JPH06149496A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily stop printing at a printing end position of a specified report or at a print end position corresponding to prescribed copies of specific reports when plural kinds of report are successively printed. CONSTITUTION:A printing stop position is set in the unit of report or in the unit of copy by means of a keyboard 2 and a printing stop position setting means 121. The printing stop position specified by the printing stop position setting means 121 is stored in a printing stop position storage means 131. A printing position counting means 132 counts the current printing position in the unit of report or in the unit of copy throughout printing operation and when the value of the printing position counting means 132 reaches the value stored in the printing stop position storage means 131, a printer stopping means 133 stops the printing operation temporarily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer capable of designating a print stop position in units of boundaries (borders between reports or copies).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a printer, there are times when it is desired to temporarily stop the printing operation at a predetermined printing position due to paper replacement or the like during the printing operation. The following is a conventional technique for stopping the printing operation at a predetermined printing position. (1) The position at which printing is desired to be stopped is designated in advance in page units or line units and stored in the storage means. Then, during printing, that value is compared with the current print position, and when both values match, printing is stopped (eg, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-319177). (2) A position where printing is desired to be stopped is set in the input data, and when the printing position reaches that position, printing is stopped. (3) While the operator visually monitors the printing state, when the printing position reaches the position where printing should be stopped, the operator inputs a stop command or presses the stop key to stop printing.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems, respectively. In the above-mentioned related art (1), the print stop position is designated in page units or line units. On the other hand, the number of pages and the number of lines are different for each report. Therefore, when printing multiple types of reports continuously, it is easy to stop in boundary units, such as stopping at the end position of a specific report or stopping after printing a certain specific report. Can not. Further, in the above-mentioned related art (2), although printing can be stopped in boundary units, since the stop position is set in the input data, when the same input data is used, it always stops at the same position. It is not possible to change the stop position. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technique (3), the operator must constantly monitor the printing state, which is very troublesome. In addition, since there is a slight time delay between the operator's command to stop printing and the actual stop of printing, it is difficult to stop the printing accurately at the boundary. An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, in the printer of the present invention, a print stop position setting means capable of setting a print stop position in a boundary unit, and a print set by the print stop position setting means. The print stop position storage means that stores the stop position, the print position count means that counts the current print position in boundary units, and the value stored in the print stop position storage means and the output of the print position count means match. A printer stopping means for stopping printing when the above occurs is provided. Further, the keyword setting means capable of setting the keyword, the keyword storing means for storing the keyword set by the keyword setting means, and the printing stopped when the keyword stored in the keyword storing means is found in the print format And a printer stopping means for causing it to be provided.

[0005]

[Operation] The print stop position is set in the boundary unit by the print stop position setting means and is stored in the print stop position storage means. On the other hand, the print position counting means counts the current print position in a boundary unit, and when the value stored in the print stop position storing means and the output of the print position counting means match, the printer stopping means causes the printer to stop. To stop. Also, a specific keyword is set by the keyword setting means and stored in the keyword storage means. When the keyword stored in the keyword storage means is found in the input data, the printer stop means stops the printer. By doing this, when printing multiple types of reports consecutively, it is possible to stop at the end position of a certain specific report or how many copies of a certain specific report should be stopped for each boundary unit. Easy to stop. Even when the same input data is used, the stop position can be changed to an arbitrary boundary by changing the setting. Moreover, the operator does not need to constantly monitor the printing state, and the printing can be accurately stopped at the boundary.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the first invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a CPU (central processing unit) and RAM (random access memory), 11 is an input data processing unit, 12 is an operator control unit, 121 is a print stop position setting unit, 13 is an output control unit, and 131 is printing. Stop position storage means, 132 is print position counting means, 133
Is a printer stop means, 2 is a keyboard, 3 is a data input section, 4 is a display, 5 is a disk controller, 6
Is a magnetic disk, 7 is an imaging unit, 8 is a print memory, and 9 is a recording unit.

The CPU and RAM 1 have an input data processing unit 11, an operator control unit 12 and an output control unit 13. Among them, the input data processing unit 11 creates a print format from the input data received by the data input unit 3, and writes it in the magnetic disk 6. that time,
A code indicating the report boundary is added to the print format of the first page of each report, and when multiple copies of the same report are printed, a code indicating the copy boundary is added to the print format of each first page of the second and subsequent copies. . The operator control unit 12 processes the data input by the operator from the keyboard 2 and notifies the output control unit 13 of the data. The operator control unit 12 includes a print stop position setting unit 121 for processing a boundary input from the keyboard 2 when printing is desired to be stopped and notifying the output control unit 13 of the boundary.

The output control unit 13 controls the imaging unit 7 to convert the print format stored in the magnetic disk 6 into a print image, and sends the converted print image to the recording unit 9. The output control unit 13 has a print stop position storage unit 131 that stores the print stop position notified from the print stop position setting unit 121, and a print position count unit 132 that counts the current print position in boundary units. ing. Further, it has a printer stop means 133 for stopping the printing when the value stored in the print stop position storage means 131 and the output of the print position count means 132 match.

Next, the operation of the first invention will be described. Figure 2
3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the first invention. Note that this flowchart shows the processing procedure in the output control unit 13. (Command processing) Step 1 ... The presence or absence of the command notified from the operator control unit 12 is determined. Step 2 ... If there is a command, that command is read. Step 3 ... It is determined whether or not the command is a boundary stop command for instructing the print stop position. Step 4 ... If it is a boundary stop command, it is stored in the print stop position storage means 131. Step 5 ... If the command is not the boundary stop command in Step 3, the process (temporary stop of printing, forced termination of printing, etc.) corresponding to the command is executed.

(Print Processing) Step 6 ... When there is no command in step 1, it is determined whether or not all the print formats in the print job have been printed. Step 7 ... If printing is not completed, the print format for one page is read from the magnetic disk 6. Step 8 ... It is determined whether or not there is a code indicating the report boundary in the print format. Step 9 ... If there is, 1 is added to the current number of reports of the print position counting means 132. At the same time, the current copy number of the print position counting means 132 is set to 1. Step 10 ... It is determined whether or not the current number of reports matches the number of reports stored in the print stop position storage means 131. Step 11 ... If they match, the number of reports has been confirmed, so the report is deleted from the print stop position storage means 131, and step 16 (print stop processing) is executed.

Step 12 ... When there is no matching number of reports in Step 10, it is determined whether or not there is a code indicating a copy boundary in the print format. Step 13 ... If there is, 1 is added to the current copy number of the print position counting means 132. Step 14 ... It is determined whether or not the current copy number matches the copy number stored in the print stop position storage means 131. Step 15 ... If they match, the number of reports has been confirmed, so the report is deleted from the print stop position storage means 131. Step 16 ... Stop printing at that position. Step 17 ... It is judged whether or not there is a notice of continuation from the operator, and if there is, a return is made to step 1.

Step 18 ... When there is no code indicating the copy boundary in Step 12, or Step 1
If there is no matching copy number in 4, there is no need to stop printing at the page. Therefore, the imaging unit 7 converts the print format of the page into a print image and sends the print image to the recording unit 9. Step 19 ... Other processing (paper feed command, paper discharge command, etc.)
To execute.

In this way, by setting the boundary to be stopped prior to the start of printing in report units or in copy units, it is possible to stop printing at an arbitrary boundary and replace the printing paper.
Further, when a print stop command is input during execution of printing, the current report number of the print position counting means 132 or the number obtained by adding 1 is stored in the print stop position storing means 131 as stop position information. By doing so, it is possible to stop the printing immediately before printing the next report or copy while printing is in progress.

In the first aspect of the invention, the boundary to be stopped before printing is set in report units or in copy units. However, by designating a keyword in the print format, the designated keyword is entered. It is also possible to stop printing on the current page. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the second invention. The reference numeral corresponds to that of FIG.
2 is a keyword setting means, and 134 is a keyword storage means.

When a keyword is input from the keyboard 2, the keyword setting means 122 notifies the output control unit 13 of the keyword. In addition, the keyword storage means 134
The keywords notified from the keyword setting means 122 are stored.

Next, the operation of the second invention will be described. Figure 4
3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the second invention. Note that this flowchart also shows the processing procedure in the output control unit 13 as in the case of FIG. (Command processing) Step 1 ... The presence or absence of the command notified from the operator control unit 12 is determined. Step 2 ... If there is a command, that command is read. Step 3 ... It is determined whether or not the command is a keyword stop command for setting a keyword. Step 4: If the command is a keyword stop command, the keyword is stored in the keyword storage means 134. Step 5 ... If the command is not the keyword stop command in step 3, the process (temporary print stop, forced print end, etc.) corresponding to the command is executed.

(Print Processing) Step 6 ... When there is no command in step 1, it is determined whether or not all the print formats in the print job have been printed. Step 7: If printing has not been completed, the print format for the next one page is read from the magnetic disk 6. Step 8 ... It is determined whether or not there is a keyword stored in the keyword storage means 134 in the print format. Step 9 ... If there is, printing is stopped at that position. Step 10 ... It is determined whether or not there is a notice of continuation from the operator, and if there is, a return is made to step 1.

Step 11 ... If there is no keyword in step 8, it means that it is not necessary to stop printing on the page. Therefore, the imaging unit 7 converts the print format of the page into a print image and sends the print image to the recording unit 9. Step 12 ... Other processing (paper feed command, paper discharge command, etc.)
To execute.

According to the second invention, the following can be achieved. For example, when printing the books of a plurality of branches by changing the paper for each branch, as shown in FIG. 5, the keyword “TOKYO” for identifying each branch is added to the head of the book data of each branch. , "NAGOY
Insert "A", "OSAKA", and "KOUBE".
When the print is executed, the operator stops the print by using “NAGOYA”,
"OSAKA" and "KOUBE" are input from the keyboard 2 and stored in the keyword storage means 134 as keyword stop information.

When the printing is started, the printing of the books of the Tokyo branch ends, and when the printing of the books of the Nagoya branch is started, the keyword "NAGOYA" at the head of the book data of the Nagoya branch is found and printed. Is stopped. Similarly, since the printing is stopped at the head position of the book data of the Osaka branch and the Kobe branch, if the paper is exchanged at that time, the paper can be changed for each branch and printed.

In the above embodiment, the first invention and the second invention have been described separately, but it is also possible to incorporate both inventions into one printer at the same time. By doing so, the stop position can be set by both the boundary setting and the keyword setting.

[0022]

As described above, the printer of the present invention has the following effects. When printing multiple types of reports in succession, it is possible to easily stop in boundary units, such as stopping at the end position of a specific report or stopping how many copies of a specific report should be printed. Even when the same input data is used, the stop position can be changed to an arbitrary boundary by changing the setting. Further, the operator does not need to constantly monitor the printing state, and the printing can be accurately stopped at the boundary.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a first invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a second invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of input data in the second invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CPU and RAM, 11 ... Input data processing unit, 12
... operator control unit 121 ... print stop position setting means 122 ... keyword setting means 13 ... output control unit 131 ... print stop position storage means 132 ... print position counting means 133 ... printer stop means 134 ... keyword storage Means, 2 ... Keyboard, 3 ... Data input section, 4 ... Display, 5 ... Disk controller, 6
... magnetic disk, 7 ... imaging unit, 8 ... print memory, 9 ... recording device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A print stop position setting means capable of setting a print stop position in a boundary unit, a print stop position storage means for storing the print stop position set by the print stop position setting means, and a current print position. A print position counting means for counting in a boundary unit, and a printer stopping means for stopping the printing when the value stored in the print stop position storing means and the output of the print position counting means match. Printer. 2. A keyword setting means capable of setting a keyword, a keyword storage means for storing the keyword set by the keyword setting means, and a keyword stored in the keyword storage means when found in a print format. A printer having a printer stopping means for stopping printing.