Abstract:
A print system includes: a first printer that performs printing on continuous form paper; a second printer that performs printing on the continuous form paper after the printing by the first printer; and a synchronization unit that synchronizes the printing by the first printer and the printing by the second printer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-065449 filed Mar. 23, 2010. 
       BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a print system. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print system including: a first printer that performs printing on continuous form paper; a second printer that performs printing on the continuous form paper after the printing by the first printer; and a synchronization unit that synchronizes the printing by the first printer and the printing by the second printer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a print system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a hardware configuration of an upstream side printer in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an upstream side control program; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a downstream side control program; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram showing operations (S 10 ) of the upstream side printer and the downstream side printer in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a timing chart showing operations of components of the upstream side printer and the downstream side printer; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a timing chart showing effects of the print system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Hereinbelow, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. Note that the following description is merely an example of implementation of the present invention and the present invention is not limited to the example described below but may be arbitrarily changed in accordance with necessity. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a print system  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0014]    The print system  1  is an overlapped-continuous print system in which, e.g., plural printers are directly connected to perform printing on continuous form paper used in basic business or the like. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the print system  1  has a terminal device  100  having general computer functions to generate a print command for printing on continuous form paper, a preprocessing device  102  to supply the continuous form paper, a printer  12  to perform printing on the front surface of the continuous form paper based on the print command from the terminal device  100 , a printer  14  to perform printing on the rear surface of the continuous form paper based on the print command from the terminal device  100 , and a postprocessing device  104  to rewind the continuous form paper. 
         [0016]    These devices are communicably interconnected via a network  106 . The devices other than the terminal device  100  are often directly connected, while the terminal device  100  and the other devices than the terminal device  100  are often connected via another device (rooter or the like). 
         [0017]    A reversing device  108  to reverse the front surface of the continuous form paper to the rear surface is provided between the printer  12  and the printer  14 . The continuous form paper supplied from the preprocessing device  102  is subjected to printing by the printer  12  on the front surface, then reversed from the front surface to the rear surface by the reversing device  108 , and subjected to printing by the printer  14  on the rear surface. 
         [0018]    Hereinbelow, the printer  12  will be referred to as an “upstream side printer  12 ”, and the printer  14 , a “downstream side printer  14 ”. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a hardware configuration of the upstream side printer  12  in  FIG. 1 . Note that since the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  have basically the same hardware configuration, only the upstream side printer  12  will be described below. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the upstream side printer  12  has a controller  16  and a marking engine  18 . 
         [0021]    The upstream side printer  12  having the above configuration generates print data based on a print command from the terminal device  100  in  FIG. 1 , and print-outputs the print data on continuous form paper at a previously-determined timing (hereinbelow, referred to as “predetermined timing”. The details of the timing will be described later). 
         [0022]    The controller  16  is a control circuit board having e.g. a CPU, a memory, and a storage medium. 
         [0023]    The controller  16  receives a print command via the network  106  in  FIG. 1  from the terminal device  100 , and generates print data. Further, the controller  16  controls the marking engine  18  so as to print-output the generated print data on the continuous form paper at the predetermined timing. 
         [0024]    Note that a synchronizing signal indicating the predetermined timing is transmitted via the network  106  to the downstream side printer  14  (in the downstream side printer, the synchronizing signal indicating the predetermined timing is received via the network  106  from the upstream side printer  12 ). 
         [0025]    Further, when an error is detected, the controller  16  controls the marking engine  18  so as to stop the printing on the continuous form paper. 
         [0026]    The marking engine  18  is e.g. a direct transfer type digital color printer. The marking engine  18  has an exposure device  180 , an image forming unit  182 , a paper conveyance passage  184  and a fixing device  186 . 
         [0027]    The exposure device  180  is a multi-beam scan exposure device which collectively scans plural laser beams, emitted from a surface light-emission laser array chip having a light emission point group of plural light emission points, and guides the beams to a photoreceptor drum. 
         [0028]    The image forming unit  182  has a photoreceptor drum  188  as an image holder to form an electrostatic latent image and hold a toner image, a charging device  190  to uniformly charge the surface of the photoreceptor drum  188 , developing rollers  192 Y (Yellow),  192 M (Magenta),  192 C (Cyan) and  192 K (black) provided for colors forming a color image, and a transfer roller  194  to transfer the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum to the continuous form paper. 
         [0029]    The image forming unit  182  supplies toner corresponding to an output image from the developing rollers  192 Y,  192 M,  192 C and  192 K to the photoreceptor drum  188 , generates toner images from the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum  188 , and sequentially transfers the toner images to the continuous form paper. 
         [0030]    The paper conveyance passage  184  is provided with plural pairs of conveyance rollers  196  along the paper conveyance passage  184 . The continuous form paper supplied with the paper conveyance passage  184  from the preprocessing device  102  in  FIG. 1  is subjected to printing on the front surface, then the printed surface is faced down, and conveyed to the reversing device  108  in  FIG. 1  (in the downstream side printer  14 , the continuous form paper with the printed front surface is supplied from the reversing device  108 , then subjected to printing on the rear surface, then the printed surface is faced down, and conveyed to the postprocessing device  106  in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0031]    The fixing device  186  fixes the toner image transferred to the continuous form paper. 
         [0032]    Next, the controller  16  in  FIG. 2  will be further described. 
       [Program Executed on the Upstream Side Printer] 
       [0033]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an upstream side control program  20  which operates in the controller  16  of the upstream side printer  12 . The controller  16  causes the CPU to execute the upstream side control program  20  read from the memory, the storage medium or the like. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the upstream side control program  20  has a print command reception part  200 , a print data generation part  202 , a synchronizing signal generation part  204 , a synchronizing signal transmission part  206 , a controller  208 , an error detection part  210  and an error transmission part  212 . 
         [0035]    The print command reception part  200  receives a print command from the terminal device  100  in  FIG. 1  via the network  106  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]    The print data generation part  202  generates print data based on the print command received by the print command reception part  200 . 
         [0037]    The synchronizing signal generation part  204  generates a synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the length of continuous form paper conveyed with the paper conveyance passage  184  in  FIG. 2  (hereinbelow, “paper feed length”), and a synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the length of continuous form paper necessary for print-output of the print data (or image data, text data and the like forming the print data) generated by the print data generation part  202  (hereinbelow, “FCB (File Control Block) length”). 
         [0038]    The synchronizing signal transmission part  206  transmits the synchronizing signals generated by the synchronizing signal generation part  204  via the network  106  to the downstream side printer  14  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0039]    The controller  208  controls the marking engine  18  in  FIG. 2  so as to print-output the print data generated by the print data generation part  202  on the continuous form paper at a timing based on the synchronizing signals generated by the synchronizing signal generation part  204 . 
         [0040]    More particularly, the controller  208  controls the paper conveyance passage  184  in  FIG. 2  so as to convey the continuous form paper at a timing based on the synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the paper feed length, and controls the image forming unit  182  in  FIG. 2  so as to generate a toner image at a timing based on the synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the FCB length. 
         [0041]    Further, the controller  208  controls the marking engine  18  so as to stop printing on the continuous form paper when an error is detected by the error detection part  210 . 
         [0042]    The error detection part  210  detects an error with high emergency (for example, paper jam caused by contamination of the conveyance rollers  196  in  FIG. 2  or the like) among errors in the marking engine  18 , and transmits the detected error to the controller  208  and the error transmission part  212 . 
         [0043]    The error transmission part  212  transmits the error detected by the error detection part  210  via the network  106  to the downstream side printer  14 . 
       [Program Executed on Downstream Side Printer] 
       [0044]      FIG. 4  shows a configuration of the downstream side control program  22  which operates in the controller  16  of the downstream side printer  14 . The controller  16  causes the CPU to execute the downstream side control program  22  read from the memory, the storage medium or the like. 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the downstream side control program  22  has a print command reception part  220 , a print data generation part  222 , a synchronizing signal reception part  224 , an error reception part  226  and a controller  228 . 
         [0046]    The print command reception part  220  receives a print command from the terminal device  100  in  FIG. 1  via the network  106  in  FIG. 1  as in the case of the print command reception part  200  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0047]    The print data generation part  222  generates print data based on the print command received by the print command reception part  220  as in the case of the print data generation part  202  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0048]    The synchronizing signal reception part  224  receives the synchronizing signals from the upstream side printer  12  in  FIG. 1  via the network  106 . 
         [0049]    The error reception part  226  receives an error from the upstream side printer  12  via the network  106 . 
         [0050]    The controller  228  controls the marking engine  18  in  FIG. 2  so as to print-output the print data generated by the print data generation part  222  on the continuous form paper at timings based on the synchronizing signals received by the synchronizing signal reception part  224 . 
         [0051]    Further, the controller  228  controls the marking engine  18  so as to stop the printing on the continuous form paper when an error is received by the error reception part  226 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a sequence diagram showing operations (S 10 ) of the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0053]    Note that steps S 100  to S 110  indicate operations at normal times, while steps S 112  to S 116  indicate operations upon occurrence of an error. 
         [0054]    Further,  FIG. 6  is a timing chart showing operations of components (here the paper conveyance passage  184  and the image forming unit  182  in  FIG. 2 ) of the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , at step S 100 , the upstream side printer  12  receives a print command from the terminal device  100  in  FIG. 1  in the print command reception part  200  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0056]    Further, the downstream side printer  14  also receives the print command from the terminal device  100 , in the print command reception part  220  in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0057]    At step S 102 , the upstream side printer  12  generates print data based on the print command received at step S 100  in the print data generation part  202  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0058]    Further, the downstream side printer  14  also generates print data based on the print command received at step S 100 , in the print data generation part  222  in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0059]    Note that at steps S 100  and S 102 , the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  both receive the print command and generate the print data; however, it may be arranged such that a host controller or the like is provided between the terminal device  100  and the upstream side printer  12 , and the downstream side printer  14 , and the host controller receives the print command once then generates print data, and transmits the generated print data to the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14 . 
         [0060]    At step S 104 , the upstream side printer  12  generates a synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the paper feed length and a synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the FCB length in the synchronizing signal generation part  204  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0061]    At step S 106 , the upstream side printer  12  transmits the synchronizing signals generated at step S 104  to the downstream side printer  14 , in the synchronizing signal transmission part  206  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0062]    At step S 108 , the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  convey the continuous form paper on the paper conveyance passage  184  in  FIG. 1 , at a timing based on the synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the paper feed length generated at step S 104  (or received at step S 106 ). 
         [0063]    That is, as shown in ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) in  FIG. 6 , the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  convey the continuous form paper at the same timing. 
         [0064]    At step S 110 , the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  generate toner images based on the print data generated at step S 102 , at a timing based on the synchronizing signal as a data signal indicating the FCB length generated at step S 104  (or received at step S 106 ), in the image forming unit  182  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0065]    That is, as shown in ( 3 ) and ( 4 ) in  FIG. 6 , the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  generate toner images at the same timing. 
         [0066]    At step S 112 , when an error occurs in the upstream side printer  12 , the upstream side printer  12  detects the error in the error detection part  210  in  FIG. 3 . For example, as shown in ( 5 ) in  FIG. 6 , when paper jam occurs at the conveyance rollers  196  in  FIG. 2  and conveyance of the continuous form paper is stopped on the conveyance passage  184 , the error detection part  210  detects the error. 
         [0067]    At this time, as shown in ( 6 ) in  FIG. 6 , the upstream side printer  12  stops the toner image generation in the image forming unit  182 . 
         [0068]    Note that at this time, as shown in ( 7 ) in  FIG. 6 , it may be arranged such that the upstream side printer  12  turns an enable signal (ENB) off, and transmits such change of the enable signal to the downstream side printer  14 . 
         [0069]    At step S 114 , the upstream side printer  12  transmits the error detected at step S 112  to the downstream side printer  14  in the error transmission part  212  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0070]    At step S 116 , the downstream side printer  14  stops the printing on the continuous form paper based on the error received at step S 114 , in the marking engine  18  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0071]    That is, as shown in ( 8 ) in  FIG. 6 , the downstream side printer  14  stops the conveyance of the continuous form paper in the paper conveyance passage  184 , and as shown in ( 9 ) in  FIG. 6 , stops the toner image generation in the image forming unit  182 . 
         [0072]    Hereinbelow, effects obtained by the print system  1  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 7  is a timing chart showing a case where the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  operate independently. As shown in ( 1 ) and ( 2 ), since the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream printer  14  independently start conveyance of continuous form paper, a shift shown in ( 3 ) occurs. 
         [0074]    Further, as shown in ( 4 ) and ( 5 ), since the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  independently start toner image generation, a shift shown in ( 6 ) occurs. 
         [0075]    Further, as shown in ( 7 ), when an error in the upstream side printer  12  is detected and the upstream side printer  12  stops printing on the continuous form paper, then the downstream side printer  14  stops the printing on the continuous form paper as shown in ( 8 ). A shift shown in ( 9 ) occurs because the downstream side printer  14  is notified of the error in the upstream side printer  12  via the terminal device  100  in  FIG. 1 , a host controller (not shown) or the like. 
         [0076]    By the occurrence of such shift, it is necessary for the user to provide a buffer unit to loose the continuous form paper by a predetermined length in the reversing device  108  in  FIG. 1 , or upon occurrence of an error, to re-adjust the looseness of the continuous form paper (paper buffer). 
         [0077]    On the other hand, in the print system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since the upstream side printer  12  and the downstream side printer  14  operate at timings based on the synchronizing signals, the shifts shown in ( 3 ) and ( 6 ) can be reduced. Further, since an error is transmitted from the upstream side printer  12  to the downstream side printer  14 , the shift shown in ( 9 ) can be reduced. 
         [0078]    That is, the paper buffer can be reduced, and a buffer unit provided for the paper buffer is unnecessary, and further, even upon occurrence of an error, readjustment of the paper buffer is unnecessary. 
         [0079]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.