JP5338156B2 - Tandem continuous paper printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tandem continuous paper printer, and more particularly to control when loading paper in a tandem continuous paper printer.

  Conventionally, in a tandem continuous paper printer that performs printing with two printers, when both the first printer and the second printer are out of paper and a new paper is loaded, for example, the following loading method is used. It was known.

  The first method is to load the first printer, and after the operator manually prints / stops the first printer until the paper can be loaded into the second printer. Two sheets were loaded with paper, and synchronous printing of the first printer and the second printer was resumed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The second paper loading method is to load paper into the first printer, execute paper feeding with the first printer until the paper can be loaded into the second printer, and load paper into the second printer. Thus, the synchronous printing of the first printer and the second printer was resumed (see also Patent Document 1).

  As a method for supplying new paper immediately before the paper runs out, the absence of paper is detected in front of the first printer, the end of the detected paper and the leading edge of the new paper are connected by a splicer, and printing is resumed. A method is known (for example, refer to Patent Document 2). This method has been used for both a single continuous paper printer and a tandem continuous paper printer.

JP 07-237336 A JP-A-61-64477

  In the tandem continuous paper printer, the relationship between the installation positions of the first printer and the second printer is relatively high, and the distance between the first printer and the second printer is not fixed. After installation of each printer, the housing installation position is generally fixed and used. Therefore, the paper length between the first printer and the second printer is fixed, and the number of physical pages staying between the printers is determined for each paper to be printed.

  In the case of the first paper loading method described above, the first printer performs printing for the number of physical pages remaining between the printers, loads the front end of the paper into the second printer, and resumes synchronous printing. That's fine. However, if the job is not transmitted from the host device, or if the job expansion processing for the number of physical pages between the printers is not completed even when the job is received, the operator does not load the paper. Work efficiency is poor.

  On the other hand, in the second paper loading method in which paper feeding is performed by the first printer by the number of physical pages between the printers, paper loading work up to the second printer can be performed at any time regardless of job data. However, since printing cannot be performed on the fed paper portion, the corresponding paper is wasted.

  Further, depending on the installation of the tandem continuous paper printer, the continuous paper length staying between the first printer and the second printer may be several tens of pages. For this reason, useless paper is generated every time paper is loaded.

  Further, the method according to Patent Document 2 does not generate waste paper, but requires a splicer separately, and has a complicated aspect of cost and work process such as an increase in apparatus configuration. In addition, this method is applied only when sheets of the same type are replenished because the sheets are joined together. When the paper is replaced with a different type of paper, a process such as re-loading the paper is necessary, and therefore, the same problem as in Patent Document 1 has occurred.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that a tandem continuous paper printer does not use a special device such as a splicer, and does not place a burden on the operator, and the amount of waste paper generated as a result of paper loading. It is an object of the present invention to provide a tandem-type continuous paper printer capable of loading paper whenever the operator wants to load paper.

In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, bitmap data for the first printer and the second printer is generated based on data received from the first printer and the second printer and the host device, respectively. In the tandem continuous paper printer comprising a print control device that spools map data for each page and transmits spooled bitmap data to the first printer and the second printer, the print control device further includes: Delta page number setting means for storing and holding the number of physical pages P between the first printer and the second printer, and an unprinted page number C for the first printer that is periodically updated to hold the latest value. a number setting unit printed pages, and an operation panel having an input unit and a display unit from a user, after being loaded into the first printer, a second purine And a loading page count control means for performing print page control of the loaded paper, the loading page number control means, the paper in the first printer is detected to be loaded periodically the page The number C and the page number P are compared. If the comparison result is C ≧ P, the first printer is instructed to print the spooled unprinted pages in the first printer by the number of pages P. When the comparison result is C <P, a paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state. When an instruction input for paper loading processing is received from the operation panel, the number of pages (P− C) instructing the first printer to print blank pages for the number of pages and C for the number of pages, and the first printer applies the paper loaded in the first printer to the first printer based on the print instructions from the print control device. Page After performing printing of several P content, the printed paper in the first printer, characterized in that pause printing operation until loaded into the second printer.

Further, a cancel button for canceling the standby state is displayed on the intention confirmation screen displayed on the operation panel.
Further, when the comparison result is C <P, a paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state, and when C ≧ P, the intention confirmation screen is displayed. Is canceled and printing for the number of pages P is executed.
Further, bitmap data for the first printer and the second printer is generated based on the data received from the first printer and the second printer and the host device, respectively, and the bitmap data is spooled for each page, In a control method of a tandem continuous paper printer comprising a print control device for transmitting spooled bitmap data to the first printer and the second printer, the print control device includes an input unit and a display unit from a user. Having an operation panel, storing and holding the number of physical pages P between the first printer and the second printer, and periodically updating the number C of unprinted pages for the first printer to hold the latest value and, after being loaded into the first printer performs print page control of the paper loaded in the second printer, the paper is loaded into the first printer When this is detected, the number of pages C and the number of pages P are periodically compared. If the comparison result is C ≧ P, the spooled unprinted portion of the first printer is printed by the number of pages P. When the first printer is instructed to print a page, and the comparison result is C <P, a paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state, and a paper loading process instruction is issued from the operation panel. When the input is received, the first printer is instructed to print blank pages for the number of pages (PC) and print for the number of pages C. The first printer applies the paper loaded in the first printer to the first printer. After performing printing for the number of pages P based on a printing instruction from the printing control device, the printing operation is temporarily stopped until a sheet printed by the first printer is loaded into the second printer. .
Further, a cancel button for canceling the standby state is displayed on the intention confirmation screen displayed on the operation panel.
Further, when the comparison result is C <P, a paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state, and when C ≧ P, the intention confirmation screen is displayed. Is canceled and printing for the number of pages P is executed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce waste paper that is not used for printing when loading paper between printers of a tandem continuous paper printer. Even when job data corresponding to the number of physical pages between the printers is not printable, the operator can perform a paper loading operation, and can print without including an extra blank page in the print job.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a tandem continuous paper printer 20 according to the present invention.

  The tandem continuous paper printer 20 includes a print control device 30, a first printer 40, and a second printer 50, and is connected to the host device 10 that is a host device.

  The print control device 30 receives print job information including print data, page information, and a print processing command from the host device 10, performs pre-printing processing, and transmits job data to the first printer 40 and the second printer 50. .

Print control device 30, the data receiving unit 31 for receiving print job information from the host device 10, development unit 32 for bitmap print data received, processed, and first and bitmap data from the rasterization unit 32 (2) An output control unit 33 that performs input / output control with the printer, an operation unit 35 that includes an input unit (and display unit) serving as a user interface, and a spooler 38 that temporarily stores data expanded by the expansion unit 32. . Further, the number of pages not yet printed in the print data printed by the first printer 40 is counted (count value C), and the sheet length between the first printer 40 and the second printer 50 is counted. , The delta page number setting means 36, the output control section 33, the operation section 35, the unprinted page number setting means 34, and the delta page number. Based on each value from the setting means 36, a loading page number control means 37 for performing paper loading control between the first printer 40 and the second printer 50 is provided.

  The data receiving unit 31 of the print control device 30 transfers the print job information received from the host device 10 to the developing unit 32. The expansion unit 32 expands the print data of the print job information into a bitmap, and transmits page information and bitmap data to the output control unit 33 for each page.

  The output control unit 33 sequentially spools the bitmap data for each page received from the expansion unit 32 to the spooler 38. At this time, based on the page information of each page, it is determined which of the first and second printers 40 and 50 is used for printing. In the case of a page to be printed by the first printer 40, the number of unprinted pages is set. The count value C of the means 34 is incremented by 1. The count value C is set to an initial value “0” when the tandem continuous paper printer 20 is activated. When transmitting the bitmap data for the first printer 40 temporarily stored in the spooler 38 to the first printer 40, the output control unit 33 uses the count value C of the unprinted page number setting means 34 as the number of output pages. Decrement by the minute.

  The output control unit 33 monitors whether the first printer 40 and the second printer 50 can print. If both the first printer 40 and the second printer 50 are in a printable state, the page (front surface) printed by the first printer 40 based on the value (ΔP) set in the delta page number setting means 36. The bitmap data is transferred to the first printer 40 and the second printer 50 so that the page (back side) to be paired with the second printer 50 is printed at the same paper position, and the execution of printing is instructed. In addition, the output control unit 33 can instruct the first printer 40 and the second printer 50 to print blank pages of an arbitrary number of pages. Note that the second printer is not limited to the back surface, and may be configured to print on the front surface printed by the first printer.

  The operation unit 35 is an interface with an operator and includes a screen display unit and an input unit. When executing printing, the operator appropriately acquires the number of physical pages (ΔP) between the first printer 40 and the second printer 50, and inputs and sets the ΔP from the operation unit 35. The acquisition method can be appropriately acquired, such as the method described in paragraph 0037 of Patent Document 1.

  The operation unit 35 transmits the input ΔP to the delta page number setting unit 36, and the delta page number setting unit 36 stores the received ΔP. The delta page number setting means 36 includes a non-volatile memory or the like, and ΔP is held even when the power is turned off.

  The loading page number control means 37 can periodically inquire the output control unit 33 and acquire the status states of the first printer 40 and the second printer 50. Thereby, for example, it can be recognized that the continuous paper is loaded in the first printer 40.

  Further, the loading page number control means 37 can acquire the number C of unprinted pages in the first printer 40 set in the unprinted page number setting means 34 by the output control unit 33, and the delta page number setting means 36. Can obtain the number of delta pages ΔP.

  Next, a paper loading process between printers of a tandem continuous paper printer will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when a sheet is loaded in the first printer 40 in the tandem continuous paper printer 20 according to the present invention.

  When the loading page number control means 37 recognizes that the continuous paper is loaded in the first printer 40 (step 100: S100, the same applies hereinafter), the delta page number ΔP set in the delta page number setting means 36 is set. Obtain (S101). Subsequently, the count value C, which is the number of unprinted pages in the first printer 40 held in the unprinted page number setting means 34, is acquired (S102).

  The loading page number control means 37 compares the acquired delta page number ΔP with the count value C (S103). When “count value C ≧ delta page number ΔP”, the loading page number control unit 37 outputs the unprinted pages in the first printer 40 by the first printer 40 by the amount of delta pages ΔP. 33 is instructed. Next, the output control unit 33 transmits job data including bitmap data for delta pages ΔP from the spooler 38, and the first printer 40 performs printing based on the transmitted job data (S108).

  On the other hand, if “count value C <delta page number ΔP” in S103, the print control apparatus 30 enters a standby state. At this time, the operation unit 35 displays a button for canceling the standby state on the display means (screen display unit) (S104). The button display is not limited to this. For example, instead of the “cancel standby state” button, it may be content that confirms the user's immediate paper loading intention, such as “execute paper loading printing (blank printing + job data printing) immediately”. Absent.

  The loading page number control means 37 determines whether or not the cancel button has been pressed by the operator (S105), and when it is pressed, the loading page number control means 37 determines the unprinted amount from the delta page number ΔP. The first printer 40 is instructed to print blank pages for the number of pages (ΔP−C) obtained by subtracting the number of pages C. The output control unit 33 instructs the first printer to print blank paper for (ΔP−C) pages (S106). Subsequently, the output controller 33 is instructed to perform printing for the number C of unprinted pages by the first printer 40, and the output controller 33 instructs the first printer to perform printing (S107). As a result, the first printer 40 performs printing for the number of delta pages ΔP together with (ΔP−C) blank pages.

  On the other hand, while the cancel button is not pressed, the loading page number control unit 37 monitors the count value C, which is the number of unprinted pages in the first printer 40 set in the unprinted page number setting unit 34 (for a certain period of time). Until the value C ≧ ΔP (“Y” in S103) or the cancel button is pressed in S105 (“Y” in S105). The display of the standby state and the cancel button is continued (S104).

  After the paper loading printing of S107 or S108 is performed by the first printer (S109), the printer waits until the paper loading operation by the operator is completed (the printing operation is temporarily stopped).

  Specifically, the completion of the loading operation is recognized by an operator input from the operation unit 35. When the loading page number control unit 37 receives an input of completion of the loading operation from the operation unit 35, the loading page number control unit 37 instructs the output control unit 33 to continue the printing process. The output control unit 33 sends each job data to the first printer 40 and the second printer in response to an instruction from the loading page number control unit 37 and issues a print instruction.

  In any of the above cases, the first printer 40 performs “job data printing” or “blank paper printing + job data printing” for the number of delta pages ΔP for loading paper between the first and second printers. Accordingly, the operator can load the paper discharged from the first printer 40 into the second printer 50 and immediately start synchronous printing.

  When the print data for ΔP is not in a printable state (the state spooled by the spooler 38), the operator prints the blank paper for ΔP-C and prints the job data for C pages. . Accordingly, the operator can quickly perform the paper loading operation, and when the white paper of ΔP-C pages is printed before the job, the pages after the (C + 1) page can be printed by the print job. When the paper is loaded, the printed C page is continuously printed. That is, printing can be performed without including a blank page between the first printed C page and (C + 1) page. Note that the blank page printing in S112 may be paper feed corresponding to the same paper length.

  According to the present invention, even when job data corresponding to the paper length between printers is not spooled, an operator can perform paper loading work at any time while reducing waste of paper when loading paper.

  In addition, the present invention can reduce waste paper at the time of paper loading as much as possible, particularly when using expensive printing paper such as a cash voucher, or in a tandem continuous paper printer where the distance between the printers is long. It is valid.

1 is a block diagram of a tandem continuous paper printer according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when a sheet is loaded in the first printer in the tandem continuous paper printer according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Host apparatus, 20 ... Tandem type continuous paper printer, 30 ... Print control apparatus, 31 ... Data receiving part, 32 ... Development part, 33 ... Output control part, 34 ... Unprinted page number setting means, 35 ... Operation part, 36 ... Delta page number setting means, 37 ... Loading page number control means, 38 ... Spooler, 40 ... First printer, 50 ... Second printer.

Claims (6)

Bitmap data for the first printer and the second printer is generated based on the data received from the first printer and the second printer and the host device, and the bitmap data is spooled for each page and spooled. A tandem continuous paper printer comprising: a print control device that transmits the bitmap data of the first to the first printer and the second printer;
The print control apparatus further periodically updates the delta page number setting means for storing and holding the physical page number P between the first printer and the second printer, and the unprinted page number C for the first printer. Then, an unprinted page number setting means for holding the latest value, an operation panel having an input unit and a display unit from the user, and printing of the paper loaded in the second printer after being loaded in the first printer Loading page number control means for performing page control,
The loading page number control means periodically compares the page number C and the page number P when detecting that a sheet is loaded in the first printer,
If the comparison result is C ≧ P, the first printer is instructed to print the spooled unprinted pages by the number of pages P,
When the comparison result is C <P, a paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state. When an instruction input for paper loading processing is received from the operation panel, the number of pages (PC) ) Instruct the first printer to print blank pages and print the number of pages C.
The first printer performs printing for the number of pages P on the paper loaded in the first printer based on a print instruction from the print control apparatus, and then the paper printed by the first printer is the second paper . A tandem continuous paper printer characterized by temporarily stopping a printing operation until it is loaded in the printer.   2. The tandem continuous paper printer according to claim 1, wherein a cancel button for canceling the standby state is displayed on an intention confirmation screen displayed on the operation panel. When the comparison result is C <P, the paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state, and when C ≧ P, the intention confirmation screen display is canceled. The tandem continuous paper printer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein printing is performed for the number of pages P. Bitmap data for the first printer and the second printer is generated based on the data received from the first printer and the second printer and the host device, and the bitmap data is spooled for each page and spooled. In a control method for a tandem continuous paper printer, comprising: a print control device that transmits the bitmap data of
The print control apparatus has an operation panel having an input unit and a display unit from a user,
Wherein the first printer the number of physical pages P between the second printer stores and holds, holds the latest value periodically updates the unprinted pages number C for the first printer, the first printer After loading, control the print page of the paper loaded in the second printer,
When it is detected that a sheet is loaded in the first printer, the page number C is periodically compared with the page number P;
If the comparison result is C ≧ P, the first printer is instructed to print the spooled unprinted pages by the number of pages P,
When the comparison result is C <P, a paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state. When an instruction input for paper loading processing is received from the operation panel, the number of pages (PC) ) Instruct the first printer to print blank pages and print the number of pages C.
The first printer performs printing for the number of pages P on the paper loaded in the first printer based on a print instruction from the print control apparatus, and then the paper printed by the first printer is the second paper . A control method for a tandem continuous paper printer, wherein the printing operation is temporarily stopped until the printer is loaded . 5. The method for controlling a tandem continuous paper printer according to claim 4, wherein a cancel button for canceling the standby state is displayed on a screen for intention confirmation displayed on the operation panel. When the comparison result is C <P, the paper loading intention confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel to enter an input standby state, and when C ≧ P, the intention confirmation screen display is canceled. 6. The method of controlling a tandem continuous paper printer according to claim 4, wherein printing is performed for the number of pages P.

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