JP2006069164A - Cutting control apparatus, program and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cutting control apparatus, a cutting control program and a cutting control method which produce cutting line data on the basis of data generated by using general document data generating software or plotting software and cut a cutting line according to the cutting line data generated in a cutting printer or a cutting plotter. <P>SOLUTION: Cutting line data for cutting an object along its own outline or along the outline of character font data included in a character object can be produced according to the object a user wants to cut by an easy operation of incorporating a cutting data generating condition, which is stored in advance in a cutting line data generating condition storing means (e.g. the format of an object document and the shape of an object, or the like), in the object. The cutting line data for cutting a sheet material into a shape as desired with a cutter is thereby generated by a simple operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cutting control device, a cutting control program, and a cutting control method, and in particular, a cutting control device that generates cutting line data based on data created using general document data creation software or drawing software, and cutting The present invention relates to a control program and a cutting control method.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-10132 (Patent Document 1) describes a cutting printer that performs predetermined printing on a printed material such as paper and then cuts the printed material into a predetermined shape with a cutter provided with a blade. Has been. The cutting printer described in Patent Document 1 executes printing and subsequent cutting by reading print data for printing and cut data including a signal instructing cutting.
JP 2001-10132 A

  However, in the case of a cutting printer as described in Patent Document 1, when a line segment is cut after the line segment is printed, the print data is created as what is to be printed, and then a line that is desired to be cut separately. There was a problem that a complicated procedure of adding cut data to the minute had to be taken.

  In general, in order to operate such a cutting printer, the creation of data (cutting printer data), that is, the creation of print data and the addition of cut data to the print data require a dedicated application. Therefore, there is a problem that the convenience is poor, and therefore the cutting printer cannot be used easily.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and generates cutting line data based on data created by using general document data creation software or drawing software, and a cutting printer or cutting. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting control device, a cutting control program, and a cutting control method for cutting a cutting line based on generated cutting line data in a plotter.

  To achieve this object, the cutting control device according to claim 1 is connected to a cutting device having a cutter and a cutting means for cutting the sheet material with the cutting line according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and the cutting line data Is transmitted to the cutting apparatus, and the cutting apparatus cuts the sheet material into a desired shape, and generates the cutting line data based on one object included in the page description data. In order to do this, the cutting line data generation condition storage means for storing cutting line data generation conditions to be satisfied by the object, the object extraction means for extracting one object from the page description data, and the page description by the object extraction means The object extracted from the data is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means Condition determining means for determining whether or not the cutting line data generation condition is satisfied, and the condition determination means that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means If it is determined that the cutting line data is generated, the cutting line data generating unit generates the cutting line data based on the object determined to be satisfied.

  The cutting control device according to claim 2 is the cutting control device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting line data generation means is an object in which the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means includes a character string. It is determined that the input character font in the character string included in the extracted object satisfies the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. In this case, the cutting line data is generated based on the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied.

  The cutting control device according to claim 3, wherein, in the cutting control device according to claim 2, when the character font for output describes a character composed of a plurality of independent parts, each character in the character is independent. In-character connecting means for connecting the character font shape data corresponding to the output character font so that a plurality of parts are integrally cut by the cutting means, the cutting line data generating means The cutting line data is generated based on the character font shape data connected by the connecting means.

  The cutting control device according to claim 4 is the cutting control device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the character font shape corresponding to the output character font is such that adjacent characters are integrally cut by the cutting means. Inter-character connecting means for connecting data is provided, and the cutting line data generating means generates cutting line data based on the character font shape data connected by the intra-character connecting means.

  The cutting control device according to claim 5 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the font shape data storage means for storing the font shape data and the page description data by the object extraction means. The extracted object is an object including character string data, and the input character font in the character string data included in the extracted object is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. When it is determined that the format stored as the line data generation condition is satisfied, character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied is the font shape data storage unit If it is absent, it is provided with notification means for performing notification.

  The cutting control device according to claim 6 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the font shape data storage means for storing the font shape data and the page description data by the object extraction means. The extracted object is an object including character string data, and the input character font in the character string data included in the extracted object is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. When it is determined that the format stored as the line data generation condition is satisfied, character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied is the font shape data storage unit If it is absent, the cutting line data generating means generates the cutting line. And a cutting line data generation prohibiting means for prohibiting the generation of line data.

  The cutting control device according to claim 7 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting line data generating means includes an object extracted by the object extracting means including line segment data. The line segment format corresponding to the line segment data included in the object satisfies the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. If it is determined, the cutting line data is generated based on the line segment data determined to be satisfied.

  The cutting control device according to claim 8 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cutting line data generation unit is configured to store an object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction unit. The object includes color data in the area, and the color data included in the object is a color stored as a cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. When it is determined that there is, the cutting line data is generated based on the contour data describing the contour of the object determined to be satisfied.

  The cutting control device according to claim 9 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cutting line data generation means is configured such that the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is: When the contour is an object described by line segment data and the line segment corresponding to the line segment data describing the contour of the object is determined to be a closed loop by the condition determination unit, the Cutting line data is generated according to the line segment data describing the outline of the object determined to be satisfied.

  The cutting control device according to claim 10 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising contour shape identifying means for identifying a contour shape of the object extracted by the object extracting means, The cutting line data generation unit satisfies a shape in which the contour shape of the object identified by the contour shape identification unit is stored as a cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. If it is determined, the cutting line data is generated based on the contour data describing the contour shape of the object determined to be satisfied.

  A cutting control device according to claim 11 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a mask detection means for detecting whether the object extracted by the object extraction means is masked, and the mask And a contour shape identifying means for identifying the shape of the masked area when the extracted object is detected to be masked by the detection means, and the cutting line data generating means comprises the contour shape When it is determined that the contour shape of the masked region identified by the identification unit satisfies the shape stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit, Based on the contour data describing the contour shape of the masked area determined to be satisfactory, the cutting line data is obtained. It is intended to generate a.

  A cutting control device according to a twelfth aspect is the cutting control device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the cutting line data generating unit generates the cutting control data based on the contour data of the object included in the page description data. A cutting line data storage unit that stores the cutting line data, and a cutting line in which the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction unit by the condition determination unit is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit When it is determined that the data generation condition is satisfied, an overlap determination unit that determines whether the object extracted this time by the object extraction unit and an object previously extracted by the object extraction unit overlap, The overlap determination means, the object extraction means When it is determined that the extracted object and the object previously extracted by the object extracting unit overlap, the cutting line data storage is performed for at least one of the overlapping objects. Cutting line erasing means for erasing cutting line data included in the overlapping portion in the cutting line data stored in the means.

  A cutting control device according to a thirteenth aspect is the cutting control device according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, wherein the cutting line data generation unit generates the cutting control data based on the contour data of the object included in the page description data. Cutting line data generation means for storing the cutting line data storage means for storing the cutting line data and the condition determination means for storing the object extracted from the page description data by the object extracting means in the cutting line data generation condition If it is determined that the condition is satisfied, does the object extracted this time by the object extracting means overlap the object previously extracted by the object extracting means and stored in the cutting line data storage means? By means of an overlap determination means for determining If it is determined that the object extracted this time by the object extracting means overlaps the object previously extracted by the object extracting means and stored in the cutting line data storage means, they overlap. A cutting line data combining unit that generates cutting line data by combining cutting line data that is not included in the overlapping portion of the object, and a cutting line that is newly generated by combining the cutting line data combining unit. Cutting line data rewriting means for storing data in the cutting line data storage means and erasing the cutting line data corresponding to the overlapping objects stored in the cutting line data storage means.

  The cutting control device according to claim 14 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cutting device further includes a printing unit that performs printing on the sheet according to print data, and the cutting line. The data generation condition storage means stores the format of the object as the cutting line data generation condition in association with the output format corresponding to the cutting line data generation condition. When it is determined that the format of the predetermined data included in the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction unit satisfies the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit The format of the object determined to be satisfied is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. Print data generation means for generating print data converted to the output format associated therewith, and the data transmission means includes the cutting line data generated by the cutting line data generation means, and the printing The print data generated by the data generation means is transmitted.

  The cutting control device according to claim 15 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the cutting line data generation means is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means by the condition determination means. Based on contour data or font shape data describing the contour of the object determined to satisfy the generated cutting line data generation condition, cutting line data substantially parallel to the contour on the inner periphery side of the contour of the object Is generated.

  The cutting control device according to claim 16 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the cutting line data generation means is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means by the condition determination means. The cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line that is a non-closed loop is generated based on the outline data or the font shape data that describes the outline of the object determined to satisfy the cutting line data generation condition.

  The cutting control device according to claim 17 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the cutting line data generation condition storage means is configured to cut the cutting line data generation condition and cutting by the cutting device. The data transmission means stores the corresponding cutting conditions stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means in the cutting line data generated by the cutting line data generation means. Is added and transmitted.

  The cutting control device according to claim 18 is the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein cutting line data generation for inputting the cutting line data generation condition to be stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means is provided. Condition input means, and cutting line data generation condition writing means for writing the cutting line data generation conditions input by the cutting line data generation condition input means to the cutting line data generation condition storage means.

  The cutting control device according to claim 19 is the cutting control device according to claim 18, wherein the cutting line data generation condition input means inputs the cutting line data generation condition and the type of the object in association with each other. The cutting line data generation condition writing unit associates the cutting line data generation condition input by the cutting line data generation condition input unit with the type of the object, and stores the cutting line data generation condition storage unit. Is what you write.

  The cutting control device according to claim 20 is the cutting control device according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the cutting line data generation condition input means includes at least one of the cutting line data generation condition and the output format or the cutting condition. The cutting line data generation condition writing unit is configured to input the cutting line data generation condition and the output format or the cutting condition input by the cutting line data generation condition input unit. Is written in the cutting line data generation condition storage means in association with at least one of the above.

  The cutting control device according to claim 21 is a computer terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the cutting control device is wired or wirelessly connected to the cutting device.

  23. A cutting control program according to claim 22, wherein the cutting control program is connected to a cutting device having a cutter and a cutting means for cutting the sheet material with a cutting line according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and transmits the cutting line data to the cutting device. By causing a computer to function as line data transmission means, the cutting apparatus cuts the sheet material into a desired shape, and generates the cutting line data based on one object included in page description data. Therefore, a cutting line data generation condition storage means for storing cutting line data generation conditions to be satisfied by the object, an object extraction means for extracting one object from the page description data, and the page description data by the object extraction means The object extracted from is the cutting line data generation condition Condition determining means for determining whether the cutting line data generation condition stored in the memory means is satisfied, and the extracted object is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means by the condition determining means. When it is determined that the cutting line data generation conditions are satisfied, the computer is caused to function as cutting line data generation means for generating the cutting line data based on the object determined to be satisfied.

  The cutting control method according to claim 23 is connected to a cutting device having a cutter and a cutting means for cutting the sheet material with a cutting line according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and data for transmitting the cutting line data to the cutting device. A cutting step for cutting the sheet material into a desired shape in the cutting apparatus, an object extracting step for extracting one object from the page description data, and the page extracting data by the object extracting step A condition determination step for determining whether the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, and the extracted object is converted into the cutting line by the condition determination step. It is determined that the cutting line data generation conditions stored in the line data generation condition storage means are satisfied. If, and a cutting line data generating step of generating the cutting line data based on the determined object and its satisfactory.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 1, the sheet material is connected to a cutting device having a cutter and a cutting means for cutting the sheet material with a cutting line according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and the sheet material is formed into a desired shape. In order to generate the cutting line data based on one object included in the page description data, cutting line data generation conditions to be satisfied by the object are stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. Yes.

  On the other hand, when one object is extracted from the page description data by the object extraction unit, whether the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit, It is determined by the condition determining means. When it is determined by the condition determination means that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the object is determined based on the object determined to be satisfied. The cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generation unit, and the generated cutting line data is transmitted to the cutting apparatus by the data transmission unit. As a result, the sheet material is cut by a cutting line according to the cutting line data generated by the cutting line generation data.

  Note that “page description data” is page-based data created using software such as general document data creation software, spreadsheet software, graphic design software, etc., and is a general printer having only a printing function ( For example, when the data is input to an inkjet printer, data corresponding to each object such as a character object included in the data is printed on the sheet material. The page description data is captured by a character object including character string data, a line object or graphic object described as a figure by one or more line segment data, a graphic object including drawing data, a scanner, or the like. An image object or the like including the read image data is appropriately arranged at a position desired by the user. When creating page description data using the above general software, these objects can be in the desired format (for example, character font typeface, character font size, line type, line thickness, color, etc.) It is easy to create a desired shape. It is also easy to arrange each object according to the design desired by the user when creating the page description data.

  Therefore, by an easy operation of incorporating a cutting data generation condition (for example, an object format or an object shape) stored in advance in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit for an object that the user desires to cut, Based on the object, for example, cutting line data that is cut along the contour of the object itself or the contour of the character font data included in the character object can be generated. Therefore, there is an effect that the cutting line data for cutting the sheet material into a desired shape can be generated by the cutting device by an easy operation. At that time, a cutting line for cutting a sheet material into a desired shape by a cutting device based on page description data created using general document data creation software or the like without using a dedicated application. Since data can be generated, there is an effect that convenience is high.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 2, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to claim 1, the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is an object including character string data, And, when the input character font in the character string data included in the extracted object is determined by the condition determination means to satisfy the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, The cutting line data generating means generates cutting line data based on the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied.

  The “input character font” is a character font input by the user when creating the page description data, while the “output character font” is a character font output from the cutting control device to the cutting device. In these “input character font” and “output character font”, the input character font may be used as it is, or an output character font different from the input character font corresponding to the input character font is defined in advance. It may be.

  Therefore, in the page description data, a character object including an input character font having a format (for example, character font typeface, character font size, character font color, etc.) preliminarily defined as cutting line data generation conditions is included. Cutting line data that is cut along the outline of the output character font, for example, based on the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font by an easy operation of creating Can be generated. Therefore, it is possible to generate cutting line data for cutting the sheet material in a desired character shape with a cutting device by an easy operation.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the cutting control device according to claim 2, when the character font for output describes a character composed of a plurality of independent parts, The character font shape data corresponding to the output character font is connected by the intra-character connecting means so that a plurality of independent portions in the character are integrally cut by the cutting means in the cutting device. Then, the cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generation unit based on the character font shape data thus connected.

  Therefore, even if a character is composed of a plurality of independent parts, cutting line data that can be cut integrally with the cutting device is created, so a part of the part constituting one character is lost. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent a loss of the overall aesthetics due to the loss of the balance of one character when the cut character is pasted.

  According to the cutting control device of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device of the second or third aspect, the output character font is arranged so that adjacent characters are cut integrally by the cutting means. Corresponding character font shape data is connected by the character connecting means. Then, the cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generation unit based on the character font shape data thus connected.

  Therefore, in the cutting device, cutting line data is created so that adjacent characters are cut integrally, so when cutting out a character group composed of a plurality of characters (single word, phrase, etc.) There is an effect that it is possible to prevent the loss of a part of the characters in the phrase. Also, there is an effect that each character can be cut out while keeping the character spacing as designed.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 5, in addition to the effect exerted by the cutting control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is character string data. The input character font in the character string data included in the extracted object satisfies the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit On the other hand, when the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied is absent in the font shape data storage means, the notification means Is notified.

  Therefore, it is possible for the user to recognize that the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font is absent in the font shape data storage means by the notification. Generally, when the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font is absent in the font shape data storage means, the substitute font is replaced with the output character font. However, when the substitute font is substituted, characters having an unintended shape at the time of creating the page description data are cut, and in some cases, the sheet material may be wasted because it does not match the image. Therefore, it is necessary when the user can recognize that the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font is absent in the font shape data storage means by the notification. Accordingly, the processing can be stopped, and waste of expensive sheet material can be reduced.

  According to the cutting control device of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, the object extracted from the page description data by the object extracting means is character string data. The input character font in the character string data included in the extracted object satisfies the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit On the other hand, if the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied is absent in the font shape data storage means, the cutting line The generation of cutting line data by the cutting line data generating unit is prohibited by the data generation prohibiting unit.

  Generally, when the character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font is absent in the font shape data storage means, the substitute font is replaced with the output character font. However, when the substitute font is substituted, characters having an unintended shape at the time of creating the page description data are cut, and in some cases, the sheet material may be wasted because it does not match the image. Therefore, even when the input character font satisfies the cutting line data generation condition, the character shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font is absent in the font shape data storage means. Since the generation of the cutting line data is prohibited, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent waste of expensive sheet material.

  According to the cutting control device of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the object extracted by the object extracting means is an object including line segment data. And the line format corresponding to the line segment data included in the object is determined by the condition determination unit to satisfy the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit. Then, the cutting line data generation means generates cutting line data based on the line segment data determined to be satisfied.

  Therefore, line segment data corresponding to a line segment having a format (for example, the type of line segment, the thickness of the line segment, or the color of the line segment) defined in advance as the cutting line data generation condition in the page description data. There is an effect that cutting line data based on the line segment data can be generated by an easy operation of creating an object including (for example, a line segment object, a graphic object, a graphic object, or the like). For example, the line segment data corresponding to the line segment having the format prescribed in advance as the cutting line data generation condition is used as the line object, the graphic object, or the outline of the graphic object. Objects and graphic objects can be cut out from sheet materials.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 8, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means And the color data included in the object is determined by the condition determining means to be a color stored as a cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. The cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generating means based on the contour data describing the contour of the object determined to be satisfied.

  Therefore, when creating the page description data, for example, the area of an object including drawing data such as a graphic object is colored with a color defined in advance as a cutting line data generation condition. There is an effect that cutting line data based on the contour of the object can be generated.

  According to the cutting control device of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means has an outline. When the line segment data is an object described by the line segment data and the line segment corresponding to the line segment data describing the outline of the object is determined to be closed loop by the condition determining unit, the cutting line data generating unit The cutting line data is generated in accordance with the line segment data describing the outline of the object determined to be satisfied.

  Therefore, the line segment data can be obtained by an easy operation of creating an object (for example, a line segment object, a graphic object, or a graphic object) including line segment data corresponding to the closed loop line segment in the page description data. There is an effect that the cutting line data based on can be generated. In particular, by creating line segment data corresponding to the shape of a closed loop desired to be cut, a line object or graphic object having a desired shape can be cut out from the sheet material in the cutting apparatus.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 10, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the contour shape of the object extracted by the object extraction means is contour shape identification. Identified by means. When the contour shape of the object thus identified is determined by the condition determination means to satisfy the shape stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the cutting line data generation means Thus, the cutting line data is generated based on the contour data describing the contour shape of the object determined to be satisfied.

  Therefore, it is easy to create an object (for example, a graphic object, an image object, a line segment object, or a graphic object) having a contour defined in advance as a cutting line data generation condition in the page description data. With this operation, cutting line data can be generated based on contour data describing the contour shape of the object.

  In the cutting control device according to claim 11, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the object extracted by the object extraction means is masked by the mask detection means. Is detected, the shape of the masked region is identified by the contour shape identifying means. Then, if the contour shape of the masked region thus identified is determined to satisfy the shape stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit, The cutting line data is generated based on the contour data describing the contour shape of the masked area determined to be satisfied by the data generating means.

  Therefore, when an object included in the page description data is masked, cutting line data can be generated based on the contour data describing the contour shape of the masked area. Therefore, for example, by cutting the desired portion in the image data (when it is desired to cut out), the masking process can be used to cut out only the desired portion.

  According to the cutting control device of claim 12, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any of claims 1 to 11, the contour data of the object included in the page description data by the cutting line data generating means The cutting line data generated based on the above is stored in the cutting line data storage means. On the other hand, when the condition determination means determines that the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the object extraction means Thus, the overlap determining means determines whether the object extracted this time overlaps with the object previously extracted by the object extracting means. Then, when it is determined by the overlap determining means that the object extracted this time by the object extracting means and the object previously extracted by the object extracting means overlap, of the overlapping objects For at least one object, the cutting line data included in the overlapping portion in the cutting line data stored in the cutting line data storage means is erased by the cutting line data erasing means. Note that “included in the overlapping portion” does not include the intersection of overlapping objects.

  Therefore, since the cutting line data included in the overlapping portion is deleted for at least one of the overlapping objects, there is an effect that the portion derived from at least one of the overlapping portions is not cut. In particular, since the cutting line included in the overlapping portion in the overwritten object in the overlapping object is erased, the user can easily create the data by overlapping the object when creating the data. Overlapping can be designed.

According to the cutting control device according to claim 13, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the contour data of the object included in the page description data by the cutting line data generating means The cutting line data generated based on the above is stored in the cutting line data storage means. On the other hand, when the condition determination means determines that the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the object extraction means Thus, the overlap determining means determines whether the object extracted this time overlaps with the object previously extracted by the object extracting means.
If it is determined by the overlap determining means that the object extracted this time by the object extracting means and the object previously extracted by the object extracting means overlap, they are not included in the overlapping portion of the overlapping objects. The cutting line data to be determined is combined by the cutting line data combining means, thereby generating new cutting line data. Then, when the cutting line data is newly generated by the combination by the cutting line data combining unit, the newly generated cutting line data is stored in the cutting line data storage unit by the cutting line data rewriting unit, On the other hand, the cutting line data corresponding to the overlapping object stored in the cutting line data storage means is erased. Note that the “not included in the overlapping portion” includes an intersection of overlapping objects.

  Therefore, there is an effect that one cutout (cut portion) can be obtained by overlapping the objects. Therefore, when the data is created, the user can easily design the overlapping of the objects by creating the data in which the objects are superimposed.

  According to the cutting control device of the fourteenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, the cutting line data generation condition storage means stores the cutting line data generation condition as An object format and an output format corresponding to the cutting line data generation condition are stored in association with each other. On the other hand, the condition determination means satisfies the format of the predetermined data included in the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means as the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. When it is determined, the print data generated by changing the format of the object determined to be satisfied with the output format associated with the cutting line data generation condition storage unit is displayed by the print data generation unit. Generated.

  When the print data is generated by the print data generation unit, the print data and the cutting line data generated by the cutting line data generation unit follow the cutting line data by using the cutter by the data transmission unit. The data is transmitted to a cutting device having cutting means for cutting along the cutting line and printing means for applying printing according to the print data to the sheet material. As a result, in the cutting apparatus, the sheet material is cut by a cutting line according to the cutting line data, and the object is printed on the sheet material in an output format.

  Therefore, the object format included in the page description data input to the printer server 10 and the object format for output in the cutting printer 50 can be changed according to the cutting line data generation conditions. Therefore, for example, in order to satisfy the cutting line data generation conditions, the page description data uses a color different from the originally intended color, but can be replaced with the originally intended color when actually printing. .

  According to the cutting control device of the fifteenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means is When satisfied, based on the contour data or font shape data describing the contour of the object determined by the condition determining means, the cutting line data generating means is on the inner periphery side of the contour of the object and substantially parallel to the contour. Cutting line data is generated.

  Accordingly, the cutting line data is generated on the inner circumference side of the contour of the object that satisfies the cutting line data generation condition and substantially parallel to the contour of the object. Therefore, in the cutting apparatus, the inner circumference side of the object is the contour of the object. Will be cut along. Since the inner peripheral side of the object is cut, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the aesthetic appearance of the cut out object from being lost even if the cutting position shifts in the cutting device.

  According to the cutting control device of the sixteenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit is set. When satisfied, the cutting line data generation unit generates cutting line data corresponding to the non-closed loop cutting line based on the outline data or the font shape data describing the outline of the object determined by the condition determination unit.

  Therefore, when the sheet material is cut by the cutting device, a part of the object to be cut is left uncut and is not separated from the sheet material. When a part of the object to be cut from the sheet material is left uncut in this way, the object is later removed by hand or by cutting with scissors or the like if necessary. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cutout (cut portion) of the object from being lost.

  According to the cutting control device of the seventeenth aspect, in addition to the effect of the cutting control device according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects, the cutting line data generation condition and the cutting condition of the cutting by the cutting device correspond to each other Attached to the cutting line data generation condition storage means. Then, when the cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generation unit, the data transmission unit adds the corresponding cutting condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit to the generated cutting line data. Sent.

  The “cutting conditions for cutting by the cutting device” include, for example, a cutting pressure that is a pressure applied by the cutter to the sheet when cutting the sheet, and a cutting line corresponding to one cutting line data. In addition, the number of times of cutting, which is the number of times the cutter cuts with respect to one cutting line, and the cutting speed, which is the speed at which the cutter moves when the sheet is cut, are mentioned.

  Therefore, since the cutting line data generation condition and the cutting condition are associated with each other and stored in the cutting line data storage unit, the thickness and hardness of the sheet material to be used, the cutting shape, and the purpose of cutting are used when creating the page description data. There is an effect that it is possible to specify a cutting condition in consideration of (full cut, half cut, etc.).

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 18, in the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, by the cutting line data generation condition input means for storing in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, When the cutting line data generation condition is input, the input cutting line data generation condition is written into the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the cutting line data generation condition writing unit. Therefore, since the cutting line data generation conditions can be set and input by the user, the cutting line data generation conditions can be customized as necessary, and the convenience can be improved.

  According to the cutting control device of the nineteenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the cutting control device according to the eighteenth aspect, the cutting line data generation condition and the object type are associated with each other, so that the cutting line data generation condition input is performed. When inputted by the means, the cutting line data generation condition writing means writes the inputted cutting line data generation condition in association with the object type into the cutting line data generation condition storage means. Therefore, since the cutting line data generation conditions can be set by the user for each object type, the cutting line data generation conditions can be customized for each object type, and the convenience can be improved. is there.

  According to the cutting control device of the twentieth aspect, in addition to the effect exerted by the cutting control device of the eighteenth or nineteenth aspect, the cutting line data generation condition is associated with at least one of the output format and the cutting condition. When the cutting line data generation condition input unit inputs, the cutting line data generation condition writing unit associates the input cutting line data generation condition with at least one of the output format and the cutting condition. It is written in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. Therefore, the cutting line data generation condition and the output format or at least one of the cutting conditions can be set and input by the user, so that the combination of the cutting line data generation condition and the output format or at least one of the cutting conditions can be combined as necessary. Can be customized and the convenience can be improved.

  According to the cutting control device according to claim 21, in addition to the effect of the cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, since the computer terminal is wired or wirelessly connected to the cutting device, Has the effect of being easily available.

  A cutting control program according to a twenty-second aspect is executed by a computer to cause cutting line data to be transmitted to a cutting device by a cutting line data transmission unit, and to cut the sheet material into a desired shape. The cutting apparatus includes a cutter and is connected to the computer.

  In order for the computer to generate the cutting line data based on one object included in the page description data, the cutting line data generation condition to be satisfied by the object is stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. Function. On the other hand, if one object is extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means, whether the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. It functions so as to be determined by the condition determining means. If it is determined by the condition determination means that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the object determined to be satisfied Based on this, the cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generation means, and the generated cutting line data is transmitted to the cutting apparatus by the data transmission means. As a result, the sheet material is cut by a cutting line according to the cutting line data generated by the cutting line generation data.

  The cutting control method according to claim 23 is connected to a cutting device having a cutter and cutting means for cutting the sheet material with a cutting line according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and cuts the sheet material into a desired shape. In this method, when one object is extracted from the page description data by the object extraction step, whether the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means It is determined by the condition determination step. When it is determined by the condition determination step that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit, the object is determined based on the object determined to be satisfied. The cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data generation process, and the generated cutting line data is transmitted to the cutting apparatus by the data transmission process. As a result, the sheet material is cut by a cutting line according to the cutting line data generated by the cutting line generation data.

  The “page description data” in the cutting control program according to claim 22 and the cutting control method according to claim 23 is created using software such as general document data creation software, spreadsheet software, graphic design software. When data is input to a general printer (for example, an inkjet printer) having only a printing function, the printer corresponds to each object such as a character object included in the data. This is data to be printed on the sheet material. The page description data is captured by a character object including character string data, a line object or graphic object described as a figure by one or more line segment data, a graphic object including drawing data, a scanner, or the like. An image object or the like including the read image data is appropriately arranged at a position desired by the user. When creating page description data using the above general software, these objects can be in the desired format (for example, character font typeface, character font size, line type, line thickness, color, etc.) It is easy to create a desired shape. It is also easy to arrange each object according to the design desired by the user when creating the page description data.

  Therefore, by an easy operation of incorporating a cutting data generation condition (for example, an object format or an object shape) stored in advance in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit for an object that the user desires to cut, Based on the object, for example, cutting line data that is cut along the contour of the object itself or the contour of the character font data included in the character object can be generated. Therefore, there is an effect that the cutting line data for cutting the sheet material into a desired shape can be generated by the cutting device by an easy operation. At that time, a cutting line for cutting a sheet material into a desired shape by a cutting device based on page description data created using general document data creation software or the like without using a dedicated application. Since data can be generated, there is an effect that convenience is high.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a cutting print system including a printer server 10 that functions as a cutting control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A cutting print system as shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a printer server 10, a personal computer 30 as a client connected to the printer server 10 (hereinafter referred to as “client PC 30”), and the printer server. The cutting printer 50 is provided.

  The printer server 10 print data that is data for printing on a sheet material (not shown) in the cutting printer 10 based on the input page description data by a data conversion process (see FIG. 8) described later, The cutting printer 10 generates cutting line data that is data corresponding to a cutting line for cutting a sheet material (not shown).

  Note that “page description data” is page-based data created using software such as general document data creation software, spreadsheet software, graphic design software, etc., and is a general printer having only a printing function ( For example, when the data is input to an inkjet printer, data corresponding to each object such as a character object included in the data is printed on the sheet material. The page description data is captured by a character object including character string data, a line object described as a graphic composed of one or more line segment data, a graphic object including drawing data, a scanner, or the like. An image object or the like including the read image data is appropriately arranged at a position desired by the user.

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer server 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, an HDD 14, an input unit 15, a display unit 16, and a network interface 17 (I) connected to a client PC 30 via a network 42. / F17) and a printer interface 18 (I / F18) connected to the cutting printer 50.

  The CPU 11 is a central processing process that comprehensively controls the printer server 10 and executes various programs such as a program that executes the processes shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.

  The ROM 12 is a non-rewritable memory that stores various control programs executed by the CPU 11 and data necessary for executing the control programs by the CPU 11. A program for executing the processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 18 is stored in the ROM 12.

  The RAM 13 is a memory for temporarily storing data and programs necessary for various processes executed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 includes a print data memory 13a and a cutting line data memory 13b. The print data memory 13a is a memory for storing print data generated from page description data as a result of data conversion processing (see FIG. 8) described later. The print data memory 13a and the print data will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The cutting line data memory 13b is a memory for storing cutting line data generated from page description data as a result of data conversion processing (see FIG. 8) described later. The cutting line data memory 13b and the cutting line data will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The HDD 14 is a hard disk, and includes a font condition management memory 14a, a line segment condition management memory 14b, a graphic condition management memory 14c, an image condition management memory 14d, an intra-character connection setting memory 14e, and an inter-character connection setting memory 14f. , An overlapping portion combination setting memory 14g, an overwrite portion erasing setting memory 14h, an uncut setting memory 14i, an inner cut setting memory 14j, and a font shape data memory 14k.

  The font condition management memory 14a is a memory for storing conditions to be satisfied in order to generate cutting line data based on the character object included in the page description data. The configuration of the memory is described with reference to FIG. It will be described later.

  The line segment condition management memory 14b is a memory for storing conditions to be satisfied in order to generate cut line data based on the line segment object included in the page description data. For the configuration of the memory, see FIG. 3B. However, it will be described later. In the present embodiment, the line object including the graphic object is hereinafter referred to as a line object.

  The graphic condition management memory 14c is a memory for storing conditions to be satisfied in order to generate cutting line data based on graphic objects included in the page description data. The configuration of the memory is described with reference to FIG. It will be described later.

  The image condition management memory 14d is a memory for storing conditions to be satisfied in order to generate the cutting line data based on the image object included in the page description data. The configuration of the memory is described with reference to FIG. It will be described later.

  Note that the conditions stored in the font condition management memory 14a, the line segment condition management memory 14b, the graphic condition management memory 14c, and the image condition management memory 14d, that is, the cutting line data based on the respective objects are satisfied. The power conditions are collectively referred to as “cutting line data generation conditions”.

  In the intra-character connection setting memory 14e, each part of one unit character (for example, characters such as “O”, “Toyo”, “j”, etc.) composed of a plurality of independent parts is integrated in the cutting printer 50. Whether or not to generate cutting line data by connecting parts in a character by a character font cutting line data generation process (see FIG. 11) described later (hereinafter referred to as “intra-character connection setting”). "). In the intra-character connection setting memory 14e, when the setting for generating the cutting setting data obtained by connecting the respective parts in the character is stored, each intra-character connection as described later with reference to FIG. Cutting line data in which the parts are connected is generated.

  The inter-character link setting memory 14f is a cut line data obtained by connecting adjacent characters so that the adjacent characters are integrally cut by the cutting printer 50 in a character font cutting line data generation process (see FIG. 11) described later. Is a memory for storing a setting (hereinafter referred to as “inter-character link setting”). In the inter-character link setting memory 14f, when a setting for generating cutting line data connecting adjacent characters is stored, adjacent characters as described later with reference to FIG. 5B are connected. Cutting line data is generated.

  The overlapping portion connection setting memory 14g deletes the cutting line data included in the overlapping portion from the cutting line data memory 13b with respect to the objects overlapping each other, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6C and 12. On the other hand, a setting for generating new cutting line data by combining cutting line data not included in the overlapping part (corresponding to “cutting line data not included in the overlapping part” in the claims) (hereinafter, this setting) Is referred to as “overlapping portion connection setting”). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the intersections of the objects that overlap each other are included on the side that is not included in the overlapping part (the part that is not included in the overlapping part).

  The overwriting part erasure setting memory 14h is input first when an object that overlaps each other is overwritten, that is, when the overwritten object, that is, page description data, is created, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. Whether or not the setting for deleting the cutting line data included in the overlapping portion from the cutting line data memory 13b (hereinafter, this setting is referred to as “overwrite section deletion setting”) is effective. This is the memory that stores these.

  The uncutting setting memory 14i deletes the cutting line data corresponding to the uncut portion from the cutting line data memory 13b with respect to the generated cutting line data, as will be described later with reference to FIGS. This is a memory for storing whether or not a setting to be performed (hereinafter, this setting is referred to as “uncut setting”) is valid.

  As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 6D and 3, the inner cut setting memory 14 j is configured to generate cutting line data such that the inner side of the contour of the object that satisfies the cutting line data generation condition is cut ( Hereinafter, this setting is referred to as “inside cut setting”), and the distance between the contour of the object and the cutting line data generated inside the object when this inner cut setting is valid. This is a memory for storing a set value (hereinafter referred to as “offset”).

  The font shape data memory 14k is a memory for storing font shape data indicating the outline shape of a character font (hereinafter referred to as "output character font") output from the printer server 10 to the cutting printer 50. Note that the number of font shape data stored in the font shape data memory 14k corresponds to the number of output character fonts registered so as to be usable in the printer server 10, and the output character font is a predetermined number by the user. Depending on the operation, registration or deregistration is performed as appropriate.

  If the font shape data of the output character font corresponding to the character font (hereinafter referred to as “input character font”) included in the page description data input from the client PC 30 exists in the font shape data memory 14k, cutting is performed. In the printer 50, a character having a shape corresponding to the input character font is printed or the outline of the character having a shape corresponding to the input character font is cut. The “font shape data” is data determined by the font of the character font and the size of the character font.

  The input unit 15 is also used to input data or commands to the printer server 10 and includes a keyboard and a mouse. The display unit 16 displays characters, images, and the like in order to visually confirm the processing contents executed by the printer server 10 and input data, and is configured by, for example, a CRT display or a liquid crystal display. Has been.

  The I / F 17 (network interface 17) connects the printer server 10 to the network 42 and controls data input / output with the client PC 30 via the network 42.

  The I / F 18 (the printer interface 18) connects the printer server 10 and the cutting printer 50, and the printer server 10 passes through the I / F 18 so that a print command based on print data and a cutting line are connected. A cut command based on the data can be transmitted to the cutting printer 50 to cause the cutting printer 50 to execute printing on the sheet material and cutting of the sheet material.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 11, ROM 12, RAM 13, HDD 14, input unit 15, display unit 16, I / F 17, and I / F 18 are connected to each other via a bus line 19. Has been.

  On the other hand, the client PC 30 connected to the printer server 10 described above via the network 42 includes a CPU 31, ROM 32, RAM 33, HDD 34, input unit 35, display unit 36, and printer server via the network 42. Network interface 37 (I / F 37) connected to the network 10.

  In the above-described configuration of the client PC 30, the CPU 31 controls the operation of the client PC 30 and executes various programs. The ROM 32 is a memory in which a program for controlling the operation of the client PC 30 is stored, and the RAM 33 is a readable / writable memory for temporarily storing data necessary for the processing of the CPU 31.

  The HDD 34 is a hard disk, and stores a drawing application for creating drawing data. The input unit 35 is configured by a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is used for inputting commands such as data and a print instruction command to the client PC 30. The display unit 35 is configured by a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, and the like, and performs various processes. The contents and input data are visually confirmed. The I / F 37 connects a client PC to the network 42 and controls data input / output with the printer server 10 via the network 42.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 31, the ROM 32, the RAM 33, the HDD 34, the input unit 35, the display unit 36, and the I / F 37 are connected to each other via a bus line 38.

  In the client PC 30 configured as described above, when a drawing application stored in the HDD 34 is started, page description data of a design desired to be printed and cut by the cutting printer 50 is created by an input operation by the input unit 35. When the page description data created in this way is output from the I / F 37 to the printer server 10 by the input of a print instruction command by the input unit 35, the page description data is input to the printer server 10 via the network 42.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which one client PC 30 is connected to the network 42. However, the number of client PCs 30 connected to the printer server 10 is not limited to one, and may be a plurality. Also good. Further, when there is one client PC 30, the client PC 30 and the printer server 10 may be directly connected without using the network 42.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cutting printer 50 connected to the printer server 10 includes a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, a sheet conveying motor 54, a carriage motor 55, a cutter vertical drive solenoid 56, and a print head. 58 and a printer interface 57 (I / F 57) connected to the printer server 10.

  In the above configuration of the cutting printer 50, the CPU 51 controls the operation of the cutting printer 50, and executes various programs such as a program for executing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. The ROM 52 is a memory in which a program for controlling the operation of the cutting printer 50 is stored. Here, a program for executing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 19 is stored in the ROM 52. The RAM 53 is a readable / writable memory for temporarily storing data necessary for the processing of the CPU 51.

  The sheet transport motor 54 is a stepping motor for transporting a sheet material arranged at a predetermined position of the cutting printer 50 in the direction from upstream to downstream or vice versa, and its movement is controlled by the CPU 51. The carriage motor 55 includes a carriage (not shown) on which a cutter (not shown) and the print head 58 are mounted, a starting point that is an initial position of the carriage in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction by the sheet conveyance motor 54, and a cutter moving section. This is a stepping motor for driving to reciprocate between an end point which is a limit position on the opposite side to the start point, and its movement is controlled by the CPU 51. The cutter vertical drive solenoid 56 is a solenoid for moving the cutter up and down between a lower position where the cutter blade comes into contact with the sheet material and an upper position where the cutter blade is separated from the sheet material. Is done. The print head 58 is an ink jet head provided with a plurality of nozzles and actuators (all not shown), and prints predetermined characters or patterns by ejecting ink from the nozzles by driving an actuator controlled by the CPU 51. It is. The I / F 57 (printer interface 57) connects the cutting printer 50 and the printer server 10, and a print command and a cut command are input from the printer server 10 via the I / F 57.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 51, ROM 52, RAM 53, sheet conveyance motor 54, carriage motor 55, cutter vertical drive solenoid 56, print head 58, and I / F 57 described above are bus lines 58. Are connected to each other.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which only one cutting printer 50 is connected to the printer server 10, but the number of cutting printers 50 connected to the printer server 10 is not limited to one, and a plurality of cutting printers 50 may be connected. It may be a stand. Further, the cutting printer 50 and a printer that performs only printing may be mixed and connected.

  Next, print data and cutting line data generated by the printer server of the present invention based on page description data created by the user will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the print data and the cutting line data. FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically showing the print data stored in the print data memory 13a, and FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the cutting line data stored in the cutting line data memory 13b.

  The print data stored in the print data memory 13a is a pixel value of each pixel P constituting one page as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, CMYK values that express colors by the blending ratio of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are used as pixel values.

  In FIG. 2A, in order to facilitate understanding, the printing result by the cutting printer 50 based on the printing data for one page stored in the printing data memory 13a is also illustrated. The print data shown in FIG. 2A, the letter M “Daiyoshi” is printed in black, and a black ellipse G below the letter M is obtained as a result of printing by the cutting printer 50. In this case, print data in which the pixel value of the pixel P corresponding to the character M and the ellipse G is black (K = 100) is stored in the print data memory 13a.

  When print data is generated in the conversion process for each object (see FIGS. 9, 14, 16, and 18), the generated print data is stored in the print data memory 13a. The print data stored in the print data memory 13a is converted into a printer command when the data conversion process (see FIG. 8) is executed for all page description data for one page, and the cutting printer 50 is converted. Sent to. When the printer command is transmitted to the cutting printer 50, the cutting printer 50 performs printing on the sheet material according to the printer command, that is, according to the print data (see FIG. 19).

  The cutting line data stored in the cutting line data memory 13b includes, as shown in FIG. 2B, the coordinates of the cut start point Cs that represents the start point of one cutting line and the coordinates of the cut end point Ce that represents the end point of the cutting line. This is data in which the combination of and is one unit. The cut start point Cs and the cut end point Ce correspond to the X coordinate data indicating the position in the width direction of the sheet material and the direction orthogonal to the width direction in the sheet material (the sheet material conveyance direction by the sheet conveyance motor 54). ) Data indicating the position of ().

  In FIG. 2B, a set of the first cut start point Cs1 that is the coordinates (0, 100) and the first cut end point Ce1 that is the coordinates (20, 100), and the coordinates (20, 100). Each pair of the second cut start point Cs2 and the second cut end point Ce2 having coordinates (100, 100) is one cutting line data. Each time the cutting line data is generated by the cutting line data adding process (see FIG. 12), the generated cutting line data is sequentially added to the cutting line data memory 13b.

  The cutting line data stored in the cutting line data memory 13b is converted into a cut command when the data conversion process (see FIG. 8) is executed for all page description data for one page. This cut command includes the coordinates of the cut start point Cs and the cut end point Ce corresponding to one cutting line, a command for instructing the cutter blade to be lowered and brought into contact with the sheet material at the cut start point Cs, and the cut end point. And a command for instructing to raise the cutter blade in Ce. When the generated cut command is transmitted to the cutting printer 50, the sheet material is cut by the cutting printer 50 according to the cut command, that is, by a cutting line corresponding to the cutting line data (see FIG. 19).

  Next, cutting line data generation conditions set for each type of object will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data stored in the font condition management memory 14a. As shown in FIG. 3A, the data stored in the font condition management memory 14a includes the conversion condition J (corresponding to the “cutting line data generation condition” in the claims) input by the user and the conversion condition. This is data in which a management number for managing J is associated.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the character object format (“typeface”, “size”, “font color”) is stored for one management number as the conversion condition J for the character object. . Here, the “typeface” is specified by the type of a typeface of a character font such as Misugi Gothic (registered trademark) or Wazakura Mincho (registered trademark). The “size” is designated by a numerical value in point (pt) units. The “font color” is specified by a CMYK value.

  FIG. 3A shows a state in which two types of conversion conditions J are managed by two management numbers “F1” and “F2” in the font condition management memory 14a. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the font condition management memory 14a, each management number is generated as a result of the character font cutting line data generation process described later with reference to FIG. When cutting one cutting line corresponding to one cutting line data as a cutting condition C at the time of cutting executed in the cutting printer 50 according to the cutting line data, the cutter is changed to the one cutting line. On the other hand, “the number of times of cutting” that is the number of times of cutting and “the speed of cutting” that is the speed at which the cutter moves when the sheet material is cut are stored. Further, in the font condition management memory 14a, each management number has a CMYK value of the character font color that is actually printed at the time of printing executed by the cutting printer 50, together with the conversion condition J, as an output setting O. Stored.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, a character object that satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number “F1”, that is, a character object whose typeface is A Gothic, whose size is 60 pt, and whose font color is K = 25%. In the cutting printer 50, cutting at a normal cutting speed is executed once, and the font color is replaced with K = 100% for printing.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b. As shown in FIG. 3B, the data stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b associates the conversion condition J registered (input) by the user with the management number for managing the conversion condition J. It is data.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, as the conversion condition J for the line segment object, the shape of the line segment object and the format of the line segment object (“line type”, “line thickness”, “line color”) Are stored for one management number. Here, the “line type” is specified by the type of line segment such as a solid line, a dotted line, a one-dot chain line, and the like. The “line thickness” is specified by a numerical value in units of points (pt). The “line color” is specified by the CMYK value.

  FIG. 3B shows a state in which three types of conversion conditions J are managed by the three management numbers “L1”, “L2”, and “L3” in the line segment condition management memory 14b. . As shown in FIG. 3B, in the line segment condition management memory 14b, each management number is generated together with the conversion condition J as a result of the line segment object conversion process described later with reference to FIG. As the cutting condition C at the time of cutting executed by the cutting printer 50 in accordance with the cutting line data, “the number of cuts” and “the cutting speed” are stored.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, a line segment object satisfying the conversion condition J of the management number “L1”, that is, a line segment object having a circle shape, is cut by the cutting printer 50 at a normal cutting speed. Executed once.

  FIG. 3C is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data stored in the graphic condition management memory 14c. As shown in FIG. 3C, the data stored in the graphic condition management memory 14c is data in which the conversion condition J registered (input) by the user is associated with the management number for managing the conversion condition J. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, as the conversion condition J for the graphic object, the shape of the graphic object and “internal color” which is one of the graphic object formats are stored for one management number. Yes. Here, the “internal color” is a color that is colored in the area of the graphic object, and is designated by a CMYK value.

  FIG. 3C shows a state in which two types of conversion conditions J are managed by two management numbers “G1” and “G2” in the graphic condition management memory 14c. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, in the graphic condition management memory 14c, each management number, together with the conversion condition J, is a cut generated as a result of the graphic object conversion process described later with reference to FIG. As the cutting condition C at the time of cutting executed in the cutting printer 50 according to the line data, “the number of cuts” and “the cut speed” are stored. Further, in the graphic condition management memory 14c, each management number includes a conversion condition J and a color to be replaced with the internal color that is the conversion condition J at the time of printing executed by the cutting printer 50 as the output time setting O. CMYK values are stored.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, a graphic object satisfying the conversion condition J of the management number “G2”, that is, (C, M, Y, K) = (4, 3, 2, 1) in the area. A graphic object including a color is cut at a normal cutting speed once in the cutting printer 50 and is colored with (C, M, Y, K) = (4, 3, 2, 1). Are replaced with K = 100% and printed.

  FIG. 3D is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data stored in the image condition management memory 14d. As shown in FIG. 3D, the data stored in the image condition management memory 14d is data in which the conversion condition J registered (input) by the user is associated with the management number for managing the conversion condition J. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 3D, as the conversion condition J for the image object, the shape of the image object is stored for one management number. FIG. 3D shows a state in which one type of conversion condition J is managed by one management number “I1” in the image condition management memory 14d. Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, in the image condition management memory 14d, the management number “I1” is generated together with the conversion condition J as a result of the image object conversion process described later with reference to FIG. As the cutting condition C at the time of cutting executed in the cutting printer 50 in accordance with the cutting line data, “the number of cuts” and “the cutting speed” are stored.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, an image object that satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number “I1”, that is, an image object whose shape is rectangular, is cut once at the normal cutting speed in the cutting printer 50. Executed.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the screen display and registration method when the conversion condition J is registered as a user will be described. FIG. 4A is a diagram of an initial screen 160A displayed on the display unit 16 when the conversion condition J is registered as a user. As shown in FIG. 4A, a tree display 161 of conversion conditions J set for each object is displayed on the left side of the initial screen 160A. The tree display 161 allows the user to visually recognize the state of the conversion condition J set for each object (character object (font), line segment object, graphic object, image object).

  In this embodiment, for ease of explanation, “font condition 1” and “font condition 2”, which are the end portions of the branches in the tree display 161, are conversion conditions managed by the management number F1, respectively. It is assumed that it corresponds to the conversion condition J (refer to FIG. 3A) managed by J and the management number F2. Similarly, “line segment condition 1” to “line segment condition 3” which are the ends of branches in the tree display 161 are conversion conditions managed by the management number L1, the management number L2, and the management number L3, respectively, in this order. It corresponds to J (both refer to FIG. 3B). “Graphic condition 1” and “Graphic condition 2” correspond to the conversion condition J managed by the management number G1 and the conversion condition J managed by the management number G2, respectively (see FIG. 3C). Further, “image condition 1” corresponds to the conversion condition J (see FIG. 3D) managed by the management number I1.

  Further, the rightmost priority order 161a in the tree display 161 is a conversion condition (specifically, FIG. 3) that is confirmed in various conversion processes to be described later with reference to FIG. 9, FIG. 14, FIG. This corresponds to the priority order of the conversion conditions J) stored in the respective management condition memories 14a to 14d shown in (a) to (d). This priority is determined by moving (for example, dragging and dropping) a display portion such as “font condition 1”, which is the end of the branch in the tree display 161, by operating the mouse (part of the input unit 15). Can be changed.

  On the right side of the tree display 161, a display 162 for adding conversion conditions is displayed. In this display 162, the type of the object for which the conversion condition is desired to be added is input in the input box 162a for inputting the type of the object. When inputting the type of object for which the conversion condition is desired to be added to the input box 162a, when the button 162a1 on the right side of the input box 162a is pressed, the selection item 162a2 is displayed as a pull-down menu. When the user selects the type of the object for which the conversion condition is desired to be added from the selection items 162a2 and then presses the button 162b, a screen for setting the conversion condition J in detail is shown in FIG. ) Is displayed.

  Further, below the display 162, a display 163 for setting various conditions for generating cutting line data from the page description data is displayed. The user can check an item for which the setting is desired to be valid for the check box 163a in the display 163. When the button 164 below the display 163 is pressed while the check box 163a is checked, in the main processing described later with reference to FIG. 7, the setting memories 14e to 14e corresponding to the checked items are displayed. 14j (see FIG. 1) stores that the setting of the item is valid. In the display 131, the item “intra-character connection” corresponds to the intra-character connection setting memory 14e, the item “inter-character connection” corresponds to the inter-character connection setting memory 14f, and the item “overlapping part combination” is the overlapping part connection setting. Corresponding to the memory 14g, the item “overwrite part erase” corresponds to the overwrite part erase setting memory 14h, the item “uncut setting” corresponds to the uncut setting memory 14i, and the item “inner cut” corresponds to the inner cut setting memory 14j. Corresponding to On the right side of the item “inner cut” in the display 131, an input box 163b for inputting a set value of the distance between the contour of the object and the cutting line data is provided, and the item is stored in the inner cut setting memory 14j. When the setting is validated, the value input in the input box 163b is stored as a setting value for the distance between the contour of the object and the cutting line data.

  As described above, when the type of the object for which the conversion condition is desired to be added is selected from the selection items 162a2, when the button 162b is pressed, a screen for setting the conversion condition J in detail is displayed. FIG. 4B is a screen 160B displayed on the display unit 16 when an instruction to add conversion conditions for a character object (font) is given.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, a conversion condition J (font typeface, font size, font color) that can be set for a character object (font) is set on the upper side of the screen 160B. Display 165 is displayed. This display 165 has three input boxes for inputting the conversion condition J, that is, an input box 165a for inputting a font face, an input box 165b for inputting a font size, and a font color. Input boxes 165c and buttons 165a1, 165b1, 165c1 displayed adjacent to the right side of each of the input boxes 165a-165c. When these buttons 165a1, 165b1, and 165c1 are pressed, for example, when the button 165a1 is pressed, a pull-down menu 165a1 is displayed, and the user can input a desired conversion condition J. The pull-down menu such as the pull-down menu 165a1 includes not only an item for selecting a predetermined value but also an item for allowing an arbitrary value by the user to be input on another screen.

  Below the display 165, a display 166 for setting the cutting condition C is displayed. In this display 166, in the input box 166a for inputting the number of times of cutting as the cutting condition C and the input box 166b for inputting the cutting speed, the input boxes 166a to 166b are similar to the display 165 described above. A cutting condition C desired by the user can be input from a button provided adjacent to each right side and a pull-down menu displayed when the button is pressed.

  Further, an input box 167 for inputting a font color at the time of output is provided as an output time setting O below the display 166. As in the case of the above-described display 165, the user operates a button provided adjacent to the right side of the input box 167 and a pull-down menu displayed when the button is pressed to set a desired output time setting. O can be entered.

  A button 168 is provided on the lower right side of the screen 160B, and the user presses the button 168 after inputting a desired value in the input boxes 165a1, 165b1, 165ac1, 166a1, 166b1, 167. In the main process to be described later with reference to FIG. 7, the values input to the input boxes 165a1, 165b1, 165ac1, 166a1, 166b1, 167 in the font condition management memory 14a are associated with the new management number. Stored. Note that the line condition management memory 14b and the graphic condition management are also performed for the line object, graphic object, and image object by the same screen operations as those of the character object described above with reference to FIG. The memory 14c, the image condition management memory 14d, the conversion condition J desired by the user, the cutting condition C, the output time setting O, and the management number can be stored in association with each other.

  Next, an output result of the cutting printer 50 corresponding to the settings stored in the intra-character linkage setting memory 14e or the inter-character linkage setting memory 14f will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A is a diagram for explaining the output result of the cutting printer 50 when the intra-character connection setting memory 14e stores that the intra-character connection setting is invalid, and FIG. It is a figure explaining the output result in the cutting printer 50 in the case where it is stored in the intra-character link setting memory 14e that the intra-character link setting is valid.

  The left side in FIGS. 5A and 5B shows the print results when the cutting printer 50 prints the character M1, which is one of the character objects included in the page description data. ing. As shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the character “M” “O” is composed of two independent parts, a character part M1a and a character part M1b. 5A and 5B, the character object including the character M1 satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the font condition management memory 14a by the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) described later. It shall be described in the form.

  When it is stored in the intra-character link setting memory 14e that the intra-character link setting is invalid, as a result of a character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) described later, as shown on the right side in FIG. In addition, cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line CL1a corresponding to the outline of the character part M1a which is a part of the character M1 and the cutting line CL1b corresponding to the outline of the character part M1b which is the remaining part are generated. . In this case, as a result of cutting by the cutting printer 50, the character part M1a cut out by the cutting line CL1a and the character part M1b cut out by the cutting line CL1b are cut out separately.

  In order to make the drawing easy to see, the character M1 on the right side in FIG. 5A is represented only by the cutting lines CL1a and CL1b, and the colors for coloring the characters M1 (character parts M1a and character parts M1b) are hatched. Omitted by calling. However, in the printing result by the cutting printer 50, the hatched portion is colored in the same manner as the character M1 on the left side in FIG. Similarly, the hatched portion of the right character M1 in FIG. 5B is colored in the same manner as the character M1 shown on the left side in FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is stored in the intra-character link setting memory 14e that the intra-character link setting is valid, as a result of the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) described later, the right side of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line CL2 in which the character part M1a and the character part M1b constituting the character M1 are integrally cut is generated. Therefore, as a result of cutting by the cutting printer 50, the character part M1a and the character part M1b in the character M1 are cut out integrally without being cut out separately, so that one of the character part M1a or the character part M1b is lost and one character is lost. It is possible to prevent the failure.

  Further, when the character part M1a and the character part M1b in the character M1 are cut out separately, when the character M1 is restored using the separated character part M1a and the character part M1b, the balance of the positional relationship between them is balanced. It may collapse and impair the beauty. However, as shown in FIG. 5B, the character part M1a and the character part M1b in the cut-out character M1 are printed according to the data of the character font corresponding to the character M1 (corresponding to the portion where the hatched portion is printed). Therefore, the positional relationship between the character part M1a and the character part M1b is maintained in a state in which the most appropriate positional relationship is maintained, so that it is possible to prevent the appearance of the entire character M1 from being prevented.

  FIG. 5C is a diagram for explaining an output result of the cutting printer 50 when the inter-character link setting memory 14f stores that the inter-character link setting is valid.

  The left side in FIG. 5C shows a printing result when the cutting printer 50 prints the two adjacent characters M2 and M3 in the character object included in the page description data. Yes. In FIG. 5C, the character objects including the characters M2 and M3 are described in a format that satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the font condition management memory 14a by a character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) described later. It is assumed that

  When it is stored in the inter-character link setting memory 14f that the inter-character link setting is invalid, as a result of the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) described later, a cutting line corresponding to the outline of the character M2 is displayed. Corresponding cutting line data and cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line corresponding to the outline of the character M3 are generated. Therefore, the character M2 and the character M3 are separated and cut by the cutting printer 50.

  On the other hand, if it is stored in the inter-character link setting memory 14f that the inter-character link setting is valid, as a result of the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) described later, the right side of FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line in which the character M2 and the character M3 are integrally cut is generated. Specifically, the character M2 and the character M3 are integrally cut by adding the cutting line CL3 corresponding to the character connection base.

  Therefore, as a result of cutting by the cutting printer 50, the adjacent character M2 and character M3 are integrally cut, so that one of the character M2 or the character M3 can be prevented from being lost. For example, as shown in FIG. 5C, this is useful when it is desired to cut (cut out) a group of characters having a single unit such as “Inoue”, which is a personal name. Further, it is possible to cut out each character while maintaining the character spacing of a group of characters having one unit as designed at the time of creating the page description data.

  Next, referring to FIG. 6, the line segments in the cutting printer 50 according to the settings stored in the overlapping portion combination setting memory 14g, the overwriting portion erasing setting memory 14h, the uncut setting memory 14i, and the inner cut setting memory 14j. The output result of the object will be described.

  In FIG. 6A, it is stored that the overlapping portion combination setting memory 14g stores invalid information about the overlapping portion combination setting, while the overwriting portion deletion setting memory 14h indicates that the overwriting portion deletion setting is valid. It is a figure explaining the output result in the cutting printer 50 in the case where is stored. In FIG. 6A, the oval first line segment object OB1 and the oval second line segment object OB2 that are overlapped with each other are the first input at the time of page description data creation. Assume that the first line segment object OB1 is overwritten with the second line segment object OB2. In FIG. 6A, both the first line segment object OB1 and the second line segment object OB2 are stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b by a line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14) described later. It is assumed that it is described in a format that satisfies the conversion condition J.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, it is stored in the overlap portion combination setting memory 14g that the overlap portion combination setting is invalid, while the overwrite portion deletion setting memory 14h has the overwrite portion deletion setting valid. Is stored in the overlapping portion OV in the first line segment object OB1 by a cutting line data addition process (see FIG. 12) and a line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14) described later. Cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line CL5 corresponding to the contour of the part not to be processed and the cutting line CL6 corresponding to the contour of the second line segment object OB2 is generated.

  In addition, it is stored in the overlap portion combination setting memory 14g that the overlap portion combination setting is invalid, and on the other hand, the overwrite portion deletion setting memory 14h stores that the overwrite portion deletion setting is valid. In some cases, neither cutting line data nor print data corresponding to the portion IG1 included in the overlapping portion OV in the first line segment object OB1 overwritten by the second line segment object OB2 is generated. .

  In this case, in the cutting printer 50, first, the cutting line CL5 is cut, and then the cutting line CL6 is cut. As a result, the first line segment object OB1 and the second line segment object OB2 having a shape in which the overlapping portion OV is beaten are cut out.

  FIG. 6B is a diagram for explaining the output result of the cutting printer 50 when the overlapping portion combination setting memory 14g stores that the overlapping portion combination setting is valid. In FIG. 6B, the first elliptical line segment object OB1 and the second elliptical line segment object OB2 that are overlapped with each other were written first when the page description data was created. Assume that the first line segment object OB1 is overwritten with the second line segment object OB2. In FIG. 6B, both the first line segment object OB1 and the second line segment object OB2 are stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b by a line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14) described later. It is assumed that it is described in a format that satisfies the conversion condition J.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, when it is stored in the overlapping portion combination setting memory 14g that the overlapping portion combination setting is invalid, a cutting line data addition process (see FIG. 12) described later, In the first line segment object OB1 and the second line segment object OB2, cut line data corresponding to the cut line CL7, which is a cut line obtained by combining portions not included in the overlapping portion OV, is generated. Further, when it is stored in the overlap portion combination setting memory 14g that the overlap portion combination setting is valid, the cutting line corresponding to the portion IG2 included in the overlap portion OV in the first line segment object OB1. Neither data nor print data is generated. Further, neither the cutting line data nor the print data is generated for the part IG3 included in the overlapping part OV in the second line segment object OB2.

  In this case, the cutting line CL7 is cut in the cutting printer 50. As a result, the first line segment object OB1 and the second line segment object OB2 are cut into a combined shape.

  FIG. 6C is a diagram illustrating an output result of the cutting printer 50 when the inner cut setting memory 14j stores that the inner cut setting is valid. In FIG. 6C, it is assumed that the elliptical graphic object OB3 satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the graphic condition management memory 14c by the graphic object conversion process (see FIG. 16) described later.

  As shown in FIG. 6C, when the inside cut setting memory 14j stores that the inside cut setting is valid, the graphic object OB3 is drawn by the graphic object conversion process (see FIG. 16). Print data corresponding to the print portion GP corresponding to the data (the hatched portion in FIG. 6C) is generated. Further, the cutting line data changing process (see FIG. 13), which will be described later, is substantially parallel to the outline OL of the line segment object OB3 by the offset amount (5 mm in this embodiment) stored in the inner cut setting memory 14j. The cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line CL8 changed to the inner peripheral side is obtained.

  In this case, in the cutting printer 50, first, the print portion GP corresponding to the drawing data of the graphic object OB3 is printed, and then the cutting line CL9 is cut. Accordingly, when the inner cut setting memory 14j stores that the inner cut setting is valid, the inner peripheral side of the graphic object OB3 is cut as shown in FIG. Even when a cutting position error occurs in 50, it is possible to prevent a portion (non-printing portion) that does not include the printing portion GP from being generated in the cutout portion of the graphic object OB3. In addition, even when page description data has been created so that a line segment corresponding to the outline OL of the graphic object OB3 is printed or in the case of a line segment object, an error in the cutting position in the cutting printer 50 has occurred. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the line segment corresponding to the contour OL from being printed in an irregular manner on the cut-out portion of the graphic object OB3. As a result, it is possible to prevent the beauty of the cut-out portion from being impaired.

  FIG. 6D is a diagram for explaining the output result of the cutting printer 50 when the uncut setting memory 14i stores that the uncut setting is valid. In FIG. 6D, it is assumed that the line segment object OB4 satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b by a line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14) described later.

  As shown in FIG. 6D, when it is stored in the uncut setting memory 14i that the uncut setting is valid, the line segment is changed by a cutting line data change process (see FIG. 13) described later. Cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line CL10 corresponding to the contour portion excluding the uncut portion IG4 in the object OB4 is generated. On the other hand, print data corresponding to the print line PL corresponding to the uncut portion IG4 which is a part of the line segment object OB4 is generated. In this case, in the cutting printer 50, first, the printing line PL is printed, and then the cutting line CL10 is cut.

  Therefore, when it is stored in the uncut setting memory 14i that the uncut setting is valid, as shown in FIG. 6D, a part of the line segment object OB4 (uncut portion IG4) is stored. Since it is left uncut and cut, this line segment object OB4 can be held without being separated from the sheet material even after cutting. For the line segment object OB4 that is not separated from the sheet material, the line segment object OB4 can be separated from the sheet material by tearing the uncut portion IG4 by hand, cutting with scissors, or the like, if necessary. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the line object OB4 after being disconnected from being lost. In this case, since the print line PL corresponding to the uncut portion IG4 is printed, it can be a guide line when the line segment object OB4 is cut off. Therefore, even when the uncut portion IG4 is cut by the user's hand, the shape of the line segment object OB4 can be prevented from being damaged. Note that it is possible to configure so that print data corresponding to the print line PL corresponding to the uncut portion IG4 is not generated in the line object conversion process (see FIG. 14) described later. Print data corresponding to the print line PL corresponding to the portion IG4 is not generated, and the uncut portion IG4 is left unprinted.

  Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 18, a process of generating print data and cutting line data from page description data, which is executed in the printer server 10 of the first embodiment configured as described above. explain.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of main processing executed by the printer server 10. This main process is a process that starts when the printer server 10 is turned on. First, it is confirmed whether there is a request for writing conditions and / or settings (S1). In S1, the “condition” is the conversion condition J or the cutting condition C, and the “setting” is the output setting O, the intra-character connection setting, the inter-character connection setting, the overlapping part combination setting, the overwriting part erasure setting, Uncut settings and inside cut settings.

  As a result of checking in S1, if there is a request to write a condition or setting, that is, the button 164 (see FIG. 4A) on the initial screen 160 displayed on the display unit 16 is pressed, or the button 168 ( If the user presses the button (see FIG. 4B) (S1: Yes), the conditions and / or settings requested to be written to the corresponding memory (management memories 14a to 14d, setting memories 14e to 14j) are set. Store (S2), and proceed to S3.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S1, if there is no request for writing conditions or settings (S1: No), the process of S2 is skipped and the process proceeds to S3.

  In the process of S3, it is confirmed whether page description data is input from the I / F 37 of the client PC 30 via the network 42 and the I / F 17. As a result of checking in the process of S3, if page description data is input (S3: Yes), a data conversion process for generating print data and cutting line data is executed for each object included in the page description data (S4). , The process proceeds to S5. The data conversion process (S4) will be described later with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, if no page description data is input as a result of the confirmation in the process of S3 (S3: No), the process of S4 is skipped and the process proceeds to S5.

  In the process of S5, for example, when a deletion request is made for some or all of the conditions or settings stored in the management memories 14a to 14d and the setting memories 14e to 14j, for example, by an operation by the user, Processing for deleting the condition or setting requested to be deleted from the management memories 14a to 14d and the setting memories 14e to 14j is executed. Then, after executing each process (S5), the process returns to S1, and the processes from S1 to S5 are repeated until the power is shut off.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the above-described data conversion process (S4). In this data conversion process (S4), first, the print data memory 13a and the cutting line data memory are initialized (S21), and it is confirmed whether a process interruption command is input (S22). Note that the processing interruption command confirmed in the processing of S22 is that font shape data corresponding to the character font input as page description data is stored in the font shape data memory in the character object conversion processing (see FIG. 9) described later. This is a command that is output when the print setting is not made with a substitute font.

  As a result of checking in the process of S22, if there is no input of the process interruption command (S22: No), it is checked whether there is an unprocessed object in the page description data (S23). If there is an unprocessed object in the page description data as a result of the confirmation in S23 (S23: Yes), one of the unprocessed objects included in the page description data is extracted (S27), and the extracted object It is confirmed whether or not the type is a character object (S28).

  As a result of checking in the process of S28, if the type of the extracted object is a character object (S28: Yes), a character object conversion process to be described later is executed with reference to FIG. 9 (S32), and the process returns to S22. .

  On the other hand, if the type of the extracted object is not a character object as a result of the confirmation in S28 (S28: No), it is confirmed whether the type of the extracted object is a line object (S29).

  If the extracted object type is a line segment object as a result of the confirmation in S29 (S29: Yes), a line object conversion process described later with reference to FIG. 14 is executed (S33), and the process in S22 is performed. Return to.

  On the other hand, if the extracted object type is not a line segment object as a result of the confirmation in S29 (S29: No), it is confirmed whether the extracted object type is an image object (S30).

  As a result of checking in the process of S30, if the type of the extracted object is an image object (S30: Yes), an image object conversion process to be described later is executed with reference to FIG. 18 (S34), and the process returns to S22. .

  On the other hand, if the type of the extracted object is not an image object as a result of checking in the process of S30 (S30: No), the extracted object is a graphic object, and will be described later with reference to FIG. The graphic object conversion process is executed (S31), and the process returns to S22. Therefore, the four objects included in the page description data are classified by the processes of S28 to S34, and the conversion process for each object is executed.

  Further, as a result of checking in the process of S23, if there is no unprocessed object in the page description data, that is, all objects (character object, line segment object, graphic object, image object) included in the page description data are extracted. If it is confirmed that the processing for each object has been executed (S23: No), the print data stored in the print data memory 14a is converted into a print command (S24), and the cutting line data memory 14b is converted. The cutting line data stored in is converted into a cut command (S25). After the process of S25, the print command converted from the print data and the cut command converted from the cutting line data are transmitted from the I / F 18 to the cutting printer 50 (S26). As a result of the processing of S26, the cutting printer 50 executes printing on the sheet material and cutting of the sheet material based on the print command and the cut command input via the I / F 57 (see FIG. 19).

  After the process of S26, the data conversion process (S4) is terminated. If the processing interruption command is input as a result of the confirmation in the processing of S22 (S22: Yes), the processing of S23 to S26 is skipped and the data conversion processing (S4) is ended.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the character object conversion process (S32) described above. In this character object conversion process (S32), first, it is confirmed whether the format of the character font constituting the character object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a (S41).

  As a result of checking in the process of S41, if the format of the character font constituting the character object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a (S41: No (not satisfied)), the character object It is checked whether the format of the character font that constitutes the condition satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a (S47).

  Details of the comparison between the format of the character font constituting the character object and the conversion condition J of the management number F1 or the management number F2 performed by the determination process of S41 or S47 will be described later with reference to FIG. . The order of the determination processing in S41 and S47 is the order of the priority order 161a of the conversion condition J managed by each management number (management number F1 or management number F2) in the font condition management memory 14a (see FIG. 4A). ).

  As a result of checking in the process of S47, when the format of the character font constituting the character object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a (S47: No (not satisfied)), the character Print data according to the character font in the object is generated and stored in the print data memory 13a (S46), and this character object conversion process (S32) is terminated. Therefore, when the format of the character font constituting the character object does not satisfy either the conversion condition J of the management number F1 or the conversion condition J of the management number F2, the character object is only printed by the cutting printer 50. .

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S41, when the format of the character font constituting the character object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a (S41: Yes (satisfy)). Then, it is confirmed whether the output setting O is set in the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a (S42).

  If the output setting O is set to the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a as a result of the confirmation in S42 (S42: Yes), the format in which the character font format is set as the output setting O is set. (S43), and the process proceeds to S44. In the process of S43, for example, when the character object satisfies the change condition J of the management number F1, the color of the character font is set as the output time setting O of the management number F1 from K = 25%. It is changed to 100%.

  On the other hand, if the output setting O is not set in the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a as a result of checking in the processing in S42 (S42: No), the processing in S43 is skipped and the processing proceeds to S44. To do.

  Further, as a result of checking in the process of S47, when the format of the character font constituting the character object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a (S47: Yes (satisfy)), It is confirmed whether the output setting O is set in the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a (S48).

  If the output setting O is set in the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a as a result of checking in the process in S48 (S48: Yes), the process proceeds to S43, while the font condition management memory 14a If the output time setting O is not set to the management number F2 in (No in S48), the process proceeds to S44.

  In the process of S44, it is confirmed whether the font shape data corresponding to the character font format exists in the font shape data memory 14k. If the font shape data corresponding to the character font format is present in the font shape data memory 14k as a result of the confirmation in S44 (S44: Yes), a character font cutting line data generation process to be described later with reference to FIG. 11 is performed. After executing and generating cutting line data (S45), the process proceeds to S46. Therefore, when the format of the character font constituting the character object satisfies either the conversion condition J of the management number F1 or the conversion condition J of the management number F2, and font shape data corresponding to the font shape data memory 14k exists. The character object is printed and cut by the cutting printer 50.

  On the other hand, if the font shape data corresponding to the character font format does not exist in the font shape data memory 14k as a result of the confirmation in S44 (S44: No), the visual display by the display unit 16 or not shown An error is notified by the sound output from the speaker (S49).

  After the process of S49, it is confirmed whether the print setting with the substitute font is set (S50). Note that “print setting by substitute font” means a font of an substitute font having a shape similar to the character font when the font shape data corresponding to the character font format does not exist in the font shape data memory 14k. This is a setting for printing using shape data.

  As a result of checking in the process of S50, if the print setting by the substitute font is set (S50: Yes), the font face in the character font format is changed to the corresponding substitute font face (S51), and the process of S46 Migrate to In this case, the cutting printer 50 performs printing with the substitute font.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S50, if the print setting by the substitute font is not made (S50: No), a process interruption command is output (S52), and this character object conversion process (S32) is ended. If a process interruption command is output as a result of the process of S52, the data conversion process ends even if an unprocessed object remains in the page description data in the above-described data conversion process (FIG. 9). .

  When the character object is cut using the format of the alternative font, the character using the alternative font sometimes does not match the original image, and in this case, the sheet material is wasted. Therefore, if the font shape data corresponding to the character font input as a part of the page description data does not exist in the font shape data memory 14k as a result of the processing of S44, S49 to S52, the character font cutting line data is generated. Since the process (S45) is skipped, even if the character font format satisfies either of the conversion condition J of the management number F1 or the conversion condition J of the management number F2, the character object is displayed as a cutting printer. Since it is not cut at 50, it is prevented that the sheet material is wasted because the cut character does not fit the image.

  Further, as a result of the processing of S49, when the font shape data corresponding to the character font input as part of the page description data does not exist in the font shape data memory 14k, the user is notified. The user can recognize that fact and forcibly terminate the data conversion process (see FIG. 8) by an operation such as a cancel button (not shown), if necessary, so that an expensive sheet material can be obtained. Can be wasted.

  FIG. 10 shows the comparison between the format of the character font constituting the character object and the conversion condition J of the management number F1 or the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a, which is performed by the determination process of S41 or S47 described above. FIG. FIG. 10A is a diagram for specifically explaining the determination process of S41 in the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9), and FIG. 10B is a diagram of S47 in the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9). It is a figure explaining a judgment process concretely.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, in the determination process S41, first, the font of the character font constituting the character object is A Gothic, which is one of the conversion conditions J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a. (S41a). If the character font typeface is A Gothic as a result of the confirmation in S41a (S41a: Yes), the size of the character font constituting the character object is the conversion condition J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a. It is confirmed whether it is one 60 pt (S41b).

  If the size of the character font is 60 pt as a result of checking in the processing of S41b (S41b: Yes), the color of the character font constituting the character object is 1 of the conversion condition J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a. It is confirmed whether K = 25% (S41c). If the color of the character font is K = 25% as a result of the confirmation in S41c (S41c: Yes), the character font format constituting the character object is the management number in the font condition management memory 14a in S41. It is determined that all the conversion conditions J of F1 are satisfied, and the process proceeds to S42 (see FIG. 9).

  On the other hand, if at least one of the following (1) to (3) is applicable, the format of the character font constituting the character object is converted into the conversion condition of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a in the process of S41. J is judged not to be satisfied, and the process proceeds to the process of S47 (see FIG. 9): (1) As a result of confirmation by the process of S41a, the character font typeface is not A Gothic (S41a: No), (2) When the character font size is not 60 pt as a result of the confirmation in S41b (S41b: No), and (3) the character font color is not K = 25% as a result of the confirmation in S41c (S41c: No).

  As shown in FIG. 10B, in the determination process S47, it is confirmed whether the color of the character font constituting the character object is K = 50%, which is the conversion condition J of the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a. (S47a). If the color of the character font is K = 50% as a result of the confirmation in S47a (S47a: Yes), the character font format that forms the character object in S47 is the management number in the font condition management memory 14a. It is determined that the conversion condition J of F2 is satisfied, and the process proceeds to S48 (see FIG. 9).

  On the other hand, if the color of the character font is not K = 50% as a result of the confirmation in S47a (S47a: No), the format of the character font constituting the character object is the font condition management memory 14a in S47. It is determined that the conversion condition J of the management number F2 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to S46 (see FIG. 9).

  In the conversion condition J of the management number F2 in the font condition management memory 14a, only the font color is set to “K = 50%”, and the font typeface and font size are set to “no setting”. (See FIG. 3 (a)). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10B, in the processing of S47, all character objects having the font color “K = 50%” as the format are processed as satisfying the conversion condition J. Therefore, by configuring the conversion condition J with a small number of conditions (particularly one), it is possible to easily specify a character object for which cutting line data is to be set.

  On the other hand, the conversion condition J of the management number F1 in the font condition management memory 14a is composed of three conditions of font typeface, size, and color. Therefore, as shown in FIG. If all these three conditions are not satisfied, the conversion condition J is not processed. Therefore, when the conversion condition J is constituted by a plurality of conditions, it is possible to suppress erroneous cutting due to erroneous input of the format.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the character font cutting line data generation process (S45) described above. In this character font cutting line data generation process (S45), first, font shape data corresponding to the character font format constituting the character object is obtained from the font shape data memory 14k, the font shape data is outlined, Data is generated (S61).

  After the process of S61, it is confirmed whether the character object includes a character (for example, “O”, “Toyo”, “j”, etc.) composed of a plurality of independent parts (S62). If the character is not included (S62: No), it is confirmed whether or not the character connection setting memory 14f stores that the character connection setting is valid (S65). As a result of checking in the process of S65, when it is stored in the inter-character link setting memory 14f that the inter-character link setting is invalid (S65: No), the cutting line data added later described with reference to FIG. Through the processing, cutting line data is added to the cutting line data memory 13b (S67), and this character font cutting line data generation process is terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation in the process of S62, if the character object includes a character composed of a plurality of independent parts, the character connection setting memory 14e stores that the character connection setting is valid. It is confirmed whether it is done (S63). As a result of checking in the process of S63, when it is stored in the intra-character link setting memory 14e that the intra-character link setting is valid (S63: Yes), the character is composed of a plurality of independent parts. Corresponding outline data is connected (S64), and the process proceeds to S65. The outline data linked in the process of S64 is the outline data generated by the process of S61. When the outline data corresponding to the characters composed of a plurality of independent parts are connected by the process of S64, the integrated characters are combined in the cutting printer 50 as described with reference to FIG. Will be disconnected.

  Further, as a result of checking in the process of S63, if it is stored in the intra-character connection setting memory 14e that the intra-character connection setting is invalid (S63: No), the process of S64 is skipped, and the process of S65 Transition to processing. In this case, as described with reference to FIG. 5A, in the cutting printer 50, a plurality of independent parts are cut out separately.

  On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation in the process of S65, when it is stored in the character connection setting memory 14f that the character connection setting is valid (S65: Yes), the outline corresponding to each character in the character object. The data is connected using the outline data of the character connection table (S66), and the process proceeds to S67. In the process of S67, the outline data connected using the character connection table is the outline data generated by the process of S61. When the outline data of each character corresponding to the character object is connected using the outline data of the character connection table by the processing of S66, as described with reference to FIG. The integrated character group is cut.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the cutting line data adding process (S67) described above. The cutting line data adding process (S67) is performed by first generating outline data generated by the character font cutting line data generation process (including outline data connected within characters and outline data connected between characters) Before the process of S67, it is confirmed whether there is an overlapping portion with the cutting line data stored in the cutting line data memory 13b (S81).

  If there is no overlapping portion as a result of checking in the process of S81 (S81: No), the outline data generated by the character font cutting line data generation process is added and stored as cutting data in the cutting line data memory 13b (S85). ), A cutting line data changing process described later with reference to FIG. 13 is executed (S86), and this cutting line data adding process (S67) is terminated.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S81, if there is an overlapping part (S81: Yes), it is determined that the object in which the cutting line data is stored in the cutting line data memory 13b is overlapped by the process of S81. The cutting line data corresponding to the object is extracted from the cutting line data memory 13b (S82).

  After the process of S82, it is confirmed whether or not the overwrite part deletion setting memory 14h stores that the overwrite part deletion setting is valid (S83). As a result of checking in the process of S83, if it is stored in the overwrite part erasure setting memory 14h that the overwrite part erasure setting is valid (S83: Yes), among the cutting line data extracted in the process of S82, S81 The cutting line data corresponding to the portion determined to overlap by the process (excluding the intersection portion) is deleted (S84). As a result of the process in S84, the cutting printer 50 performs cutting as described with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S83, if it is stored in the overwriting part erasure setting memory 14h that the overwriting part erasing setting is invalid (S83: No), the overlapping part coupling is stored in the overlapping part coupling setting memory 14g. It is confirmed whether the setting is stored as valid (S87).

  As a result of checking in the process of S87, if the overlapping part combination setting memory 14g stores that the overlapping part combination setting is valid (S87: Yes), the outline data generated by the character font cutting line data generation process The data of the part corresponding to the part determined to be overlapped by the process of S81 (excluding the intersection part) is deleted (S88), and the cut line data extracted by the process of S82 is determined to be overlapped by the process of S81. The cutting line data corresponding to the part (excluding the intersection part) is deleted (S89).

  After the processing of S89, the outline data remaining as a result of the processing of S88 and the cutting line data remaining as a result of the processing of S89 are combined to generate new outline data, and the new outline data is cut. It is added and stored as line data (S90).

  After the process of S90, the cutting line data corresponding to the object determined to overlap by the process of S81 is deleted from the cutting line data memory 13b (S91), and this cutting line data addition process (S67) is terminated. As a result of the processing of S88 to S91, the cutting as described with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation in the process of S87, if it is stored in the overlap part combination setting memory 14g that the overlap part combination setting is invalid (S87: No), the process proceeds to S85.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the cutting line data changing process (S86) described above. In the cutting line data changing process (S86), first, it is confirmed whether or not the uncut setting is stored in the uncut connection setting memory 14i (S101).

  As a result of checking in the processing of S101, if it is stored in the uncut connection setting memory 14i that the uncut setting is valid (S101: Yes), it is added to the cutting line data memory 13b by the processing of S85 or S90. Data corresponding to the part corresponding to the uncut part is deleted from the cutting line data (S102), and the process proceeds to S103. As a result of the processing of S102, the cutting printer 50 performs cutting as described with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the processing of S101, if it is stored in the uncut connection setting memory 14i that the uncut setting is invalid (S101: No), the processing of S102 is skipped and the processing proceeds to S103. Transition.

  In the process of S103, it is confirmed whether or not the inner cut setting memory 14j stores that the inner cut setting is valid. As a result of checking in the process of S103, if the inner cut setting memory 14j stores that the inner cut setting is valid (S103: Yes), the cutting added to the cutting line data memory 13b by the process of S85 or S90 The line data is rewritten to cutting line data that is changed substantially parallel to the inner circumference side of the cutting line data by an offset (5 mm in this embodiment) stored in the inner cut setting memory 14j (S104). The line data change process (S86) ends. As a result of the processing in S104, the cutting printer 50 performs cutting as described with reference to FIG.

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S103, if it is stored in the inner cut setting memory 14j that the inner cut setting is invalid (S103: No), the process of S104 is skipped, and this cutting line data change process (S86) ends.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the above-described line segment object conversion process (S33). In this line segment object conversion process (S33), first, a shape pattern recognition process is performed to obtain the shape of the line segment object (S121).

  In this shape pattern recognition process (S121), the number of line segments constituting the line segment object obtained based on each line segment data (that is, vector data) constituting the line segment object, the length of each line segment, and the adjacent line The shape of the line segment object is recognized based on information such as an angle formed by the minutes. For example, in the case of a line segment object that connects coordinates in the order of (100, 200) → (200, 200) → (200, 100) → (100, 100) → (100, 200), each line segment data Since (vector data) is a quadrangle that intersects at 90 degrees and the length of each side is 100, it is recognized as a square. Similarly, a shape specified by the length of each line segment, an angle formed by adjacent line segments, such as a polygon, a circle, or a star can also be recognized by the shape pattern recognition process (S121).

  After the process of S121, it is confirmed whether the line segment object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b (S122). Details of the comparison between the line segment object and the conversion condition J of the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b performed by the determination process in S122 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If the line object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b as a result of checking in the process of S122 (S122: Yes (satisfy)), the above-described cutting line data addition process (FIG. 12) is executed (S67). However, when the cutting line data addition processing (S67) is performed on the line segment object, the “generated outline data” in S81, S85, S88, and S90 is read as “line segment data of the line segment object”. Shall.

  After the cutting line data adding process (S67), print data according to the line segment data to be printed in the line object is generated and stored in the print data memory 13a (S123), and the line segment object conversion process ends. The “line segment data to be printed in the line segment object” is obtained by excluding data corresponding to the following from the line segment data constituting the line segment object: (1) Cutting line data adding process ( In S67 (see FIG. 12), the line segment data converted into the cutting line data and (2) the overlapping portion connection setting memory 14g stores that the overlapping portion connection setting is valid. Line segment data corresponding to the cut line data deleted by the process of S89 in the line data addition process (S67, see FIG. 12).

  On the other hand, as a result of confirmation in the process of S122, when the line segment object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b (S122: No (not satisfied)), the line segment object is Whether the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b is satisfied is confirmed (S124). Details of the comparison between the line segment object and the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b performed by the determination process in S124 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If the line object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line condition management memory 14b as a result of checking in the process of S124 (S124: Yes (satisfy)), the process proceeds to S67. On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S124, when the line segment object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b (S124: No (not satisfied)), the process proceeds to S125. Transition.

  In the process of S125, it is confirmed whether the line segment object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number L3 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. Details of the comparison between the line segment object and the conversion condition J of the management number L3 in the line segment condition management memory 14b performed by the determination processing in S125 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  As a result of checking in the process of S125, when the shape of the line segment object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b (S125: Yes (satisfy)), the process proceeds to S67. On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S125, when the line segment object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number L3 in the line segment condition management memory 14b (S125: No (not satisfied)), the process proceeds to S123. Transition. Therefore, when the line segment object does not satisfy any of the conversion conditions J of the management numbers L1 to L3, the line segment object is only printed by the cutting printer 50.

  As described above, according to this line segment object conversion process (S33), when the line segment object extracted from the page description data satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b, Cutting line data corresponding to the contour of the minute object is generated.

  In this line segment object conversion process (S33), the execution order of the determination processes S122, S124, and S125 for determining whether each conversion condition J stored in the line segment condition management memory 14b is satisfied is the line segment condition management memory. 14b corresponds to the order of priority 161a of the conversion condition J managed by each management number (any of the management numbers L1 to L3) (see FIG. 4A).

  FIG. 15 specifically describes the comparison between the line segment object and the conversion condition J managed for each management number in the line segment condition management memory 14b, which is performed by the determination processing of S122, S124, and S125 described above. FIG.

  FIG. 15A is a diagram for specifically explaining the determination process of S122 in the line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14), and FIG. 15B is a diagram in the line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14). It is a figure explaining the judgment process of S124 concretely, and is a figure explaining the judgment process of S125 in a line segment object conversion process (refer FIG. 14) concretely.

  As shown in FIG. 15A, in the determination process S122, the shape of the line object recognized by the shape pattern recognition process in S121 is stored as the conversion condition J in the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. Is confirmed, that is, whether it is a circle (S122a).

  If the shape of the line segment object is a circle as a result of the confirmation in S122a (S122a: Yes), the line segment object (specifically, the shape of the line segment object) is managed in the line segment condition management in S122. It is determined that the conversion condition J of the management number L1 in the memory 14b is satisfied, and the process proceeds to S67 (see FIG. 14).

  On the other hand, if the shape of the line segment object is not a circle as a result of confirmation in the process of S122a (S122a: No), the line object is converted into the conversion condition of the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b in the process of S122. J is determined not to be satisfied, and the process proceeds to S124 (see FIG. 14).

  As described above, since the conversion condition J of the management number L1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b is based on the condition that the shape of the line segment object is a circle, the line pattern is recognized by the shape pattern recognition process (see FIG. 14) in S122. If it is recognized that the shape of the minute object is a circle, the line object is processed as satisfying the conversion condition J in the process of S122. Therefore, as a result of a simple operation of creating a line segment object having the shape stored as the conversion condition J in the line segment condition management memory 14b in the page description data, the line segment object is stored in the cutting printer 50. Can be cut out.

  As shown in FIG. 15B, in the determination process S124, first, it is confirmed whether the line type of the line segment object is a dotted line which is one of the conversion conditions of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. (S124a). If the line type of the line segment object is a dotted line (S124a: Yes) as a result of the confirmation in S124a, the line thickness of the line segment object is 1 of the conversion condition of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. It is confirmed whether it is 5 pt (S124b).

  As a result of checking in the process of S124b, if the line thickness of the line segment object is 5 pt (S124b: Yes), the line color of the line segment object is the conversion condition of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. It is confirmed whether it is one (C, M, Y, K) = (1, 2, 3, 4) (S124c).

  If the color of the line segment object is (C, M, Y, K) = (1, 2, 3, 4) (S124c: Yes) as a result of confirmation by the process of S124c, the line segment object is determined in the process of S124. It is determined that (specifically, the format of the line segment object) satisfies all the conversion conditions J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b, and the process proceeds to S67 (see FIG. 14).

  On the other hand, when at least one of the following (1) to (3) is applicable, in the process of S124, the line segment object (specifically, the format of the line segment object) is changed to the line segment condition management memory 14b. When the conversion condition J of the management number L2 is determined not to be satisfied, the process proceeds to the process of S125 (see FIG. 14): (1) As a result of the confirmation in the process of S124a, the line type of the line segment object is not a dotted line ( (S124a: No), (2) When the line thickness of the line segment object is not 5 pt as a result of confirmation by the process of S124b (S124b: No), and (3) As a result of confirmation by the process of S124c, the line segment object Is not (C, M, Y, K) = (1, 2, 3, 4) (S124c: No).

Since the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b is composed of three conditions: the line type of the line segment object, the line thickness, and the line color, as shown in FIG. If all of these three conditions are not satisfied, the conversion condition J is not processed. Therefore, when the conversion condition J is constituted by a plurality of conditions, it is possible to suppress erroneous cutting due to erroneous input of the format.
In the present embodiment, the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b has a specific value ("" of the line condition of the line segment object, the line thickness, and the line color). “Dotted line”, “5pt”, “(C, M, Y, K) = (1, 2, 3, 4)”), but all three conditions are not set by specific values May be. For example, for the management number of 1 in the line segment condition management memory 14b, the conversion condition J is set as the line type “dotted line”, but the line thickness and the line color are both “not set”. There may be. In that case, if the determination process in S124a is “Yes” in FIG. 15B, the line object format in the process in S124 is the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. It will be judged that it satisfies. On the other hand, if the determination process of 124a is “No”, it is determined in the process of S124 that the format of the line segment object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number L2 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. . Therefore, when the conversion condition J is configured with a small number of conditions (especially one), it is possible to easily specify a character object for which cutting line data is to be set.

  As shown in FIG. 15C, in the determination process S125, the shape of the line segment object recognized by the shape pattern recognition process in S121 is stored as the conversion condition J in the management number L3 in the line segment condition management memory 14b. Is confirmed, that is, whether it is a closed loop (S125a).

  As a result of checking in the process of S125a, if the shape of the line segment object is a closed loop (S125a: Yes), the line segment object (specifically, the shape of the line segment object) is managed in the line segment condition management in the process of S125. It is determined that the conversion condition J of the management number L3 in the memory 14b is satisfied, and the process proceeds to S67 (see FIG. 14).

  On the other hand, if the shape of the line segment object is not a closed loop (S125a: No) as a result of checking in the process of S125a, the line object is converted into the conversion condition of the management number L3 in the line segment condition management memory 14b in the process of S125. J is determined not to be satisfied, and the process proceeds to S123 (see FIG. 14).

  As shown in FIG. 15C, the conversion condition J of the management number L3 in the line segment condition management memory 14b is that the line segment object is set in a closed loop (that is, a closed line segment). The closed loop line segment object is processed as satisfying the conversion condition J. Accordingly, as a result of a simple operation of creating a closed loop line segment object in the page description data, the line segment object can be cut out by the cutting printer 50.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the graphic object conversion process (S31) described above. In the graphic object conversion process (S31), first, the outline of the graphic object is outlined to generate outline data (S141).

  Next, the shape pattern recognition process similar to the above-described line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14) is performed to obtain the contour shape of the graphic object (S121). Note that when the shape pattern recognition process (S121) is executed for this graphic object, the graphic object is extracted based on the outline data (ie, vector data) of the outline of the graphic object outlined by the process of S141. The contour shape is recognized.

  After the process of S121, it is confirmed whether the graphic object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c (S142). Details of the comparison between the graphic object and the conversion condition J of the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c, which are performed by the determination process in S142, will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If the graphic object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c as a result of checking in the process of S142 (S142: No (not satisfied)), the graphic object is the graphic condition management memory 14c. Whether the conversion condition J of the management number G2 is satisfied is confirmed (S145).

  Details of the comparison between the graphic object and the conversion condition J of the management number G2 in the graphic condition management memory 14c performed by the determination process in S145 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  If the graphic object does not satisfy the conversion condition J having the management number G2 in the graphic condition management memory 14c as a result of checking in the process of S145 (S145: No (not satisfied)), it follows the drawing data constituting the graphic object. Print data is generated and stored in the print data memory 13a (S144), and the graphic object conversion process is terminated. Therefore, if the graphic object does not satisfy either the conversion condition J of the management number G1 or the conversion condition J of the management number G2, the graphic object is only printed by the cutting printer 50.

  On the other hand, (1) when the graphic object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c as a result of the confirmation in S142 (S142: Yes (satisfy)), or (2) S145 When the graphic object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number G2 in the graphic condition management memory 14c as a result of confirmation by the processing (S145: Yes (satisfy)), in any case, the above-described cutting line data addition process ( (See FIG. 12) (S67). When the cutting line data addition process (S67) is performed on the graphic object, the “generated outline data” in S81, S85, S88, and S90 is the outline data generated by the process of S141.

  Therefore, when the graphic object extracted from the page description data satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the graphic condition management memory 14c, cutting line data corresponding to the contour of the graphic object is generated. Therefore, when creating the page description data, the graphic object can be cut by the cutting printer 50 by creating a graphic object that satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the graphic condition management memory 14c.

  In this graphic object conversion process (S31), the execution order of the determination processes S142 and S145 for determining whether or not each conversion condition J stored in the graphic condition management memory 14b is satisfied is the management number in the graphic condition management memory 14c. This corresponds to the order of priority order 161a (see FIG. 4A) of the conversion condition J managed by (management number G1 or management number G2).

  After the cutting line data addition process (S67), the color (internal color) designated as the conversion condition J for each management number (in this embodiment, the management number G1 or the management number G2) in the graphic condition management memory 14c. Then, the color is changed to the output time setting O (S143), and the process proceeds to S144.

  In the processing of S143, for example, when the graphic object satisfies the change condition J of the management number G2 in the graphic condition management memory 14c, (C, M, Y, K) = (4, The color data portion of 3, 3, 1) is changed to K = 100% set as the output setting O. Therefore, when creating the page description data, in the graphic object desired to be cut, a part of the area to be printed at K = 100% is intentionally (C, M, Y, K) = (4, 3, 2 1), the contour of the graphic object is cut by the cutting printer 50, and the color data portion of (C, M, Y, K) = (4, 3, 2, 1) is originally printed. Since the desired color to be printed is printed as K = 100%, a graphic object having a desired design can be cut out. If the graphic object satisfies the change condition J of the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c, the output time setting of the management number G1 is “same as input”, so the color data included in the page description data A graphic object is printed using.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for specifically explaining the comparison between the graphic object and the conversion condition J managed for each management number in the graphic condition management memory 14c, which is performed by the determination processing in S142 and S145 described above.

  FIG. 17A is a diagram for specifically explaining the determination process of S142 in the graphic object conversion process (see FIG. 16), and FIG. 17B is a diagram of S145 in the graphic object conversion process (see FIG. 16). It is a figure explaining a judgment process concretely.

  As shown in FIG. 17A, in the determination process S142, the contour shape of the graphic object recognized by the shape pattern recognition process in S121 is stored as the conversion condition J in the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c. Is confirmed, that is, it is a triangle (S142a).

  As a result of checking in the process of S142a, if the shape of the contour of the graphic object is a triangle (S142a: Yes), in the process of S142, the graphic object (specifically, the shape of the graphic object) is stored in the graphic object condition management memory. It is determined that the conversion condition J of the management number G1 in 14c is satisfied, and the process proceeds to S67 (see FIG. 16).

  On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation in the process of S142a, if the shape of the contour of the graphic object is not a triangle (S142a: No), the graphic object is converted into the conversion condition J of the management number G1 in the graphic condition management memory 14c. Is determined not to be satisfied, and the process proceeds to S145 (see FIG. 16).

  As shown in FIG. 17B, in the determination process S145, the color stored as the conversion condition J in the management number G2 in the graphic condition management memory 14c, that is, (C, M, Y) in the graphic object area. , K) = (4, 3, 2, 1) is checked (S145a).

  If the color represented by (C, M, Y, K) = (4, 3, 2, 1) is included in the area of the graphic object as a result of the confirmation in the process of S145a (S145a: Yes) In the process of S145, it is determined that the graphic object (specifically, the format of the graphic object) satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number G2 in the graphic object condition management memory 14c, and the process proceeds to the process of S67 (FIG. 16).

  On the other hand, as a result of checking in the process of S145a, if the color represented by (C, M, Y, K) = (4, 3, 2, 1) is not included in the area of the graphic object (S145a) : No) In the process of S145, it is determined that the graphic object does not satisfy the conversion condition J of the management number G2 in the graphic condition management memory 14c, and the process proceeds to S144 (see FIG. 16).

  The shape of the graphic object is determined by the user's design, and the color (internal color) in the area of the graphic object can be easily changed by the user. Therefore, when creating page description data, it is possible to easily specify a graphic object desired to be cut out along the outline.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the above-described image object conversion process (S34). In this image object conversion process (S34), first, it is confirmed whether the image object is masked (S161).

  If the image object is not masked as a result of the confirmation in S161 (S161: No), the outline of the image object is outlined to generate outline data (S162). Next, based on the outline data (that is, vector data) generated by the process of S162, the shape pattern recognition process similar to the above-described line segment object conversion process (see FIG. 14) is performed, and the contour shape of the image object is changed. Obtained (S121).

  On the other hand, if the image object is masked as a result of the confirmation in S161 (S161: Yes), the outline of the mask is outlined and outline data is generated (S165). After the process of S165, the process of S121 (shape pattern recognition process) is executed to obtain the contour shape of the mask. In this case, in the shape pattern recognition process of S121, the shape of the contour of the mask is recognized based on the outline data (ie, vector data) generated by the process of S165.

  When the processing of S121 (shape pattern recognition processing) is executed, it is then checked whether the image object satisfies the conversion condition J of the management number I1 in the image condition conversion management memory 14d (S163), and the conversion condition J is satisfied. If so (S163: Yes (satisfy)), the cutting line data addition process (see FIG. 12) described above is executed (S67), and the process proceeds to S164. On the other hand, if the conversion condition J is not satisfied (S163: No (not satisfied)), the process of S67 is skipped and the process proceeds to S164.

  When the cutting line data addition process (S67) is performed on the image object, the “generated outline data” in S81, S85, S88, and S90 is the outline data generated by the process of S162 or S165. is there.

  Here, the determination process of S163 will be specifically described. The shape of the contour of the image object or the mask recognized by the shape pattern recognition process of S121 is stored as the conversion condition J in the management number I1 in the image condition management memory 14d. If the image object or mask outline shape is confirmed to be rectangular as a result, the image object (specifically, the shape of the image object) is confirmed. However, it is determined that the conversion condition J of the management number I1 in the image object condition management memory 14d is satisfied. On the other hand, when it is confirmed that the contour shape of the image object or the mask is not rectangular, the image object (specifically, the shape of the image object) is converted into the conversion condition of the management number I1 in the image object condition management memory 14d. J is judged not to be satisfied.

  In the process of S164, print data according to the image data constituting the image object is generated and stored in the print data memory 13a. Then, after the process of S164, the image object conversion process is terminated.

  According to this image object conversion process (S34), when the image object extracted from the page description data satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the image condition management memory 14d, the image object outline or mask outline is added. Corresponding cutting line data is generated. Therefore, when creating the page description data, by creating an image object (image data) that satisfies the conversion condition J stored in the image condition management memory 14d, the image object can be cut by the cutting printer 50.

  Further, when it is desired to cut out a desired portion in the image object (image data) by the processing of S164 to S165, by applying a mask having a desired shape to the image object (mask processing), only the desired portion can be easily obtained. Can be cut (cut out).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 19, the printing and cutting process executed by the cutting printer 50 will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a data reception process executed by the cutting printer 50. This data reception process is activated when data is received from the printer server 10.

  In this data reception process, first, it is determined whether the received data is a print command and a cut command transmitted from the printer server 10 as a result of S26 in the data conversion process (see FIG. 8) executed by the printer server 10. Confirm (S201).

  If the received data is a print command and a cut command received from the printer server 10 as a result of checking in the process of S201 (S201: Yes), printing is performed on the sheet material according to the print command (S202), and then the cut command According to this, printing is performed on the sheet material (S203).

  After the processing of S203, processing corresponding to the signal or information received from the printer server 10 is performed as each processing (S204). For example, in each process (S204), when a print setting such as a sheet material size setting is received from the printer server 10, a process for performing a setting corresponding to the print setting is performed (S204). After executing each process (S204), this data reception process is terminated.

  As described above, when the object extracted from the page description data satisfies the conversion condition J stored in advance in the four condition management memories 14a to 14d, the printer server 10 according to the first embodiment recognizes the object. For example, cutting line data that can be cut along the contour of the object itself or the contour of the character font data included in the character object can be generated. Therefore, when creating the page description data, the user can easily convert the object to be disconnected based on the object by incorporating the conversion condition J stored in advance in the four condition management memories 14a to 14d. Thus, for example, cutting line data that can be cut along the contour of the object itself or the contour of the character font data included in the character object can be generated. Therefore, cutting line data for cutting the sheet material into a desired shape can be generated by the cutting printer 50 by an easy operation. At that time, a cutting line for cutting a sheet material into a desired shape by a cutting device based on page description data created using general document data creation software or the like without using a dedicated application. Convenient because data can be generated.

  Next, a second embodiment of control of the cutting printer 50 by the printer server 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment described above, print data and cutting line data are generated from the page description data in accordance with the conversion condition J appropriately set by the user. At this time, the conversion condition J and the cutting condition C are associated with each other. In the case of cutting, it is configured to be cut according to the condition according to the cutting condition C. In the second embodiment, cutting line data is generated according to the font of the character font, and at that time, a cutting condition according to the font of the character font is given. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the second embodiment, in the font shape data memory 14k, for each font shape data, designation as to whether or not cutting line data is to be generated, and cutting conditions (the number of cuts and the cutting speed) are associated. Stored.

  In the character object conversion process (S32) of the second embodiment, the steps S41 to S42, S47, and S48 in the character object conversion process (S32) of the first embodiment are omitted, and between S44 and S45. In addition, the determination process of S401 for confirming whether or not the generation of the cutting line data is specified for the font shape data confirmed to exist in the font shape data memory 14k by the process of S44 is inserted. This is the same as the character object conversion process (see FIG. 9) of the first embodiment.

  Specifically, in the character object conversion process (S32) of the second embodiment, if the font shape data corresponding to the character font format exists in the font shape data memory 14k as a result of the confirmation in S44 (S44: Yes), it is confirmed whether or not the generation of the cutting line data is designated for the font shape data (S401).

  As a result of checking in the process of S401, if the generation of cutting line data is specified for the font shape data (S401: Yes), the process proceeds to S45. On the other hand, if the font shape data is designated not to generate cutting line data (S401: No), the process proceeds to S46.

  As a result, in the font shape data stored in the font shape data memory 14k, the character font (character object) corresponding to the font shape data for which cutting line data is specified is displayed in the cutting printer 50. Printing according to the typeface of the font is performed on the sheet material, and further, the sheet material is cut along the outline of the character font under the cutting conditions associated with the font shape data in the font shape data memory 14k.

  On the other hand, in the font shape data stored in the font shape data memory 14k, the character font (character object) corresponding to the font shape data designated not to generate the cutting line data is the character font in the cutting printer 50. Although printing according to the typeface is applied to the sheet material, cutting is not performed.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the font of the character font and the output result output from the cutting printer 50 as a result of the character object conversion process in the second embodiment. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating an A Gothic (for example, MS Gothic (registered trademark)) with a low design and an output result in the cutting printer 50. FIG. A Gothic, which is light in design, is more suitable for printing an explanatory note near each object designed for printing and cutting than for printing and cutting. For this reason, the font shape data memory 14k is associated with the font shape data corresponding to the A Gothic so as not to generate cutting line data. As a result, the character object composed of A Gothic characters is only printed on the sheet material in the cutting printer 50.

  FIG. 20B is a diagram showing B Gothic (for example, Misugi Gothic (registered trademark)) that has a design but has a simple shape, and an output result in the cutting printer 50. Since the B Gothic having a simple shape does not require high accuracy in cutting, the font shape data memory 14k has a designation for generating cutting line data for the font shape data corresponding to the B Gothic, and the number of cuts. The cutting conditions “1” and the cutting speed “fast” are associated with each other. As a result, the character object composed of B Gothic characters is printed on the sheet material by the cutting printer 50, and the cutting speed of the sheet material along the outline of the B Gothic characters is “fast”. The sheet material is cut at a cutting speed corresponding to “1” and the number of times of cutting is one.

  FIG. 20C is a diagram showing a C Mincho (for example, Waku Mingcho (registered trademark)) that is a font having a design and a delicate shape, and an output result in the cutting printer 50. C Mincho, which has a delicate shape, requires high precision in cutting. For this reason, the font shape data memory 14k corresponds to the designation of generating cutting line data for the font shape data corresponding to this C Mincho and the cutting conditions of “1” for cutting and “slow” for cutting speed. It is attached. As a result, the character object composed of the C Mincho character is printed on the sheet material by the cutting printer 50, and the sheet material is cut along the contour of the C Mincho character. At a cutting speed corresponding to “slow”, the sheet material is cut with one cutting.

  As described above, in the printer server 10 according to the second embodiment, the cutting is performed and the cutting conditions are set at the time of cutting according to the usage according to the font of the character font and the shape of the font of the character font. Therefore, when creating page description data, the user can generate cutting line data simply by selecting a character font in accordance with the application and typeface (shape), and the cutting printer 50 can operate under optimum cutting conditions. Can be cut.

  Next, a third embodiment of control of the cutting printer 50 by the printer server 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment described above, the cutting line data is generated according to the font of the character font. In the third embodiment, not only the font of the character font but also the color of the character font is used. Thus, cutting line data is generated. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the HDD 14 sets the color of the input character font for specifying the cutting line data to be generated, the font color setting at the time of output, and the cutting conditions (the number of cuts and the cutting speed). Is further provided with a cut font color table 14l.

  Similarly to the second embodiment described above, the font shape data memory 14k specifies whether or not to generate cutting line data for each font shape data, and the cutting conditions (the number of cuts and the cutting speed). Stored in association.

  In the character object conversion process (S32) of the third embodiment, as a result of confirmation in the process of S401, if the generation of cutting line data is not specified for the font shape data (S401: No), the input character font It is confirmed whether the color is stored as the color of the input character font for generating cutting line data in the cutting font color table 14l (S402).

  If the color of the input character font is the color stored as the color of the input character font for generating the cut line data in the cut font color table 141 as a result of the confirmation in the process of S402 (S402: Yes), After the character font color is changed to the color associated with the cut font color table 141 (S403), the process proceeds to S45. On the other hand, if the character font color is not the color stored as the character font color for generating the cut line data in the cut font color table 141 (S402: No), the process proceeds to S46.

  As a result, in the font shape data stored in the font shape data memory 14k, even if the input character font corresponds to the font shape data designated not to generate cutting line data, the color of the input character font is In the cutting font color table 14l, when the color is stored as the color of the character font for generating the cutting line data, the cutting printer 50 sets the character object to the cutting font color table 14l with respect to the input character font color. Is printed with the color associated with the input character font, and cutting is performed under the cutting conditions associated with the color of the input character font.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the character font color and the output result output from the cutting printer 50 as a result of the character object conversion process in the third embodiment. FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating an A Gothic (for example, MS Gothic (registered trademark)) whose character font color is K = 100% and an output result in the cutting printer 50. FIG. In A Gothic, the font shape data memory 14k is associated with the font shape data corresponding to the A Gothic so as not to generate cutting line data. Therefore, when K = 100% is not stored as the color of the character font for generating the cutting line data in the cutting font color table 141, as a result, it is composed of A Gothic characters with K = 100%. The character object is only printed on the sheet material in the cutting printer 50.

  FIG. 21B is a diagram showing A Gothic whose character font color is K = 25% and an output result in the cutting printer 50. When K = 25% is stored as the color of the character font for generating the cutting line data in the cutting font color table 14l and K = 100% is stored as the font color at the time of output, the result is as a result. In the cutting printer 50, an A Gothic character whose character font color is K = 100% is printed on the sheet material, and is associated with the color of the input character font in the cut font color table 14l. Sheet material is cut along the outline of A gothic under the cutting conditions (in the example shown in FIG. 19B, the number of cuts is 1).

As described above, the printer server 10 according to the third embodiment generates the cutting line data even if the font shape data memory 14k is a font of a character font associated with the designation not to generate the cutting line data. By changing the color of the character font, it is possible to control whether or not cutting is performed along the outline of the character font. Therefore, when the page description data is created, the user can easily generate cutting line data simply by selecting a character font and a character font color according to the application.
In the third embodiment, even if the font shape data memory 14k is a font of a character font associated with the designation not to generate cutting line data, depending on the color of the character font that generates the cutting line data, The cutting along the outline of the character font can be executed. However, the font shape data memory 14k is not limited to printing, depending on the color of the character font that generates the cutting line data, even if the font shape data memory 14k is a font of a character font that is associated with the specification for generating the cutting line data. It may be configured to be performed.

  In this case, the HDD 14 is further provided with a second cut font color table 14m that associates and stores the color of the input character font that specifies that cut line data is not generated and the font color setting at the time of output. Yes.

  Also, in this case, in the character object conversion process (S32) of the third embodiment, as a result of confirmation in the process of S401, the generation of cutting line data is specified for the font shape data ( S401: Yes), it is confirmed whether the color of the input character font is a color stored as the color of the input character font that does not generate cutting line data in the second cut font color table 14m (S404).

  As a result of the confirmation in the process of S404, when the color of the input character font is a color stored as the color of the input character font that does not generate the cutting line data in the second cutting font color table 14m (S404: Yes) After changing the color of the character font at the time of output to the color associated with the second cut font color table 14m (S405), the process proceeds to S46.

  As a result of S404 and S405, even in the font shape data stored in the font shape data memory 14k, even if the input character font corresponds to the font shape data designated to generate the cutting line data, the input character font When the color is a color stored as a character font color that does not generate cutting line data in the second cutting font color table 14m, the cutting printer 50 does not cut the character object, but the input character font. The color is printed in the color associated with the second cut font color table 14l.

  On the other hand, if the color of the character font is not a color stored as a character font color that does not generate cutting line data in the cutting font color table 141 (S404: No), the process proceeds to S45.

  Note that the object extraction means described in claim 1 corresponds to the processing of S27 to S30 in the data conversion processing of FIG. Further, the condition determination means according to claim 1 includes the processing of S41 (S41a to S41c in FIG. 10A), S47 (S47a in FIG. 10B) in the character object conversion processing in FIG. The line object conversion process of S122 (S122a of FIG. 15A), S124 (S124a to S124c of FIG. 15B), S125 (S125a of FIG. 15C) and the graphic object of FIG. This corresponds to the processing in S142 (S142a in FIG. 17A) and S145 (S145a in FIG. 17B) in the conversion processing and the processing in S163 in the image object conversion processing in FIG. Further, the cutting line data generating means according to claim 1 corresponds to the cutting line data adding process (S67) of FIG. Further, the data transmission means according to claim 1 corresponds to the processing of S26 in the data conversion processing of FIG. Further, the cutting means according to claim 1 corresponds to the processing of S203 in the data receiving means of FIG.

  Further, the intra-character linking means described in claim 3 corresponds to the processing of S64 in the character font cutting line data generation processing of FIG. Further, the character interlinking means according to claim 4 corresponds to the processing of S66 in the character font cutting line data generation processing of FIG.

  Further, the notification means according to claim 5 corresponds to the process of S49 in the character object conversion process of FIG. Further, the cutting line data generation prohibiting means of claim 6 corresponds to the branching process from S44 to S49 in the character object conversion process of FIG.

  Further, the contour shape identifying means described in claim 10 corresponds to the processing of S121 in the line object conversion processing of FIG. 14, the graphic object conversion processing of FIG. 16, or the image object conversion processing of FIG. Further, the mask detection means in claim 11 corresponds to the processing of S161 in the image object conversion processing of FIG.

  Further, the overlap determination means according to claim 12 corresponds to the processing of S81 in the cutting line data addition processing of FIG. Further, the cutting line data erasing means described in claim 12 corresponds to the process of S84 in the cutting line data adding process of FIG. Further, as the cutting line data combining means according to claim 13, the outline data remaining as a result of the processing of S88 and the cutting remaining as a result of the processing of S89 in the processing of S90 in the cutting line data addition processing of FIG. “New line data is generated by combining with line data” corresponds to the part. Further, the cutting line data rewriting means described in claim 13 corresponds to the part of “adding and storing the new outline data as cutting line data” in the process of S90 in the cutting line data adding process of FIG. To do.

  The print data generation means according to claim 14 corresponds to the processing of S43 in the character object conversion processing of FIG. The printing means according to claim 14 corresponds to the processing of S202 in the data receiving means of FIG. Further, the data generation condition writing means according to claim 18 corresponds to the processing of S2 in the main processing of FIG.

  Further, the object extracting means according to claim 22 corresponds to the processes of S27 to S30 in the data conversion process of FIG. Further, the condition determining means according to claim 22 includes the processes of S41 (S41a to S41c of FIG. 10A), S47 (S47a of FIG. 10B) in the character object conversion process of FIG. The line object conversion process of S122 (S122a of FIG. 15A), S124 (S124a to S124c of FIG. 15B), S125 (S125a of FIG. 15C) and the graphic object of FIG. This corresponds to the processing in S142 (S142a in FIG. 17A) and S145 (S145a in FIG. 17B) in the conversion processing and the processing in S163 in the image object conversion processing in FIG. Further, the cutting line data generating means according to claim 22 corresponds to the cutting line data adding process (S67) of FIG. The data transmitting means according to claim 22 corresponds to the processing of S26 in the data conversion processing of FIG. Further, the cutting means according to claim 22 corresponds to the processing of S203 in the data receiving means of FIG.

  The object extraction process according to claim 23 corresponds to the processes of S27 to S30 in the data conversion process of FIG. Further, as the condition determining step according to claim 23, the processing of S41 (S41a to S41c of FIG. 10A), S47 (S47a of FIG. 10B) in the character object conversion processing of FIG. The line object conversion process of S122 (S122a of FIG. 15A), S124 (S124a to S124c of FIG. 15B), S125 (S125a of FIG. 15C) and the graphic object of FIG. This corresponds to the processing in S142 (S142a in FIG. 17A) and S145 (S145a in FIG. 17B) in the conversion processing and the processing in S163 in the image object conversion processing in FIG. Further, the cutting line data generation process of claim 23 corresponds to the cutting line data addition process (S67) of FIG. The data transmission process according to claim 22 corresponds to the process of S26 in the data conversion process of FIG. Further, the cutting means according to claim 22 corresponds to the processing of S203 in the data receiving means of FIG.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the printer server 10 of the present invention is configured to be the printer server 10 independent of the client PC 30. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is executed by the printer server 10 as the printer control apparatus of the present invention. The processing may be executed by a printer driver built in the client PC 30. Alternatively, the processing executed by the printer server 10 as the printer control device of the present invention may be executed by the CPU 51 of the cutting printer 50.

  In the above embodiment, the CMYK value is used as the color data representing the color. However, RGB that displays the color as a combination of the three primary colors of light (red (R), green (G), and blue (B)). You may comprise so that a value may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the condition management memories 14a to 14d shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D are configured to store CMYK values as color data representing colors. It may be configured to store, or may be configured to store both CMYK values and RGB values. In addition, you may comprise so that the conversion from a CMYK value to an RGB value or the conversion from an RGB value to a CMYK value may be performed as needed.

  In the above embodiment, the cutting condition C added to the cut line is the number of cuts and the cut speed. However, the cut pressure may be further included, and the number of cuts, the cut speed, and the cut pressure are each independently or 2 You may comprise so that it may be the above arbitrary combinations. By increasing the variation of the cutting conditions added to one cut line, an appropriate cut line can be given according to the situation.

  In the above embodiment, three conversion conditions J for character objects are “(font) typeface”, “(font) size”, and “font color”, but the conversion condition J is not limited to these. Is not to be done. The conversion condition in the character object may be, for example, character modification (for example, bold (bold), italic, shaded, strikethrough, underline, etc.).

  In the above embodiment, a corresponding object (specifically, a line segment object or a line segment object or a segment number management memory 14b and a graphic condition management memory 14c) is associated with one management number in the condition management memory. Only one of the shape or the format of the graphic object) is managed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and both the shape and format of the object may be managed together for one management number. As a result, the condition of the object to be cut can be specified in more detail, so that the accuracy of suppressing erroneous cutting due to erroneous input of conditions can be further increased.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is assumed that the line segment data that is generated as print data in the process of S123 in the line segment object conversion process (FIG. 14) does not include the line segment data converted into the cutting line data. Although configured, line segment data converted into cutting line data may also be converted into print data. In this case, a selection unit may be provided so that the user can select whether or not to print the line segment data converted into the cutting line data.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the uncut setting is stored in the uncut setting memory 14i as being valid, it corresponds to the uncut portion IG4 by the process of S123 of the line segment object conversion process (FIG. 14). Although the print data corresponding to the print line PL is generated, the print data corresponding to the print line PL corresponding to the uncut portion IG4 may not be generated.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the overwriting part erasure setting memory 14h stores that the overwriting part erasure setting is valid, in the cutting line data addition process (FIG. 12), from the overwritten object in the overlapping part. The cutting line data corresponding to the overlapping portion is deleted. On the other hand, in the cutting line data addition process (FIG. 12), the cutting line data corresponding to the overlapped portion is deleted from the cutting line data memory 13b from the object previously input when the page description data is created. You may comprise. In this case, there may be provided setting means for the user to select and set whether or not to delete the cutting line data corresponding to the overlapping portion from the previously input object when creating the page description data.

  Further, in the cutting line data addition process (FIG. 12), the generated outline data is temporarily stored in the cutting line data memory 13b, and then is set as a non-cutting line in accordance with the overlapping part combination setting or the overwriting part erasure setting. You may comprise so that the cutting line data corresponding to a part may be deleted.

  In the above embodiment, the page description data input to the printer server 10 is received by the printer server 10 from the PC 30 that created the page description data via the I / F 17, the network 42, and the I / F 17. there were. In addition, page description data to be converted into cutting line data and print data may be selected from the printer server 10 stored in advance in the HDD 14 of the printer server 10. The page description data stored in a storage medium (such as a CD-R or a flexible disk) may be read by a storage medium reader (not shown) provided in FIG.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the mask processing is considered only for the image object. However, in the case of other objects, if the mask is applied, it corresponds to the cutting line along the contour of the mask. The cutting line data to be generated may be generated.

  In the above embodiment, when each object satisfies the corresponding conversion condition J, the cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line corresponding to the contour of each object, or the inner peripheral side of the contour in each object The cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line to be generated is generated, but in addition to this, the cutting line data corresponding to the cutting line located on the outer peripheral side of the contour in each object is generated. May be.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a cutting print system including a printer server that functions as a cutting control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining print data and cutting line data, (a) schematically showing print data stored in the print data memory, and (b) a cutting line stored in the cutting line data. It is a figure which shows data typically. It is a figure explaining the cutting line data generation conditions set for every kind of object, (a) is a figure showing typically the structure of the data stored in a font condition management memory, and (b). FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data stored in the line segment condition management memory, and FIG. 6C is a diagram schematically showing the structure of data stored in the graphic condition management memory; These are figures which show typically the structure of the data stored in an image condition management memory. It is a figure explaining the screen display and registration method in the case of registering conversion conditions as a user, (a) is a figure showing the initial screen displayed on a display part when registering conversion conditions as a user, (b) These are figures which show the screen displayed on a display part, when addition of the conversion condition with respect to a character object (font) is instruct | indicated. It is a figure explaining the output result in the cutting printer according to the setting stored in the intra-character connection setting memory or the inter-character connection setting memory, and (a) shows that the intra-character connection setting is invalid in the intra-character connection setting memory. It is a figure explaining the output result in the cutting printer in the case where it is stored, (b) is a cutting printer in the case where it is stored in the intra-character linkage setting memory that the intra-character linkage setting is valid (C) is a diagram for explaining the output result of the cutting printer when the inter-character link setting memory stores that the inter-character link setting is valid. It is a figure explaining the output result of the line segment object in the cutting printer according to the setting stored in the overlap part combination setting memory, the overwrite part deletion setting memory, the uncut setting memory, and the inner cut setting memory. In the overlap portion combination setting memory, it is stored that the overlap portion combination setting is invalid, and on the other hand, in the overwrite portion deletion setting memory, it is stored that the overwrite portion deletion setting is valid. It is a figure explaining the output result in a cutting printer, (b) explains the output result in a cutting printer in case the overlap part joint setting memory stores that the overlap part joint setting is valid. (C) is a diagram in the case where the inner cut setting memory stores that the inner cut setting is valid. It is a figure explaining the output result in a cutting printer, (d) explains the output result in a cutting printer when it is stored in the uncut setting memory that the uncut setting is valid. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of main processing executed by the printer server according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart of a data conversion process. It is a flowchart of a character object conversion process. It is a figure explaining concretely the comparison of the format of the character font which comprises a character object, and the conversion conditions in the management number F1 or the management number F2 performed by the judgment process of S41 or S47 in a character object conversion process, (A) is a figure explaining the judgment process of S41 concretely, (b) is a figure explaining the judgment process of S47 concretely. It is a flowchart of a character font cutting line data generation process. It is a flowchart of a cutting line data addition process. It is a flowchart of a cutting line data change process. It is a flowchart of a line segment object conversion process. It is a figure explaining concretely the comparison of the line segment object and the conversion conditions of each management number in the line segment condition management memory performed by the determination process of S122, S124, and S125 in the line segment object conversion process. (a) is a diagram specifically illustrating the determination process of S122, (b) is a diagram specifically illustrating the determination process of S124, and (c) is a diagram specifically illustrating the determination process of S125. It is a figure explaining. It is a flowchart of a graphic object conversion process. It is a figure explaining concretely the comparison with the conversion condition of each management number in the graphic object and each management number performed by the judgment process of S142 or S145 in a graphic object conversion process, (a) is S142. FIG. 4B is a diagram specifically illustrating the determination process, and FIG. 5B is a diagram specifically illustrating the determination process of S145. It is a flowchart of an image object conversion process. It is a flowchart which shows the data reception process performed with a cutting printer. In the second embodiment of the printer server of the present invention, it is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the font of the character font and the output result output from the cutting printer as a result of the character object conversion processing, (a) is A Gothic And (b) is a diagram showing the output result of B Gothic and the cutting printer, and (c) is the output result of C Mincho and the cutting printer 50. FIG. In the third embodiment of the printer server 10 of the present invention, it is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the color of the character font and the output result output from the cutting printer as a result of the character object conversion process, (a) is a character FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an output result in a cutting printer and A Gothic whose font color is K = 100%, and (b) is an output result in A Gothic and a cutting printer in which the font color is K = 25%. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printer server (cutting control device)
14a Font condition management memory (cutting line data generation condition storage means)
14b Line segment condition management memory (cut line data generation condition storage means)
14c Graphic condition management memory (cut line data generation condition storage means)
14d Image condition management memory (cutting line data generation condition storage means)
14k font shape data memory (font shape data storage means)
160A initial screen (part of data generation condition input means)
160B screen (part of data generation condition input means)
30 Client PC
50 Cutting printer (cutting device)

Claims (23)

Connected to a cutting device having a cutter and a cutting means for cutting the sheet material with the cutting line data according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and provided with a data transmission means for transmitting the cutting line data to the cutting device, in the cutting device A cutting control device for cutting a sheet material into a desired shape,
Cutting line data generation condition storage means for storing cutting line data generation conditions to be satisfied by the object in order to generate the cutting line data based on one object included in the page description data;
Object extracting means for extracting one object from the page description data;
Condition determining means for determining whether the object extracted from the page description data by the object extracting means satisfies the cutting line data generation conditions stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means;
When it is determined by the condition determining means that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, based on the object determined to be satisfied A cutting control device comprising cutting line data generating means for generating the cutting line data.   The cutting line data generation means is an object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is an object including a character string, and an input character font in a character string included in the extracted object is: When the condition determining means determines that the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage means is satisfied, an output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied The cutting control device according to claim 1, wherein cutting line data is generated based on character font shape data indicating a contour shape of the character. When the output character font describes a character composed of a plurality of independent parts, the output character is so cut that the plurality of independent parts in the character are integrally cut by the cutting means. In-character connection means for connecting the character font shape data corresponding to the font,
3. The cutting control device according to claim 2, wherein the cutting line data generating means generates cutting line data based on the character font shape data connected by the intra-character connecting means. An inter-character connecting unit that connects the character font shape data corresponding to the output character font so that adjacent characters are integrally cut by the cutting unit;
4. The cutting control device according to claim 2, wherein the cutting line data generating means generates cutting line data based on the character font shape data connected by the character connecting means. Font shape data storage means for storing the font shape data;
The object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is an object including a character string, and the input character font in the character string included in the extracted object is the cutting line by the condition determination means. Character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied when it is determined that the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the data generation condition storage means is satisfied 5. The cutting control device according to claim 2, further comprising a notifying unit configured to notify if the font shape data storage unit is absent. Font shape data storage means for storing the font shape data;
The object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is an object including a character string, and the input character font in the character string included in the extracted object is the cutting line by the condition determination means. Character font shape data indicating the outline shape of the output character font corresponding to the input character font determined to be satisfied when it is determined that the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the data generation condition storage means is satisfied 3. A cutting line data generation prohibiting unit for prohibiting generation of the cutting line data by the cutting line data generating unit when the font shape data storage unit is absent. The cutting control apparatus according to any one of 5.   The cutting line data generation means is an object in which the object extracted by the object extraction means includes line segment data, and the line segment format corresponding to the line segment data included in the object has the condition determination When it is determined by the means that the format stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage means is satisfied, the cutting line data is generated based on the line segment data determined to be satisfied. The cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting control device is one.   The cutting line data generation unit is an object in which the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction unit includes color data in the area, and the color data included in the object includes the condition determination When it is determined by the means that the color is stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the cutting is performed based on the outline data describing the outline of the object determined to be satisfied. 8. The cutting control device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting control device generates line data.   The cutting line data generation means is an object whose outline extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means is an object whose outline is described by line segment data, and which describes the outline of the object. When the line segment corresponding to is determined to be a closed loop by the condition determination unit, the cutting line data is generated according to the line segment data describing the outline of the object determined to be satisfied. The cutting control device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting control device is provided. Contour shape identifying means for identifying the contour shape of the object extracted by the object extracting means,
The cutting line data generation unit is configured to store a shape in which the contour shape of the object identified by the contour shape identification unit is stored as a cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit by the condition determination unit. The cut line data is generated based on contour data describing a contour shape of the object determined to be satisfied when it is determined that the object is satisfied. The cutting control device according to claim 1. Mask detection means for detecting whether the object extracted by the object extraction means is masked;
A contour shape identifying means for identifying the shape of the masked area when the mask detecting means detects that the extracted object is masked;
The cutting line data generation means stores the contour shape of the masked area identified by the contour shape identification means as cutting line data generation conditions in the cutting line data generation condition storage means by the condition determination means. The cutting line data is generated based on contour data that describes a contour shape of the masked region determined to be satisfied when it is determined that the predetermined shape is satisfied. Item 11. The cutting control device according to any one of Items 1 to 10. Cutting line data storage means for storing cutting line data generated based on the contour data of the object included in the page description data by the cutting line data generation means;
When it is determined by the condition determining means that the object extracted from the page description data by the object extracting means satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, the object Overlap determination means for determining whether the object extracted this time by the extraction means and the object previously extracted by the object extraction means overlap;
If it is determined by the overlap determination means that the object extracted this time by the object extraction means and the object previously extracted by the object extraction means overlap, among the overlapping objects And cutting line erasing means for erasing cutting line data included in the overlapping portion in the cutting line data stored in the cutting line data storage means for at least one of the objects. Item 12. The cutting control device according to any one of Items 1 to 11. Cutting line data storage means for storing cutting line data generated based on the contour data of the object included in the page description data by the cutting line data generation means;
When it is determined by the condition determination means that the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction means satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition, the object extraction means The overlap determination means for determining whether the object extracted this time and the object previously extracted by the object extraction means and stored in the cutting line data storage means overlap,
The overlap determining means determines that the object extracted this time by the object extracting means and the object previously extracted by the object extracting means and stored in the cutting line data storage means overlap. A cutting line data combining unit that generates cutting line data by combining cutting line data that is not included in the overlapping portion of the overlapping objects.
The cutting line data newly generated by the combination by the cutting line data combining unit is stored in the cutting line data storage unit, and the cutting line data corresponding to the overlapping object stored in the cutting line data storage unit is deleted. The cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising cutting line data rewriting means. The cutting device further includes a printing unit that performs printing on the sheet according to print data,
The cutting line data generation condition storage means stores the format of the object as the cutting line data generation condition in association with the output format corresponding to the cutting line data generation condition,
The format of the predetermined data included in the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction unit by the condition determination unit is stored as the cutting line data generation condition in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit. Print data generation for generating print data when it is determined that the object is determined to be satisfied and the format is changed to the output format associated with the cutting line data generation condition storage unit Means and
14. The data transmission unit transmits the cutting line data generated by the cutting line data generation unit and the print data generated by the print data generation unit. The cutting control apparatus in any one of.   The cutting line data generation means converts the contour data or font shape data describing the outline of the object determined by the condition determination means to satisfy the cutting line data generation conditions stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. 15. The cutting control device according to claim 1, wherein cutting line data substantially parallel to the contour is generated on the inner peripheral side of the contour of the object.   The cutting line data generation means converts the contour data or font shape data describing the outline of the object determined by the condition determination means to satisfy the cutting line data generation conditions stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means. 16. The cutting control device according to claim 1, wherein cutting line data corresponding to a non-closed loop cutting line is generated based on the cutting line data. The cutting line data generation condition storage means stores the cutting line data generation condition and the cutting condition of cutting by the cutting device in association with each other,
The data transmission means adds the corresponding cutting conditions stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means to the cutting line data generated by the cutting line data generation means and transmits the data. The cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 16. Cutting line data generation condition input means for inputting the cutting line data generation conditions to be stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means;
2. A cutting line data generation condition writing unit for writing the cutting line data generation condition input by the cutting line data generation condition input unit into the cutting line data generation condition storage unit. The cutting control device according to any one of 17. The cutting line data generation condition input means inputs the cutting line data generation condition in association with the type of the object,
The cutting line data generation condition writing unit writes the cutting line data generation condition input by the cutting line data generation condition input unit and the type of the object in association with each other in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit. The cutting control device according to claim 18, wherein The cutting line data generation condition input means inputs the cutting line data generation condition in association with at least one of the output format or the cutting condition,
The cutting line data generation condition writing unit associates the cutting line data generation condition input by the cutting line data generation condition input unit with at least one of the output format or the cutting condition, and generates the cutting line data. 20. The cutting control device according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the cutting control device writes in the generation condition storage means.   The cutting control device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the cutting control device is a computer terminal connected to the cutting device by wire or wirelessly. Connected to a cutting device having a cutter and a cutting means for cutting the sheet material with a cutting line according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and causing the computer to function as a cutting line data transmitting means for transmitting the cutting line data to the cutting device. By the cutting control program for cutting the sheet material into a desired shape in the cutting device,
Cutting line data generation condition storage means for storing cutting line data generation conditions to be satisfied by the object in order to generate the cutting line data based on one object included in the page description data;
Object extracting means for extracting one object from the page description data;
Condition determining means for determining whether the object extracted from the page description data by the object extracting means satisfies the cutting line data generation conditions stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means;
When it is determined by the condition determining means that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage means, based on the object determined to be satisfied A cutting control program for causing the computer to function as cutting line data generating means for generating the cutting line data. A cutting device having a cutter and a cutting device that cuts the sheet material with the cutting line data according to the cutting line data by the cutter, and includes a data transmission step of transmitting the cutting line data to the cutting device. A cutting control method for cutting a sheet material into a desired shape,
An object extraction step of extracting one object from the page description data;
A condition determination step of determining whether the object extracted from the page description data by the object extraction step satisfies a cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit;
When it is determined by the condition determination step that the extracted object satisfies the cutting line data generation condition stored in the cutting line data generation condition storage unit, based on the object determined to be satisfied A cutting control method comprising: a cutting line data generation step of generating the cutting line data.

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