JP2018160092A - Print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow print settings to be performed in an easy manner.SOLUTION: A print system 10 comprises a printer 11, a controller 12 for controlling the printer, and an administrator terminal 13 connected in a manner such that it can perform data communication with the controller. The administrator terminal 13 comprises a print instruction creation part 13a which is configured to create a print instruction in which at least image specifying information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image to be printed by the printer 11 and print setting information for controlling the printer 11 are recorded. The controller 12 comprises a reading part 12a and a control execution part 12b. The reading part 12a executes processing of reading, from the print instruction, the image specifying information and the print setting information. The control execution part 12b performs RIP processing of the original image data in accordance with the image specifying information and the print setting information read by the reading part 12a as well as controls the printer 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system.

For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2006-57935 proposes a printing system that can improve the work efficiency of a pre-printing process.
This publication discloses that a printing system reads an identifier for uniquely identifying a printing order, acquires order information, and executes pre-processing of printing based on the acquired order information. Here, the identifier (order ID) is an ID issued so that the order server is unique for all orders. The order ID is printed as a bar code on the work instruction sheet, and the bar code is input to a work PC that performs pre-press work (process before printing). Order information corresponding to the input barcode is downloaded to the work PC. Order information is converted into a layout template, and the layout template is executed.

JP, 2006-57935, A

  By the way, in the printing field, a printing operator needs to manually perform print settings of a printing apparatus or a computer connected to the printing apparatus according to each order. Here, software for controlling the printing apparatus is installed in the printing apparatus or a computer connected to the printing apparatus. In such a print setting, the print operator confirms the order details (order information) through software. The print operator needs to be aware of such print settings, and setting through software increases the number of work steps.

The printing system proposed here includes a printing press, a control device that controls the printing press, and an administrator terminal that is connected to the control device so that data communication is possible. The administrator terminal generates a print instruction document in which at least image specifying information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image printed by the printing press and print setting information for controlling the printing press are recorded. A print instruction creation unit set to be configured as described above. The control device includes a reading unit and a control execution unit. The reading unit executes processing for reading the image specifying information and the print setting information from the print instruction. The control execution unit performs RIP processing of the original image data along with the image specifying information and print setting information read by the reading unit, and controls the printing press.
According to such a printing system, the print setting in the control device is facilitated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a printing system proposed here. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print instruction sheet A corresponding to the print job A. FIG. 3 is an example of printing executed based on the print instruction.

  Hereinafter, a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, members / parts having the same action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted or simplified as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a printing system proposed here.

As shown in FIG. 1, the proposed printing system 10 includes a printing machine 11, a control device 12, an administrator terminal 13, and an operator terminal 14.
Here, the control device 12 is a device for controlling the printing press. The administrator terminal 13 and the worker terminal 14 are terminals having different functions in the printing system 10 proposed here. The administrator terminal 13 and the worker terminal 14 are not defined by the user. For example, the administrator terminal 13 and the worker terminal 14 may be used by the same person, and the user is not limited.
Here, the administrator terminal 13 and the worker terminal 14 may be, for example, a desktop terminal or a laptop terminal, a tablet terminal that can be carried by the user, or a wearable terminal that can be worn by the user. Good. The worker terminal 14 may include a communication unit that is communicably connected to the control device 12 and the administrator terminal 13 through, for example, wireless communication or a network.

In the printing system 10, the following processes A and B can be mainly performed.
A: A print instruction document in which print setting information for setting the printing machine 11 is recorded is created.
B: The print setting information recorded in the print instruction is read and read by software that controls the printing press 11.

In this embodiment, the process A described above is performed by the administrator terminal 13.
In the description of the printing system 10, for the sake of convenience, a person who is in charge of creating a print instruction by process A and manages the creation of the print instruction is referred to as a “print manager”.
In the process B described above, the print setting information recorded in the print instruction is read and read into the software that controls the printing press 11. This processing is accompanied by operations such as preparation of an image forming material and preparation of a print medium. A person who performs the work associated with the process B is referred to as a “printer”.

  Here, “print setting information” is information required by software for controlling the printing press 11 when printing by the printing press 11. The print setting information includes, for example, layout, print mode, resolution, print medium designation (size, material), image formation material designation (such as ink and toner to be used), number of copies, feed amount (left and right margins) Etc. are included. Further, the print instruction document may include image specifying information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image to be printed.

Here, “original image data” is image data before RIP processing corresponding to an image printed on a printed matter. In this specification, in particular, image data corresponding to an image printed on a printed material before RIP processing is referred to as “original image data” in order to distinguish it from data after RIP processing. “Original image data” includes electronic data such as text data, font data, and graphic data.
The original image data is created by various applications, for example. Such original image data is not recognized by the printing press 11 as it is. In order to be recognized by the printing machine 11, the original image data needs to be converted into a form suitable for printing, that is, data that can be recognized by the printing machine 11. Such processing is called RIP processing (Raster Image Processor). Data after RIP processing is referred to as raster data or bitmap data.
“Image specifying information” is information for specifying original image data of an image to be printed. The “image specifying information” may be information for specifying the original image data, and may be file path information or a file name, for example.

  In the printing system 10, the administrator terminal 13 generates a print instruction document with image specifying information and print setting information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image to be printed. The control device 12 that controls the printing machine 11 reads the image specifying information and the print setting information from the print instruction. Then, RIP processing of the original image data is performed according to the read image specifying information and print setting information, and the printer 11 is controlled.

According to the printing system 10, a print instruction for setting the printing machine 11 is created under the management of the print manager. The printing operator performs a printing operation according to the printing instruction. The printing operator does not need to manually input setting information for setting the printing press 11 with respect to software for controlling the printing press 11. For this reason, the work burden on the printing operator is reduced.
In this printing system 10, “print manager” is used here, and “print manager” and “print worker” are used as names of persons in charge of work shared by the printing system 10. The “print manager” and the “print worker” may be the same person in the actual work. Even if the “print manager” and the “print worker” are the same person in the actual work, the work to create the print instruction for setting the printing machine 11 and the printing in accordance with the print instruction Work can be divided by work. For this reason, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the printing work.

  In the form shown in FIG. 1, the control device 12 that controls the printing press 11 is, for example, an external computer connected to the printing press 11. Software for managing printing by the printing machine 11 is installed in the control device 12. The administrator terminal 13 is a terminal connected to the control device 12 so that data communication is possible. The worker terminal 14 is a terminal connected to the control device 12 and the administrator terminal 13 so that data communication is possible. The control device 12, the administrator terminal 13, and the worker terminal 14 may each include a communication means for enabling data communication. Some functions of the control device 12 may be configured to be realized in the worker terminal 14 or in cooperation with the worker terminal 14. For example, the worker terminal 14 may have a function of reading image specifying information and print setting information, which will be described later, and performing RIP processing.

  The control device 12, the administrator terminal 13, and the worker terminal 14 include, for example, an interface (I / F), a central processing unit (CPU), and a storage device (recording medium). Here, the interface (I / F) is a device that receives data from an external device such as a host computer. The central processing unit (CPU) is a processing unit that executes instructions of a control program. The storage device is a device that stores the above-described program and data necessary for calculation according to the program. Each function of the control device 12, the manager terminal 13, and the worker terminal 14 can be realized by cooperation of a computer that executes a predetermined program and hardware.

  When the control device 12 is connected to another computer through a LAN cable or the Internet so that data communication is possible, each function of the control device 12 may be performed in cooperation with such another computer. Good. For example, information or a part of information stored in the control device 12 may be stored by another computer, or a process or a part of the processing executed by the control device 12 may be executed by another computer. Good. For example, the function of the control device 12 may be realized by cooperation with an internal computer 11a incorporated in the printing machine 11 as a control target. The control device 12 is also connected to a plurality of printing machines 11 and can control the plurality of printing machines 11. In this embodiment, the control device 12 is exemplified as a computer external to the printing press 11, but may be an internal computer 11 a incorporated in the printing press 11.

  The printing machine 11 is a device that prints on a print medium and outputs a printed matter. Although not shown, the printing machine 11 includes, for example, a mechanism for feeding a print medium (also referred to as a medium) in a predetermined direction and a mechanism for supplying an image forming material such as ink or toner to the print medium. I have. The printing machine 11 supplies a predetermined image forming material so that a predetermined color is printed at a predetermined position with respect to the coordinates set on the print medium. As a result, a predetermined image or character is printed on the print medium. As a printing method of the printing machine 11, various methods such as an ink jet method for supplying ink to a printing medium and a laser printer method for fixing toner on the printing medium can be adopted.

In a business-use printing machine, the arrangement of images and text to be printed, resolution, image quality, and the like can be set in detail, and specific functions are incorporated. For this reason, software for performing print settings according to the printing press 11 may be prepared.
The software prepared by the printing machine 11 performs, for example, the following processing.
1. Reading original image data 2. Print settings 3. RIP processing Print instruction

In “reading of original image data”, original image data before RIP processing created by various applications is read.
In “print setting”, the operator terminal 14 sets the original image data before the RIP processing according to the function of the printing press 11. For example, the layout, print mode, resolution, print medium designation, image forming material designation, feed amount, and the like are set.
In “RIP processing”, the original image data for which print settings have been made is converted into raster data.
In “print instruction”, a printing instruction is issued to the printing machine 11.

  When the printing system 10 proposed here is not used, the printing operator is instructed to specify original image data corresponding to an image to be printed, handling of software prepared by the printing machine 11, and It is required to know the print setting method. It takes time to make print settings until you are familiar with software operations. In addition, when print settings are made for the software of the printing press 11 each time the printed matter is different, the print settings tend to take a lot of man-hours and take time. For example, the designation of the original image data can include operations such as retrieval and retrieval of the original image data. As the number of original image data increases, the number of man-hours for specifying the original image data increases, which takes time.

  The printing machine 11 is a commercial printing machine that produces, for example, a so-called signboard (signboard), a poster, or prints a predetermined image or character on an article such as a ballpoint pen shaft or clip. Can be included. In such a printing machine, the material and shape of the print medium differ depending on the printed matter to be printed. For example, when producing a poster, a large-sized printing paper is prepared, or a printing paper of a different material is prepared. When printing an image or a character on an article such as a ballpoint pen shaft or clip, it is necessary to attach the article to be a print medium to a separately prepared jig. In order to continue such a printing operation, not only the specification of the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed and the operation of the print setting for the software of the printing machine 11 associated therewith, but also the printing object at the printing site. The printing medium is set in the printing machine 11 before printing, removed after printing, and the next printing medium is set again. If such a printing operation is continuously performed, an input error of the print setting for the software of the printing machine 11 or a mistake in a prepared print medium is likely to occur. Further, when printing different from the instruction is performed, rework by reprinting occurs.

  According to the printing system 10, the administrator terminal 13 includes a printing instruction creation unit 13a as shown in FIG. The print instruction creation unit 13a is set to create the above-described print instruction. Here, the print instruction is created by the administrator terminal 13. The print instruction document is an electronic file in which image setting information and print setting information for setting processing executed by software incorporated in the control device 12 are recorded.

  Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the print instruction sheet A corresponding to the print job A. FIG. 2 illustrates a list of information included in the print instruction sheet A. FIG. 2 does not illustrate the print instruction A itself. Here, the “print job” refers to a series of operations for printing a certain printed matter in the printing system 10. The print instruction sheet A is created corresponding to the print job A. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the print instruction sheet A includes image specifying information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image to be printed, print setting information, and print work information.

  The image specifying information is information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image to be printed. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the image specifying information is information for specifying the original image data used in the print job A. In the image specifying information, the file name and storage location (file path) of the original image data are input. The file path includes the file name of the original image data. Further, it includes address information where the original image data is placed. For example, the storage location of the image setting information may be recorded based on what is designated by the print manager in the file reference dialog displayed on the manager terminal 13. As a result, the work of the print manager inputting the file name and storage location of the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed can be saved.

  As the print setting information, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, resolution, print medium designation, image forming material designation, feed amount, and the like are set. As the designation of the print medium, size, material, etc. can be designated. As the designation of the image forming material, ink or toner used for printing can be designated. The left and right margins can be set as the feed amount. In addition, for one or a plurality of original image data used in the print job A, the layout, size, orientation, and the like for the print medium are set.

  The print work information is information necessary for executing the print work. For example, when the control device 12 is connected to a plurality of printing machines 11, an output destination printing machine 11 and a time when printing is started are specified. In addition, when a plurality of print data are printed in a plurality of print instructions, the order of printing, the number of times the printing is repeated, and the like are designated. Note that the print work information is not included in the print instruction, and may be set by a separate print operator manually operating the corresponding item on the printing press 11.

  As described above, the print instruction A includes: 1. Image identification information; 2. print setting information; Information necessary for executing print job A, such as print work information, is described.

  The print instruction A may be described in a predetermined format so that it can be read by software incorporated in the control device 12. In FIG. 2, the information recorded in the print instruction sheet A is expressed in a table format so that it can be easily understood visually. The actual print instruction A can be created by using, for example, a program language that can be read by software incorporated in the control device 12. That is, the print instruction A can be created with source code written in a predetermined programming language. In this case, the print instruction document A created in the source code is a text format file.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the print instruction sheet A is prepared by the administrator terminal 13.
For this reason, the administrator terminal 13 in which the print instruction A is created may be a general-purpose computer capable of text editing. The administrator terminal 13 may not include software for controlling the printing press 11.

  The print instruction sheet A is created by a print manager who has specialized knowledge such as a program language that can be read by software incorporated in the control device 12 and printing work. The creation of the print instruction document A does not have to be performed at the printing site where the printing machine 11 is placed. The creation of the print instruction sheet A can be performed in an office or the like away from the printing machine 11.

  Note that the administrator terminal 13 can use a print instruction document electronic file created in the past as the print instruction document A of the print job A. For example, when the print job A is the same as a past print job, a print instruction corresponding to the print job has already been created and an electronic file of the print instruction exists. In this case, the electronic file can be used by the administrator terminal 13. For this reason, it is not always necessary to create a new print instruction sheet A from scratch. For example, when the print job A is slightly different from the past print job, the difference may be corrected using an electronic file of a print instruction. In this printing system 10, it is preferable that the printing instruction sheet A is prepared before the printing work is started.

  In FIG. 1, only one administrator terminal 13 is shown, but a plurality of administrator terminals 13 may be prepared. In the case where a plurality of administrator terminals 13 are prepared, the work of creating print instructions corresponding to different print jobs is simultaneously performed in parallel by a plurality of print managers. In this case, a plurality of general-purpose computers that can function as the administrator terminal 13 may be connected to the control device 12 and the worker terminal 14 so as to be able to perform data communication. This allows more printing work to proceed in parallel.

  The created print instruction is stored in a predetermined storage area on the computer. Such a storage area is also called a hot folder. In the example shown in FIG. 1, such a hot folder only needs to be provided in any terminal that constitutes the printing system 10. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the hot folder may be provided in at least one of the control device 12, the administrator terminal 13, and the worker terminal 14. Moreover, you may provide in all of the control apparatus 12, the administrator terminal 13, and the operator terminal 14. FIG. Although not shown, when the printing system 10 includes a terminal having a storage capacity such as a hard disk drive, a data server, or the like, a hot folder may be provided in these terminals. In this case, the hot folder is preferably provided in the printing system 10 in a state where data communication is possible among the control device 12, the administrator terminal 13, and the worker terminal 14.

  In the printing system 10, the printing instruction A prepared in this way is used to perform printing control and print processing is executed.

The reading unit 12a of the control device 12 that controls the printing machine 11 is set to read image specifying information, print setting information, and print work information from the print instruction.
The reading unit 12a is, for example, as one of the functions of software that performs print management incorporated in the control device 12, or as one of the functions of add-in software of the software, or different from the software. As one of the functions of the software, the controller 12 may be provided. For example, the control device 12 periodically checks the hot folder by the function of the reading unit 12a. If the print instruction A is stored in the hot folder, the control device 12 reads the image specifying information, the print setting information, and the print work information from the stored print instruction A.

  The control execution unit 12b of the control device 12 is designated by the image specifying information recorded in the print instruction A along the print setting information and print work information recorded in the print instruction read by the reading unit 12a. RIP processing of the original image data is performed, and the printer 11 is controlled. For example, in the control execution unit 12b, RIP processing is performed based on sequentially read printing instructions. Then, the printing process is executed along the image data (raster data) after the RIP process.

  Here, when there are a plurality of print jobs to be executed by the printing machine 11 and there are a plurality of print instructions corresponding to the print jobs, the control execution unit 12b predetermines image data after RIP processing according to the print instructions. A print job list is stored in that storage area in order. Then, it can be set so that printing along the image data after RIP processing recorded in the print job list is started in order. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when an item related to print work information is created in the print instruction, the output printer to execute the print job is specified, and the print job print start time is set. The setting of the order in which the print jobs are executed, the setting of the number of repetitions of the print job, and the like can be determined by the print instruction. In addition to this, when the control device 12 is connected to a plurality of printing machines 11, the printing machine 11 on which the print job is executed can also be described in the print work information of the print instruction. As described above, in the printing system 10, the order in which the print jobs are executed, the printing machine on which the print jobs are executed, and the like can be determined by the print instruction.

  As described above, the print instruction creation unit 13 a of the administrator terminal 13 includes image specifying information for specifying the original image data corresponding to the image printed by the printing machine 11 and printing for controlling the printing machine 11. A print instruction document in which the setting information is recorded at least is created. In the reading unit 12a of the control device 12, a process of reading original image data and print setting information corresponding to an image to be printed from the print instruction sheet is executed. The control execution unit 12b of the control device 12 performs RIP processing on the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed in accordance with the image specifying information and print setting information recorded in the print instruction document read by the reading unit 12a. And the printing press 11 is controlled. As described above, based on the print instruction created by the administrator terminal 13, the control device 12 executes RIP processing for the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed and the control of the printing machine 11. For this reason, the printing operator who works at the site where the printing machine 11 is placed specifies the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed and the software managing the printing of the printing machine 11 incorporated in the control device 12. There is no need to manually enter print settings. For this reason, the printing work becomes easy for the printing worker, and the printing work time is shortened.

  The administrator terminal 13 includes a first storage unit 13b and a second storage unit 13c. The first storage unit 13b is a storage unit for storing a print instruction. The second storage unit 13c is a storage unit that stores a template of a print instruction document prepared in advance. The second storage unit 13c may store, for example, a template in which the setting items shown in FIG. 2 are provided in advance. Each setting item of the template is mainly input by the print manager.

  For example, in the print instruction shown in FIG. 2, the file path of the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed is listed in order as the image specifying information. In the example of FIG. 2, the file paths of the original image data 1 and 2 to be read are input. The input of the file path can be configured such that, for example, a reference dialog is embedded in the template, and the file path can be specified on the template. As a result, it is possible to save the input work of the print manager. At this time, the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed can be changed by changing the file name and the file path. As described above, the administrator terminal 13 includes the second storage unit 13c in which a template of a print instruction document prepared in advance is stored, so that a print administrator can easily create a print instruction document.

  FIG. 3 is an example of printing executed based on the print instruction. FIG. 3 illustrates a case where the same image b1 is arranged at a plurality of predetermined positions a1 to a6 of the print medium. In the image shown in FIG. 3, a print instruction template c1 for arranging the same image b1 at a plurality of predetermined positions a1 to a6 of the print medium may be prepared. As described above, the administrator terminal 13 may include the second storage unit 13c that stores the template c1 of the print instruction document. Here, the template c1 of the print instruction document is virtually drawn as a form for printing an image in a predetermined print area X. The template c1 of the print instruction document is embodied by source code, for example. In the print instruction template c1, image specifying information for specifying the image b1 and a command d1 for printing the image b1 are described.

  In this case, the administrator terminal 13 calls the template c1 from the second storage unit 13c. For example, the template c1 is set so that a plurality of positions a1 to a6 for printing the image b1 and the original image data corresponding to the image b1 to be printed are specified by the print manager in a predetermined print area X. It is good to be done. The image b1 corresponding to the original image data designated by the print manager may be set to be printed at the plurality of positions a1 to a6 by a predetermined command d1 for printing the image.

  In this case, new printing instructions are sequentially created by changing the contents of the printing instructions along the template c1. For example, in the print instruction for printing the image shown in FIG. 3, the file name and the file path of the image specifying information of the image b1 are changed, so that a plurality of predetermined positions a1 to a6 of the print medium are set. The image b1 to be printed is changed. Thus, when the image b1 to be printed is changed, a new print instruction is easily created. By using the template in this way, even a print manager who is unfamiliar with software handling can easily create a print instruction.

  As another example, for example, a template of a print instruction document that is predetermined so that different images are printed at a plurality of different positions can be prepared. Then, the print manager simply designates the original image data corresponding to the image to be printed at each position with the image specifying information, and the designated original image data at a plurality of different positions predetermined in the template. It is possible to create a print instruction document having print setting information for printing an image corresponding to the above.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing operator prepares jigs jg each having a ballpoint pen axis bp arranged at a plurality of predetermined positions, and the ballpoint pen axis bp is placed on the jig jg. Install. Printing instructions can be written so that the printing machine 11 prints different images at once on the axes bp of a plurality of ballpoint pens attached to the jig jg. In this case, the template of the print instruction sheet may specify the areas a1 to a6 for printing an image corresponding to the position where the ballpoint pen bp is disposed.

  Further, the printing system 10 may be provided with a first storage unit 13b for storing a print instruction document created in the past. In the form shown in FIG. 1, the first storage unit 13 b is provided in the administrator terminal 13. In this case, it is preferable that an appropriate name (file name) is given to the print instruction document created in the past and stored in the first storage unit 13b.

For example, when changing some items of the print setting information among the print instructions created in the past, a part of the print instructions created in the past is changed, so that a new print instruction is created. Can be created.
Also, for example, when changing some items of the image specification information in the print instruction document created in the past, the print path can be printed by respecifying the file path of some image specification information in the print instruction document. A new print instruction document in which a part of the setting information is changed can be created.

  As described above, by providing the first storage unit 13b for storing print instructions created in the past, the print manager can change a part of the print setting information of the print instructions created once. This makes it easier to create a new print instruction. In the printing system 10, the first storage unit 13 b that stores the created print instruction document is preferably provided in a storage area on a computer in which the administrator terminal 13 can perform data communication. The first storage unit 13b may be provided in, for example, a data server placed on a network where the administrator terminal 13 can perform data communication. For example, the printing system 10 may be configured such that a print instruction read by the control device 12 is stored in the first storage unit 13b. As a result, the print instruction read by the control device 12 is stored in the first storage unit 13b, and can be called up and used from the first storage unit 13b as appropriate.

  Next, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the administrator terminal 13 includes a display unit 13 d that performs processing for displaying a preview screen of a printed material to be printed based on a print instruction. The print preview screen may be displayed on the display 23 of the administrator terminal 13, for example. Here, the print preview screen is an image on which a print to be printed is displayed. In this case, the print manager can specifically confirm the printed matter to be printed based on the print instruction. In this embodiment, the administrator terminal 13 may incorporate software having a viewer function for displaying a preview of a printed material to be printed based on the print instruction. A preview image of the printed material to be printed based on the print instruction document may be displayed on the display 23 of the administrator terminal 13.

  In this embodiment, the administrator terminal 13 includes an instruction change unit 13e. For example, on the preview screen displayed on the display 23 by the display unit 13d, the instruction form changing unit 13e can perform an operation of changing the print contents to be printed, and the print instruction form is changed based on the operation. Is set to For example, the configuration may be such that the mode such as the position, size, and color of the printed image can be directly edited based on the preview screen displayed by the display unit 13d. Furthermore, an operation for changing an image of a printed matter to be printed can be set to be performed through the preview screen. Then, a new print instruction may be created based on the final result of the edited preview screen. That is, the print instruction is uniquely determined by the edited preview screen. Therefore, a new print instruction is created based on the edited preview screen. Then, the control device 12 can control the printing machine 11 in accordance with the newly created print instruction. Such a newly created print instruction can be stored as a new print instruction.

  As another form, the administrator terminal 13 can perform an operation to change the printed material to be printed on the preview screen displayed by the display unit 13d, and can print the changed printed material. A change file for changing the printed matter printed by the document may be created. The printer 11 is controlled by such a change file so that the printed matter changed on the preview screen is printed. There are various forms of the instruction change unit 13e.

  For example, FIG. 3 shows a printed matter preview screen displayed based on the print instruction. When deleting an image in the printed material, the mouse pointer is set to the image on the preview screen. Then, it may be set so that the processing for deleting the image can be selected and executed in a state where the mouse pointer is set to the image. For example, by executing a predetermined operation such as a right click with the mouse pointer positioned on the image, a plurality of processes that can be executed on the image are displayed in a selectable state. it can. Then, when a process for deleting an image prepared as one of the plurality of processes is selected and executed, the image may be set to be deleted on the preview screen. As a result, information related to the deleted image and print setting information of the image may be set to be deleted from the print instruction sheet. By changing the print instruction by such setting, the image deleted on the preview screen is not printed, and the change on the preview screen is reflected on the printed matter.

  As another form, setting is made so that a change file for reflecting the change to the print instruction is created so that the deleted image is not printed as a result of the deletion of the image on the preview screen. May be. As described above, the change file may be a file for controlling the printing press 11 so that the printed material deleted on the preview screen is not printed. For example, the reading unit 12a may be set so that a change based on the change file is performed on a printed matter printed based on the print instruction sheet by reading the change file together with the print instruction sheet. With this setting, when an image is deleted on the preview screen, the deleted image may not be printed, and the change on the preview screen may be reflected on the printed matter.

  Furthermore, a setting may be made so that a new image can be added and arranged on the preview screen displayed based on the print instruction. In this case, a folder in which original image data corresponding to an image to be printed is stored is displayed on the display. Then, it is preferable that the desired original image data is selected from the folder, and the selected image is set to be arranged at a predetermined location on the preview screen by a process such as drag and drop. As a result, a new image is arranged at a desired position on the preview screen. As a result, the instruction change unit 13e may be set so that setting items such as the file path and arrangement of the selected original image data are added to the print instruction. Furthermore, the size and orientation of the image can be adjusted on the preview screen, and as a result, the instruction change unit 13e is set so that setting items such as the size and orientation of the image are added to the print instruction. It is good to have.

  In the form shown in FIG. 1, the administrator terminal 13 includes a work instruction creation unit 13 f. The work instruction form creation unit 13f is set so that a work instruction form in which information related to work for printing a printed material is recorded based on the print setting information recorded in the print instruction form.

  Here, for example, information on a print medium used in a print job may be recorded in the work instruction. In the work instruction sheet, information related to a jig for arranging a printing medium used in the printing so as to be printable by the printing machine 11 may be recorded. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when a predetermined character or mark is printed on the axes bp of a plurality of ballpoint pens using a jig jg, the axis bp of the ballpoint pen is a jig jg prepared in advance. And is printed by the printing machine 11. In such a case, a ballpoint pen axis bp as a print medium and a jig jg to be used are designated by the work instruction. Here, the work instruction can be created as an electronic file.

  The printing system 10 may include a storage unit 12c that stores work instructions. And you may provide the display part 12e which performs the process which displays the information regarding the printing work recorded on the work instruction on a predetermined display. Thereby, the printing worker can proceed with the printing work based on the information related to the printing work displayed on a predetermined display such as the display 24 of the worker terminal 14. In FIG. 1, a storage unit 12 c that stores a work instruction, and a display unit 12 e that executes processing for displaying information related to a printing operation recorded in the work instruction on a predetermined display are controls for controlling the printing press 11. The device 12 is provided. The storage unit 14a and the display unit 14b that have the same functions as the storage unit 12c and the display unit 12e may be provided in the operator terminal 14.

  The printing system 10 also includes a two-dimensional code creation unit 13g that creates a two-dimensional code that records the setting work of the printing press 11 recorded in the work instruction. In this embodiment, the two-dimensional code creation unit 13g is provided in the administrator terminal 13. Here, the two-dimensional code may be, for example, a barcode, a QR code (registered trademark), or the like. In these two-dimensional codes, information related to the setting work of the printing press 11 recorded in the work instruction can be recorded. The two-dimensional code can be read by a code reader. For example, the two-dimensional code recording the setting operation of the printing press 11 recorded in the work instruction is stored in the control device 12, and for example, the display 21 of the printing press 11, the display 22 of the control device 12, or the operator It may be displayed on the display 24 of the terminal 14 or the like. In this case, the printing operator can confirm the setting operation of the printing press 11 based on the two-dimensional codes displayed on these displays 21, 22 and 24.

  In this embodiment, the administrator terminal 13 includes an output unit 13h that outputs a two-dimensional code. For example, a sticker printer (not shown) is controlled by the output unit 13h. For example, the output unit 13h may be configured such that a sticker on which a two-dimensional code in which the setting operation of the printing machine 11 is recorded is printed out by a sticker printer. For example, when a printed sticker is pasted on a jig that fixes a print medium used in the print job or a ballpoint pen as a print medium by a print manager before the print job is executed. Good. According to this configuration, the printing operator who handles the printing machine 11 prepares the correct print medium and jig for the print job, and sets the print medium and jig correctly for the print job order. It can be confirmed by the two-dimensional code printed on the sticker affixed to the print medium.

  In this embodiment, the control device 12 includes a two-dimensional code creation unit 12d that creates a two-dimensional code that designates a specific work instruction or print instruction. That is, the creation of the two-dimensional code may be performed in the control device 12. In this case, the two-dimensional code may be displayed on predetermined displays 21, 22, 24 such as the printing machine 11, the control device 12, and the worker terminal 14. According to this configuration, a printing operator who handles the printing press 11 reads the two-dimensional codes displayed on these displays 21, 22, 24 with a predetermined reader, for example, before executing a print job. It is possible to check the work instructions and print media used in the print job, the contents of the print work, etc., and it becomes easy to know the print work.

  As described above, various embodiments of the printing system proposed here have been described. However, the printing system proposed here is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In addition, the printing system proposed here can be variously modified, and each component can be appropriately omitted or appropriately combined as long as no particular problem occurs.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printing system 11 Printing machine 11a Internal computer 12 Control apparatus 12a Reading part 12b Control execution part 12c Storage part 12d Two-dimensional code preparation part 12e Display part 13 Administrator terminal 13a Print instruction preparation part 13b 1st storage part 13c 2nd memory Unit 13d display unit 13e instruction change unit 13f work instruction creation unit 13g two-dimensional code creation unit 13h output unit 14 worker terminal 14a storage unit 14b display unit 21, 22, 23, 24 display b1, image bp ballpoint pen axis c1 template d1 Command jg Jig X Print area

Claims (14)

A printing press,
A control device for controlling the printing press;
An administrator terminal connected to be able to communicate data with the control device;
With
The administrator terminal is
A print instruction document in which at least image specifying information for specifying original image data corresponding to an image printed by the printing press and print setting information for controlling the printing press is recorded is created. It has a set print instruction creation section,
The control device includes:
A reading unit that reads the image specifying information and the print setting information from the print instruction;
A control execution unit that performs RIP processing of the original image data and controls the printing machine in accordance with the image specifying information and the print setting information read by the reading unit;
Printing system.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a first storage unit for storing a print instruction is provided in a storage area in which data communication can be performed by the administrator terminal.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the administrator terminal includes a display unit that performs processing so that a preview screen of a printed material to be printed based on the print instruction is displayed.   The administrator terminal can perform an operation of changing original image data corresponding to an image to be printed on the preview screen displayed by the display unit, and the print instruction is changed based on the operation. The printing system according to claim 3, further comprising an instruction change unit set as described above.   The administrator terminal can perform an operation of changing original image data corresponding to an image to be printed on the preview screen displayed by the display unit, and can print the changed image on the preview screen. The printing system according to claim 3, further comprising an instruction change unit that generates a change file for controlling the machine. The print instruction is set to be stored in a predetermined storage area; and
The reading unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the reading unit is set to read the image specifying information and the print setting information from a print instruction stored in a predetermined storage area. Printing system.   7. The printing system according to claim 1, further comprising a second storage unit that stores a template of a print instruction document prepared in advance in a storage area in which data communication can be performed by the administrator terminal. 8. The manager terminal includes a work instruction creation unit set so as to create a work instruction in which information about work for printing a printed material is recorded based on the print setting information recorded in the print instruction A printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:   The printing system according to claim 8, wherein information on a print medium used in the printing is recorded in the work instruction.   The printing system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein information on a jig for arranging a printing medium used in the printing so as to be printable by the printing machine is recorded in the work instruction sheet.   10. The printing system according to claim 7, further comprising a two-dimensional code creating unit that creates a two-dimensional code recording the setting operation of the printing press recorded in the work instruction. The printing press has a display, and the two-dimensional code is set to be displayed on the display of the printing press,
The printing system according to claim 10 or 11. Having a display,
The printing system according to any one of claims 7 to 12, further comprising a display unit that displays a work for printing the printed matter recorded in the work instruction. An operator terminal connected to the administrator terminal so as to be able to perform data communication; and the operator terminal includes a storage unit that stores the work instruction.
The printing system according to any one of claims 7 to 13.

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