until the determination is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 220.

  In step 220, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 222, an abnormality process described later is performed, and the process proceeds to step 224.

  If the determination in step 220 is negative, the process proceeds to step 224 as it is.

  In step 224, it is determined whether or not the last page that has been printed has been discharged to the stacker 24. This determination is made by determining whether or not the last printed page has been discharged by the stacker discharge detection unit 50. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 218 and print information is notified. That is, the client device 14 that has completed printing monitors whether or not the last page that has been printed has been discharged to the stacker 24. Thereafter, the process returns to step 216 and the above-described processing is repeated. When the determination in step 224 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 226.

  In step 226, the communication connection with the client device 14 is disconnected, and the series of processes for the client device 14 that first obtains the print right is terminated. If the print right is acquired by another client device 14 when the print right is released in step 214, the processing from step 200 described above is started for the other client device 14. .

  Subsequently, the abnormality process performed in step 210 and step 222 described above will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of the abnormality process. The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows processing that is started when an abnormality such as a paper jam is detected by the abnormality detection processing unit 56.

  If an abnormality such as a paper jam is detected by the abnormality detection processing unit 56, it is determined in step 302 whether there is a page corresponding to the previous job. That is, it is determined whether or not the page corresponding to the previous job exists between the completion of printing and the output to the stacker. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 303 and printing is in progress. The client is notified of an abnormal print data request, and the process proceeds to step 304.

  In step 304, the print right is transferred to the client apparatus 14 of the previous job, and the process proceeds to step 306.

  In step 306, a print data request corresponding to the abnormality is made to the client apparatus 14 to which the print right has been transferred. Thereafter, in step 308, it is determined whether or not the abnormality has been canceled, and the process is terminated after waiting until the determination is affirmed.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 302 is negative, that is, if there is no page corresponding to the previous job, the process proceeds to step 314 to print the current client device when there is an abnormality without transferring the print right. Data is requested.

  Then, the process proceeds to step 308 to determine whether or not the abnormality has been canceled. If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the process of the flowchart of FIG. 4 is continued.

  That is, in the printing system according to the present embodiment, the release process is performed in two stages, that is, the printing right release and the device release. When the print right is released, it is possible to acquire and print a device from another client device 14. However, even after the printing right is released, the client device 14 acquires print information from the printing device 12 and monitoring is performed until the last page is discharged to the stacker 24.

Specifically, for example, the printing apparatus 12 includes a table for managing print pages in the printing apparatus 12 as shown in Table 2. Table 2 shows the printing of the job 1 by the client device 14 ends, showing a state in which the job 2 by other client devices 14 and n ₂ page printing. The sheet movement amount from the position where the transfer is completed (printing is completed) to the time when the stacker 24 is completely discharged is fixed by the printing apparatus 12 and is N inches in the example.

  Note that N represents the number of inches moved from the transfer position until the stacker discharge is completed, and n represents the number of printed sheets of the next job.

In a state where job 2 has printed n ₂ pages, the last page of job 1 has moved to a position of (N−n ₂ × P ₂ ) inches. The stacker discharge detection unit 50 detects this value. If this value is positive, the stacker has not yet been discharged to the stacker 24. Therefore, when print information acquisition is requested from the client device 14, the stacker has not been discharged. To the client device 14. When this value becomes negative, the stacker discharge completion is notified to indicate that the stacker 24 has been discharged.

  When it is confirmed that the last page is discharged to the stacker 24, the apparatus is opened and the printing apparatus 12 is not monitored, and communication is disconnected.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows a printing sequence when the last page is normally ejected to the stacker 24 by printing the next job.

  When the sheet is normally discharged to the stacker 24, as shown in FIG. 6, when the final page is printed (transfer completed), the first stage release process, that is, the print right is released, and the client is released. Even after the printing right is released, the apparatus A monitors the printing apparatus 12 to confirm the discharge of the final page stacker, and when the final page stacker discharge is confirmed, That is, the apparatus is opened and communication is disconnected.

  Next, FIG. 7 shows a printing sequence in the case where an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs during job printing and the previous job needs to be recovered.

If a paper jam occurs when job 2 by client apparatus B prints n ₂ pages, the number of pages that have been discharged to the stacker 24 (number of pages from the beginning of the job) is as follows.

Previous job (Job 1): X1 + [(n ₂ × P ₂ ) ÷ P ₁ ]
Current job (job 2): 0 pages The remainder of (n ₂ × P ₂ ) ÷ P1 is rounded down.

  Here, the client device B is notified of the occurrence of paper jam, the stacker page count (the number of pages that have been ejected to the stacker), and the print right transfer notification (the print right is the client device B → the client device A). The client apparatus B monitors the printing apparatus 12 until printing right transfer (client apparatus A → client apparatus B) is notified again. When printing right transfer (client device A → client device B) is notified, reprinting is performed from a page that needs to be recovered (stacker page count + 1).

  After notifying the client device B of the print right transfer, the paper jam has occurred to the client device A, the stacker page count (number of pages that have been ejected to the stacker), and the print right transfer notification (the print right is transferred from the client device B to the client device A). ). Thereafter, the printer 12 is monitored to wait for the error to be released, and after the error is released, the page that needs to be recovered (stacker page count + 1) is reprinted, printed to the last page, and the printing right is released again. Monitoring is performed until the last page is discharged to the stacker.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the connection relating to the communication between the client device 14 and the printing device 12 is opened in two stages, so that even in an environment where a plurality of client devices 14 share a single printing device 12 for printing. When an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs, recovery can be easily performed even if the job crosses over. In other words, when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to eliminate complicated operations such as whether or not the operator needs to go back to the past job and recovery, and search the job type and page number at that time. Can guarantee printing.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a printing system according to the second embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the printing system itself is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and processing performed by the client device 14 and the printing device 12 will be described.

  First, processing performed in each client device 14 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by each client device 14 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 shows processing performed by the print management module installed in each client device 14 in advance.

  In the client device 14, when a printing instruction is issued to the printing device 12, in step 400, a print right acquisition request of the printing device 12 is output to the printing device 12, and the process proceeds to step 402 to obtain the printing right. It is determined whether or not it has been acquired. The determination is made by determining whether or not acquisition of the printing right from the printing apparatus 12 is permitted. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 404 to determine whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, after a predetermined time elapses, the process returns to step 400 and a print right acquisition request is made to the printing apparatus 12.

  If the determination in step 402 is affirmative, that is, if the print right has been acquired, the process proceeds to step 406 and print data is transmitted to the printing apparatus 12.

  Next, in step 408, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. This determination is made by determining whether or not a notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred has been received from the printing apparatus 12. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 410.

  In step 410, the process waits until there is a re-request for print data corresponding to the abnormality from the printing apparatus 12, and the process proceeds to step 412.

  In step 412, it is set to perform retransmission from the print data corresponding to the abnormality, and the process proceeds to step 406.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 408 is negative, that is, if no abnormality has occurred in the printing apparatus 12, the process proceeds to step 414 as it is.

  In step 414, it is determined whether printing has been completed. This determination is made by determining whether or not the transmission of the print data from the client device 14 is completed. If the determination is negative, the processing returns to step 406 and the above-described processing is repeated. When the determination is positive, the routine proceeds to step 416.

  In step 416, a printing device release notification is transmitted to the printing device 12, so that the printing device 12 can grant printing rights to other client devices 14. At this time, the client device 14 opens the printing device 12, but holds the print data corresponding to the job requested to be printed. In other words, in the present embodiment, the printing apparatus 12 holds the printing until printing is completed (stacker discharge is completed) and recovery from an abnormality is not necessary.

  In step 418, as in step 408, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper job has occurred. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 420, waits until the abnormality is canceled, and proceeds to step 422.

  In step 422, the process waits until there is a request for print data, and the process proceeds to step 424, where re-transmission from the print data corresponding to the abnormality is set, and the process proceeds to step 406. In other words, the print data corresponding to the abnormality is transmitted to the printing apparatus 12 from the print data suspended in step 416. As a result, the printing apparatus 12 can print the page corresponding to the abnormality again.

  Subsequently, in step 428, it is determined whether or not the final page requested to be printed to the stacker 24 has been discharged. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 418 and the above-described processing is repeated, and the determination in step 428 is performed. When is affirmed, the routine proceeds to step 430.

  In step 430, the print data suspended in step 416 is deleted, and the series of processing ends.

  Next, the flow of processing performed by the printing apparatus 12 according to the second embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by starting a program stored in the printing apparatus 12 according to the second embodiment.

  In step 500, it is determined whether a print acquisition request has been made from the client device 14. The process waits until the determination is affirmed, and the process proceeds to step 502.

  In step 502, a print right acquisition OK notification is notified to the client apparatus 14, and an acquisition NG setting is made to reject a print right acquisition request from another client apparatus 14, and the process proceeds to step 504. That is, the print right acquisition request from another client device 14 is rejected by the acquisition NG setting in step 502.

  In step 504, the print data transmitted from the client device 14 is received and accumulated in the page buffer 42, and the process proceeds to step 506.

  In step 506, print processing based on the print data stored in the page buffer 42 is performed. That is, the image recording operation by the image recording unit 20 is performed. Specifically, cleaning of the photosensitive drum 28 by the cleaner unit 30, neutralization of the photosensitive drum 28 by the neutralization unit 32, charging of the photosensitive drum 28 by the pre-charging unit 34, formation of a latent image by the optical unit 36, and by the development unit 38 Development, transfer to the continuous paper P by the transfer charging unit 40, and fixing of the toner image by the fixing device 22 are performed, and an image based on the print data is recorded on the continuous paper P.

  Next, in step 508, it is determined whether an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. This determination is made by determining whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has been detected by the abnormality detection processing unit 56. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 510, and the above-described FIG. The abnormal process shown is performed, and the process proceeds to step 512. Since the abnormality process has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  If the determination in step 508 is negative, the process proceeds to step 512 as it is.

  In step 512, it is determined whether printing is completed. The determination is made by determining whether or not the last page has been transferred. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 504 and the above processing is repeated, and the determination at step 512 is affirmed. After that, the routine proceeds to step 514.

  In step 514, the printing is completed, the communication with the client device 14 is disconnected, and the printing right is released to the other client devices 14. That is, a print request from another client device 14 is accepted, and a print right acquisition request from another client device 14 is thereby permitted. At this time, the processing from step 500 described above is started for the other client devices 14.

  Subsequently, in step 516, it is determined whether or not an abnormality such as a paper jam has occurred. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 518, where the above-described abnormality process shown in FIG. 5 is performed, and the process proceeds to step 504. Since the abnormality process has been described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

    On the other hand, if the determination in step 516 is negative, the process proceeds to step 522 as it is.

  In step 522, it is determined whether or not the last page that has been printed is discharged to the stacker 24. This determination is made by determining whether or not the last page printed by the stacker discharge detection unit 50 has been discharged. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 516 and the above-described processing is repeated. When the determination in step 522 is affirmed, all processing for the client device 14 that has first acquired the printing right is ended.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, after the apparatus is opened at the time of completion of printing (transfer completion), when the final page is discharged to the stacker 24 by printing the next job, the printing apparatus 12 sends the client apparatus 14 with it. To notify the stacker discharge completion. That is, in the printing apparatus 12 according to the second embodiment, when printing is completed (transfer completed), the communication connection with the client apparatus 14 is disconnected and the printing right is released to the other client apparatuses 14, but the client apparatus 14 Thus, the print data for which a print request has been made is held until the stacker discharge is completed, so that recovery is possible when an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs.

Here, the printing sequence when the last page is normally ejected to the stacker 24 by printing the next job is shown in FIG. 10. When the last page is normally ejected to the stacker 24, as shown in FIG. When printing is completed (transfer completed), the apparatus is opened and communication is disconnected. At this point, the client device 14 that has released the device suspends the print data for which the print request has been made. In the client device 14, the print data that has been suspended when the stacker discharge completion notification is acquired from the printing device 12 is deleted.

  Next, FIG. 11 shows a printing sequence when a paper jam occurs during printing of the next job and the previous job needs to be recovered.

Like the first embodiment, when the job 2 is the paper jam occurs at printed n ₂ pages, number of pages ejected to the stacker 24 is completed (the number of pages from the beginning of the job) is expressed as follows.

Previous job (Job 1): X1 + [(n ₂ × P ₂ ) ÷ P ₁ ]
Current job (job 2): 0 pages The remainder of (n ₂ × P ₂ ) ÷ P ₁ is rounded down.

  Here, the client device B is notified of the occurrence of a paper jam, the stacker page count (the number of pages discharged to the stacker 24), the print and print right transfer notification (the print right is transferred from the client device B to the client device A). To do. The client apparatus B monitors the printing apparatus 12 until printing right transfer (client apparatus A → client apparatus B) is notified again. When printing right transfer (client device A → client device B) is notified, reprinting is performed from a page that needs to be recovered (stacker page count + 1).

  After notifying the client device B of the printing right transfer, the client device A is notified of the occurrence of paper jam, the stacker page count (the number of pages discharged to the stacker 24), and the printing right movement notification (the printing right is the client device B → the client device). (Move to A). Thereafter, the printer 12 is monitored to wait for the error to be cleared, and after the error is cleared, reprinting is performed from the page that needs to be recovered (stacker page count + 1). Wait for a stacker discharge completion notification from the device 12.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the connection relating to the communication between the client device 14 and the printing device 12 is disconnected when the printing is completed (transfer completed), but the printing requested for printing until the client device 14 detects the stacker discharge of the last page. By suspending data, even in the environment where a plurality of client devices 14 share a single printing device 12 for printing, even when a paper jam occurs, recovery can be easily performed. It can be carried out. In other words, when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to eliminate complicated operations such as whether or not the operator needs to go back to the past job and recovery, and search for the job type and page number at that time. Can be printed.

  In the above embodiment, an electrophotographic printing apparatus capable of printing on continuous paper is applied as the printing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, printing is performed on cut paper that has been cut into a predetermined size in advance. You may make it apply the printing apparatus which performs.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus capable of printing on continuous paper applied to a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention and functions of a printing apparatus applied to the printing system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed by each client apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by starting a program stored in the printing apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an abnormality process. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing sequence when the last page is normally ejected to the stacker by printing the next job in the printing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printing sequence when an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs during printing of the next job and the previous job needs to be recovered in the printing system according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed by each client apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by starting a program stored in a printing apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing sequence when a final page is normally discharged to a stacker by printing a next job in the printing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a printing sequence when a paper jam occurs during printing of the next job and the previous job needs to be recovered in the printing system according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the printing sequence in the conventional printing system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing system 12 Printing apparatus 14 Client apparatus 16 Network

Claims (1)

A printing system capable of instructing printing from a plurality of client devices via a network,
In the communication connection between the client device and the printing device at the time of printing, the client device holds the print data related to the printing when the transfer of the last page of the print data received from the client device is completed. Release the communication connection
In the state where the communication connection is released and printing is executed by another client device, when a paper jam abnormality occurs between the release of the communication connection and the ejection of the recording medium after the transfer, The print right for printing is transferred from the client device and the communication connection is resumed. After the print device acquires and transfers the print data corresponding to the abnormality, the client device again sends the print data to the other client device. A printing system that moves printing right, releases the resumed communication connection, and deletes print data held by the client device when a recording medium that has been transferred is ejected.

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