JP2006264907A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device capable of counting the number of printed sheets by using a previously decided paper sheet size such as a fixed size as a standard in relation to the paper sheet size actually used when using a rolled paper. <P>SOLUTION: This printing device is structured of a control means for controlling printing of the recording material, a memory means for storing the total value of used length of the recording material in the conveying direction, a converting means for converting the total value stored in the memory means to the number of used recording material, and an output means for outputting the number of recording material converted by the converting means. The total value stored by the memory means is sorted and added in response to length in a direction vertical to the conveying direction. A rolled paper is used for the recording material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of printing on a roll-shaped recording material, and relates to a printing apparatus that counts the number of recording materials used.

  In the printing system shown in FIG. 1 in which the host computer 120 and the printer 100 are connected by a communication unit 110 such as a network, various data editing is performed based on various application programs that are activated on the host computer 120. The edited data is output to the controller unit 101 of the printer 100 connected via the communication unit 110, and printing is performed in the engine unit 102.

  In such a printing system, before outputting data edited by the application, a dialog or the like is displayed by the printer driver activated on the host computer 120, and the size of the paper to be printed, the paper feed port, etc. are displayed to the user. Let it be set.

  Regarding the paper size setting, the printer driver generally displays a standard paper size or the like that can be output by the printer 100 that performs print control as a menu item on the screen and allows the user to select it. For a non-standard paper size that is not prepared in the printer driver in advance, a new paper size is registered in the printer driver as a user-defined paper. In this case, the user can input the vertical and horizontal sizes of the paper in the dialog provided by the printer driver, and register these as user-defined paper sizes.

  Even if the paper size setting is not the same as the paper size set in the paper feed slot to be used, the paper used by the printer driver on the host computer 120 or the controller unit 101 by scaling the print data The print data can be printed within a range that can be output to the size of the paper to be used, or the print data can be rotated 90 degrees to switch the vertical and horizontal directions and output to the engine unit 102 for printing.

  Note that the paper size set in the paper feed slot is acquired by the controller unit 101 from the engine unit 102 and notified to the host computer 120. A conventional printer using roll paper describes a method of notifying the host computer 120 of the size of the roll paper.

  When roll paper is set in the paper feed slot to be used, the paper size in the width direction is constant, but the paper is cut to any size as long as the remaining amount of roll paper permits in the transport direction. can do. For example, when the roll paper 501 is set as shown in FIG. 5 and the A4 vertical image 521 is printed, the roll paper 501 is cut at the line 531 and the paper 511 is discharged. Similarly, when the A3 horizontal image 522 is printed, the roll paper 501 is cut at the line segment 532 and the paper 512 is discharged.

  Further, when the A4 horizontal image 523 is printed, the roll paper 501 is cut at the line segment 533 and the paper 513 is discharged. When the roll paper 502 is set and the A4 vertical image 524 is printed, the roll paper 502 is cut at the line segment 534 and the paper 514 is discharged. Here, the length indicates that the long side is parallel to the conveyance direction, and the width indicates that the short length is parallel to the conveyance direction.

  Each time a sheet is ejected, the controller unit 101 is notified of which paper source is used by the engine unit 102. In particular, when roll paper is used, how much length is used in the transport direction. You will be informed. The controller unit 101 can determine the paper size used for printing by viewing the information notified here together with the paper size of each paper feed port acquired in advance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

  There are also many printing systems that count the number of sheets used by the printer 100 for department management and billing management. Here, department management refers to managing information about which user has printed on which paper, and billing management refers to how much printing has been performed on which paper on the device. To charge.

  Generally, more detailed information is desired for department management, and more strict information is required for billing management. The counted number of sheets is stored in the controller unit 101 or calculated by the controller unit 101 notifying the department management server 130 or the charge management server 140 of the print result. Generally, the number of sheets is counted separately for each standard size such as A4 and A3, or according to the size of the sheet, for example, A4 is 1, A3 is 2, and the count value per sheet is set for each standard size. It is counted with weighting.

JP 2004-268364 A

  However, when printing is performed on roll paper, if the number of printed sheets is counted in the same way as with cut paper, there is a problem in that counting is performed based on a reference different from the actually used paper size. For example, the papers 511, 513, and 514 on which the A4 size image of FIG. 5 is printed are different in size, but both are counted as A4 paper because they are treated as A4 size paper and printed. It will be. In this case, the counted number of printed sheets cannot be used for department management or billing management. Here, the sheets 511 and 512 that are originally cut from the roll paper 501 having the same width and having the same length h1 in the transport direction should be counted as the same sheet size.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and a printing apparatus capable of counting the number of printed sheets on the basis of a predetermined paper size such as a standard size is used for the roll paper. The purpose is to provide.

The printing apparatus of the present invention that achieves the above object provides:
Control means for controlling printing of the recording material;
Storage means for storing a cumulative value of the length in the transport direction of the recording material used;
Conversion means for converting into the number of recording materials using the cumulative value stored in the storage means;
Output means for outputting the number of recording materials converted by the conversion means;
It is characterized by providing.

  In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the recording material is roll paper.

  The printing apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the accumulated value stored in the storage means is classified and accumulated according to a length in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

The printing apparatus according to the present invention is a printing apparatus that performs a printing operation by receiving a recording job from an information processing apparatus through a communication unit.
The accumulated value stored in the storage means is classified and accumulated for each recording job.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that the number of printed sheets can be counted on the basis of a predetermined paper size such as a standard size as the paper size actually used for the roll paper.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a recording system constituted by a recording apparatus and an information processing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  1, a printer (recording apparatus) 100 includes a host computer (first information processing apparatus) 120 and a department management server (second information processing apparatus) 130 via a communication bus 110 such as Ethernet, IEEE 1394, or USB. , Connected to the accounting management server (third information processing apparatus).

  The host computer 120 is responsible for transmitting a recording job to the printer 100 and monitoring the processing status and device status. The host computer 120 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, display device, and input device (not shown), and the system operation is controlled by an operating system (OS). Various application programs read from a storage device (not shown), printer drivers and utilities corresponding to the printer 100 are operated by the CPU. Before an application outputs data, a dialog or the like is displayed by a printer driver activated on the host computer 120, and the type of recording material, the size of the recording material, the paper feed port for feeding the recording material, etc. The recording instruction parameter is set by the user.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of print job data output by the printer driver.

  The recording job data includes a job information setting command including a user name, a recording control command for setting the recording instruction parameter, and PDL data including a color conversion table and multi-gradation image information. . Here, the user name is information for identifying the user who requested the recording job among the users who use the printer. The information indicating the type of recording material is information that can uniquely identify the material and surface treatment of the recording material, and for example, the type of recording material such as plain paper or coated paper (Coated). Is the identification number assigned to

  The information indicating the size of the recording material is, for example, an identification number assigned to a standard size such as A3 or A4. The utility outputs a management command for inquiring about the status information of the recording job and the apparatus and maintenance of the apparatus to the printer 100, and receives the result to display the status of the printer 100 and the status of the recording job in a dialog. indicate.

  In addition, by outputting in advance a management command for registering / deleting the host computer 120 as a notification destination, a dialog is displayed when notification data of a change in the status of the printer 100 is received, for example, printed paper is discharged. Tell the user that the paper has been printed. Here, the timing for notifying that the printed paper has been discharged is the same when the roll paper is cut and discharged, regardless of the paper size, and when the cut paper is discharged, one sheet is discharged. is there. This is because it is used to know when the user goes to pick up the discharged paper.

  The department management server 130 is responsible for acquiring job log data from the printer 100 and managing how much printing each user has performed on which paper. The department management server 130 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, display device, and input device (not shown), and the system operation is controlled by an operating system (OS). Various application programs read from a storage device (not shown) and a department management application corresponding to the printer 100 are operated by the CPU.

  The department management application outputs a job log acquisition command to the registered printer 100 and receives job log data. In addition, a management command for registering / deleting the department management server 130 as a notification destination is output in advance, thereby receiving a notification that the job log has been updated. Here, FIG. 9 shows job log data acquired from the printer 100. The job log data includes the user name of the recording job processed by the printer 100 and a value obtained by counting the number of recording materials used for each recording material type and recording material size. The department management application summarizes the usage status of the recording material of each user of the printer 100 based on the acquired information and informs the user.

  The accounting management server plays a role of acquiring accounting information from the printer 100 and managing accounting information. The department management server 130 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, display device, and input device (not shown), and the system operation is controlled by an operating system (OS). Various application programs read from a storage device (not shown) and an accounting management application corresponding to the printer 100 are operated by the CPU.

  The accounting management application outputs a management command for obtaining counter information to the registered printer 100 and receives the result. Here, FIG. 11 shows counter information acquired from the printer 100 by a management command. The counter information includes a value obtained by counting the number of recording materials used by the printer 100 after shipment for each type of recording material and the size of the recording material. The charging management application summarizes the charging information of the printer 100 based on the acquired information and transmits it to the service person.

  The printer 100 includes a controller unit 101 and an engine unit 102. Images, characters, and graphics are recorded on recording materials of various sizes based on the recording job data sent from the printer driver of the host computer 120 via the communication bus 110. Etc. are output.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the controller unit 101.

  The controller unit 101 communicates with the host computer 120, the department management server 130, the billing management server 140 and a communication bus via a LAN controller 207 (that is, an Ethernet interface) attached to the USB interface 204, the IEEE 1394 interface 205, or the expansion interface 206. 110 is connected.

  The CPU 201 has a ROM 209 that stores control programs, an EEPROM 210 that stores updatable control programs and processing programs, various constant data, counter information, and the like, and a RAM 208 that stores recording job data and management commands received from the host computer 120. The controller unit 101 is accessed based on the information stored in these memories.

  The instruction information input from the keys of the operation panel 212 is transmitted to the CPU 201 via the operation panel interface 211, and the LED of the operation panel 212 or the LCD is similarly displayed via the operation panel interface 211 according to a command from the CPU 201. The display is controlled. The image information is developed into dot data. The image data processing block 213 performs conversion processing and image processing for each ink color using the color conversion table, and then outputs the data to the engine unit 102. In addition, transmission and reception of various commands and status information between the controller unit 101 and the engine unit 102 are similarly performed via the image data processing block 213.

  The engine unit 102 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a recording head, a carriage, a conveyance motor, a cutter, and a paper sensor (not shown). From the control program stored in the ROM, the image data processing block 213 of the controller unit 105 to the data receiving unit (not shown) and stored in the RAM for each ink color dot data or various commands, and the above-described paper sensor. Based on the input detection information of the recording material, the recording head, the conveyance motor, the carriage, and the cutter are controlled to convey the recording material set in the paper feed port and perform the recording operation.

  The above commands include setting of recording control parameters and execution of maintenance. Further, the status information of the engine unit 106 obtained from the paper sensor or the like is notified to the image data processing block 213 of the controller unit 105. The CPU measures the size of the recording material set in the paper feed port based on the detection information of the paper sensor, and notifies the controller unit 101 of the status information. Here, for the roll paper, only the size in the width direction can be measured by operating a carriage provided with a paper sensor.

  For cut paper, it is possible to measure not only the width direction but also the size in the transport direction by transporting the recording material before printing and detecting the paper edge by a paper sensor. Further, every time a recording material is discharged and the recording material is discharged, the CPU notifies the controller unit 101 of the fact as status information. In particular, when a printing operation is performed using roll paper as the recording material, the CPU measures the used amount of roll paper in mm based on the control amount of the transport motor and the detection information of the paper sensor. . The measured usage amount is notified to the controller unit 101 at the discharge timing.

  The engine unit 102 of the present example is configured to record an image by the recording head while moving the carriage on which the recording head is mounted in the main scanning direction, and to move the recording material in the sub-scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction by the transport motor. By alternately repeating the conveying operation for conveying, the image is sequentially recorded in the recording area of the recording material. When a roll paper or the like is used as a recording material, the cutter cuts it to a predetermined length.

  In addition to the so-called serial scan type, the engine unit 102 may be a so-called full-line type that performs recording using a long recording head that extends over the entire width of the recording area of the recording material. good. As the recording head, an ink jet recording head capable of discharging ink can be used. The ink jet recording head may eject ink using an electrothermal transducer (heater), a piezo element, or the like. When an electrothermal transducer is used, the ink can be boiled by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter, and ink droplets can be ejected from the nozzles using the foaming energy at that time.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control program that operates on the CPU 201 of the controller unit 101. The control program operates on a multitasking operation system (OS).

  The network control unit 301 controls the LAN controller 207 (see FIG. 2) to transmit and receive data via the communication bus, and the OSI reference model network layer (IP layer in TCP / IP, IPX layer in Network, DDP in AppleTalk) Control relating to communication protocols of a) to e), which will be described later, which is higher than the layer).

  a) Recording job data is received by LPR (TCP / IP), BinaryPserver, NDSPserver, NPprinter, RPprinter, PAP (AppleTalk), connection start notification to the buffer control unit 306, recording job data writing, connection termination Notification.

  b) Transmission / reception of management commands by UDP, IPX, DDP (AppleTalk) on another channel, writing of management commands to the buffer control unit 306, reading of return data in response thereto, reading of notification data from the device side Do.

  c) Job log acquisition command reception / job log data transmission by TCP, SPX, PAP (AppleTalk) on another channel, connection start notification, job log acquisition command write / job log data read to buffer control unit 306 , Notify the end of connection.

  d) Data is transmitted / received by SNMP on another channel, and inquiries about management commands and information managed by the network control unit 301 are processed inside the network control unit 301. In response to a management command or information inquiry managed by another control unit, the MIB control unit 304 is called. When notification data (SNMP Trap) is generated from the device side, the network control unit 301 is called from the MIB control unit 304.

  e) HTTP data is transmitted and received on another channel, and inquiries about management commands and information managed by the network control unit 301 are processed inside the network control unit 301. The network control unit 301 calls the remote UI control unit 305 in response to a management command or information inquiry managed by another control unit or acquisition of a job log.

  The 1394 control unit 302 controls the IEEE 1394 interface 205 (see FIG. 2) to transmit and receive data via the communication bus, and performs higher-level protocol control than the transaction layer of the IEEE 1394. According to IEEE1394.3, a plurality of logical channels are provided for connection with the host computer 120, and recording job data reception and management command transmission / reception are performed on separate channels. The buffer control unit 306 is notified of the start of recording job data, writing of recording job data, notification of the end of recording job data, writing of a management command, and reading of response data in response thereto.

  The USB control unit 303 controls the USB interface 204 to transmit / receive data via the communication bus. The USB control unit 303 provides a plurality of logical channels for connection with the host computer according to IEEE1284.4, and performs reception of recording job data and transmission / reception of management commands through separate channels. The buffer control unit 306 is notified of the start of recording job data, writing of recording job data, notification of end of job data, writing of a management command, and reading of response data in response thereto.

  The MIB control unit 304 is called from the network control unit 301 and calls the command control unit 307 to perform device maintenance and status information inquiry. The MIB control unit 304 is called by the manager control unit 310 to transmit notification data (SNMP Trap) from the device side, and calls the network control unit 301 to transmit the notification data to the host computer 120.

  The remote UI control unit 305 is called from the network unit 301 and calls the command control unit 307 to perform device maintenance and status information inquiry. Also, the command control unit 307 is called to acquire the job log.

  The buffer control unit 306 includes a recording job data buffer, a management command reception buffer, a reply buffer, and a device prepared for each interface (network control unit 301, 1394 control unit 302, USB control unit 303). A notification buffer used for the notification, a reception buffer for a job log acquisition command prepared for the network control unit 301, and a transmission buffer for job log data are managed.

  The job data buffer is monitored for usage by the manager control unit 310, and if the use is delayed for a certain period of time between the start and end of the job data, the manager control unit 310 notifies a timeout, Forcibly end the job data. The recording job data written from each interface is read from the command control unit 307 and the PDL control unit 308. The recording job data transmitted from the host computer is composed of a command data part and a PDL data part.

  When the command control unit 307 that reads the command data portion notifies the start of PDL data, the PDL control unit 308 that reads the PDL data portion is assigned the right to read the buffer. On the other hand, when the PDL control unit 308 notifies the end of the PDL data, A buffer read right is assigned to the control unit 307, and mutual exclusion processing is performed. The management command reception buffer is written from each interface, and the command control unit 307 reads the management command from the reception buffers for all the interfaces. Reply data for them is written from the command control unit 307 to the transmission buffer, and each host interface control unit reads it and transmits it to the communication bus 101.

  The notification data written from the command control unit 307 to the notification buffer is read by each host interface control unit and transmitted to the communication bus 101. The job log acquisition command is written to the reception buffer for the job log acquisition command by the network control unit 301 and read by the command control unit 307. In addition, job log data is written in the transmission buffer for job log data by the command control unit 307 and read out by the network control unit 301.

  The command control unit 307 manages information relating to a recording job being executed in the apparatus, information relating to the apparatus status (including counter information here), information relating to a notification destination, and job log data relating to a processed recording job. To do. That is, the command unit of the recording job data transmitted by the host computer 120 is read from the buffer control unit 306, the recording job is generated, the recording instruction parameter for the job is set, the job information including user information is set, and the PDL for the buffer control unit 306 is set. Notification of data start.

  Also, the manager control unit 310 is notified of the start and end of job data. When notifying the start of PDL data, the manager control unit 310 is notified of the recording instruction parameter of the job being processed. The recording instruction parameter to be notified includes information indicating the type of the recording material set by the printer driver of the host computer 120, the size of the recording material, and the paper feed port for feeding the recording material.

  Also, the management command transmitted from the status monitor of the host computer 120 is read from the buffer control unit 306, and when the management command is an inquiry to the status information of the recording job or apparatus, it is generated from the management information of the command control unit 307. The reply data is written into the buffer control unit 306. When the management command is a management command for performing device maintenance, the manager control unit 310 is notified, and the execution result is written in the buffer control unit 306 as return data.

  Note that the counter information inquiry from the accounting management server 140 is processed in the same manner as the inquiry to the status information. When the command control unit 307 is called from the MIB control unit 304 or the HTTP control unit 305 and the management command is an inquiry to the recording job or the status information of the apparatus, the reply generated from the management information of the command control unit 307 Data is returned to the MIB control unit 304 and the HTTP control unit 305.

  When the management command is a management command for performing maintenance of the apparatus, the manager control unit 310 is notified, and the execution result is returned to the MIB control unit 304 and the HTTP control unit 305 as return data. When the management command is a management command transmitted from the status monitor of the host computer 120 and registers / deletes the host computer 120 as a notification destination, the information about the notification destination is updated and the result is buffer-controlled. Write to unit 306.

  The same applies to the case where the management command transmitted by the department management application of the department management server 130 registers / deletes the department management server 130 as a notification destination when updating job log data.

  Further, the command control unit 307 is called by the manager control unit 310 when any change occurs in the state of the apparatus, and information on the recording job managed by the command control unit 307, information on the status of the apparatus, job log Update. At that time, the notification data is written to the buffer control unit 306 in order to notify the host computer 120 registered in the notification destination of the state change.

  In addition, the command control unit 307 reads a job log acquisition command from the buffer control unit 306 and writes job log data to the buffer control unit 306. At the same time, the notification data is written to the buffer control unit 306 in order to notify the department management server 130 of the update of the job log data. The manager control unit 310 is notified whenever the type of recording material currently set in the paper feed port and the size of the recording material change.

  In addition, each time a recording material printed by a recording job or the like is discharged, the number of the paper feeding port that feeds the recording material and the recording material used when the recording material is roll paper The amount (in mm) is notified.

  FIG. 7 shows the state of the paper feed slot among the information regarding the status of the apparatus managed by the command control unit 307.

  As the state of the paper feed port, the type of the recording material set in each paper feed port and the size of the recording material (in the case of roll paper, only the width direction has meaning) are managed.

  FIG. 8 shows information of a recording job being executed managed by the command control unit 307.

  As information about the recording job being executed, the job control number assigned by the command control unit 307 when the job is generated, the user name set by the job information setting command, and the manager control unit 310 when the recording material is discharged. The type of the recording material and the size of the recording material (only in the width direction in the case of roll paper) obtained from the number of the paper feeding port notified from the information shown in FIG. 7 and the usage amount of the recording material used ( (in mm units).

  Here, when the recording material is roll paper, the used amount (mm) of the recording material used is a value notified from the manager control unit 310 at the time of paper discharge, and when the recording material is cut paper The value of the size (conveyance direction) of the recording material set in the paper feed port previously notified from the manager control unit 310 is used and updated when the paper is discharged. In this example, the size of the recording material is managed by classifying it into three levels: A4 horizontal or smaller, A3 horizontal or smaller, A2 horizontal or smaller in the width direction.

  FIG. 9 shows job log data managed by the command control unit 307 and output to the department management server 130.

  The job log data is obtained from the information shown in FIG. 8 when the recording job is completed. However, the size is managed as A4 for A4 or less, A3 for A3 or less, and A2 for A2 or less. As for the usage amount, A4 is converted to 210 mm, A3 is converted to 296 mm, A2 is converted to 420 mm, and the second decimal place is valid. By using the standard size as a reference for the size, the department management server 130 can manage the usage status without distinguishing whether the recording material is cut paper or roll paper.

  In addition, by using up to two decimal places, it is possible to manage the usage status of roll paper cut to a length less than the reference value in the transport direction. The half-way part that did not reach the reference value is not necessarily reflected in the usage amount.

  FIG. 10 shows counter information managed by the command control unit 307.

  The type of the recording material and the size of the recording material obtained from the information of FIG. 7 and the paper feed port number notified from the manager control unit 310 when the recording material is discharged (only in the width direction in the case of roll paper) On the other hand, the accumulated value of the used amount (in mm) of the used recording material notified from the manager control unit 310 when the recording material is discharged is managed.

  However, when outputting to the accounting management server 140 and the manager control unit 310, it is converted into a format as shown in FIG. Here, the size is converted into A4 for A4 horizontal or smaller, A3 for A3 horizontal or smaller, and A2 for A2 horizontal or smaller. As for the usage, A4 is converted to 210 mm, A3 is converted to 296 mm, A2 is converted to 420 mm, and output in integer units. By setting the size to a standard size, the billing management server 140 can manage the usage status without distinguishing whether the recording material is cut paper or roll paper.

  Since the counter information is used as billing information, confusion among users and service personnel can be avoided by outputting the value in units of one sheet (integer unit) that is a unit of billing. Internally, the usage amount can be accurately grasped by counting the usage amount in mm. The usage status of roll paper cut to a length less than the reference value in the transport direction can also be reflected in the usage amount.

  A slight error also occurs when recording in the second decimal place with respect to the reference value as in the job log data, but the counter information is notified in mm units and the count value in mm units is integrated, so the error is Does not occur. In addition, since the count value is stored in the EEPROM, the usage amount does not leak even when the power is turned off. However, when recording is performed on the EEPROM in units of 1 mm, the life of the number of times of rewriting of the EEPROM is lost with respect to the durable number of printed sheets of the printer. It is desirable to write to the EEPROM.

  The PDL control unit 308 shown in FIG. 3 reads the PDL data part of the print job data from the buffer control unit 306, and interprets the PDL (printer description language) including the print instruction parameter, the color conversion table, and the image information. In addition, the manager control unit 310 is notified of the start / end of processing for each page, the recording instruction parameter is notified to the manager control unit 310, the recording control parameter is acquired, and the image data processing control unit 309 is notified of it. To do.

  Further, the image information described in PDL is developed into dot data, and written into the image data processing control unit 309 together with the color conversion table. Note that the instruction control parameter notified to the manager control unit 310 includes information indicating the type of recording material.

  The image data processing control unit 309 controls the image data processing block 213 (see FIG. 2), and performs image information conversion processing and transmission of dot data to the engine unit 102. First, the recording control parameter notified from the PDL control unit 308 is transmitted to the engine. Also, based on the color conversion table written by the PDL control unit 308, the written dot data is converted into dot data of each ink color. In addition, resolution conversion is performed at the same time that the dot data is converted from multi-gradation to binary. By transmitting binary dot data for each ink color obtained in this way to the engine, image information is recorded on the engine unit 102 side.

  The manager control unit 310 manages information regarding the job being processed and information regarding the status of the apparatus. In addition, the manager control unit 310 monitors the job data buffer of the buffer control unit 306 and notifies a timeout. The command control unit 307 notifies the start / end of job data, and the PDL control unit 308 notifies the start / end of processing for each page.

  Also, the recording instruction parameter is notified from the command control unit 307 and the PDL control unit 308, and the recording control parameter selected based on the notification content is notified to the PDL control unit 308. Also, a management command or operation command for maintenance is received from the command control unit 307 or the operation panel control unit 312. If the command is a test print, the utility control unit 313 is called and the command is realized by the engine unit 102. If so, the engine interface control unit 311 is called.

  If the operation command is an inquiry about counter information, the command control unit 307 is called to acquire information. If the operation command is a setting of the type of recording material set in the paper feed slot, the command control unit 307, the MIB control unit 304, and the operation panel control unit 312 are called to notify the status change. Status information is notified from the engine interface control unit 311, and information regarding the job being processed and information regarding the status of the device are updated. If there is any change, the command control unit 307, MIB control unit 304, operation panel The control unit 312 is called to notify the status change.

  The status information notified from the engine interface control unit 311 includes the fact that the recording material is set in the paper feed port and the size of the recording material currently set in the paper feed port (in the case of roll paper, the width direction). Only), the number of the sheet feeding port for feeding the recording material discharged by the recording job or the like, and the usage amount (in mm) of the recording material.

  The engine interface control unit 311 controls the image data processing block 213 (see FIG. 2) and notifies the manager control unit 310 of status information notified from the engine unit 106. The engine interface control unit 311 is called by the manager control unit 310 to inquire about the status of the engine unit 106 and notifies the engine unit 106 of the execution of a management command for maintenance. The status information notified to the manager control unit 310 includes the fact that the recording material is set in the paper feeding port and the size of the recording material currently set in the paper feeding port (in the case of roll paper, the width direction). Only), the number of the paper feed port for feeding the recording material discharged by the recording job or the like, and the usage amount (in mm) of the recording material.

  The operation panel control unit 312 controls the operation panel interface 211 (see FIG. 2), and in accordance with the instruction information input from the keys of the operation panel 212 and the device status notified from the manager control unit 310, the operation panel 212. The LED is turned on and the LCD is displayed. In addition, the manager control unit 310 is called to perform an operation command such as device maintenance or status inquiry according to the instruction information. Further, in order to display the counter information by the user operation, the manager control unit 310 is called to acquire the counter information.

  FIG. 4 is an external view of the operation panel 401 of the printer 100.

  When the manager control unit 310 is notified by the engine interface control unit 311 that a recording material has been set at the paper feed port, a panel is provided to allow the user to set the type of the recording material set at the paper feed port. The contents for controlling the control unit 311 will be described based on the display contents on the LCD 402 of the operation panel 401.

  When a recording material is set in the paper feed port of the printer 100, a character string indicating the type of the recording material is displayed on the LCD 402 of the operation panel 401. Here, the type of recording material to be displayed is the type of recording material stored in the table held by the manager control unit 310, and is limited to the recording material that can be recorded by the printer 100. The user can change the type of recording material displayed by pressing the up and down arrow keys 406 on the operation panel 401. For example, when “Plain Paper” is displayed as indicated by 1201 in FIG. 12, “Coated” indicated by 1202 is displayed when the arrow key 406 is pressed, and “Other” indicated by 1203 is displayed when the arrow key 406 is pressed upward. The That is, when the arrow key 406 is pressed from the state where 1201 is displayed, the display is switched to 1202, 1203, 1201 in order, and the following is repeated.

  Similarly, when the arrow key 406 is pressed from the state where 1201 is displayed, the display is sequentially switched to 1203, 1202, and 1201, and the following is repeated. By pressing the enter key 405 of the operation panel 401, the user can determine the type of recording material currently displayed as the type of recording material set. The type of recording material determined here is held in the manager control unit 310 as the type of paper set in the paper feed slot.

  The utility control unit 313 shown in FIG. 3 inquires the manager control unit 310 about the status information of the apparatus that performs recording, and creates dot data to execute the test printing notified from the manager control unit 310 to generate image data. Write to the processing control unit 309.

1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the controller part in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the software structure of the controller part in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an external view of a panel operation unit of the printer 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the printing result in a prior art example. It is a figure which shows the structure of the job data in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the paper feed port which the command control part in embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows the information of the recording job in process which the command control part in embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows the job log data which the command control part in embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows the counter information which the command control part in embodiment of this invention hold | maintains. It is a figure which shows the counter information which the command control part in embodiment of this invention outputs. It is a figure showing the flow of the selection screen of the recording material in the panel operation part in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printer 101 Controller part of printer 100 102 Engine part of printer 100 110 Communication bus 120 Host computer 130 Department management server 140 Billing management server

Claims (4)

Control means for controlling printing of the recording material;
Storage means for storing a cumulative value of the length in the transport direction of the recording material used;
Conversion means for converting into the number of recording materials using the cumulative value stored in the storage means;
Output means for outputting the number of recording materials converted by the conversion means;
A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording material is roll paper.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the accumulated values stored in the storage unit are classified and accumulated according to a length in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. The printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that performs a printing operation by receiving a recording job from an information processing apparatus through communication means,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cumulative value stored in the storage unit is classified and accumulated for each recording job.

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