DE102008012330A1 - Consumable material e.g. toner, and printing order synchronizing method for printing system, involves verifying order received at server to check whether order agrees with configuration of printing device, and transferring order to device - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves automatically reading out data carriers (12) by a reading head (19). A description of type e.g. color, of consumable material e.g. toner, is transferred to a controller (21) and again transferred from the controller to a printing server (2) connected with a printing device (3), where the server includes a data set describing configuration of the device. The description of the type is included in the data set. A printing order received at the server is verified to check whether the order agrees with the configuration of the device, and the order is transferred to the device. An independent claim is also included for a printing system comprising a computer.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for synchronizing consumables and print jobs in a printing system. In particular, it concerns the invention a method for synchronizing toner and print jobs in a printing system. The invention further relates to a this method suitable printing system.

From the US 7,133,144 B2 a printing system is known which has a special control unit (AFCCU) to which a plurality of printing devices are connected. This control unit is connected to clients on which print jobs are generated. These print jobs are sent by the clients to the control unit and distributed by them to the individual print devices. To synchronize the print jobs and the printing devices, the printing devices are provided with switches on which a user can adjust the toner in the respective printing device. This setting is transmitted from the pressure device to the control unit. The control unit only forwards a corresponding print job if the toner suitable for the print job is in the respective printing device. Furthermore, the pressure devices have a display on which the corresponding settings are displayed. Preferably, the switches are located at a location in the printing device that is accessible only to service personnel so that the settings can not be altered by an unauthorized person during operation. However, it is also possible to provide developer units on which projections are formed which actuate the switches independently. By introducing such a developer unit, the respective toner is automatically adjusted on the printing apparatus. However, this embodiment is not preferable because such developing units are reused and such a developing unit could be filled with other toner, thereby causing a malfunction.

From the WO 98/43136 goes on to provide a toner container with a chip card containing an electronic memory (EEPROM), a drive circuit (IC) and an antenna. The antenna enables wireless data transfer to a reading station in a printing device. The reading station is connected to a process controller by means of a data bus. The chip card is supplied with energy by the reading station and carries out a data exchange with it. In the memory of the chip card, the toner type, its color and the level of the bottle is stored. The level can be updated during operation of the pressure device.

From the DE 10 2006 001 648 B3 shows a blender with which in a printing device selectable colors of primary color concentrates, such as charged dye toner particles and a carrier liquid, can be mixed.

From the WO 01/63366 A1 is a method for mixing toner out. With this special toner mixture a separation of the toner should be avoided.

From the US 2003/0058463 A1 For example, a method for generating a color mixture corresponding to a predetermined target color is provided.

In the WO 02/093354 A1 US-A-4/513133 describes a method, a system and a computer program in which a number of functional levels are used to process a document data stream to enable fast secure selection of documents in a production environment, particularly in a print production environment. In one aspect of the method, document data is generated and then further processed. In the course of further processing, control data is automatically added to the document data. The control data can be added or assigned to the document data in certain areas. According to a further aspect of this method, a processing module can be provided which decides independently whether control data is automatically added or removed from the document data. According to another aspect, the document data is processed segment by segment during the output, wherein different segmentation criteria can be used.

From the WO 2007/085524 A2 A method for generating and / or processing a resource-based document data stream emerges. The output of at least one document on an output medium, in particular a record carrier, can be controlled by the resource data stream, wherein the document data stream contains resource reference data related to at least one color management resource and reference data related to the output medium. The resource reference data and the media reference data are logically interconnected such that when a reference to an output medium is changed within the document data stream, the reference to a color management resource automatically changes.

To explain the present invention, some terms are defined below:
An entire order contains at least one document processing order, in particular a print job.
A print job contains at least one job printing print file.
A total order ticket contains information about an entire order, such as: B. delivery address, order date, desired delivery date, etc.
A job ticket contains all the data required to process a print job. These data include control parameters that are relevant in a workflow for the job-workflow. The job ticket is coded in a corresponding ticket format.
A default job ticket contains standard data that is suitable for outputting a print job that contains no further processing information in an existing printing system or in an existing printing environment. Such data are control parameters and can, for. B. names or addresses of printing devices that are connected to the respective print server.
A data ticket is understood to mean information that is generated by a print job-generating system, for example, a MFS mainframe computer system, together with the print data. The scope of such data is very limited due to the system and its format is not standardized, which is why they are not considered job tickets in the above sense.
Order-related data may include both a total order ticket, a job ticket and / or a data ticket or control parameters that are attached to a print job in a different form. Control parameters are often inserted in the file name of the print job.

In Digital Printing Technology and Printing Techniques of Océ Digital Printing Presses, 9th Edition, ISBN 3-00-001081-5, Chapter 15, pages 347-362 describes a print server called the OCÉ PrismaProduction Server. This print server is used to automatically receive and distribute print jobs in high-performance digital printing. It allows the acceptance of print jobs from different clients, which can only be connected to a print server via the Internet, and the forwarding of print jobs to different printing devices. The printing devices are usually arranged locally at a printing station, where the print server is located. However, it is also possible to supply via print networks, such as the Internet, remote from the print server arranged print devices with print jobs.

The Contents of the above publications and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification.

at conventional methods it is common for the Job-related data contain information containing an ink in a standardized description (eg RGB, Lab, Pantone) contains. However, it is not self-evident that for these inks on the pressure equipment suitable toners are present. These conventional methods do It's hard to make a reliable decision on the print server to decide if a specific print job should be printed.

The company OCÉ Printing Systems GmbH, Poing, Germany offers a variety of different toners for their digital high-performance printers. Here, a distinction is made between standard toners in the colors yellow, red, magenta, blue, cyan and green and special toners in special shades that differ from the standard toners. These standard toners are known by the trade name OCÉ CustomTone ^® Standard and the special toner by OCÉ CustomTone ^® Special. There are a lot of different special toners. It also offers the service of creating and producing special toners. This service is mainly used by companies that have a certain company color. For this company color a special toner is developed. This ensures that the colors and colors are always perfectly accentuated on the prints. However, there are also a variety of other applications of these specialty toners and often multiple specialty toners are used simultaneously in a printing device. This is often used, for example, for printing advertising materials in which several different colors with high color saturation are to be displayed.

Since print jobs are often carried out at a print station for different customers who want different special toners, the handling of the toners and the corresponding recording media, which can significantly affect the appearance of the toner, is extremely complex and without taking into account the corresponding parameters can quickly prints with reduced quality arise. The system of the initially discussed US 7,133,144 B2 Although allows a vote between the printing devices and a central control unit, which is similar to the function of a print server. However, there are a number of sources of error in this system as well, which can lead to a loss of quality.

Of the The invention is therefore based on the object, a method and a system for synchronizing consumables and print jobs to create in a printing system with a high color print quality achievable when using different consumables become.

The The object is achieved by a method having the features of the claim 1 and solved by a system having the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are in the respective subclaims specified.

• – Erstellen und Warten einer zentralen Datenbank mit für die Typen der jeweiligen Verbrauchsmaterialien eindeutigen Typbezeichnungen,
• – Übermitteln zumindest eines Auszuges der zentralen Datenbank an zumindest einen Client-Computer, auf dem ein Applikationsprogramm zum Erzeugen oder Bearbeiten eines Druckauftrages gespeichert ist, wobei die in der zentralen Datenbank enthaltene Typbezeichnung der Verbrauchsmaterialien bei der Erzeugung oder Bearbeitung eines Druckauftrages als Steuerparameter aufgenommen wird,
• – Übertragen des Druckauftrages an einen Druckserver, der den Druckauftrag an ein Druckgerät weiterleitet,
• – Einführen einer Verbrauchsmaterial-Einheit mit einem bestimmten Typ an Verbrauchsmaterial in ein Druckgerät, wobei die Verbrauchsmaterial-Einheit einen maschinenlesbaren Datenträger aufweist, auf welchem zumindest die in der zentralen Datenbank enthaltene Typbezeichnung für das in der Verbrauchsmaterial-Einheit befindliche Verbrauchsmaterial gespeichert ist,
• – automatisches Auslesen des Datenträgers von einer im Druckgerät befindlichen Leseeinheit,
• – Weiterleiten von zumindest der Typbezeichnung an einen Kontroller des Druckgerätes,
• – Weiterleiten der Typbezeichnung vom Kontroller des Druckgerätes an den mit dem Druckgerät verbundenen Druckserver, der einen die Konfiguration des Druckgerätes beschreibenden Datensatz aufweist, in dem die Typbezeichnung aufgenommen ist, und
• – Überprüfen der am Druckserver eingehenden Druckaufträge, ob sie mit der Konfiguration eines mit dem Druckserver verbundenen Druckgerätes übereinstimmen und Weiterleiten des jeweiligen Druckauftrages an ein geeignetes Druckgerät.

The method according to the invention for synchronizing consumables and print jobs in a printing system comprises the following steps:

• Creation and maintenance of a central database with type designations which are unique for the types of the respective consumables,
• Transmitting at least one extract of the central database to at least one client computer on which an application program for generating or processing a print job is stored, wherein the type designation of the consumables contained in the central database is taken as a control parameter when creating or processing a print job,
• Transferring the print job to a print server, which forwards the print job to a printing device,
• Inserting a consumable unit of a certain type of consumable into a printing device, the consumable unit having a machine-readable medium on which at least the type designation contained in the central database for the consumable located in the consumable unit is stored;
• Automatic readout of the data carrier from a reading unit located in the printing device,
• Forwarding at least the type designation to a controller of the printing device,
• - forwarding the type designation from the controller of the printing device to the print server connected to the print server, which has a configuration of the printing device descriptive record in which the type designation is included, and
• - Checking the print jobs received at the print server whether they match the configuration of a print device connected to the print server and forwarding the respective print job to a suitable print device.

There the type designations of the consumables in a central Database managed and transmitted to at least one client computer on which the corresponding type designation (s) as control parameters is / are added to the print jobs and on the other hand, the type designation by means of the data carrier supplied to the printing device on the printing unit is recorded in the configuration record of the print server will be when creating the print jobs as well when configuring the print devices in the print server the same parameter set, namely that of the central database, was used. This is the basis for the control parameters of the print jobs, as far as the consumables are concerned, as well as the parameters in the configuration file in the print server, which is in the respective Describe Consumables Available on Pressure Equipment in the same "language". In the print server can thus a clear comparison of the control parameters of the print job with the parameters in the configuration file of the print server. A match ensures that the respective printing device with those provided in the print job Consumables is stocked. In case of deviations between the control parameters of the print job and the parameters of the configuration file Such a derogation can be properly assessed as the Meaning of these parameters is clearly defined. In conventional Procedure, this was not always ensured because the control parameters Often the print jobs had a different origin as the parameters of the configuration file, so that a given Consumables in the control parameters of the print jobs and described differently in the parameters of the configuration file which is a per se possible execution of the Print job has been disabled or there were for different Consumables similar descriptions, so that mistakenly has been determined that the desired by the print job Consumables available in the respective printing device although this was not the case. By providing a central Database for the management of type designations and preferably others Information about consumables, such as reliability the automatic assignment and forwarding of print jobs significantly increased on the print server.

In the practice becomes the central database of the manufacturer of the corresponding Consumables generated and maintained. The manufacturer describes the volumes of the consumable units with the information specific to consumables, in particular its type designation. At least an excerpt of the database will be provided to the clients. This can be, for example as a downloadable file over the internet, in a printer driver on the client computer or in another Computer program for generating or editing of print data integrated becomes. Such programs are, for example, programs for editing job-related data, such as job tickets, in professional Printing environments added to the print data to be printed become.

Preferably, not only the type designations of Ver but also material properties, such as color values or paper weights stored. The color values can be specified in different color systems, such as RGB or Lab. It may also be expedient to specify the color values simultaneously in different color systems, wherein the color values of the one color system (RGB) are preferably used when displaying the color on a screen of the client computer and the other representation of the color values are used to control the printing device can.

Farther are according to a preferred embodiment in the central database for the respective consumables specific adjustment parameters for the pressure device, such as electrophotography parameters, fixing temperature, calibration parameters, stored and supplied to the printing device. hereby it is ensured that the pressure device with the for the respective consumables operated optimal settings becomes. The feeding of the setting parameters to the printing device can on the one hand by means of the arranged on the consumable unit Disk or otherwise by depositing the appropriate setting parameters on the print server, which are then sent from the print server upon receipt of the corresponding type designation from the pressure equipment be transmitted to the printing device automatically. Such central management of the setting parameters allows it, consumables with very different setting parameters to use, because the exact setting on the printing device by transmission the corresponding data is secured. This one is in the design Consumables much more flexible, since these are not on must be designed in advance but can be edited individually in the printing device.

at a further advantageous embodiment of the invention Procedure will print on the print server an extract or a copy of the central Database is saved and the print server transmits the connected printing devices and client computers respectively reduced excerpts with the ones specific to them Content.

Farther is it possible for alias names to be assigned to the type designations become. Certain users of such a printing system often use just a small selection of available Consumables, especially those available Toner. The unique type designations of the consumables are usually not very intuitive. It is therefore appropriate the few consumables in use to name intuitive terms. A typical example of this is, for example, the color assigned to the respective company. The corresponding toner is then for example referred to as "company color", where the term "company" by a corresponding Company keyword is replaced.

• – einen Computer zum Speichern einer zentralen Datenbank mit für die Typen der jeweiligen Verbrauchsmaterialien eindeutigen Typbezeichnungen,
• – zumindest einen Client-Computer, auf dem ein Applikationsprogramm zum Erzeugen oder Bearbeiten eines Druckauftrages und zumindest eines Auszug der zentralen Datenbank gespeichert ist, wobei die in der zentralen Datenbank enthaltene Typbezeichnung des Verbrauchsmaterials bei der Erzeugung oder Bearbeitung eines Druckauftrages als Steuerparameter aufgenommen wird,
• – einen Druckserver zum Empfangen eines Druckauftrages von einem Client-Computer und zum Weiterleiten des Druckauftrages an ein Druckgerät,
• – eine am Druckgerät angeordnete Leseeinheit zum automatischen Auslesen eines maschinenlesbaren Datenträgers, der auf einer Verbrauchsmaterial-Einheit angeordnet ist, das einen bestimmten Typ von Verbrauchsmaterial enthält, wobei in dem maschinenlesbaren Datenträger zumindest die in der zentralen Datenbank enthaltene Typbezeichnung für das in der Verbrauchsmaterial-Einheit befindliche Verbrauchsmaterial gespeichert ist,
• – eine Datenverbindung zwischen dem Druckgerät und dem Druckserver zum Übertragen der am Druckgerät aus dem Datenträger der Verbrauchsmaterial-Einheit ausgelesenen Typbezeichnung an den Druckserver und zum Übertragen eines Druckauftrages vom Druckserver an das Druckgerät, wobei die Druckaufträge am Druckserver mit den am Druckgerät vorhandenen Verbrauchsmaterialien synchronisiert sind.

The printing system according to the invention for synchronizing consumables and print jobs comprises

• A computer for storing a central database with type designations which are unique for the types of the respective consumables,
• At least one client computer on which an application program for generating or processing a print job and at least one extract of the central database is stored, wherein the type designation of the consumable contained in the central database is taken as a control parameter when creating or processing a print job,
• A print server for receiving a print job from a client computer and forwarding the print job to a printing device,
• A reading unit arranged on the printing apparatus for automatically reading out a machine-readable data carrier which is arranged on a consumable unit which contains a certain type of consumable, wherein in the machine-readable data carrier at least the type designation contained in the central database for that in the consumable unit stored consumables are stored,
• - A data connection between the printing device and the print server for transmitting the read on the printing device from the disk of the consumable unit type designation to the print server and for transmitting a print job from the print server to the printing device, the print jobs are synchronized on the print server with the existing on the printing device consumables ,

at This printing system becomes the print jobs on the print server with the consumables available on the printing device synchronized, this synchronization being based on parameters, which come from the central database and both as order-related data for the print jobs as well as to configure the print devices are used on the print server.

Preferably is the printing system for performing the above Process trained.

The The invention will be more closely understood by way of example with reference to the drawings explained. The drawings show:

1 : a schematically simplified printing system in a block diagram,

2 FIG. 4: A workflow in the printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG.

3 a further workflow, in which the individual information channels between a central database and the individual elements of the printing system are listed,

4 : a section of a CDF file,

5 : a section of a screen display which assists a user in the management of the toner he is using,

6 : a section of a screen display with which it is possible to set which color of the print data is to be imaged on a specific toner,

7 FIG. 4 is another portion of a screen display that allows a user to map a particular color gamut of color into print data on a particular toner, and FIG

8th : a section of a job ticket.

An inventive printing system 1 includes a print server 2 , at least one pressure device 3 that via a data line 4 with the print server 2 connected, and one or more client computers 5 on which application programs for generating or editing a print job are stored. This client computer 5 are hereafter referred to as application clients 5 designated. The application clients are over data lines 6 either directly to the print server 2 or over the internet 7 with the print server 2 connected. At another client computer 8th becomes a central database 9 maintained. This client computer is hereafter referred to as a database computer 8th designated. To the database computer 8th is a read / write head 10 to describe one at a consumable unit 11 attachable data carrier 12 connected.

The pressure equipment 3 are preferably designed for digital printing, ie that they have a digitally controlled printing unit. Such digital printers are, for example, electrophotographic printers or inkjet printers.

Such a pressure device 3 has a record carrier feed, which is used as a paper input tray when printing single sheets 13 ( 1 ) is trained. Of course, the paper feed can also be designed for feeding roll paper. From the paper entrance shaft 13 performs a record carrier transport path 14 to a paper output shaft 15 , wherein the recording medium by means of conveyor rollers 16 - in 1 are schematically only a few conveyor rollers 16 presented - transported. Along the record carrier route 14 are several printing units 17 arranged. In 1 is a printing device 3 shown in which the printing units 17 only on one side of the record carrier transport path 14 are arranged. Of course, on the other side for printing on both sides of the recording medium corresponding printing units 17 be arranged. From the printing works 17 each extends a hose 18 to a consumable unit 11 containing a toner. With the hose 18 Toner is removed from the respective consumable unit. This consumable unit 11 are toner bottles. However, other types of consumable units or containers may be provided. For example, the toner may be contained in a replaceable developer unit. For other consumables, such as paper, of course, the usual consumer unit here are used. The pressure device 3 has a number of reading heads 19 which are adjacent to the respective consumable units 11 are arranged around the on the consumable unit 11 located disk 12 read. The reading heads 19 are over a data line 20 with a controller 21 or a control unit 21 of the printing device 3 connected. The controller 21 serves to control the printing process and is therefore via a further data line 22 with the printing stations 17 connected. At the controller 21 are an input unit 23 and a screen 24 connected.

The application programs on the application clients may be conventional programs for creating a print file, such as a word processing program or a desktop publishing program. However, these application programs can also be programs for generating and processing order-related data of print data streams, as described, for example, in US Pat WO 02/093354 A1 and the WO 2007/085524 A2 or in the DE 10 2004 047 327 A1 are described.

The database computer 8th is typically located at a manufacturer of consumables. Database 9 contains at least one type designation for each type of consumable. Different types in the present description are for example toners with different colors or paper with different thickness and / or coloring. Different types of consumables are different materials in the sense of the present description alien, which are manufactured by different manufacturers, such as toner and paper. The species is thus a generic term for the "type". The "type" of the consumable is, for example, toner, and the type is, for example, a toner having a certain hue.

The in the database 9 defined type designations are preferably uniform worldwide. Each manufacturer of consumables can provide a database for the consumables he manufactures and supplies 9 create. The users of the application clients 5 can make a copy of these databases on the clients 9 or extracts of these databases 9 and integrate them into their application programs that provide print data with control parameters. Typically, the extracts of this database 9 integrated into printer drivers.

The print data is then combined with job-related data from the application clients 5 to the print server 2 transfer.

At the print server 2 is for every printing device 3 a configuration data set is stored. Among other things, this configuration data set contains information about which consumables are in the respective pressure devices 3 are located. This information is in the central database 9 coded defined data values or names. In particular, this information contains the same type designations as used in the central database 9 are defined. This is done by the database computer 8th by means of the read / write head 10 the disks 12 the respective consumable unit 11 with the data specific to them, such as the type designation. When inserting the consumable units 11 in the pressure device 3 becomes the corresponding volume 12 automatically from one of the reading heads 19 read out and the information contained therein is sent to the controller 21 transmitted. From the controller 21 be over the data line 4 the information describing the respective consumables to the print server 2 forwarded where in the the configuration of the printing device 3 descriptive record to be inserted. It is also possible that the controller 21 generates the complete configuration record and sends it to the print server 2 transmitted. Upon receipt of such a new configuration record, the previous record is replaced by the new configuration record.

The configuration of the printing device 3 or the existing consumables can also on the screen 24 so that an operator can easily get an overview of the existing consumables.

At the print server 2 the incoming print jobs, in particular their order-accompanying data, are compared with the configuration data sets of the respective printing devices. If there is a match of the job-related data with one of the respective configuration data sets, the print job is sent to the corresponding printing device 3 forwarded.

The print server 2 can also be designed so that incoming print jobs containing a control parameter for a particular consumable on the print server 2 be collected and at one of the pressure equipment 3 be expressed as soon as on this printing device 3 the appropriate consumable is inserted. This is particularly useful when using special consumables that are used only for a small part of the processed at the respective printing device or print server print jobs.

The workflow described above is schematically illustrated in FIG 2 for toner production. Each time a customer orders a new toner, a new toner is developed and manufactured. In this case, the toner is assigned a unique, preferably globally valid, type designation (OCÉ CustomTone). When a new toner is added to the manufacturer's assortment, the database will be supplemented accordingly and available for download to the application clients. In practice, not the complete database, but an excerpt of it is provided. At the database computer 8th a corresponding statement is generated and stored in a file. This file is called a Customtone Definition File (CDF). 4 shows a section of such a CDF file. It is saved in XML format. For each toner, it contains the type designation (for example, "OCT 57R07"). This is a toner in the color red. In the following line, the corresponding color value is entered as the Lab value. This is followed by the color value in the RGB system. In the other lines followed by a Tonersachnummer, such as "A001-A25-B10", wherein the first part "A001" reproduces the color, the second part "A25" the type and thus the size of the consumable unit or the Bottle and the third part "B10" indicates the printing device for which the toner is provided in this consumable unit.

The user on the application clients can manage the toners. 5 shows a corresponding excerpt from a screen display. First, the user can set the color fidelity to off, high or low. Hereby the user determines if the toner he chooses must be used in the printout or whether deviations are allowed for this purpose or whether the expression itself can be arbitrary and without reference to the toner selected by it.

The user can also specify which toners he wants to use. For this two tables are shown. The first table is overwritten with "all currently available toners:" and the second table with "all toners:". The tables each contain two columns. In the left column, the color of each toner is shown in a box and the type designation is shown. The right-hand column lists alias names. The alias names can be freely assigned by the users of the printing system. As a rule, users of a print environment select only a small set of possible toners. They assign them intuitive names for them. Typically, in a print environment, only one toner is used for each base color, although many toners would be available in different color levels for each color. For the appropriately selected toner, the name of this basic color, such as blue, red or black is then assigned. The alias name setting becomes a print server 2 and the appropriate pressure equipment 3 forwarded, so that the aliases are available on the existing displays and screens. If changes are made to the setting, the alias name can also be used for this.

Furthermore, the user can map certain colors in the print data to particular toner. In the print data, inks are often defined with RGB or Lab values. With the in 6 As shown, it can each define a color of a source with the corresponding RGB values, which is mapped to a specific (target). In this illustration, the z. B. an RGB or Lab value defined color is mapped to a type designation of a toner. This mapping can basically be made to any type designation. In the example, red of the source is imaged on a blue toner and green of the source on an orange toner.

It is also possible to map color regions of the source to specific toners. 7 shows a screen display for selecting a corresponding color range. In the selection according to 7 Red is mapped to any given color saturation level on a given preset toner.

In the database 9 For example, in addition to the type designation of the respective consumable material and the toner content numbers or the material properties described above, such as the color values, for example, further information on the particular toner is contained. It is especially useful in the central database 9 Setting parameters for the printing device, such as electrophotography parameters, fixing temperature, calibration parameters, etc. record.

These adjustment parameters are transmitted to the printing device for the respective consumables in the printing device, so that the consumables are processed correctly. This transmission occurs, for example, by storing this information on the on the consumables unit 11 located disk 12 so when inserting the consumable unit 11 in the printing device are the optimal for the consumable or the toner setting parameters available. This ensures optimal processing of the consumables, in particular toner.

As a disk 12 Preferably, RFID chips or transponders are used. Such RFID chips and suitable read / write heads are for example in the US 5,262,712 described, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Preferably contactless usable data carriers are used. In the context of the invention, however, it is also possible to provide data carriers which are powered by contact with electrical contacts on a read / write head with energy and accomplish a data exchange. Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible to provide non-electrical data carriers, for example magnetic strips or recording media which can be printed with one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes.

The workflow explained above is carried out by means of two information channels 25 . 26 , where on the one hand an extract of the database to the application clients 5 and on the other hand a data record specific to the respective consumable material via the data carrier 12 the respective pressure equipment 3 is transmitted. However, the data transfer can also be switched differently.

3 shows another breakdown, in which four information channels 27 to 30 from the database 9 to the application client 5 or to the print server 2 or to the printing device 3 or by means of the data carrier 12 are formed. About the first information channel 27 from the database 9 to the application client 5 an extract of the database is transmitted, which contains at least all type designations and preferably has corresponding material properties, such as color values or paper thickness.

About the second information channel 28 from the database 9 to the print server 2 become the same data as transmitted over the first information channel. In the embodiment explained above, this is in each case the CDF file.

The third information channel 29 from the database 9 to the pressure device 3 is used to transfer an INI file that contains an assignment of the type designations of the consumables to a respective consumable axis number. The consumable item number describes a physical unit of consumable material. In this INI file the optional adjustment parameters of the consumables can be listed.

The fourth information channel 30 by means of the data carrier 12 serves to transfer the consumable item numbers and in particular the setting parameters for the printing device. Optionally, the type designations of the consumable material can also be provided here.

The communication between the database and the individual devices 5 . 2 . 3 . 11 can be designed as desired. What is essential is that on the application clients 5 the type designations of the consumables or a corresponding unique value are available and the same type designations or values on the print server 2 used to configure the printer and the consumables are uniquely configured in the configuration file. It may, for example, be expedient to send a copy of the database or an extract of the data records from the database with all the consumables available in the respective printing environment to the print server 2 to convey. The print server 2 then directs correspondingly reduced extracts of the database obtained to the application clients or other reduced extracts to the printing devices 2 further. The to the pressure equipment 2 transmitted statements contain, for example, the setting parameters, whereas those to the application clients 5 Submitted excerpts contain the material properties.

8th shows an excerpt of a job ticket in which three specific toners are controlled by their type designation "OCT20 A01", "OCT45 B06" and "OCT67 O04". This job ticket is part of a print job. This information is compared on the print server with the corresponding information of the configuration data records of the individual printing devices. If agreed, the print job can be forwarded. If necessary, the print job is to be held back until a correspondingly configured printing device is available or the execution of the print job must be rejected.

With The inventive method is thus by the job-related data of the print job not just a specific one Color, but a particular physical toner driven, which is present in a particular printing device. This is an essential difference from the prior art, in which no such stringency between the control parameters and the physically present consumable material is present.

The The invention is based on an example for synchronizing Toner and print jobs explained. As part of however, it is possible to use other consumables, such as As paper, ink or discussed in the introduction to the description Materials for mixing a toner by means of in the central database to control defined control parameters and in the pressure equipment using these control parameters to manage and so the print jobs and sync the consumables.

1

printing system

2

print server

3

printing device

4

data line

5

Application client

6

data line

7

Internet

8th

Database computer

9

Database

10

Read / write head

11

Consumables unit

12

disk

13

paper tray

14

Recording medium conveying path

15

Paper output slot

16

conveyor roller

17

printing unit

18

tube

19

read head

20

data line

21

controller

22

data line

23

input device

24

screen

25

information channel

26

information channel

27

information channel

28

information channel

29

information channel

30

information channel

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 7133144 B2 [0002, 0014]
• WO 98/43136 [0003]
• - DE 102006001648 B3 [0004]
• WO 01/63366 A1 [0005]
• US 2003/0058463 A1 [0006]
• WO 02/093354 A1 [0007, 0039]
• - WO 2007/085524 A2 [0008, 0039]
• - DE 102004047327 A1 [0039]
• - US 5262712 [0054]

Cited non-patent literature

• - Digital Printing Technology and Printing Techniques of Océ Digital Printing Presses, 9th Edition, ISBN 3-00-001081-5, Chapter 15, pages 347-362 [0010]

Claims (10)

Method for synchronizing consumables and print jobs in a printing system ( 1 ), which comprises the following steps: - Creating and maintaining a central database ( 9 ) with type designations which are unique for the types of the respective consumables, - transmission of at least one extract of the central database ( 9 ) to at least one client computer, on which an application program for generating or processing a print job is stored, wherein the in the central database ( 9 ) is included as a control parameter when creating or processing a print job, - transferring the print job to a print server ( 2 ), which sends the print job to a printing device ( 3 ), - introduction of a consumables unit ( 11 ) with a certain type of consumable in a printing device ( 3 ), where the consumable unit ( 11 ) a machine-readable data carrier ( 12 ), on which at least those in the central database ( 9 ) contains the type designation for the one in the consumables unit ( 11 ) is stored, - automatic readout of the data carrier ( 12 ) of one in the pressure device ( 3 ) reading unit ( 19 ), - forwarding at least the type designation to a controller ( 21 ) of the printing device ( 3 ), - passing the type designation from the controller ( 21 ) of the printing device ( 3 ) to the with the pressure device ( 3 ) connected print server ( 2 ), the one the configuration of the pressure device ( 3 ) descriptive record in which the type designation is included, - check the print server ( 2 ) incoming print jobs, whether they are configured with the print server ( 2 ) connected pressure device ( 3 ) and forward the respective print job to a suitable printing device ( 3 ). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the central database ( 9 ) at least type designations for toner are stored. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the central database ( 9 ) the type designations material properties, such. Color values or paper weights, wherein the material properties together with the type designations are assigned to the at least one client computer ( 5 ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the central database ( 9 ) the type designations setting parameters for the pressure device ( 3 ), such. B. electrophotography parameters, fixing temperature, calibration parameters, are assigned, wherein the respective adjustment parameters the pressure device ( 3 ) are supplied for driving the same. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the client computer ( 5 ) by means of a data connection between a computer ( 8th ), where the central database ( 9 ) and the client computer ( 5 ) an extract of the central database ( 9 ) and the printing device ( 3 ) a dataset specific to the particular consumable, comprising several in the central database ( 9 stored values by means of the machine-readable data medium ( 12 ) of the consumables unit ( 11 ) is transmitted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an extract of the central database ( 9 ) on the print server ( 2 ), which for the respective types of consumption are all stored in the central database ( 9 ), and the print server ( 2 ) at least reduced extracts to those with the print server ( 2 ) connected clients ( 5 ) and pressure equipment ( 3 ) transmitted. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the print server ( 2 ) to the clients ( 5 ) other reduced separations than to the pressure equipment ( 3 ) transmitted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that either at the pressure devices ( 3 ), on the print server ( 2 ) and / or on the clients ( 5 ) are assigned to the alias names assigned to the corresponding other devices, such as pressure equipment ( 3 ), Print server ( 2 ) and / or clients ( 5 ), to get redirected. Printing system for synchronizing consumables and print jobs, comprising - a computer ( 8th ) for storing a central database ( 9 ) with type designations which are unique for the types of the respective consumables, - at least one client computer ( 5 ) on which an application program for generating or processing a print job and at least one extract of the central database ( 9 ) stored in the central database ( 9 ) is included as a control parameter when generating or processing a print job, a print server ( 2 ) for receiving a print job from a client computer ( 5 ) and for forwarding the print job to a printing device ( 3 ), - one on the pressure device ( 3 ) arranged reading unit for automatically reading a machine-readable data carrier ( 12 ) disposed on a consumable unit containing a particular type of consumable, wherein the machine readable medium ( 12 ) at least those in the central database ( 9 ) contains the type designation for the one in the consumables unit ( 11 ) is stored, - a data connection ( 4 ) between the printing device ( 3 ) and the print server ( 2 ) for transferring the at the printing device ( 3 ) from the disk ( 12 ) of the consumables unit ( 11 ) to the print server ( 2 ) and to transfer a print job from the print server ( 2 ) to the printing device ( 3 ), whereby the print jobs on the print server ( 2 ) with the on the pressure device ( 3 ) are synchronized to existing consumables. Printing system according to claim 9, characterized that for carrying out the method according to one of the claims 1 to 8 is formed.