JPH0867046A - Form overlay printer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [Purpose] In a form overlay printing device, the management number, etc. is accurately added to prevent duplicate issuance of the management number and omission of the number. [Structure] When combining pre-registered form data and variable information to be input, the number of issued copies of an object to be printed is stored, and the form data, the variable print information and the data of the number of copies are combined and printed. A plurality of form data is registered in the form overlay printing apparatus, and a "regular" serial number storage area 15 and a "temporary" serial number storage area 16 are provided for each type of form data, and the "temporary" serial number storage area 15 is provided at the start of printing processing. “Temporary” in serial number storage area 15
The serial number is stored, and the number data stored in the "temporary" serial number storage area 15 is held until the printing process is completed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a form overlay printing device capable of performing a printing operation efficiently when adding a management number to a form sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In printers that perform printing according to print data output from an external host device such as a host computer, there is a device having a form overlay printing function in order to improve the efficiency of printing processing. In this form overlay printing, predetermined form data is registered in advance in the printer device, and thereafter, only the form data is sequentially supplied to the printer device to synthesize the form data with the form data for efficient printing. Is. For example, the predetermined tabulation data is stored in the RAM of the printer device.
The data to be formed, which is to be registered in advance in the table and is to be written in the table created by the tabulation data thereafter, such as numerical characters and letters such as alphabets, is supplied to the printer device to efficiently perform tabulation work.

As a case of using the above-mentioned form overlay printing function, a predetermined form sheet may be managed by a so-called serial number. For example, at a government office, etc., enter a management number (serial number) on a printed form by stamping,
This method manages the number of issued sheets and then fills in the required items on these form sheets.

[0004]

However, the conventional form overlay printing apparatus as described above has the following problems.

(A) For example, today, a LAN using a printer device as a common terminal of a computer network
Computer networks such as (local area networks) are widely used, and in such systems 1
A plurality of computers use one printer device. For this reason, for example, if each computer freely gives a management number (serial number) to the above-mentioned form paper, it becomes impossible to manage the issue and the number of the form paper.

In such a case, it is possible to have a system in which one host computer centrally manages the above-mentioned management number, but the management number of the host computer is changed every time another computer uses the printer device. Update processing must be performed, access to the host computer and update processing take time, and efficient processing cannot be performed.

(B) Further, when a trouble occurs in the printer device during the addition of the management number to the form sheet using the form overlay function, double issuing of the management number or omission of the management number occurs. For example, after the management number is added to the form sheet, if an error occurs in the transmitted / received data, or a trouble occurs in the sheet conveying system such as a paper jam, a double issue of the management number occurs. Further, if an error occurs in the transmitted / received data while the management number is added to the form sheet, the management number will be omitted.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a form overlay printing apparatus in which a management number or the like is accurately added and a double issuing of the management number or omission of the number does not occur.

[0009]

The structure of the present invention is a form overlay printing apparatus for synthesizing and printing out form data registered in advance in form data registration means of a printer and variable print information input from a higher-level device. In the above, a copy number storage means for storing the number of print copies of an object to be printed using pre-registered form data, and a printing means for combining and printing the form data, variable print information, and data of the print copy number are provided. It is a configuration provided.

[0010]

According to the present invention, a registration area for form data for form overlay printing is provided in the non-volatile memory, and a serial number storage area for storing, for example, a certificate issue number, which is performed using the form data, is provided. In this serial number storage area, a "normal" serial number storage area and a "temporary"
A serial number storage area is provided. In such a configuration,
For example, when form data is specified from the host computer, first, a "temporary" serial number is stored in the "temporary" serial number storage area, then the form data is superimposed on the corresponding form data, and a serial number is added. After the printout paper is discharged, the same number as the above-mentioned "temporary" serial number is stored in the "correct" serial number storage area. Therefore, during this time, if an error occurs in data transmission / reception or a trouble occurs in the printing device, you can confirm the occurrence of trouble by checking the "correct" and "temporary" serial number storage areas. Control number)
It is possible to prevent double registration of, and omission of serial numbers.

[0011]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a form overlay printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a form overlay printing apparatus 1 has an interface controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a controller) 2 and prints images such as characters and figures on a sheet based on print information output from an external host computer 3.

The controller 2 includes a CPU 5, a ROM 6,
Image data generator 7, operation / display 8, system R
An AM 9, a non-volatile memory 10 and a frame memory 17 are provided, and a printer unit 19 is connected to the frame memory 17 via a printer interface (hereinafter referred to as printer I / F) 18. On the other hand, a host computer 3 that is connected to a network such as a LAN, or is solely connected to the form overlay printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment.
Are connected to the above-mentioned controller 2 via a host interface (hereinafter referred to as host I / F) 4.

A host computer 3 which is a host device
Is the host I that provides control data for character codes and print processing.
Output to the controller 2 via / F4. In addition, the host computer 3 uses the form data necessary for the form overlay printing apparatus 1 to exert the form overlay function, for example, tabular data for creating a predetermined table or predetermined form sheet forming data used in a public office. Is output to the controller 2. Further, after the above-mentioned form data is output from the host computer 3, variable printing information such as characters and numbers which are the form data is also output.

The CPU 5 is a central processing unit that controls the entire system of the form overlay printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, and controls each unit according to a program stored in the ROM 6. For example, the above-mentioned character code and control data output from the host computer 3 are stored in the system RAM 9
It is stored in the receiving buffer inside and the form data is registered in the form data registration area 11 forming a part of the non-volatile memory 10.

The non-volatile memory 10 is, for example, an EPROM.
It is composed of (erasable PROM), and is composed of the form data registration area 11, the password registration area 12, and the serial number storage area 13 described above. As described above, the form data registration area 11 is an area for registering tabulation data supplied from the host computer 3 and form data which is predetermined format data.
As shown in FIG. 3, the registration areas 11-1 to 11-n are configured so that a plurality of form data can be registered.

Further, the password registration area 12 is a code which is registered as necessary when using the corresponding form data. The password registration area 12 is a plurality of registration areas 1 provided in the form data registration area 11.
N areas 12-1 to 1 corresponding to 1-1 to 11-n
2-n.

On the other hand, the serial number storage area 13 is an area for storing the issue number of, for example, a predetermined form sheet created by the above-mentioned form data. In particular,
As shown in FIG. 3, storage areas 13-1, 13-2, ...
・ It is composed of. Further, in the figure, the above storage areas 13-1, 13-2, ... Are divided in the column direction, for example, 14 is a form type area for registering the type of form data. The number of the form data registered in 11 is registered. Reference numeral 15 is a "correct" serial number storage area in which the issue number of a predetermined format sheet is registered. Further, 16 is a "temporary" serial number storage area, for example, an area for storing a "temporary" serial number added until the printing process in the form overlay printing apparatus 1 is completely completed.

On the other hand, the system RAM 9 shown in FIG. 1 includes a reception buffer for storing the above-mentioned character code and print data output from the host computer 3, a work area for temporarily storing various data generated during the printing process of the CPU 5, and the like. It is composed of.

The image data generator 7 is a circuit for converting a character code into corresponding pattern data,
When the data stored in the reception buffer is determined to be the character code by the analysis of the CPU 5, the corresponding pattern data is output.

The frame memory 17 has a memory capacity for storing the pattern data for one page of paper, and the data converted into the pattern data by the image data generator 7 is sequentially stored.

The operation / display unit 8 is provided, for example, on the front side of the form overlay printing apparatus 1 at a position where it is easy to operate, and is provided with key operation units such as a print start key and a paper size designation key, and the number of prints and print processing. It is composed of a display unit for displaying the form number of the inside form data.

On the other hand, the printer section 19 controls the drive of the image forming section provided in the form overlay printing apparatus 1, for example, the drive mechanism section such as the photosensitive drum, the charger, the developing unit, and the print head. It is a circuit that outputs pattern data. Therefore, the printer unit 19 includes the printer I
Pattern data is output from the frame memory 17 via / F18, and this pattern data is output to the print head.

The operation of the form overlay printing apparatus having the above construction will be described below. The form overlay printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment also performs normal printing processing in addition to the form overlay printing. First, the processing will be briefly described. The CPU 5 receives the character code and control data output from the host computer 3 in the system RAM.
When a predetermined amount of data is stored in the reception buffer in the CPU 9, the CPU 5 reads the data stored in the reception buffer, for example, every 1 byte and performs an analysis process. As a result of this analysis processing, the character code is converted into pattern data by the image data generator 7 as described above and stored in the frame memory 17. Further, as a result of the above-described analysis processing, when the data is control data, the processing instructed by the corresponding command is executed. The one-page pattern data stored in the frame memory 17 in this manner is output to the printer unit 19 as described above, and is output from the printer unit 19 to a print head (not shown) to perform printing processing on paper. Be seen.

On the other hand, when performing form overlay printing, the following print control is performed. However, when performing form overlay printing, form data must already be registered in the form data registration area 11.
FIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram when the form data is registered in the form data registration area 11. For example,
For this registration, a user who wants to use the form overlay function sends predetermined form data to the host computer 3
From the form overlay printer 1 for registration. Further, this form data is sequentially registered from the registration area 11-1 of the form data registration area 11 shown in FIG. 2 to the registration areas 11-2, 11-3, .... In this embodiment, for example, the registration area 11
Form data of a registration certificate such as a resident's card to be used at the public office (hereinafter referred to as Form 1) is registered in -1, and form data of a predetermined form such as a transfer form used in a bank in the registration area 11-2. (Hereinafter referred to as Form 2) is to be registered.

When registering the above-mentioned form data, a desired password, for example, the password "○○○○○○○○" for the form 1 is registered in the password registration area 12 as required by the user. For example, the password “ΔΔΔΔΔΔΔΔ” is registered for the form 2.

Next, FIGS. 5 to 8 are flow charts for explaining the processing when the form overlay printing is performed after the above-mentioned form data is registered in the form data registration area 11.

First, when the form overlay printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is started, the processing shown in FIG. 5 is executed. For example, when the main power of the form overlay printing apparatus 1 is turned on, the serial number storage area 13 is checked (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1). This serial number storage area 13 is checked when the main power supply is turned on.
This is a process performed by the CPU 5 together with the initial setting process or separately from the initial setting process.
This is done by searching 3. Specifically, it is checked whether the serial number stored in the "regular" serial number storage area 15 of the serial number storage area 13 and the serial number stored in the "temporary" serial number storage area 16 of the same form type match. This check is performed for all form types stored in the serial number storage area 13.

As a result of this check, if there is at least one form type in which the "positive" serial number and the "temporary" serial number do not match, it is judged as an error (ST2 is Y (yes)), and error processing is executed. That is, although details will be described later in this case, after adding the "temporary" serial number and before the printing process is completely completed, it is possible to determine that a data transmission / reception failure or a trouble has occurred in the form overlay printing apparatus 1 itself. Show. Therefore, in this case, it is not possible to execute new print processing, so error processing is performed (ST
3).

On the other hand, the result of the above-mentioned check (ST1),
If the "regular" serial number and the "provisional" serial number match for all registered form data (ST2 is N (no)), it is assumed that there is no failure during form overlay printing. , For example, waiting for input of a print start signal.

Next, when the form data such as characters and numbers is supplied from the host computer 3 to the form overlay printing apparatus 1 in a state where the predetermined form data is registered in the form data registration area 11, as shown in FIG.
The form overlay printing process whose conceptual diagram is shown in (b) is executed. That is, when the above-mentioned form data (variable print information) is sent, the form designation (code) for designating the type of the form data to be used is included in the data, and the CPU 5 first sends this form designation (code). The corresponding form data is read from the form data registration area 11 according to the code). For example, if the form data instructed at this time is form 1 (form data of registration certificate), the form data which is the format data of the registration certificate is read from the registration area 11-1.
At this time, if a predetermined password is required to read the corresponding form data, for example, the password "○○"
"○○○○○○" is output to the form overlay printer 1 at the same time as the above-mentioned form designation (code).

Next, according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 6, the serial number stored at that time is read from the corresponding form number area of the serial number storage area 13 (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). Specifically, if the "regular" serial number "12345" is stored in the "regular" serial number storage area 15 of the form 1 shown in FIG.
This "positive" serial number "12345" is read.

Next, the CPU 5 increments this "correct" serial number "12345" by 1, for example, the serial number "1234".
6 "is created and this serial number" 12346 "is patterned, then, as shown in FIG.
2346 ″, the form data read from the form data registration area 11 and the form data such as characters and numbers input from the host computer 3 are combined (S
2). This combining process is performed, for example, in the frame memory 1 described above.
When storing the pattern data of the form data in 1,
This can be realized by adding the OR of the form data and the dot pattern data of the serial number “12346”.

Next, the serial number "12" created as described above.
346 ″ is stored in the “provisional” serial number storage area 16 (S3). Therefore, from this point of time, the "regular" serial number "12345" is stored in the "regular" serial number storage area 15 of the area corresponding to the form 1 of the serial number storage area 13, and the "provisional" serial number storage area 16 is stored with " The serial number “12346” of “Temporary” is stored.

After that, the above-mentioned composite data stored in the frame memory 17 is output to the printer section 19 and the print head performs print processing on the paper (S4). FIG. 9 is a view showing a part of the form sheet (registration certificate) on which the composite data is printed in this manner. When the above process is executed, as shown in the figure, the specified format (form data)
Formed data (eg, XXX, □□□) is printed on the registration certificate created in.
6 "is printed.

When the above-described printing process is completed and, for example, the paper is ejected, finally, the "normal" serial number storage region 15 and the "provisional" serial number storage region 16 are stored. The process of deleting the stored "temporary" serial number is executed (S5). This process (S5) is a process performed when the printing process by the form overlay printing apparatus 1 is completely completed. For example, it is performed after the sheet on which the form overlay printing is performed has passed the discharge roll of the form overlay printing apparatus 1.

Specifically, the "correct" serial number storage area 1
The registration of the serial number to 5 is processed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the form type is designated, and the serial number “12346” is registered in the “normal” serial number storage area 15 as the “normal” serial number ((c) of FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of this processing).

On the other hand, the process of deleting the "temporary" serial number is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, as in the above process, specify the type of form,
Delete the "provisional" serial number "12346".

When the form overlay printing is completed without any trouble by performing the form overlay printing, adding the registration number, and the deletion processing as described above,
A new serial number “12” is added to the “correct” serial number storage area 15.
346 ″ is registered. On the other hand, when some trouble occurs in the printing process, the “provisional” serial number (for example, the serial number “12346”) is “provisional” serial number storage area 16
The serial number "12345" is registered in the "regular" serial number storage area 15 at this time. Therefore, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, in this state, the temporary storage is maintained (the storage data of the “primary” serial number storage area 15 and the storage data of the “temporary” serial number storage area 16 do not match), and the power is turned on. When turned off, when the form overlay printer 1 is started again, an error occurs as shown in FIG. 5 (ST of FIG. 5).
2 is Y, ST3). Therefore, the trouble of the device can be surely known, and further processing is not executed in this state, so that duplicate issuance of the registration number or omission of the registration number can be surely prevented.

Incidentally, when the power is not turned off in the above-mentioned temporary storage state, the device is used as it is, and of course, a reproducing process (a defective reproducing process) such as a device defect occurring at that time is performed.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the issuance of the registration certificate of the government office as the paper of the predetermined format is explained, but when the form 2 is designated from the host computer 3,
From the registration area 11-2 of the form data registration area 11, for example, the form data of the bank transfer paper is read out, the same processing as described above is executed, and the duplicate issuance of the registration number and the omission of the registration number can be prevented.

Further, in the present embodiment, the registration certificate of the government office and the transfer paper of the bank are explained, but the present invention is not limited to these papers.

[0042]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the management number of the paper of the predetermined format is issued and managed in the form overlay printing apparatus, so that it is extremely superior to the case where it is managed by an external host computer. Efficient management is possible, and it is possible to prevent duplicate issuance of management numbers and omission of numbers.

Further, it is possible to reliably detect that a trouble has occurred in the printing process in the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a form overlay printing apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a form data registration area and a password registration area.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a serial number storage area.

4A is a conceptual diagram of form data registration processing, FIG. 4B is a conceptual diagram of form overlay printing, and FIG. 4C is a conceptual diagram illustrating serial number registration processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a serial number storage check process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a form overlay printing process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a process of registering a serial number.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of deleting registration of a serial number.

FIG. 9 is a print example of a registration certificate created by form overlay printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Form Overlay Printing Device 2 Controller 3 Host Computer 4 Host I / F 5 CPU 6 ROM 7 Image Data Generation Unit 8 Operation / Display Unit 9 System RAM 10 Nonvolatile Memory 11 Form Data Registration Area 11-1 to 11-n Registration Area 12 password registration area 13 serial number storage area 14 form type area 15 "regular" serial number storage area 16 "temporary" serial number storage area 17 frame memory 18 printer I / F 19 printer section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A form overlay printing apparatus for synthesizing and printing out form data registered in advance in form data registration means of a printer and variable print information input from a host device, wherein form data registered in advance is used. And a printing unit for synthesizing and printing the form data, the variable print information, and the data of the number of copies to be printed.