Abstract:
A printing apparatus for delivering a recording medium printed in accordance with received print information to a delivery tray which physically exists is constructed by a print information storing unit for storing the received print information, a delivery tray defining unit for virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the stored print information, a delivery tray allocating unit for allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray and a delivering unit for delivering the printed recording medium to the allocated physically existing delivery tray. A delivering method, a print system, and a memory medium for realizing the above printing apparatus are also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a printing apparatus having a paper handling function such as sorter, sheet post-processing apparatus (finisher), or the like, a delivering method, a print system, and a memory medium. 
     2. Related Background Art 
     In recent years, in many cases, personal computers and workstations are connected by a local area network (LAN). In association with it, a printing apparatus (printer) is also directly connected to the LAN and often used in common by a plurality of host computers and a plurality of users in an office. 
     Under such an environment, print information transmitted to the printer used in common by the users is temporarily stored into the printer (spooler) and a printing process can be performed even while print information is being received from another host computer and user. 
     At this time, the user can define an individual paper handling function (sorter, finisher) with respect to each print information. As a paper handling function, a collation, a mail box, a group sort, and the like can be supported. The “collation” is a function for aligning pages every copy and outputting them when a plurality of copy pages are printed. The “mail box” is a function to allocate a specific delivery tray (bin) to an arbitrary dedicated user/group. The “group sort” is a function to output the copies of one page (as many as a plurality of copy pages) to each delivery tray (bin) when a plurality of copy pages are printed. 
     In the conventional printer, however, it is necessary to make the delivery tray as a paper handling function held by each print information (job) and delivery trays which physically exist correspond in a one-to-one relational manner. 
     If the virtual delivery tray held by each print information does not physically exist, a delivery tray on the delivery destination side has to depend on an error process of the printer. As mentioned above, hitherto, there is a problem such that the delivery tray cannot be designated when the delivery tray designated by the job does not physically exist. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention, therefore, is made to solve the above problems and it is an object of the invention to provide a printing apparatus, a delivering method, a print system, and a memory medium, in which even if print information designates a delivery tray (bin) which does not physically exist, the user can be allowed to perform a process for making the designated delivery tray (bin) correspond to a delivery tray (bin) which actually exists. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a delivering method, a print system, and a memory medium, in which by allowing delivery trays as a paper handling function to be seen as if the number of them was larger than that of the delivery trays which actually exist, even if a job designates the delivery tray which does not physically exist, the occurrence of an error can be prevented. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus, a delivering method, a print system, and a memory medium, in which set contents and a setting state of a present delivery tray are displayed on the side of a panel or a host computer, thereby notifying the user of the set contents of a present paper handling and where and how the papers have been set, and a deletion or a copy is enabled to be designated in response to a job stored in each delivery tray, thereby realizing more variable paper handling. 
     To accomplish the above objects, according to the invention, there is provided a printing apparatus for delivering a recording medium printed in accordance with received print information to a delivery tray which physically exists, comprising: print information storing means for storing the received print information; delivery tray defining means for virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the stored print information; delivery tray allocating means for allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray; and delivering means for delivering the printed recording medium to the allocated physically existing delivery tray. 
     Preferably, the printing apparatus receives the print information from a host computer and the host computer has display means for displaying the allocation of the physically existing delivery tray for the virtually defined delivery tray. 
     Preferably, in the printing apparatus, the display means displays a storing state of the recording medium in the virtually defined delivery tray. 
     Preferably, the display means displays information regarding the print information of the recording medium which has been stored in the virtually defined delivery tray. 
     Preferably, the host computer deletes and copies the print information for the stored print information. 
     Preferably, the physically existing delivery tray is a delivery tray of a paper handling function such as sorter, finisher, or the like. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a delivering method of delivering a recording medium printed by a printing apparatus in accordance with received print information to a delivery tray which physically exists, comprising the steps of: virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the print information; and allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a print system which has a host computer and a printing apparatus and delivers a recording medium printed by the printing apparatus in accordance with print information received from the host computer to a delivery tray which physically exists, comprising: print information storing means for storing the print information received from the host computer; delivery tray defining means for virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the stored print information; delivery tray allocating means for allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray; display means for displaying an allocation of the physically existing delivery tray for the virtually defined delivery tray; and delivering means for delivering the printed recording medium to the allocated physically existing delivery tray. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a memory medium which is provided in a print system having a host computer and a printing apparatus and which stores a program that is executed by a CPU in the print system and allocates a delivery tray of a recording medium printed by the printing apparatus in accordance with print information received from the host computer to a delivery tray which physically exists, wherein the program comprises the steps of: virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the print information; and allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray. 
     According to the invention, when the recording medium printed in accordance with the received print information is delivered to the physically existing delivery tray, the received print information is stored by the print information storing means, the delivery tray of the recording medium according to the stored print information is virtually defined by the delivery tray defining means, the virtually defined delivery tray is allocated to the physically existing delivery tray by the delivery tray allocating means, and the printed recording medium is delivered to the allocated physically existing delivery tray by the delivering means. Therefore, even if the print information designates the delivery tray which does not physically exist, the user can be allowed to perform the process to make such a tray correspond to the delivery tray which actually exists. Therefore, even if the job designates the delivery tray which does not actually exist, print data can be printed without causing an error. 
     By allowing the delivery trays as a paper handling function to be seen as if the number of delivery trays was larger than the delivery trays which actually exist, even if the job designates the delivery tray which does not physically exist, the occurrence of an error can be prevented. Therefore, by using the virtual delivery tray, the delivery trays of a small number can be virtually seen as if there were a large number of delivery trays. 
     According to the invention, since the print information is received from the host computer and the host computer has the display means for displaying the allocation of the physically existing delivery tray for the virtually defined delivery tray, the set contents and state of the present delivery tray are displayed on the host computer side, thereby notifying the user of the set contents of the present paper handling and where and how the paper has been set. The deletion and copy are enabled to be designated for the job stored in each delivery tray. Thus, the more variable paper handling can be realized. 
     As mentioned above, the contents of a bin mapping table and where and how the paper has been set are displayed on the host computer side via the network, thereby making it possible to notify the user of the state of the virtual delivery tray. 
     According to the invention, since the display means displays the storing state in the recording medium of the virtually defined delivery tray, effects similar to those in the foregoing printing apparatus can be obtained and the user can designate the delivery tray while visually confirming. 
     According to the invention, since the display means displays the information regarding the print information of the recording medium stored in the virtually defined delivery tray, the operability on the host computer by the user can be raised. 
     According to the invention, since the host computer deletes and copies the print information for the stored print information, the print information can be easily edited. 
     According to the invention, since the physically existing delivery tray is the delivery tray of the paper handling function such as sorter, finisher, or the like, it is possible to cope with various paper handling functions. 
     According to the invention, there is provided a memory medium which is provided in a print system having a host computer and a printing apparatus and which stores a program that is executed by a CPU in the print system and allocates a delivery tray of a recording medium printed by the printing apparatus in accordance with print information received from the host computer to a delivery tray which physically exists, wherein the program comprises the steps of: virtually defining a delivery tray of the recording medium according to the print information; and allocating the virtually defined delivery tray to the physically existing delivery tray. Therefore, the generality and expandability of the print system can be improved. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a construction of a laser beam printer according to an embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a printer control system having the laser beam printer of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a construction of the printer control system to which host computers and a printer are individually connected through a network; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing delivery trays as a paper handling function of the printer; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where virtual delivery trays are replaced by physical delivery trays by a tray mapping table; 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation processing procedure of a host computer  3000 ; 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure to decide a delivery tray of a job when a printing process is performed by a printer  1000 ; 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transmitting internal information to the host computer  3000  when the internal information (a mapping state or where and how a paper has been set or the like) of the printer  1000  changes; 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure to display printer internal information by the host computer  3000 ; 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure to select a job and display its contents and delete and copy the job by the host computer  3000 ; 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing tray mapping tables stored on a hard disk  14 ; 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram showing virtual trays which are displayed by a display program in the host computer  3000 ; and 
     FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing memory maps in an ROM as a memory medium. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view showing a construction of a laser beam printer according to the embodiment. 
     In the diagram, reference numeral  1000  denotes an LBP main unit for inputting and storing print information (character codes or the like), form information, macro commands, and the like (they are also generally referred to as print information) which are supplied from a host computer which is connected to an outside, forming corresponding character pattern, form pattern, or the like in accordance with those information, and forming an image onto a recording paper or the like as a recording medium. 
     Reference numeral  1012  denotes an operation panel on which operation switches, an LED display, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral  1001  denotes a printer control unit to perform a whole control of the LBP main unit  1000  and analyze the print information or the like supplied from the host computer. The printer control unit  1001  mainly converts character information into a video signal of the corresponding character pattern and outputs it to a laser driver  1002 . 
     The laser driver  1002  is a circuit to drive a semiconductor laser  1003  and switches the on/off states of a laser beam  1004  which is emitted from the semiconductor laser  1003  in accordance with the inputted video signal. The laser beam  1004  is swung to the right and left by a rotary polygon mirror  1005  and exposes an electrostatic drum  1006  while scanning thereon. 
     Thus, an electrostatic latent image of the character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum  1006 . The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit  1007  arranged around the electrostatic drum  1006  and is, thereafter, transferred onto the recording paper. Cut sheet recording papers are used as recording papers. The cut sheet recording papers are enclosed in a paper cassette  1008  attached in the LBP main unit  1000 , fetched one by one into the apparatus by a feed roller  1009  and conveying rollers  1010  and  1011 , and supplied to the electrostatic drum  1006 . 
     At least one card slot is formed in the LBP main unit  1000  and an option font card, a control card (emulation card) of a different language system, or the like besides built-in fonts is connected to the card slot. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a construction of a printer control system having the laser beam printer of FIG.  1 . In the diagram, reference numeral  3000  denotes a host computer constructed mainly by a CPU  1 . 
     The CPU  1  executes a document process of a document in which a figure, an image, characters, a table (including a spreadsheet and the like), and the like mixedly exist on the basis of a document processing program or the like stored in a program ROM in an ROM  3  and integratedly controls devices connected to a system bus  4 . 
     A control program and the like which are executed by the CPU  1  are stored into a program ROM of the ROM  3 . Font data and the like which are used at the time of the document process are stored into a font ROM of the ROM  3 . Various data which is used when the document process or the like is performed is stored into a data ROM of the ROM  3 . 
     Reference numeral  2  denotes an RAM which functions as a main memory, a work area, or the like of the CPU  1 ;  5  a keyboard controller (KBC) for controlling a key input from a keyboard (KB)  9  or a pointing device (not shown);  6  a CRT controller (CRTC) for controlling a display of a display (CRT)  10 ; and  7  a memory controller (MC) for controlling an access with an external memory  11  such as hard disk (HD), floppy disk (FD), or the like to store a boot program, various applications, font data, a user file, an edit file, and the like. 
     Reference numeral  8  denotes a printer controller (PRTC) which is connected to the LBP main unit (printer)  1000  through a bidirectional interface (interface)  21  and executes a communication control process with the printer  1000 . 
     In a host computer having the above construction, the CPU  1  executes a developing (rasterizing) process of outline fonts into a display information area set in the RAM  2 , thereby enabling WYSIWYG on the CRT  10  to be performed. The CPU  1  opens various registered windows on the basis of commands instructed by a mouse cursor or the like on the CRT  10  and executes various data processes. 
     In the printer  1000 , reference numeral  12  denotes a CPU for integratedly controlling accesses with the various devices connected to a system bus  15  on the basis of the control program stored in the program ROM in an ROM  13  or a control program stored in an external memory (hard disk)  14  and outputting an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine)  17  connected through a printing unit interface (engine interface)  16 . 
     Control programs shown by flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and 8, which will be explained hereinlater, have been stored in the program ROM of the ROM  13  and are executed by the CPU  12 . The font data and the like which are used when output information is generated are stored in the font ROM of the ROM  13 . Information which is used by the host computer  3000  is stored in the data ROM of the ROM  13  in case of a printer without the external memory  14  such as a hard disk. 
     The CPU  12  can communicate with the host computer  3000  through an input unit  18  and notifies the host computer  3000  of information in the printer  1000 . 
     Reference numeral  19  denotes an RAM which functions as a main memory, a work area, or the like of the CPU  12  and can expand a memory capacity by an option RAM which is connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM  19  is used as an output information developing area, an environment data storing area, an NVRAM, or the like. The access to the external memory  14  such as hard disk (HD), IC card, or the like is controlled by a memory controller (MC)  20 . The external memory  14  is connected as an option and stores font data, an emulation program, form data, and the like. 
     The input unit  18  performs an inputting process from the host computer  3000 . Reference numeral  22  denotes an operation unit for performing inputting and outputting processes with the operation switches and LED display arranged on the operation panel  1012  mentioned above. 
     The external memory is not limited to one memory but a plurality of memories can be used. An option font card or a memory in which a program to interpret a printer control language of a different language system has been stored can be used in place of the built-in fonts. Further, it is also possible to have an NVRAM (not shown) and store printer mode set information from the operation panel  1012 . 
     The operation of the printer control system having the above construction will now be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a construction of the printer control system to which host computers and a printer are individually connected through a network. Each of the printer  1000  and a plurality of host computers  3000 A and  3000 B has a network interface (not shown) and is connected to an LAN  3001 . The printer  1000  is connected to the host computer  3000 A through the bidirectional interface  21  as shown in FIG. 2 mentioned above. Print information (jobs) transmitted from the host computers  3000 A and  3000 B is stored onto the hard disk  14  through the LAN  3001 . 
     FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing delivery trays (bins) of the paper handling function of the printer. The printer  1000  has delivery trays  1000 A,  1000 B, and  1000 C of the paper handling function, an in-printer delivery tray  1000 D provided in the upper portion of the main unit, the hard disk (external memory)  14 , and the like. 
     A tray mapping table (refer to FIGS. 11A and 11B) has been stored in the hard disk  14 . When a virtual delivery tray is designated as an output destination by the print information (job) (not shown), the designated virtual delivery tray is replaced to the physical delivery tray by the tray mapping table. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state where the virtual delivery tray is replaced to the physical delivery tray by the tray mapping table. The number of virtual delivery trays is not limited to a fixed value but can be changed to an arbitrary number and can be set to a value that is larger or smaller than the number of physical delivery trays. 
     FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation processing procedure of the host computer  3000 . The control program to realize the operating process shown by the flowchart has been stored in the ROM  3  and is executed by the CPU  1 . The control program can be stored into the external memory (hard disk)  11  in place of the ROM  3 . 
     In case of executing the printing by the host computer  3000 , a delivery destination (delivery tray) is first designated (step S 41 ). A job (print information) is sent to the printer  1000  through the bidirectional interface  21  (step S 42 ). The processing routine is finished. 
     The delivery tray which is designated in step S 41  does not always need to correspond to the delivery tray physically attached to the printer  1000 . More specifically speaking, in a state where three delivery trays are physically attached, the printer  1000  can designate the fourth delivery tray as an output destination in step S 41 . In the extreme case, the delivery tray can be designated as an output tray even in the case where no delivery tray is attached to the printer  1000 . 
     FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure to decide the delivery tray of the job when the printing process is performed by the printer  1000 . The processing program has been stored in the program ROM of the ROM  13  in the printer  1000  and is executed by the CPU  12 . 
     The delivery tray of the job designated by the process in step S 41  on the host computer  3000  side is handled (defined) as a virtual tray on the printer  1000  side. 
     The physical delivery tray is temporarily determined (step S 52 ) on the basis of the virtual tray designated as a delivery tray with reference to the tray mapping table (step S 51 ). 
     Whether the delivery tray temporarily determined in step S 52  physically exists or not is discriminated (step S 53 ). If it exists, the delivery tray is formally determined (step S 54 ) and the processing routine is finished. If NO, the delivery tray is changed (step S 55 ) and the processes in steps S 52 , S 53 , and S 55  are repeated until the delivery tray is formally determined. 
     FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for transmitting the internal information to the host computer  3000  when the internal information (mapping state, where and how the paper has been set, or the like) of the printer  1000  changes. The processing program has been stored in the program ROM of the ROM  13  in the printer  1000  and is executed by the CPU  12 . 
     First, when the paper handling function (sorter, finisher) having the delivery trays  1000 A to  1000 C is installed to the printer  1000 , the printer internal information is automatically updated (step S 61 ). In this instance, the printer internal information is collected in the printer  1000  (step S 62 ). The collected printer internal information is transmitted to the host computer  3000  via the LAN  3001  (step S 63 ). In step S 61 , the recording paper is pulled out or inserted by the paper handling function or the printer internal information is updated even when the tray mapping table is changed. 
     FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying the printer internal information by the host computer  3000 . The processing program has been stored in the program ROM of the ROM  3  in the host computer  3000  and is executed by the CPU  1 . First, the display program stored in the program ROM of the ROM  3  is started (step S 71 ). The display program can be stored in the hard disk  11 . 
     The apparatus enters a state (standby state) for waiting for reception of the internal information (data) from the printer  1000  (step S 72 ). When the printer internal information transmitted by the process in step S 63  is received from the printer  1000  (step S 73 ), the received internal information is displayed (step S 74 ). After that, the apparatus is returned to the standby state in step S 72 . The standby state is continued until the display program started in step S 71  is finished. The display program can be finished by an instructing operation (not shown) by the user. 
     FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for selecting the job and displaying its contents and deleting or copying the job by the host computer  3000 . The processing program has been stored in the program ROM of the ROM  3  in the host computer  3000  and is executed by the CPU  1 . 
     The display program is first started by the host computer  3000  (step S 81 ) and a list of jobs is displayed. The display program which is the same as or different from that used in FIG. 9 can be used as such a display program. 
     Whether the program has been finished or not is discriminated (step S 82 ). If NO, an arbitrary job is selected from the displayed job list (step S 83 ) and a job operation is designated (step S 84 ). In the process in step S 84 , the job operation such as display of the contents of the job, copy of the job, deletion of the job, or the like can be designated on a page and tray unit basis. After that, the processing routine is returned to the process in step S 82 . Similar processes are repeated until the display program is finished. The display program can be finished by an instructing operation (not shown) by the user. 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing a tray mapping table stored in the hard disk  14 . When the tray mapping table in FIGS. 11A and 11B is edited, as shown in FIG. 11A, a range of the tray numbers of the virtual delivery trays can be designated and the virtual delivery trays within the designated range can be allocated to the physical delivery tray. As shown in FIG. 11B, the even-No. tray and odd-No. tray of the virtual delivery trays can be allocated to a physical delivery tray  1  and a physical delivery tray  2 , respectively. 
     The tray mapping table can be edited from the operation panel (operation unit)  22 . By printing the set contents by the operation panel, they can be visually confirmed as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. The, tray mapping table can be displayed and edited on the host computer side. 
     In case of taking out the trays, the trays can be sequentially taken out or a specific tray can be designated and taken out. The storing location of the tray mapping table is not limited to the external memory (hard disk)  14  but can be provided in the RAM  19 . 
     FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the virtual trays and the contents of the jobs which are displayed by the display program shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the host computer  3000 . The contents of the virtual trays including spool information of the jobs, paper size information, and information regarding the presence or absence of the paper and the like can be displayed every tray by the display program of the host computer  3000  as shown in the left portion A. The job can be selected by the display program and its contents can be displayed on the screen as shown in the right portion B. Thus, the jobs can be deleted and copied on a page and tray unit basis. 
     As a paper handling function, in addition to the collation, mail box, and group sort, expanding functions such as insertion of the paper, folded paper, staple, and the like can be included. 
     Although the case of the laser beam printer has been shown in the embodiment, the invention can be similarly applied to an ink jet printer or a printer of another printing system. 
     Further, although the state and the like of the delivery trays shown in FIG. 12 have been displayed on the CRT  10  on the host computer side in the embodiment, they can be displayed on the operation panel on the printer side. 
     Furthermore, the invention can be similarly applied to any of a system comprising single equipment, a system comprising a plurality of equipment, and a system in which processes are executed through a network such as an LAN or the like so long as the functions of the invention are executed. 
     The invention, moreover, can be applied to the case where the functions of the invention are accomplished by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, a memory medium in which program modules expressed by software to accomplish the invention have been stored is supplied to the system or apparatus and the program modules are read out of the memory medium and installed to the system or apparatus, so that the system or apparatus can obtain the effects of the invention. 
     FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing memory maps in the ROMs provided as memory media in the host computer and the printer of the printer control system. As shown in FIG. 13A, the job transmission module shown in FIG. 6, the printer internal information display module shown in FIG. 9, and the job operation module shown in FIG. 10 have been stored in the ROM  3  in the host computer  3000 . As shown in FIG. 13B, the delivery tray determination module shown in FIG.  7  and the printer internal information transmission module shown in FIG. 8 have been stored in the ROM  13  in the printer  1000 . 
     In the job transmission module, the delivery tray is designated. In the delivery tray determination module, the delivery tray designated by the job transmission module is defined as a virtual delivery tray and, further, the defined virtual delivery tray is allocated to the physically existing delivery tray. 
     The exchangeable memory medium for supplying such program modules is not limited to the ROM. For example, any of a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetooptic disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, and the like can be used.