JP3875535B2 - Stencil printing apparatus and program capable of switching output destination - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stencil printing apparatus, and more particularly to a stencil printing apparatus and a program capable of switching an output destination.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Printing apparatuses commonly used in offices include laser beam printers (hereinafter referred to as LBP), ink jet printers, dot printers, stencil printing machines, and the like.
[0003]
Each of these printing apparatuses has a different printing method.For example, a stencil printing machine uses image data read by a built-in reading apparatus or image data transmitted from a device such as a computer for each piece of image data. The stencil sheet was made (perforated) on the stencil sheet using a thermal head, and the stencil sheet was wound around a printing drum, and ink was supplied from inside the drum through the part where the image was printed (perforated part). While printing is realized by attaching ink, printing devices other than stencil printers do not use base paper. For example, LBP uses laser light based on image data for each printed matter. The photosensitive drum is exposed to light, the toner is attached to the exposed portion (the portion where the image is present) of the photosensitive drum, and the toner is transferred to the printing paper to transfer the toner. It is realized.
[0004]
Since these printing apparatuses have different printing methods depending on the type, there is a great difference in the output time and cost per printed matter.
[0005]
FIG. 6 shows an example of the difference in output time and cost for printing one printed matter with the same contents by the stencil printing machine and LBP. Here, “output time” means the time from the end of receiving image data until the end of printing.
[0006]
As shown in the figure, the stencil printing machine makes a stencil for each piece of image data, winds it around a drum, and prints it every time the drum rotates, so the more copies of image data with the same content, the more The output time per printed matter is relatively short and the cost is low. On the other hand, in the case of LBP, the output time and cost per printed matter are constant regardless of the number of printed copies. Therefore, when printing the same content image data in multiple copies, the stencil printing machine is efficient, but when the number of copies of the same content image data is small, other printing devices without base paper, such as LBP Is efficient.
[0007]
On the other hand, in recent years, with the rapid development of network technology, in offices and the like, a plurality of printing devices are often connected to a computer or the like via a network, and the computer can access any printing device on the network. Image data can be transmitted and printed.
[0008]
However, since a user who transmits image data generally selects which printing device to use among a plurality of printing devices on the network, the user is connected to the network. Without knowledge about the characteristics of each printing apparatus, it is not possible to select an efficient printing apparatus for a print job to be printed. Further, even if the user has knowledge about the characteristics of each printing apparatus, selecting a printing apparatus every time image data is printed is a very confusing task.
[0009]
In addition, the image data is not sent from the computer to the printing apparatus and printing is performed, but the user can set the printing document directly on the printing apparatus and read the printing document with a reading device such as a scanner provided in the printing device. In general, when printing image data, printing is performed by a printing apparatus in which a document is set. For example, when a printing document is set in a stencil printing apparatus, regardless of the number of copies, Since printing is performed by the stencil printing apparatus, the efficiency is not good when the number of printed copies is small.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a system in which two or more printing apparatuses including a stencil printing machine are connected by a network, the printing apparatus can be automatically selected, which is efficient. An object of the present invention is to provide a stencil printing apparatus and program capable of performing printing.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The stencil printing apparatus capable of switching the output destination of the present invention is a stencil printing apparatus that can be connected to other printing apparatuses of different types depending on the network,
Print mode setting means capable of selectively setting the trial printing mode and the normal printing mode;
A copy number setting means for setting the number of copies;
A printing section for performing stencil printing;
When the normal printing mode is set by the printing mode setting unit, the printing unit performs printing, and when the trial printing mode is set by the printing mode setting unit, the network and the stencil printing apparatus An output destination switching unit that causes the other printing apparatus to be connected to perform printing is provided.
[0012]
Here, the “trial printing mode” is a printing mode in which a printing device other than the stencil printing device is selected as the printing device, and when this mode is set, the overall layout of the printed matter is confirmed. In order to make it easier for the user to print, the name “Trial printing mode” is used to make it easier for the user to understand. However, the name is not limited to this, but “small print mode” and “non-stencil printing mode” The name may be used.
[0013]
In addition, the “normal printing mode” is a printing mode in which the stencil printing apparatus is selected as a printing apparatus. When this mode is set, efficient printing can be performed when the number of print copies is large. A name such as “mode” or “main stencil printing device mode” may be used.
[0014]
In the stencil printing apparatus capable of switching the output destination of the present invention, the printing copy number setting means can set only the number of printings equal to or less than a predetermined number of copies when the trial printing mode is set by the printing mode setting means. It is preferable.
[0015]
Further, when the normal printing mode is set by the printing mode setting unit, printing by the stencil printing apparatus is impossible when the number of printing set by the printing number setting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined number of printings. It is preferable to further include a printing inhibition means.
[0016]
The program of the present invention is a system in which two or more types of printing apparatuses including a stencil printing apparatus and a computer that outputs printing data to any of the printing apparatuses and performs printing are connected via a network.
Processing to select the trial printing mode or the normal printing mode,
When the normal printing mode is selected, the image data is output to the stencil printing apparatus to perform printing, and when the trial printing mode is selected, the image data is printed by other than the stencil printing apparatus. The computer is caused to execute a process of outputting to an apparatus and printing.
[0017]
The program can be included in a printer driver of the stencil printing apparatus.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
According to the stencil printing apparatus capable of switching the output destination according to the present invention, when the user prints image data with a small number of copies, the user can set the trial printing mode, and the LBP connected via the network, the inkjet printer, etc. Since printing can be performed by another type of printing apparatus, it is not necessary for the user to select a printing apparatus, and efficient printing can be performed.
[0019]
Also, for example, if you want to see the printing results by the stencil printing device, ie, if you want to perform test printing with the stencil printing device, although the number of copies is small, set the normal printing mode and test with the stencil printing device with the printed document set. Since printing is also possible, it is easy to use.
[0020]
In addition, when the trial printing mode is set, if it is possible to set only the number of copies less than a predetermined number of copies, it is more efficient to print with the stencil printing device. It is possible to prevent printing.
[0021]
Further, in the stencil printing apparatus of the present invention, even when the normal printing mode is set, when a printing copy number that is equal to or less than a predetermined number of copies is set, and printing prevention that makes printing by the stencil printing apparatus impossible, When printing with another printing apparatus is more efficient, it is possible to prevent the stencil printing apparatus from performing printing due to insufficient knowledge of the user.
[0022]
The computer-readable program of the present invention enables a computer to automatically select a printing apparatus in an aspect in which image data is transmitted from a computer to a printing apparatus connected via a network to perform printing.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a stencil printing machine and a printing system to which the program of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the stencil printing machine in the printing system shown in FIG.
[0025]
The printing system shown in FIG. 1 is formed by connecting a stencil printing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, an LBP 200, and a computer 300 that outputs print data via a network. The computer 300 is installed with a utility capable of automatically selecting the stencil printing machine 100 and the LBP 200 as an embodiment of the program of the present invention, together with the printer drivers of the stencil printing machine 100 and the LBP 200.
[0026]
2A is a block diagram showing the configuration of the stencil printing machine 100, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing details of the setting panel 120 of the stencil printing machine 100. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2A, a stencil printing machine 100 according to the present embodiment includes a setting panel 120 that performs various settings when printing, a scanner 110 that reads a document and obtains image data for printing, and a scanner. 110, a control unit 130 that performs various print controls including outputting image data obtained by 110 to an image processing unit 140 or LBP 200 described later based on settings on the setting panel 120 and the computer 300, and the control unit 120 or the computer 300. The image processing unit 140 that performs necessary image processing such as binarization processing on the printing image data output from the image processing unit and outputs the processed image data to the plate-making printing unit 150 described later, and the image data from the image processing unit 140 A stencil printing unit 150 for making a stencil printing sheet based on the stencil printing process and performing printing using the stencil printing stencil sheet. It is made of a.
[0027]
FIG. 2B is a diagram showing details of the setting panel 120 of the stencil printing machine 100. As shown in the figure, on the panel 120 of the stencil printing machine 100, a “trial printing mode” key 123 and a “normal printing mode” key 124 serving as printing mode setting means, and numerical values for inputting various numerical values such as the number of copies to be printed. A key 122, a liquid crystal display unit 121 for displaying a printing state, the number of printed sheets, various setting values, a message, and the like, and a start key 126 for executing printing are provided.
[0028]
The printing system shown in FIG. 1 is compatible with both a mode in which a printing document is directly set on the stencil printing machine 100 and printing is performed, and a mode in which printing is performed using image data output from the computer 300. . First, the operation of the stencil printing machine 100 when a document is directly set in the stencil printing machine 100 to perform printing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 3, the stencil printing machine 100 according to the present embodiment starts printing from each setting by the setting panel 120. First, the print mode is set with the “trial print mode” key 123 or the “normal print mode” key 124, and the number of copies is set with the numeric key 122 (S15, S20). When the above settings are made (if the print mode is not particularly set, the default print mode is “normal print mode”), and the start key 126 is pressed (S30: Yes), the control unit of the stencil printing machine 100 130 causes the scanner 110 to read the set original 105 to obtain print image data (S40) Next, the control unit 130 confirms the set print mode. "Normal print mode" is set. If it is (S50: No), the control unit 130 further confirms the set number of prints, and if the number of prints is set to 10 or less (S60: Yes), “The number of prints is small. The message “Do you want to continue?” Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 121 (S61), and the process waits until the instruction to continue or the print mode is reset. If the instruction to continue is issued by pressing -126 (S62: Yes), the control unit 130 transmits the image data obtained by the scanner 110 to the image processing unit 140, and the image processing unit 140 performs necessary image processing. Thereafter, the image processing unit 140 transmits the processed image data to the plate making and printing unit 150, and makes the plate making and printing by the plate making and printing unit 150 to obtain a printed matter 155 (S80 and S90). On the other hand, if the “trial printing mode” key 123 or the “normal printing mode” key 124 is pressed instead of the print continuation instruction (that is, the start key 126 is pressed) (S62: No, S63, S64), the control unit 130 updates the settings of the print mode and the number of copies and performs the processing from step S50.
[0030]
On the other hand, in step S50, if the control unit 130 confirms that the print mode is set to “trial print mode” (S50: Yes), the control unit 130 checks the number of print copies (S52), and if the number of print copies is greater than ten. (S50: Yes), a message stating “Too many copies. Please reset” is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 121 to prompt the user to reset the number of copies (S56). As a result of resetting the number of copies (S58), if the number of copies is set to 10 or less (S52: No), the information on the number of copies set in the image data is added and output to the LBP 200 (S54). The processing by the machine 100 is finished. The image data output to the LBP 200 is subjected to image processing by the LBP 200 and printed for the set number of copies.
[0031]
Next, the operation of the utility of the embodiment of the program of the present invention installed in the computer 300 will be described.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a utility installed in the computer 300, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a setting screen of the utility.
[0033]
The utility of this embodiment is installed in the computer 300, and operates when a print instruction is issued from the application software. As shown in the figure, when a printing instruction is issued from the application software (S100), the utility installed by printing on the computer 300 displays the screen shown in FIG. 5 and prompts the user to set the printing mode and the number of copies. The print mode is set by clicking the “trial print” or “normal print” button with the mouse, and the number of prints is set by inputting in the central copy number setting window of the screen shown in FIG. It has become. If the print mode and the number of copies are set by the user (S110, S120) and the execution button is clicked (S125: Yes), the print mode in which the utility is set is confirmed (S130). If more than 10 copies have been set in the trial printing mode (S130: Yes, S160: Yes), the utility will display a message stating “There are too many copies. Please reset” ( In step S162, the process returns to step S110 to allow the user to reset the print mode and / or the number of copies. If the number of copies of 10 or less is set in the trial printing mode (S130: Yes, S160: No), the utility outputs the image data instructed to be printed by the application software to the printer driver of the LBP 200 ( S170), the printer driver of the LBP 200 causes the LBP 200 to perform printing.
[0034]
On the other hand, if it is confirmed in steps S130 and S140 that more than 10 print copies are set in the normal print mode (S130: No, S140: No), the utility of this embodiment converts the image data into a stencil. The data is output to the printer driver of the printing machine 100 (S150), and the stencil printing machine 100 is caused to print by the printer driver of the stencil printing machine 100. In addition, if it is confirmed in steps S130 and S140 that the number of copies to be printed is 10 or less in the normal printing mode (S130: No, S140: Yes), the utility of the present embodiment indicates that “the number of printing copies is small. The message “Are you sure you want to continue?” Is displayed (S142), and it is instructed to continue or until the print mode and the number of copies are reset. If the execution button is clicked and a continuation instruction is issued (S144: Yes), the utility outputs the image data to the printer driver of the stencil printing machine 100 (S150). The stencil printing machine 100 performs printing, but if the print mode and / or the number of copies is reset instead of the print continuation instruction (that is, click of the execution button) (S144: No), the utility is reset. The setting of the print mode and / or the number of copies is updated and the processing from step S110 is performed.
[0035]
As described above, according to the stencil printing machine of this embodiment, when printing a document set on the stencil printing machine, the user simply sets the test printing mode or the normal printing mode depending on the number of copies to be printed. A printer or LBP is automatically selected, and efficient printing can be performed even if the user does not have detailed knowledge about the printing apparatus.
[0036]
In addition, the control unit of the stencil printing machine of this embodiment does not immediately print to the stencil printing machine when the number of copies is small even though the trial printing mode is set, and an error message is displayed to the operator. Since the warning is provided, it is possible to prevent the stencil printing machine from printing due to insufficient knowledge of the operator, and it is also possible to cause the stencil printing machine to print a small number of copies according to the operator's instruction to continue. If you want to see the results of printing with a stencil printing machine, that is, if you want to perform a trial printing with a stencil printing device, you can use the stencil printing device with a printed document set by setting the normal printing mode. .
[0037]
Also, when the “trial printing mode” is set, the data is transferred to the LBP only when the number of prints is set to 10 or less, and printing is performed. However, when the efficiency is high, it is possible to prevent other printing apparatuses from performing printing due to insufficient knowledge of the user.
[0038]
The utility installed in the computer 300 can also obtain the same effects as described above in a mode in which image data is transmitted from the computer side to the printing apparatus to perform printing.
[0039]
In the above, preferred embodiments of the stencil printing machine and program of the present invention have been described. However, the stencil printing machine and program of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention. Can be added.
[0040]
For example, the stencil printing machine and utility of the above-described embodiment make it impossible to print to more than 10 print copies when set to the trial printing mode for the convenience of the system structure. It is possible to set more than 10. When the trial printing mode is set, only the number of prints of 10 or less may be settable.
[0041]
Also, on the utility display screen, explanations of “Recommended for 10 or fewer copies” and “Recommended for more than 10 copies” are displayed below the “Test print” and “Normal print” buttons, respectively. A user interface that is easier to understand may be provided.
[0042]
In addition, the program of the present invention is implemented by including it in the printer driver of the stencil printing machine instead of the utility, so that when the stencil printing machine is selected, printing with a small number of copies is performed by another printing apparatus. Also good.
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, for convenience of explanation, a system in which only one stencil printing machine and one LBP are connected on the network is taken as an example. However, a plurality of other types of printing apparatuses are provided outside the stencil printing machine. It may be a connected system. Further, when the “trial printing mode” is set in the stencil printing machine, the transfer destination printing apparatus may be set.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a printing system to which a stencil printing apparatus and a program of the present invention are applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a stencil printing machine in the printing system of FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of a utility installed on a computer in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a utility installed on the computer in the printing system of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the time and cost per sheet required for printing by a stencil printing press and LBP.
100 stencil printing machine 105 document 110 scanner 120 setting panel 121 liquid crystal display unit 122 numeric key 123 trial printing mode key 124 normal printing mode key 126 start key 130 control unit 140 image processing unit 150 plate making printing unit 155 printed material 200 LBP
300 computers

Claims (7)

A stencil printing device that can be connected to other printing devices of different types depending on the network,
Print mode setting means capable of selectively setting the trial printing mode and the normal printing mode;
A copy number setting means for setting the number of copies;
A printing section for performing stencil printing;
If one of the printed image data, when the normal printing mode is set by the printing mode setting means, to thereby perform printing on the printing unit, the test printing mode is set by the printing mode setting means the network by being connected to the stencil printing machine, said other destination switchable stencil printing apparatus characterized by comprising an output destination switching means for the printing device to perform printing.   2. The output destination switching according to claim 1, wherein when the test printing mode is set by the print mode setting unit, the print number setting unit can set only the number of prints equal to or less than a predetermined number of copies. Possible stencil printing device. The output destination switching unit performs printing on the printing unit only when the trial printing mode is set by the printing mode setting unit and only when the number of printings equal to or less than a predetermined number of copies is set by the printing number setting unit. The stencil printing apparatus capable of switching the output destination according to claim 1, wherein If the printing mode setting by Ri before Symbol Normal printing mode means is set, wherein, when the number of copies set by the copy count setting means is less than the number of copies of the Jo Tokoro, impossible printing by the printing unit The stencil printing apparatus capable of switching the output destination according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a printing blocking means. When the normal print mode is set by the print mode setting unit, an instruction as to whether or not to execute printing by the printing unit when the number of printing copies set by the printing number setting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined printing number Display means for prompting the display,
The output destination switching unit causes the printing unit to perform printing when the execution of the printing is instructed according to the display on the display unit, and prints to the printing unit when the execution of the printing is not instructed. The stencil printing apparatus capable of switching the output destination according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In a system in which two or more types of printing apparatuses including a stencil printing apparatus and a computer that outputs printing data to any of the printing apparatuses and performs printing are connected via a network,
Processing to select the trial printing mode or the normal printing mode,
When the normal print mode is selected, the image data to perform the printing output to the stencil printing machine, when the test printing modes is selected, the image data other than the stencil printer A program for causing the computer to execute a process of outputting to a printing apparatus and causing printing to be performed. The program according to claim 6 , wherein the program is included in a printer driver of the stencil printing apparatus.

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