Method and set of instructions for the dosed supply of printing instructions to a printer, and system for practicing the method

Abstract

In the printing and finishing of sheet-like objects, printing instructions are outputted to a printer ( 2 ). In accordance therewith, sheet-like objects are printed by the printer ( 2 ). The objects are subsequently delivered by the printer ( 2 ) directly to the finishing apparatus ( 1 ) and then finished by the finishing apparatus ( 1 ). Output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ) which are at least indicative of the printer capacity required for the printer ( 2 ) to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ) are registered. Sheet-like objects displaced by the printer ( 2 ) are detected and signaled by the detector ( 12, 13, 27, 28 ). At least periodically, production data in accordance with the signals received from the detector ( 12, 13, 27, 28 ) are generated. These production data are at least indicative of a quantity of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ). Depending on the production data, the output of next ones of the printing instructions to the printer ( 2 ) is dosed.

1 . A method for printing and finishing sheet-like objects utilizing a data processor system ( 3 ), a printer ( 2 ) and a finishing apparatus ( 1 ), comprising the steps of: 
 the data processor system ( 3 ) outputting to the printer ( 2 ) printing instructions defining printings to be printed on the sheet-like objects;    printing said sheet-like objects in response thereto and in accordance with the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 );    the printer ( 2 ) delivering the printed sheet-like objects directly to the finishing apparatus ( 1 ); and    the finishing apparatus ( 1 ) finishing the sheet-like objects delivered by the printer ( 2 ) to the finishing apparatus ( 1 );    characterized by 
 registering output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ), which registered output data are at least indicative of printer capacity required for the printer ( 2 ) to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 );  
 detecting sheet-like objects displaced by the printer ( 2 ) and generating signals representing detection of sheet-like objects displaced by the printer ( 2 );  
 at least periodically registering production data in accordance with the signals received from said detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ), which production data are at least indicative of a quantity of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ); and  
 depending on at least said production data, dosing the sending to the printer ( 2 ) of next ones of the printing instructions.  
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the printing instructions contain printing instruction sets which each define at least one printing to be printed on at least one of the sheet-like objects, and wherein said dosing is done by each time controlling moments of sending the printing instruction sets.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the registered output data are at least indicative of the number of sheet-like objects to be printed by the printer ( 2 ) and wherein registering said production data comprises counting numbers of sheet-like objects transported by the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         4 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the registered output data are at least indicative of the number of documents to be printed by the printer ( 2 ), wherein at least one of said documents is composed of several of said sheet-like objects, and wherein registering the production data comprises detecting documents and counting numbers of detected documents.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the registered output data are at least indicative of the quantity of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the registered output data are at least indicative of the type of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ), and wherein types of printing instructions requiring relatively much processing time are outputted to the printer in an accelerated manner.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the influence on the processing time of different properties of the printing instructions or the production data is observed and is processed through statistic analysis into empirical rules for predicting the processing time starting from properties of the printing instructions to be outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         8 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the registered output data are at least indicative of the time required for the printer ( 2 ) to execute the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein registering production data comprises scanning printings applied by printer ( 2 ) and generating scanning data in accordance with the scanned printings.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the scanning data obtained by scanning printings applied by the printer ( 2 ) are compared with registered output data concerning printing instructions, and wherein printing instructions are identified as executed if at least a particular extent of agreement between at least portions of the scanning data and at least portions of the registered output data has been found.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the registered output data are at least indicative of the amount of printing instructions which have been outputted to the printer ( 2 ) per unit time.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the production data are at least indicative of the quantity per unit time of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         13 . A method according to claims  11  and  12 , wherein the value of a variable which determines how many printing instructions per unit time are outputted to the printer ( 2 ) is controlled in response to the quantity per unit time of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         14 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least repeatedly comparing the registered output data with the registered production data, wherein the dosing of the sending of the next printing instructions to the printer ( 2 ) is done, at least partly, depending on results of the comparisons.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 each time comparing the results of the comparisons with a reference value; and    dosing next ones of the printing instructions in response to the result of the comparison with the reference value.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to claims  12  and  15 , further comprising setting the reference value depending on quantity per unit time of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         17 . A method according to claims  11  and  14 , further comprising controlling the value of a variable which determines how many printing instructions per unit time are outputted to the printer ( 2 ), in response to the results of the comparisons of the registered output data with the registered production data.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to any one of claims  14 - 17 , wherein the results of the comparison of the registered output data with the registered production data are at least indicative of the quantity of as yet unprocessed printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         19 . A method according to any one of claims  14 - 18 , wherein the results of the comparison of the registered output data with the registered production data are at least indicative of the number of pages to be printed according to as yet unprocessed printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         20 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein detecting production by the printer ( 2 ) comprises: detecting transport of the sheet-like objects from a holder to a printing area of the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         21 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in response to a failure in the finishing apparatus ( 1 ) downstream of the printer ( 2 ), after elimination of the failure, at least a portion of printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ) of which the associated printing has already been printed is again outputted to the printer ( 2 ) for again printing at least one sheet-like object in accordance with said portion of the printing instructions.  
     
     
         22 . A system for finishing sheet-like objects printed by a printer ( 2 ), comprising a finishing apparatus ( 1 ) having an input for receiving directly from the printer ( 2 ) sheet-like objects printed by the printer ( 2 ), and arranged for finishing the sheet-like objects received from the printer ( 2 ); 
 characterized by 
 a detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ) for detecting at least sheet-like objects displaced by the printer ( 2 );  
 a communication port ( 25 ) for connecting the detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ) to a data processor system ( 3 ) for signaling to the data processor detection by the detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ) of at least sheet-like objects transported by the printer ( 2 ); and  
 a set of instructions in a form readable and processable by the data processor system ( 3 ), with instructions for: 
 the data processor system's ( 3 ) outputting to the printer ( 2 ) printing instructions defining printings to be printed on the sheet-like objects;  
 registering output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ), which registered output data are at least indicative of printer capacity required for the printer ( 2 ) to process the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 );  
 at least periodically registering production data in accordance with signals received from said detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ), which are at least indicative of a quantity of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ); and  
 depending on at least said production data, dosing the sending of next ones of the printing instructions to the printer ( 2 ).  
 
   
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 22 , further comprising said data processor system ( 3 ) connected to said communication port ( 25 ) for communication with said detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ) and arranged for reading and processing said instructions.  
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 22  or  23 , wherein the detector ( 13 ) is arranged for detecting individual sheet-like objects transported by the printer ( 2 ), and wherein the instructions of said set are arranged for registering output data which are at least indicative of the number of sheet-like objects to be printed by the printer ( 2 ) and for registering said production data by counting numbers of sheet-like objects detected by the detector ( 13 ).  
     
     
         25 . A system according to any one of claims  22 - 24 , further comprising an accumulation station ( 10 ) for accumulating sheet-like objects printed by the printer ( 2 ) to form documents which may each comprise several of said sheet-like objects, wherein the detector ( 13 ) is arranged downstream of the accumulation station ( 10 ) for detecting individual documents accumulated by the accumulation station ( 10 ), and the instructions of said set are arranged for registering output data which are at least indicative of the number of documents to be printed by the printer ( 2 ), wherein at least one of said documents can comprise several of said sheet-like objects, and for registering said production data by counting numbers of documents detected by the detector ( 12 ).  
     
     
         26 . A system according to any one of claims  22 - 25 , wherein the detector ( 12 ,  13 ) is arranged for scanning printings applied by printer ( 2 ) and for generating scanning data in accordance with the scanned printings.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to any one of claims  22 - 26 , wherein the detector ( 27 ,  28 ) is arranged for detecting displacement of sheets from a supply holder (A, B) of a printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         28 . A set of instructions in a form readable and processable by a data processor system ( 3 ), for dosing supply of printing instructions to a printer ( 2 ) in response to signals received from a detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ) separately from the printer ( 2 ), which signals are at least indicative of a quantity of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ), comprising instructions for: 
 the data processor system's ( 3 ) outputting to the printer ( 2 ) printing instructions defining printings to be printed on the sheet-like objects;    registering output data concerning the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ), which registered output data are at least indicative of printer capacity required for the printer ( 2 ) to execute the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 );    at least periodically registering production data in accordance with signals received from said detector ( 12 ,  13 ,  27 ,  28 ), which are at least indicative of a quantity of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ); and    depending on said production data, dosing the output of next ones of the printing instructions to the printer ( 2 ).    
     
     
         29 . A set according to  claim 28 , wherein the instructions for carrying out said dosing are arranged for distinguishing sets of said printing instructions for printing at least one sheet-like object and for carrying out said dosing by each time determining moments of sending said sets of printing instructions.  
     
     
         30 . A set according to  claim 28  or  29 , farther comprising instructions for registering the output data in a form which is at least indicative of the quantity of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         31 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 30 , further comprising instructions for registering the output data in a form which is at least indicative of the type of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ) and for the accelerated output to the printer of types of printing instructions requiring relatively much processing time.  
     
     
         32 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 31 , further comprising instructions for observing the influence on the processing time of different properties of the printing instructions and for processing the observations by statistical analysis into empirical rules for predicting the processing time starting from properties of printing instructions to be outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         33 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 32 , further comprising instructions for registering the output data in a form which is at least indicative of the time minimally required for said printer ( 2 ) to execute the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         34 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 33 , further comprising instructions for comparing the scanning data obtained by scanning printings applied by the printer ( 2 ) with registered output data concerning printing instructions and for identifying printing instructions as executed if at least a particular extent of agreement between at least portions of the scanning data and at least portions of the registered output data has been found.  
     
     
         35 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 34 , further comprising instructions for registering the output data in a form which is at least indicative of an amount of printing instructions which has been outputted to the printer ( 2 ) per unit time.  
     
     
         36 . A set according to  claim 35 , further comprising instructions for generating the production data in a form which is at least indicative of a quantity per unit time of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         37 . A set according to  claim 36 , further comprising instructions for controlling the value of a variable which determines how many printing instructions per unit time are outputted to the printer ( 2 ), in response to the quantity per unit time of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         38 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 37 , further comprising instructions for at least repeatedly comparing the registered output data with the registered production data, and for dosing the output of the next printing instructions to the printer ( 2 ), at least partly, depending on results of the comparisons.  
     
     
         39 . A set according to  claim 36 , further comprising instructions for each time comparing the results of the comparisons with a reference value, and for dosing the output of the next ones of the printing instructions in response to the result of the comparison with reference value.  
     
     
         40 . A set according to claims  36  and  39 , further comprising instructions for setting the reference value depending on quantity per unit time of production realized by the printer ( 2 ) in response to the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         41 . A set according to claims  35  and  38 , further comprising instructions for controlling the value of a variable which determines how many printing instructions per time unit are outputted to the printer ( 2 ), in response to variation in the results of the comparisons of the registered output data with the registered production data, which results are indicative of the amount of as yet unprocessed ones of the printing instructions sent to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         42 . A set according to any one of claims  38 - 41 , further comprising instructions for generating the results of the comparison of the registered output data with the registered production data in a form which is at least indicative of the quantity of as yet unprocessed ones of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         43 . A set according to any one of claims  38 - 42 , further comprising instructions for generating the results of the comparisons of the registered output data with the registered production data in a form which is at least indicative of the time which the printer ( 2 ) minimally requires for processing as yet unprocessed ones of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         44 . A set according to any one of claims  38 - 48 , further comprising instructions for generating the results of the comparison of the registered output data with the registered production data in a form which is at least indicative of the number of pages to be printed according to as yet unprocessed ones of the printing instructions outputted to the printer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         45 . A set according to any one of claims  28 - 44 , further comprising instructions for, in response to a signal representing a failure in the finishing apparatus ( 1 ) downstream of the printer ( 2 ), after elimination of the failure, again outputting to the printer ( 2 ) at least a portion of printing instruction sets sent to the printer ( 2 ) of which the associated printing has already been printed, for again printing at least one sheet-like object in accordance with said portion of the printing instructions.