Method of generating printer setup instructions
View Patent ↗The invention is an improved method of generating setup instructions for use with a printing system having connected thereto one or more finishing devices. The inventions involves printing a sheet of setup instructions which the operator carries to the finishing device to be setup, so that the operator may refer to the printed instructions while setting up the finishing device. The printed sheet allows more extensive, clear instructions to be communicated to the operator than is possible on the printer user interface. The method also involves automatically placing one or more print jobs on hold during setup, until the operator has finished setting up the system and released the job.
1. A method of performing setup operations on a finishing device connected to an electrophotographic printer, the printer having a printer user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
entering a print job into the printer, the print job including setup instructions for at least one finishing device written as an operator message;
automatically printing an instruction sheet listing setup operations to be performed prior to completing the print job;
automatically placing all pending print jobs on hold;
performing the setup operations listed on the printed instruction sheet;
entering a release code to thereby release the print job from hold and allow the printer to complete the print job;
accessing a database of setup instructions that are to be performed on the at least one finishing device;
retrieving a file from the database containing instructions for a specified finishing device;
reading the file; and
translating the file into a page description file that is rasterized and incorporated into the printed instruction sheet.
2. A method of performing setup operations on a finishing device connected to an electrophotographic printer, the printer having a printer user interface, the method comprising the steps of:
entering a print job into the printer, the print job including setup instructions for at least one finishing device written as an operator message;
automatically printing an instruction sheet listing setup operations to be performed prior to completing the print job;
automatically placing on hold all pending print jobs that specify the finishing device;
performing the setup operations listed on the printed instruction sheet;
entering a release code to thereby release the print job from hold and allow the printer to complete the print job;
accessing a database of setup instruction that are to be performed on the at least one finishing device;
retrieving a file from the database containing instructions for a specified finishing device;
reading the file; and
translating the file into a page description file that is rasterized and incorporated into the printed instruction sheet.
3. A method of coordinating a printer and an associated finishing device that is connected to the printer, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at the printer, a first print job, the first print job including received setup instructions for at least one finishing device that is associated with the first print job;
printing an instruction sheet in response to receiving the received setup instructions, the instruction sheet listing setup operations associated with the first print job, the setup operations to be performed on the at least one finishing device prior to completing the first print job;
placing at least the first print job on hold;
receiving a release code to release the print job from hold and allow the printer to complete the first print job;
accessing a database of internal setup instructions that are to be performed on the at least one finishing device, the internal setup instructions being associated with the received setup instructions;
retrieving a file from the database containing instructions for the at least one finishing device; and
translating the file into a page description file that is rasterized and incorporated into the printed instruction sheet.