Printing System

Abstract

To reduce a risk that printing is erroneously done on different kind of sheets from the kind and size of sheets set via a Web browser.SOLUTION: A printing system 1 can execute various types of settings of a printer 5 via a Web browser 3. The printer 5 can select and set the kind and the size of a sheet 7 via the Web browser 3, and an operation panel 9 of the printer 5 can select and set the kind of the sheets 7 set on a feeding set part 11 of the printer 5 out of predetermined kinds. On the operation panel 9, a document icon 13, a photograph icon 15 and an envelope icon 17 are provided so as to be visually recognized.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing system that allows various printer settings to be made via a web browser. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of this type of printing system is described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes that when paper is set in a paper feed setting section of a printer, the size of the paper is detected by a width sensor that uses an edge guide or the like that moves in accordance with the width of the paper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-8704 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The configuration described in Patent Document 1 can detect the paper size using a width sensor, but cannot accurately distinguish between A4 size and letter size paper, for example, when there is only a small difference in size in the horizontal direction. In other words, in such cases, the paper size cannot be uniquely determined, and there is a risk of printing on the wrong paper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the printing system of the present invention is a printing system in which various printer settings can be made via a web browser, and the printer can be set by selecting the type and size of paper via the web browser, and the operation panel of the printer can be set by selecting the type of paper set in the printer from a list of predefined types. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a printing main stem according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 4A and 4B are diagrams showing types and sizes of paper that can be selected via a web browser according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram of a selection screen on the web browser 3 according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of an operation panel of the printer according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a feeding set of the printer according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention will now be briefly described. In order to solve the above problem, a printing system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a printing system in which various printer settings can be made via a web browser, and the printer can be set by selecting the type and size of paper via the web browser, and the operation panel of the printer can be set by selecting the type of paper set in the printer from a list of predefined types. Here, the "default type" in "the type of paper set in the printer can be selected from default types and set" is determined according to the type of paper selected via the web browser.

[0008] According to this aspect, the operation panel is configured to allow the user to select the type of paper loaded in the printer from among preset types, thereby reducing the risk of printing on a different type of paper than the type and size set via the web browser.

[0009] A printing system according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the printer is provided with a sensor that detects that the paper has been set in the feeding set section, and when the sensor detects that the paper has been set in the feeding set section, the printer transitions to a type setting mode in which the type of the set paper is set using the operation panel.

[0010] According to this aspect, the printer transitions to the type setting mode when the sensor detects that the paper has been set in the paper feed setting section, allowing the user to set the type of paper set on the operation panel.

[0011] A printing system according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second aspect, the operation panel has n types of the specified types, namely, first type, second type, ..., nth type (n is a positive integer), and has n display units corresponding to the n types, and the type setting mode allows selection of any one of the n types of paper. Here, "the type setting mode allows the selection of any one of the n types of paper" means that one display corresponding to the type of paper selected on the operation panel turns ON, allowing the selected type of paper to be confirmed.

[0012] According to this aspect, the operation panel has n display units corresponding to the n types of paper. As a result, when one of the n types of paper is selected on the operation panel in the type setting mode, one of the n corresponding display units turns ON, allowing the user to confirm the selected paper type. This makes it easy to confirm that the correct paper has been set in the paper feed set unit, thereby reducing the risk of accidentally printing on the wrong type of paper.

[0013] A printing system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the printing system of the third aspect, characterized in that the specified types are three types: document, photo, and envelope.

[0014] According to this aspect, the specified types are three types: document, photo, and envelope. These are commonly used to indicate the classification of paper types, and are therefore easy for users to use.

[0015] A printing system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the third or fourth aspect, the operation panel can confirm that it has entered the type setting mode by all of the n display units turning ON.

[0016] According to this aspect, the printer can confirm that it has entered the type setting mode by having all of the n display units turn ON. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the printer is now in a state where it can select and set the paper type from among the predefined types. This allows the user to begin the process of setting the paper type.

[0017] A printing system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifth aspects, characterized in that the printer is capable of registering the paper type and size set via the web browser. Here, "registerable" in "the paper type and size set via a web browser can be registered" means that the most frequently used paper type and size can be fixed so that printing can be performed without the need for setting processing each time, and can be changed.

[0018] According to this aspect, it is not necessary for the user to perform a process of setting the type and size of paper that is most frequently used by the user each time.

[0019] [Embodiment] A printing system recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS. In the following description, as shown in each figure, the three axes orthogonal to each other are the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively. The Z-axis direction corresponds to the vertical direction (the direction in which gravity acts). The X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction correspond to the horizontal direction.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, for the printing system 1 according to the present embodiment, various settings of the printer 5 can be made via the web browser 3. The printer 5 can select and set the type and size of the paper 7 via the web browser 3, and the operation panel 9 of the printer 5 can select and set the type of the paper 7 set in the paper feeding set unit 11 of the printer 5 from among the default types. In the present embodiment, the user can set the type and size of the paper for printing via the web browser 3 mounted on the personal computer 2 connected to the printer 5. The following components will be described in detail.

[0021] <Selection and setting of paper type and size via a web browser> As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the types of the paper 7 are classified into three types: "document", "photo", and "envelope". As for the size of the paper, for "document", sizes such as A4, LTR, 8.5×13, etc. can be selected. For "photo", sizes such as L, 4×6, 2L, etc. can be selected. For "envelope", sizes such as #10, DL, long size No. 3, etc. can be selected. Note that the paper sizes shown in FIG. 2 are merely examples and are not limited thereto.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, on the selection screen 4 on the web browser 3, there are size windows 6 for selecting the paper size of "document", size windows 8 for selecting the paper size of "photo", and size windows 10 for selecting the paper size of "envelope". Each paper size can be switched and selected with the selection mark 12. Here, the selection is configured to be performed by software (WebConfig). FIG. 3 shows the state in which A4 size is selected for "Documents," paper size L for "Photos," and No. 3 long envelope for "Envelopes."

[0023] Furthermore, this embodiment is configured so that one of multiple paper types can be selected as the type of paper 7. There is a paper type window 14 for selecting from multiple "document" types, a paper type window 16 for selecting from multiple "photo" types, and a paper type window 18 for selecting from multiple "envelope" types. Each paper type can be switched and selected using a selection mark 20. Figure 3 shows the state in which plain paper is selected as the paper type for "Document," photo paper for "Photo," and envelope for "Envelope." In addition to plain paper, the paper types for "Document" include superfine paper and postcards. In addition to photo paper, the paper types for "Photo" include glossy paper, semi-glossy paper, and matte paper.

[0024] <Operation panel> As described above, the operation panel 9 selects and sets the type of paper 7 set in the paper feed set unit 11 of the printer 5 from among the default types. Here, the "default type" is determined according to the type of paper selected via the web browser 3. As shown in Fig. 4, in this embodiment, the operation panel 9 is configured to select one of three types, "document," "photo," and "envelope," as the predetermined type. Note that the predetermined types are not limited to "document," "photo," and "envelope." The predetermined types may include n types, such as a first type, a second type, ..., an nth type (n is a positive integer), and n display units corresponding to the n types may be provided.

[0025] The operation panel 9 is provided so that a document icon 13 corresponding to "document" and a photo icon 15 corresponding to "photo" and an envelope icon 17 corresponding to "envelope" can be seen. Furthermore, three display units 19, 21, and 23 are provided corresponding to three types of icons: "document," "photo," and "envelope." That is, display unit 19 is provided to the right of document icon 13, display unit 21 is provided to the right of photo icon 15, and display unit 23 is provided to the right of envelope icon 17. Here, display units 19, 21, and 23 are made up of LEDs, and are configured to emit light of different colors. In Figure 4, reference numeral 22 denotes a selection button. When the user uses the selection button 22 to select one of the three types, "Document," "Photo," or "Envelope," only the display corresponding to the selected type of paper 7 among the displays 19, 21, and 23 turns on. In other words, the LED is configured to emit light.

[0026] <Type setting mode> In this embodiment, the feeding set unit 11 of the printer 5 is configured so that three types of paper 7, "document," "photo," and "envelope," can be set therein. As shown in Figure 5, the printer 5 is equipped with a sensor 25 that detects that any of the three types of paper 7 has been set in the feed set section 11. This sensor 25 has a lever 24 that is rotatable about a pivot point 26. When no paper 7 has been set in the feed set section 11, the lever 24 is in the position shown by the solid line in Figure 5, and when paper 7 is set, it is pushed by the leading edge of the paper 7 and rotates to the position shown by the dashed line. The rotation of this lever 24 is configured to detect that paper 7 has been set in the feed set section 11. When the sensor 25 detects that paper 5 has been set in the feeding set section 11, a detection signal is sent to the control section (not shown) of the printer 5, and control is executed to transition to a type setting mode in which the type of paper 7 set by the operation panel 9 is set. The user then uses the selection button 22 to select one of three types of paper 7 set in the feeding set section 11: "document," "photo," or "envelope."

[0027] In this embodiment, the operation panel 9 is configured so that the transition to the type setting mode can be confirmed by the fact that all three display units 19, 21, and 23 are turned on. In this case, all the LEDs constituting the display units 19, 21, and 23 are lit. The control unit lights up all three display units 19, 21, and 23, allowing the user to confirm that the mode has been changed to the type setting mode.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer 5 can register, by the control unit, the type and size of paper 7 set via the Web browser 3. Here, "registerable" in "can register the type and size of paper 7 set via the Web browser 3" means that the type and size of paper 7 that are most frequently used among the various types are fixed so that printing can be performed without the need for setting processing each time, and that they can be changed.

[0029] <Selecting the type of paper loaded using the operation panel> After the type and size of paper 7 have been selected via the Web browser 3, the user sets the paper 7 in the paper feed setting unit 11. When the sensor 25 detects that paper 7 has been set in the paper feed setting unit 11, the control unit transitions to a type setting mode in which the type of paper 7 set using the operation panel 9 is set. The user then uses the selection button 22 to select one of three types, "Document," "Photo," or "Envelope," to match the type and size of paper 7 selected via the Web browser 3 as the type of paper 7 set in the paper feed setting unit 11. For example, suppose that "Document" shown in Figure 3, i.e., paper type is plain paper and paper size is A4, is selected and set via the web browser 3. The user selects "Document" from three options, "Document," "Photo," and "Envelope," using the selection button 22 on the operation panel 9. This causes the control unit of the printer 5 to determine the type of paper 7 set in the paper feed set unit 11 and execute printing.

[0030] <Explanation of Effects of the Embodiment> (1) According to this embodiment, the operation panel 9 is configured to allow the user to select and set the type of paper 7 loaded in the printer 5 from among three preset types, in this case, "Document," "Photo," and "Envelope." This reduces the risk of printing on a different type of paper than the type and size of paper 7 set via the web browser 3. (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the printer 5 transitions to the type setting mode when the sensor 25 detects that paper 7 has been set in the paper feed set section 11. This allows the user to set the type of paper 7 set on the operation panel 9.

[0031] (3) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the operation panel 9 has three display units 19, 21, and 23 corresponding to n types of paper, in this case, three types of paper: "document," "photo," and "envelope." As a result, when the type setting mode is activated and one of the three types of paper, "document," "photo," or "envelope," is selected on the operation panel 9, one of the corresponding three display units 19, 21, and 23 turns ON, allowing the user to confirm the type of paper 7 selected. This makes it easy to confirm that the correct paper has been set in the paper feed set unit 11, thereby reducing the risk of printing on the wrong type of paper by mistake.

[0032] (4) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the defined types are three types: “document,” “photo,” and “envelope.” These are commonly used to indicate the type of paper 7, and are therefore easy for users to use. (5) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the printer 5 can confirm that it has entered the type setting mode by the fact that all three display units 19, 21, and 23 are ON. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the printer is now in a state where it can select and set the type of paper 7 from among the preset types. This allows the user to begin the process of setting the type of paper 7. (6) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to register the paper type and size set via the Web browser 3. This eliminates the need for the user to set the most frequently used paper type and size each time.

[0033] Other Embodiments The printing system 1 according to the present invention is based on the configuration of the embodiment described above, but it is of course possible to modify or omit parts of the configuration within the scope of the gist of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the operation panel 9 is described as allowing the user to select one of three types, "document," "photo," and "envelope," as the default type, but the default type is not limited to these three. Furthermore, while these are shown in the form of a document icon 13, a photo icon 15, and an envelope icon 17, the default type is not limited to these, and the default type may be configured using a liquid crystal panel, a two-line LCD display, or a seven-segment display.

[0034] Furthermore, selecting the paper type and size via a web browser is not limited to being performed using software (WebConfig) via a web browser on a personal computer or smartphone. For example, it may be performed by installing a web browser on a smart device such as a smartphone or tablet terminal. It may also be performed by communicating with the printer 5 using a protocol other than HTTP. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1...printing system, 2...personal computer, 3...web browser, 4...Selection screen, 5...Printer, 6...Size window, 7...Paper, 8...Size window, 9... Operation panel, 10... Size window, 11... Feeding set section, 12...Selection mark, 13...Document icon, 14...Paper type window, 15...Photo icon, 16...Paper type window, 17...Envelope icon, 18...paper type window, 19...display unit, 20...selection mark, 21...display unit, 22... selection button, 23... display unit, 24... lever, 25... sensor, 26...Pivot point

Claims

1. A printing system in which a paper type and a paper size are registered for each icon via a web browser for a printer having an operation panel on which icons representing three types of paper, namely, a document, a photo, and an envelope, are provided; the operation panel includes three lamps provided for each of the icons and a selection button; The printer a sensor that detects that paper has been set in the paper feed set section; a control unit, the control unit, based on the detection by the sensor that the paper has been set in the paper feed set unit, transitions to a type setting mode in which selection of one of the three types of icons is prompted, and when transitioning to the type setting mode, causes the three lamps to light up, and in the type setting mode, causes the lamp corresponding to the icon selected via the selection button to light up. Printing system.

2. The three lamps emit light in different colors. The printing system of claim 1 .

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