EP0468762A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A data printing system and method, and a controller and printer therefor
Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1991-07-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A data printing system has a controller (1) which controls the printing of jobs from at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5) by a printer (4). When the controller (1) receives a plurality of jobs, it establishes a sequential order of transmission and generates a display signal indicating the times at which the respective jobs will be printed. That display signal may then generate a display at the input unit(s) (3-1, 3-2, 3-N) or at a display (141) associated with the controller (1) itself. In this way, users are given information about the times of printing. The sequence of printing of the jobs may be established on the basis of a priority associated with the jobs themselves and/or on the amount of material currently available for printing by the printer (4) and/or on the maximum capacity of printed paper. Display may be associated with that amount and/or capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenichi Akabori
- 👤 Hiroshi Ogawa
- 👤 Katsuhiro Shiobara
- 👤 Yuuji Aoyagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/12; G06F3/1201; G06F3/1202; G06F3/1203; G06F3/1204; G06F3/1223; G06F3/1237; G06F3/1259; G06F3/126; G06F3/1278; G06F3/1285; G06F3/1263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A controller (1) for a data printing system, comprising: an input (7) for receiving jobs for printing from at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5), each said job comprising corresponding data to be printed; a memory (12, 15) for storing said data; output means (11) for transmitting said data to a printer (4), with said jobs being transmitted sequentially; characterised in that: the controller (1) further includes analysis means (6, 8) for storing the duration of printing of each of said jobs, for calculating printing times for each of said jobs, and for generating a display signal representing said printing times.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein each of said jobs has an associated priority, said analysis means (6, 8) includes means for establishing a priority order among said jobs for determining the sequential transmission of said jobs, and said analysis means (6, 8) is arranged to calculate said printing times on the basis of said priority order.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A controller according to claim 2, wherein said means for establishing a priority order is arranged to revise said priority order when said input receives a job having a high priority order associated therewith, and said analysis means is arranged to revise said display signal on the basis of the revised priority order.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A controller according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said controller has a display (141) for displaying said printing times for said jobs on the basis of said display signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A controller according to claim 1, wherein said analysis means is arranged to calculate said duration of printing of each of said jobs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of a controller (1) according to any one of the preceeding claims and at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N), wherein the at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N) includes: means for receiving said display signal; and a display (3-1, 3-2, 3-N) for displaying said printing times for said jobs on the basis of said display signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A combination according to claim 6, wherein the at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N) further includes transmitting said duration of printing of said jobs to said controller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination of a controller (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N) wherein the at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N) includes means for calculating said duration of printing of said jobs and for transmitting said duration of printing of said jobs to said controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
The combination of a printer (4) for printing data and a controller (1) for controlling the printer (4); wherein the printer (4) comprises a store for storing material for printing thereon, and means for removing said material from said store and printing thereon; and wherein the controller (1) comprises: an input (7) for receiving jobs for printing from at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N), each said job comprising corresponding data to be printed; a memory (12, 15) for storing said data; and output means (11) for transmitting said data to said printer (4), with said jobs being transmitted sequentially; characterised in that: the printer (4) includes means for determining the amount of material in said store at any time and generating a count signal; and the controller (1) includes: means for receiving said count signal from said printer; and analysis means (6, 8) for storing information representing the amount of material of said printer needed to print each of said jobs, and for generating a display signal representing the jobs printable on said material in said store of said printer at any time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
A combination according to claim 9, wherein said analysis means is arranged to store information representing the amount of material of said printer needed to print each of said jobs, the order of said sequential transmission on the basis of the amount of material needed for each job and on the count signal from the printer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
191 words
The combination of a printer (4) for printing data and a controller (1) for controlling the printer (4); wherein the printer (4) comprises a store for storing material for printing thereon and means for removing said material from said store and printing thereon, and wherein the controller (1) comprises: an input (7) for receiving jobs for printing from at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5), each said job comprising corresponding data to be printed; a memory (12, 15) for storing said data; and output means (11) for transmitting said data to said printer (4), with said jobs being transmitted sequentially; characterised in that: said printer (4) includes means for determining the amount of material in said store at any time and generating a count signal; and the controller (1) includes: means for receiving said count signal from said printer; and analysis means for storing information representing the amount of material of said printer needed to print each of said jobs, and for determining the order of said sequential transmission on the basis of the amount of material needed for each job and on the count signal from the printer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
A combination according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the printer further includes at least one bin for receiving the printed material, and means for determining the difference between the maximum amount of material receivable by said bin and the amount of material in said bin at any time and generating a capacity signal, and said analysis means of said controller is arranged to generate a further display signal representing the jobs printable on said material in said store of said printer such that the amount of material on which said jobs are printable is less than said maximum, at any time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
223 words
The combination of a printer (4) for printing data and a controller (1) for controlling the printer (4); wherein the printer (4) comprises a store for storing material for printing thereon, and means for removing said material from said store and printing thereon and wherein the controller (1) comprises: an input (7) for receiving jobs for printing from at least one input unit, each said job comprising corresponding data to be printed; a memory (12, 15) for storing said data; and output means (11) for transmitting said data to said printer, with said jobs being transmitted sequentially; characterised in that the printer (4) includes at least one bin for receiving the printed material, and means for determining the difference between the maximum amount of material receivable by said bin and the amount of material in said bin at any time and generating a capacity signal; and the controller (1) includes: means for receiving said count signal from said printer (4); and analysis means for storing information representing the amount of material of said printer needed to print each of said jobs, and f o r generating a display signal representing the jobs printable on said material in said store of said printer (4) such that the amount of material on which said jobs are printable is less than said maximum, at any time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the analysis means is further arranged to determine the order of said sequential transmission on the basis of the amount of material needed for each job and on the capacity signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
208 words
The combination of a printer (4) for printing data and a controller (1) for controlling the printer (4); wherein the printer (4) comprises a store for storing material for printing thereon, means for removing said material from said store and printing thereon, and at least one bin for receiving the printed material, and wherein the controller (1) comprises: an input (7) for receiving jobs for printing from at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5), each said job comprising corresponding data to be printed; a memory for storing said data; and output means for transmitting said data to said printer, with said jobs being transmitted sequentially; characterised in that: the printer (4) includes means for determining the difference between the maximum amount of material receivable by said bin and the amount of material in said bin at any time and generating a capacity signal; and the controller (1) includes: means for receiving said count signal from said printer; and analysis means for storing information representing the amount of material of said printer needed to print each of said jobs, and f o r determining the order of said sequential transmission on the basis of the amount of material needed for each job and on the capacity signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
A combination according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the printer has a plurality of material receiving bins (461-1, 461-2) for receiving printed material, and each material-receiving bin has an opening for removing material therefrom, a movable cover (466) adjacent said opening, and releasable lock means (467) for locking said cover (466) over said opening to prevent removal of material from the corresponding bin (461-1, 461-2).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination according to claim 16, wherein said controller (4) has means for controlling the action of said lock means (467) of each of said bins (461-1, 461-2).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A data printing system comprising at least 6 one input unit, a controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a printer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A data printing system comprising at least one input unit and a combination according to any one of claims 9 to 17.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 19, wherein said at least one input unit includes: means for receiving said display signal; and a display for displaying said printing times for said jobs on the basis of said display signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein said input unit includes means for calculating said duration of printing of said jobs and for transmitting said duration of printing of said jobs to said controller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
182 words
A data printing system comprising at least 6 one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5), a controller (1), and a printer (4); said at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N) is arranged to generate at least one job for printing; said printer (4) comprises a store for storing material for printing thereon, means for removing the material from the store and printing thereon, and at least one bin (461-1, 461-2) for receiving the printed material, the bin having an opening for removing the printed material therefrom; characterised in that: the at least one input (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5) is arranged to generate a security signal corresponding to the at least one job; the printer (4) has a movable cover (466) adjacent the opening of the bin, and releasable lock means (467) for locking the cover (466) over the opening to prevent removal of material from the corresponding bin (461-1, 461-2); wherein the controller (4) is arranged to control the releasable lock means (467) on the basis of the security signal from the at least one input unit (2-1, 2-2, 2-N, 5).
Claim 23
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of printing comprising generating a plurality of jobs for printing, each job comprising corresponding data; characterised in that: the method further comprises: determining the duration of printing of each of said jobs; defining a sequence of printing for said jobs; calculating printing times for each of said jobs on the basis of said duration and said sequence; and displaying said printing times.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 32, wherein each of said jobs has an associated priority, and said defining of said sequence is on the basis of the respective priority associated with said jobs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method according to claim 33 further including generating a further job having a priority higher than the priority asociated with at least one of said plurality of jobs, and revising said sequence of printing on the basis of the priorities associated with said jobs and said further job.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of printing on material comprising: generating a plurality of jobs for printing on said material, each job comprising corresponding data; and sequentially printing said jobs on said material; characterised in that: the method further comprises: determining the amount of said material required for the printing of each job; and determining the amount of material available at any time for printing thereon, and the number of said jobs sequentially printable on the amount of material available at any time displayed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 26, also including determining the amount of printed material at any time, determining the difference between the amount of printed material and a predetermined maximum amount of printed material, and displaying the number of jobs sequentially printable on said material such that the amount of printed material at any time is less than said predetermined maximum amount.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of printing on material comprising: generating a plurality of jobs for printing on said material, each job comprising corresponding data; and sequentially printing the jobs on the material; characterised in that: the method futher comprises; determining the difference difference between the amount of printed material and a predetermined maximum amount of printed material and the number of jobs sequentially printable on said material, such that the amount of printed material at any time is less than said predetermined maximum amount, is displayed.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of printing on material comprising: generating a plurality of jobs for printing on said material, each job comprising corresponding data; and sequentially printing said jobs on said material; characterised in that: the method further concludes: determining the amount of said material required for the printing of each job; determining the amount of material available at any time for printing thereon; and determining the order of said sequential printing of said jobs on the basis of the amount of material needed for each job and the amount of material available for printing thereon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 29, also including determining the amount of printed material at any time, determining the difference between the amount of printed material and a predetermined maximum amount of printed material, and determining the order of said sequential printing of said jobs on the basis of the amount of said material needed for each job, the amount of said material available for printing thereon, and said difference.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of printing on material comprising: generating a plurality of jobs for printing on said material, each job comprising corresponding data; and sequentially printing said jobs on said material; characterised in that: the method further includes: determining the amount of said material required for the printing of each job; determining the amount of printed material at any time; determining the difference between the amount of printed material and a predetermined maximum amount of printed material; and determining the order of said sequential printing of said jobs on the basis of the amount of said material needed for each job and said difference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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