JP2018196950A - Printer and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

To properly synthesize a master document with a variable document and properly perform overlay printing.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a master registration section Pr1 which registers a master document Ds; a form information extraction section Pr2 which extracts form information; a registered form information setting section 44 which records the form information as registered form information; a registered form information determination section 45 which extracts the registered form information having the form information coinciding with form information of a variable document Dv; and a printing processing section Pr4 which synthesizes the master document Ds having the registered form information selected by an operator with the variable document Dv and performs overlay printing. The master document can be properly synthesized with the variable document.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing system.

  Conventionally, as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine or the like, for example, as a printer, in addition to normal printing, a master document composed of non-variable (fixed) form data and a variable document composed of variable variable data Are generated so that composite data is generated, and overlay printing (overlay printing) for forming an image according to the composite data is performed.

  In a printing system in which this type of printer and a host computer as a host device are connected via a network, image data such as predetermined documents and figures are created in advance as a master document in the host computer and transmitted to the printer. Then, in the printer, the master document is recorded in the storage device and registered as a registration master.

  Thereafter, in the host computer, when the operator creates image data such as characters as a variable document and transmits it to the printer, the registered master is read page by page in the printer, and the master document and the variable document are combined. Composite data is generated, and an image is formed according to the composite data. As a result, an image made of the master document and an image made of the variable document are formed on the paper so as to be overlaid.

  Once a master document is sent from the host computer to the printer, overlay printing can be performed only by sending a variable document from the second time onward, so the data size of the print job sent to the printer on the network must be reduced. The time required for performing overlay printing can be shortened (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-290368 A

  However, in the conventional printer, when a master document created by a plurality of operators and a variable document are combined and subjected to overlay printing in the host computer, the master document is not properly selected for the variable document. Therefore, it becomes impossible to properly combine the master document and the variable document.

  When a master manuscript and a variable manuscript are created by a single operator, it is unlikely that the master manuscript will be selected by mistake. For example, when printing using a standard size form as a medium, When a master document consisting of data is registered in the printer as a registered master and the registered master is shared by multiple operators, the paper size and printing orientation of the registered master match the paper size and printing orientation of the variable document. Even if it is not, the master document can be selected. Therefore, for example, a master document with an A4 size and a horizontal print direction and a variable document with an A4 size and a vertical print direction are combined, or a postcard size master document and an A4 size variable original are combined. Thus, overlay printing cannot be performed properly.

  The present invention provides a printing apparatus and a printing system that can solve the problems of the conventional printer and can appropriately combine a master document and a variable document and perform overlay printing appropriately. Objective.

  Therefore, in the printing apparatus of the present invention, a master registration unit that registers a master document extracted from a print job by recording it in a master form recording unit, and a form information extraction unit that extracts form information of the master document from the print job A registration form information setting unit that records form information as registration form information in the registration form information recording unit, and a form that matches the form information of the variable document among the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit A registration form information determination unit for extracting registration form information having information, a master document having registration form information selected by the operator from among the registration form information extracted by the registration form information determination unit, and a variable document And overlay printing And a processing unit.

  According to the present invention, in a printing apparatus, a master registration unit that registers a master document extracted from a print job by recording the master document in a master form recording unit, and a form information extraction unit that extracts form information of the master document from the print job A registration form information setting unit that records form information as registration form information in the registration form information recording unit, and a form that matches the form information of the variable document among the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit A registration form information determination unit for extracting registration form information having information, a master document having registration form information selected by the operator from among the registration form information extracted by the registration form information determination unit, and a variable document Is a printing process that overlays And a part.

  In this case, registration form information having form information that matches the form information of the variable original is extracted from the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit. You can choose.

  Therefore, the master document and the variable document can be appropriately combined, and overlay printing can be performed appropriately.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the printing system in the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a first flowchart illustrating an operation of the printing system when registering a master document according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a second flowchart showing the operation of the printing system when registering a master document in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the print setting screen in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the overlay printing setting screen in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the registration form name setting screen in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the master form information in embodiment of this invention. It is a 1st flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printing system at the time of performing overlay printing in embodiment of this invention. It is a 2nd flowchart which shows operation | movement of the printing system at the time of performing overlay printing in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overlay print setting screen when generating a variable original print job according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the registration form information recorded on the registration form information recording part in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the registration form information in which the paper size and the direction of printing in embodiment of this invention correspond.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a printer as an image forming apparatus and a printing apparatus and a printing system in which the printer and a host computer as a host apparatus are connected via a network will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, Sy is a printing system, 10 is a printer that performs printing by forming an image on a sheet (not shown) as a medium, 11 is a host computer, Nt is a wired or wireless connection between the printer 10 and the host computer 11, In this embodiment, it is a wireless network.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to normal printing, a master document Ds that is a non-variable (fixed) document and a variable document Dv that is a variable document are combined to generate combined data, and according to the combined data Overlay printing (overlay printing) for forming an image can be performed.

  That is, in normal printing, image data such as documents and graphics created by the host computer 11 is transmitted to the printer 10, and an image is formed on the paper according to the image data transmitted from the host computer 11. Is done.

  In overlay printing, when image data such as a predetermined document or figure created in advance is transmitted to the printer 10 as a master document Ds, the master document Ds is registered as a registration master in the printer 10. Thereafter, in the host computer 11, when an operator creates image data such as characters as a variable original Dv and transmits it to the printer 10, the master original Ds of the registration master and the variable original Dv are combined in the printer 10. Composite data is generated, and an image made up of the variable original Dv is formed on the paper so as to overlap the image made up of the master original Ds according to the composite data.

  For this purpose, the printer 10 receives the print job transmitted from the host computer 11, analyzes the received print job, determines the printing operation of the printer 10, and performs image data for normal printing. The print control unit 22 performs printing by forming an image based on the master document Ds, variable document Dv, and the like for performing overlay printing, and various methods, for example, an electrophotographic image forming unit, and the print control. A printing mechanism 23 that performs printing in response to an instruction from the unit 22, storage devices 25 and 26, and the like are provided.

  The storage device 25 is a memory for recording resource data including an HDD, an SD card, and the like, and includes a master form recording unit Mr1 as a first recording area, and a master document Ds is registered in the master form recording unit Mr1. A form name and form information as identification information for identifying the master document Ds are recorded in association with each other.

  The storage device 26 is a volatile data recording memory including a RAM or the like, and includes a rasterized data recording unit Mr2 as a second recording region and a cache data recording unit Mr3 as a third recording region. The rasterized data recording unit Mr2 records rasterized data generated by rasterizing image data for normal printing, master document Ds for overlay printing, and the like, and the rasterized data is recorded in the cache data recording unit Mr3. Are recorded as cache data.

  Then, the print control unit 22 extracts the master document Ds, the registered form name and the form information from the print job, and records them in the master form recording unit Mr1, thereby registering the master document Ds as a registration master. The form information extraction unit Pr2, which is obtained by reading the registered form name and form information from the master form recording unit Mr1 and is transmitted to the host computer 11, the image data for normal printing, and the master document Ds for overlay printing The variable document Dv is interpreted for each page, rasterized to generate rasterized data, recorded in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2, and recorded in the cache data recording unit Mr3 as cache data. Taraizu unit Pr3, sends the rasterized data to the print mechanism 23 includes a print processing unit Pr4 for performing a normal printing or overlay printing.

  The form information is identification information for identifying the master document Ds in performing overlay printing, and is a print condition of the master document Ds, which is a paper size (print size) representing the type of paper to be printed, and Consists of printing orientation.

  The form information extraction unit Pr2 reads the form information recorded in the master form recording unit Mr1 and associates the registered form name indicating the name used when registering with the host computer 11 with the paper size and the printing direction, It transmits to the computer 11.

  The form information is transmitted to the host computer 11 in order to designate the master document Ds corresponding to the variable document Dv in the host computer 11 and used as registered form information. The master document Ds is read from the form recording unit Mr1 and rasterized to generate rasterized data and recorded in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2, or the rasterized data is recorded as cache data in the cache data recording unit Mr3, or the cache data recording unit The cache data is read from Mr3 and developed in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2, and rasterized data generated by rasterizing the variable document Dv transmitted from the host computer 11 is rasterized. Also used to expand or to data recording unit Mr2.

  The host computer 11 includes an operating system OS for controlling the operation of the host computer 11, an application Ap for printing in the printer 10, a printer driver 35 for driving the printer 10, a storage device 36, an operation panel, and the like. A display unit 42 including a unit 41 and a display;

  The storage device 36 includes a RAM, an HDD, and the like, and includes a registration form information recording unit Mr4 as a fourth recording area, and the form information transmitted from the printer 10 is registered in the registration form information recording unit Mr4. As recorded.

  The application Ap is a drawing engine command group interpreted by the operating system OS, that is, based on a drawing command, image data of a normal document for performing normal printing, a master document Ds for performing overlay printing, and A variable document Dv is drawn and generated.

  In the present embodiment, the master document Ds and the variable document Dv are generated by one application Ap. However, the master document Ds and the variable document Dv can be generated by a plurality of applications, respectively.

  The printer driver 35 includes a print format setting unit 43, a registration form information setting unit 44, a registration form information determination unit 45, a master selection unit 46 that selects a registration master based on a determination result by the registration form information determination unit 45, a master A printing condition setting unit 47 that sets printing conditions for the document Ds and the variable document Dv, and a communication unit 48 that performs communication with the printer 10 are provided.

  The print format setting unit 43 sets a print format for normal printing when the operator selects a master menu “not to use” overlay printing on an overlay printing setting screen ds2 (FIG. 5) described later. When the operator selects the “Register” master menu, the master document Ds registration is set, and when the operator selects the “Use” master menu for overlay printing, the print format of overlay printing Set.

  The registered form information setting unit 44 sets and records the form information transmitted from the printer 10 as registered form information in the registered form information recording unit Mr4.

  The registration form information determination unit 45 then sets the variable document Dv of the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit Mr4 when the print format of the overlay printing is set by the print format setting unit 43. Registration form information having form information that matches the form information is extracted.

  Therefore, the registration form information determination unit 45 reads each registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit Mr4, and sets the contents of the registration form information and a print setting screen ds1 (FIG. 4) described later. In this embodiment, whether or not the form information content of the variable document Dv matches, the sheet size and the printing direction in the registered form information, and the sheet size and the printing condition set for the variable document Dv by the operator. Determine whether the print orientation matches. When the paper size and the printing direction in the registered form information match the paper size and the printing direction in the form information of the variable document Dv, the registered form information determination unit 45 extracts the matching registered form information.

  The master selection unit 46 displays the registration form name of the registration form information extracted by the registration form information determination unit 45 in the registration master list Ar12 of the overlay print setting screen ds2, and informs the operator from the registration master list Ar12. By selecting a predetermined registration form name, the corresponding registration form information is selected. In this way, the operator can specify the master document Ds having the selected registration form information.

  The printing condition setting unit 47 sets printing conditions such as a paper size and a printing direction for printing the master document Ds and the variable document Dv.

  Therefore, when registration of the master document Ds is set by the print format setting unit 43, the printer driver 35 transmits the master document Ds to the printer 10, and in the printer 10, the master registration unit Pr1 converts the master document Ds into the master form recording unit. Record in Mr1 and register the registration master.

  In addition, when the operator wants to obtain registration form information in real time as in the case of performing overlay printing using the registered master registered for the master document Ds created by another operator, the operator can display the overlay print setting screen. When the master information acquisition key k11 is clicked in ds2, the form information extraction unit Pr2 reads out and extracts form information from the master form recording unit Mr1, and transmits it to the host computer 11. In the host computer 11, the registration form information setting unit 44 records the form information as registration form information in the registration form information recording unit Mr4.

  Next, the operation of the printing system Sy when registering a master document will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the printing system when registering a master document in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the operation of the printing system when registering the master document in the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overlay print setting screen according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a registered form name setting screen in the embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of master form information in the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the operator opens the master document Ds with the application Ap in the host computer 11.

  Next, the operator instructs overlay printing using the application Ap. The application Ap calls the printer driver 35 via the operating system OS, and the printer driver 35 displays a print setting screen ds1 which is a print dialog for setting various print conditions as shown in FIG. Form.

  Subsequently, the printing condition setting unit 47 sets the printing conditions, in this embodiment, the paper size and the printing direction of the master document Ds, based on the operation of the operator on the printing setting screen ds1.

  In the print setting screen ds1, Ar1 is a paper size setting field for setting the paper size, Ar2 is a paper feeding method setting field for setting the paper feeding method, and Ar3 is a printing direction setting field for setting the printing direction. , Ar4 is a color setting field for setting color / monochrome, and Ar5 is an area for displaying a model of a print image. The paper size setting field Ar1 and the paper feeding method setting field Ar2 are displayed by a pull-down method, and the printing direction setting field Ar3 and the color setting field Ar4 are displayed by an option button method.

  In the print orientation setting field Ar3, an option button bt1 for setting the print orientation to “vertical”, an option button bt2 for setting the print orientation to “horizontal”, and a print orientation set to “vertical” A check box b3 for rotating the image by 180 [°], and a check box b4 for rotating the image by 180 [°] when the printing direction is set to “horizontal”.

  K1 is an OK key for confirming the content selected by the operator on the print setting screen ds1, and k2 is a cancel key for canceling the content selected on the print setting screen ds1.

  In the print setting screen ds1, the operator clicks the pull-down button in the paper size setting field Ar1, selects a predetermined paper size, clicks the option button bt1 or the option button bt2 in the print orientation setting field Ar3, and When the printing direction is selected and the OK key k1 is clicked, the printing condition setting unit 47 sets the paper size selected by the operator and the printing direction.

  In addition to the paper size and printing direction, on the print setting screen ds1, the operator selects a predetermined paper feeding method in the paper feeding method setting field Ar2, and selects color or monochrome in the color setting field Ar4. The printing condition setting unit 47 sets the paper feeding method and color settings selected by the operator.

  When the print condition setting is completed in this way, the printer driver 35 forms an overlay print setting screen ds2 for setting the overlay print condition as shown in FIG.

  In the overlay print setting screen ds2, Ar11 is a master menu column for setting a print format, and Ar12 is a registered master list for displaying a list of registered form names of registered masters registered in the printer 10. The master menu column Ar11 and the registered master list Ar12 are displayed in a pull-down manner.

  Also, k11 is a master information acquisition key for acquiring registered master information in real time, k12 is a preview key for confirming the print result of overlay printing in advance, and k13 is for canceling the contents selected on the overlay print setting screen ds2. The cancel key k14 is a transition key for instructing the printer driver 35 to perform the next process. When the operator clicks the preview key k12, a preview screen (not shown) that is another print dialog is formed.

  In the master menu field Ar11, when the operator clicks the pull-down button, a master menu for “not use” overlay printing, “register” master document Ds and “use” overlay printing is displayed. A predetermined master menu can be selected.

  When the operator clicks on the pull-down button of the registered master list Ar12, “no designation”, “form A”, “form B”, “new year postcard 2017”, “invitation card—round-trip postcard”, “company logo A4” A list of registration form names of registration masters such as “Vertical” and “Company Logo A4 Horizontal” is displayed.

  The print format setting unit 43 sets the print format based on the master menu selection by the operator in the master menu field Ar11.

  That is, when the operator selects the master menu “not used” in the master menu field Ar11 in order to perform normal printing by the printer 10, the print format setting unit 43 cancels the overlay printing instruction by the operator. And set the print format for normal printing. Further, when the operator selects the “register” master menu in the master menu field Ar11 in order to register the registration master, the print format setting unit 43 sets registration of the registration master. When the operator selects the “Use” master menu in the master menu field Ar11 to perform overlay printing, the print format setting unit 43 overlays based on the master document Ds of the registered master that has already been registered. Set the print format.

  Subsequently, the printer driver 35 determines whether or not registration of the registration master is set by the print format setting unit 43.

  If registration of the registration master is not set by the print format setting unit 43, the printer driver 35 performs normal printing processing or overlay printing according to the print format set by the print format setting unit 43 without registering the registration master. Process. That is, the printer driver 35 performs normal printing when a normal printing format is set, and performs overlay printing when an overlay printing format is set.

  On the other hand, when registration of the registration master is set, the printer driver 35 forms a registration form name setting screen ds3 as shown in FIG. 6 on the display unit 42, and prompts the operator to input the registration form name.

  In the registration form name setting screen ds3, Ar21 is an input block for an operator to input a registration form name by operating the operation unit 41, and k21 is a registration form name input to the input block Ar21. This is an OK key.

  When the operator inputs a predetermined registered form name in the input block Ar21 and clicks the OK key k21, the print format setting unit 43 sets the registered form name. The registered form name is for the operator to identify what form the master document Ds belongs to, and can be arbitrarily set.

  In this way, when the printing conditions, the printing format, and the registered form name are set for the master document Ds, the operating system OS calls the printer driver 35 for each drawing command interpreted by the operating system OS, and the printing format setting unit. 43 generates a print job for transmitting the master document Ds to the printer 10 by converting each drawing command into a drawing command in a page description language that is interpreted by the print control unit 22 of the printer 10.

  In the present embodiment, Post Script is used as the page description language of the printer 10, and the description of the page necessary for the master document Ds may be a single page description due to the nature of the form. Generated.

  The print format setting unit 43 generates a form registration command and assigns it to the print job. The generated form registration command includes a registered form name, a storage path indicating a storage location of the master document Ds in the master form recording unit Mr1, a file name of the master document Ds, a paper size, and a printing direction. The command is given to the print job as a command to be interpreted by the unit 22.

  When the print job generated in this way is transmitted to the printer 10, in the print control unit 22 of the printer 10, the master registration unit Pr1 and the form information extraction unit Pr2 are shown in FIG. 7 from the print job. Information, that is, master form information is collected and recorded in the master form recording unit Mr1.

  In FIG. 7, the master number i (i = 1, 2,...) Represents the index number of the table in which the registered master is recorded. The newly registered master is recorded in the master form recording unit Mr1 in a row where the master document Ds is not recorded and the master number is small.

  The registered form name is a registered master name set by the print format setting unit 43, which is input by the operator on the registered form name setting screen ds3.

  The storage path represents the storage location of the master document Ds in the master form recording unit Mr1, and is set in the HDD constituting the master form recording unit Mr1 of the storage device 25. An EPSF directory is created under the Post Script partition “% disk0%”, a Masteri (i is the master number) directory is created under the EPSF directory, and the file of the master document Ds is stored in the directory. To be recorded.

  The file name is the name of the file of the master document Ds, and in the present embodiment, “Masteri.eps” (i is the master number).

  The paper size is a printing condition indicating the type of paper set by the printing condition setting unit 47 of the printer driver 35. In this embodiment, the paper name key information described in the Post Script PPD file is set, for example, as “A4” indicating A4 size paper. Instead of “A4”, numerical array information such as “595 842” that expresses the dimensions of an A4 size paper as points is used, or “A 297” such as “210 297”. You can use numerical sequence information.

  The print direction is the print condition set by the print condition setting unit 47 of the printer driver 35 as in the case of the paper size. In the present embodiment, the print direction is set as “vertical” or “horizontal”. The presence / absence of rotation of [°] is set by “TRUE” or “FALSE”.

  As described above, when the form registration command is generated and given to the print job, the communication unit 48 of the printer driver 35 sequentially transmits the print job generated by the print format setting unit 43 to the printer 10.

  In the printer 10, the print control unit 22 receives the print job via the communication unit 21, determines whether registration master registration is set in the print format of the received print job, and registration master registration is performed. When set, the form information extraction unit Pr2 extracts form information from the received print job and records it in the master form recording unit Mr1.

  Further, the master registration unit Pr1 extracts the master document Ds from the print job in the EPSF format, and records it in the storage location of the master form recording unit Mr1 indicated by the storage path together with the file name.

  Subsequently, the form information extraction unit Pr2 reads the form information recorded in the master form recording unit Mr1, and transmits the form information to the host computer 11. In the host computer 11, the registration form information setting unit 44 receives the form information and records it in the registration form information recording unit Mr 4 of the storage device 36 as registration form information.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S1 The operator opens the master document Ds.
Step S2 The operator instructs overlay printing.
Step S3 The printing condition setting unit 47 sets the paper size.
Step S4 The printing condition setting unit 47 sets the printing direction.
Step S5: The print format setting unit 43 sets the print format.
Step S6: The printer driver 35 determines whether registration of the registration master is set. If registration of the registration master is set, the process proceeds to step S8. If registration of the registration master is not set, the process proceeds to step S7.
Step S7: The printer driver 35 performs the normal printing process or the overlay printing process and ends the process.
Step S8: The print format setting unit 43 sets the registered form name.
Step S9: The print format setting unit 43 generates a print job.
Step S10: The print format setting unit 43 generates a form registration command.
Step S11: The communication unit 48 transmits the print job to the printer 10.
Step S12 The print control unit 22 receives the print job.
Step S13: The print control unit 22 determines whether registration of the registration master is set. If registration of the registration master is set, the process proceeds to step S14. If registration of the registration master is not set, the process proceeds to step S7.
Step S14 The form information extraction unit Pr2 records the form information in the master form recording unit Mr1.
Step S15 The master registration unit Pr1 records the master document Ds in the master form recording unit Mr1.
Step S16 The form information extraction unit Pr2 transmits the form information to the host computer 11 and ends the process.

  Next, the operation of the printing system Sy when overlay printing is performed by combining the master document Ds and the variable document Dv will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the printing system when performing overlay printing in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a first flowchart showing the operation of the printing system when performing overlay printing in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an overlay print setting screen when generating a variable document print job according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a registration form information recording unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of recorded registration form information, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of registration form information in which the paper size and the printing direction match in the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the operator opens a variable document Dv on the host computer 11 with the application Ap.

  Next, the operator instructs overlay printing using the application Ap. The application Ap calls the printer driver 35 via the operating system OS, and the printer driver 35 forms a print setting screen ds1 (FIG. 4), which is a print dialog for setting various printing conditions, on the display unit 42.

  Subsequently, the print condition setting unit 47 sets the print condition, in this embodiment, the paper size and the print orientation of the variable document Dv, based on the operation of the operator on the print setting screen ds1.

  When the print condition setting is completed, the printer driver 35 forms an overlay print setting screen ds4 for setting the overlay print condition as shown in FIG.

  In the overlay print setting screen ds4, Ar11 displays a master menu field, and Ar32 displays a registered form name in which the paper size and printing direction in the registered form information match the paper size and printing direction in the printing conditions for the variable document Dv. It is a list of registered masters to do. The master menu column Ar11 and the registered master list Ar32 are displayed in a pull-down manner. K11 is a master information acquisition key, k12 is a preview key, k13 is a cancel key, and k14 is a transition key.

  The print format setting unit 43 sets the print format based on the selection of the master menu by the operator.

  Subsequently, the printer driver 35 determines whether or not the “Use” master menu is selected in the master menu field Ar11 by the operator and the print format setting unit 43 sets the print format for overlay printing.

  When the print format of overlay printing is set, the printer driver 35 obtains the registration form information as shown in FIG. 11 by reading it from the registration form information recording unit Mr4 of the storage device 36.

  On the other hand, when the print format of the overlay printing is not set by the print format setting unit 43, the printer driver 35 performs normal printing processing or registration according to the print format set by the print format setting unit 43 without performing overlay printing. Perform master registration processing. That is, the printer driver 35 performs normal printing when a normal printing format is set, and registers the master document Ds when registration master registration is set.

  Next, the registration form information determination unit 45 includes the paper in the variable document Dv in which the paper size and the printing direction are set by the printing condition setting unit 47 in the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit Mr4. Registration form information that matches the size and printing direction is extracted. In the present embodiment, the paper size and the printing direction in the variable document Dv set by the printing condition setting unit 47 are “A4” and “no vertical / rotation (FALSE)”, respectively. The registered form information with the same paper size and printing direction is extracted.

  Subsequently, the master selection unit 46 creates a list of registration form names of the registration form information extracted by the registration form information determination unit 45. When the operator clicks the pull-down button of the registration master list Ar32, a list of registration form names including “form A” and “company logo A4 vertical” as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the overlay print setting screen ds4. The

  In the overlay print setting screen ds4, a print condition setting content display area is formed adjacent to the registered master list Ar32, and a variable document Dv is set in the print condition setting content display area by the print condition setting unit 47. In the present embodiment, it can be displayed that the settings of the printing conditions, the paper size and the printing orientation are “A4” and “no portrait / rotation”, respectively. Thereby, it is possible to notify the operator that the registered master list Ar32 is displayed after being filtered based on the setting by the printing condition setting unit 47.

  Subsequently, the operator selects the registration form name of the registration master that is to perform overlay printing from the list of registration form names, and when clicked, the master original Ds of the registration master of the selected registration form name becomes the variable original Dv. It is specified corresponding to.

  In this case, since only the registered form name of the registered form information whose paper size and printing direction match the paper size and printing direction in the variable document Dv is displayed in the registration master list Ar32, the paper size and printing direction are changed. A registration master that does not match is selected and is not designated in correspondence with the variable document Dv. Therefore, the master document Ds and the variable document Dv can be appropriately combined, and overlay printing can be performed appropriately.

  In this way, when setting of the printing conditions and the printing format and the designation of the registration master for the variable document Dv are completed, the operating system OS calls the printer driver 35 in units of drawing commands interpreted by the operating system OS, and the printer driver 35 generates a print job for transmitting the variable document Dv to the printer 10 by converting each drawing command into a drawing command in a page description language that is interpreted by the print control unit 22 of the printer 10.

  Subsequently, the print format setting unit 43 generates a form use command for using the form information of the registration master of the registered form name selected by the operator in the registration master list Ar32 and assigns it to the print job.

  The generated form use command includes a storage path indicating a storage location in the master form recording unit Mr1 of the registered master designated by the operator, and a file name of the master document Ds.

  Then, when the operator selects a registered form name in the registered master list Ar32, the print format setting unit 43 selects the registered form selected by the operator from the form information recorded in the master form recording unit Mr1 of the storage device 25. As a command to be read by the print control unit 22 of the printer 10 based on the storage path indicating the storage location of the master document Ds corresponding to the form information and the file name of the master document Ds, the form information matching the name is read. A form use command is generated and added to the top of each page of the master document Ds.

  In the present embodiment, since the master document Ds is placed under the variable document Dv and used as a base for overlay printing, the form use command is placed at the top of each page of the master document Ds. In addition, when the master document Ds is placed on a variable document like a watermark, the form use command is added to the end of each page of the master document Ds.

  Subsequently, the communication unit 48 of the printer driver 35 sequentially transmits the generated print job to the printer 10.

  In the printer 10, the print control unit 22 receives the print job via the communication unit 21, determines whether the print format of the overlay print is set in the print format of the received print job, and performs overlay printing. When the print format is set, it is determined whether or not the form use command given to the print job is executed first.

  When the form use command is executed first, the form information extraction unit Pr2 reads the master document Ds from the storage location in the master form recording unit Mr1 based on the storage path included in the form use command, and draws the master document Ds. Run.

  Subsequently, the rasterizing unit Pr3 rasterizes the master document Ds, generates rasterized data of the master document Ds, and develops and records the rasterized data in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2 of the storage device 26.

  The rasterizing unit Pr3 records the rasterized data expanded in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2 in the cache data recording unit Mr3 of the storage device 26 as cache data.

  On the other hand, when the form use command is not executed first, that is, when the form use command is executed for the second and subsequent times, the rasterizing unit Pr3 does not rasterize the master document Ds, and cache data recorded in the cache data recording unit Mr3. Are developed in the rasterized data recording section Mr2.

  When the cache data is recorded or the cache data is expanded, the rasterizing unit Pr3 rasterizes the variable original Dv for the received page, expands and records it in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2. As a result, the rasterized data of the master document Ds already developed and recorded in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2 can be combined with the rasterized data of the variable document Dv.

  In the present embodiment, when the form use command is executed for the second time or later, the master document Ds is not rasterized and the cache data is used, so that the time for generating the rasterized data can be shortened, and the overlay The processing speed in printing can be increased.

  Subsequently, the rasterizing unit Pr3 determines whether or not the composition of the last page of the variable original Dv and the master original Ds has been completed. When the composition of the variable document Dv of the last page and the master document Ds is completed, the print processing unit Pr4 sends the composite data of the last page to the printing mechanism 23, performs the overlay printing of the last page, and ends the process. To do.

  If the composition of the variable document Dv of the last page and the master document Ds has not been completed, the print processing unit Pr4 sends the composition data of the current page to the printing mechanism 23 to perform overlay printing of the current page. Then, the process proceeds to the next page.

Next, a flowchart will be described.
Step S21 The operator opens the variable document Dv.
Step S22 The operator instructs overlay printing.
Step S23: The printing condition setting unit 47 sets the paper size.
Step S24: The printing condition setting unit 47 sets the printing direction.
Step S25: The print format setting unit 43 sets the print format.
Step S26: The printer driver 35 determines whether or not the overlay printing format has been set. If the print format for overlay printing is set, the process proceeds to step S28. If the print format for overlay printing is not set, the process proceeds to step S27.
Step S27 The printer driver 35 performs a normal printing process or a registration master registration process, and ends the process.
Step S28: The printer driver 35 acquires registration form information.
Step S29: The registered form information determination unit 45 extracts registered form information in which the paper size and the printing direction match.
Step S30 The operator selects a registered form name.
Step S31 The printer driver 35 generates a print job.
Step S32: The print format setting unit 43 gives a form use command to the print job.
Step S33: The communication unit 48 transmits the print job to the printer 10.
Step S34 The print controller 22 receives the print job.
Step S35: The print control unit 22 determines whether or not the overlay printing format is set. If the overlay printing format is set, the process proceeds to step S36. If the overlay printing format is not set, the process proceeds to step S27.
Step S36: The print controller 22 determines whether to execute the form use command first. If the form use command is executed first, the process proceeds to step S37. If the form use command is not executed first, the process proceeds to step S39.
Step S37 The rasterizing unit Pr3 rasterizes and develops the master document Ds.
Step S38: The rasterizing unit Pr3 records cache data.
Step S39: The rasterizing unit Pr3 expands the cache data.
Step S40 The rasterizing unit Pr3 develops the variable document Dv.
Step S41: The rasterizing unit Pr3 determines whether or not the last page has been combined. If the last page has been combined, the process proceeds to step S42. If the last page has not been combined, the process proceeds to step S43.
Step S42: The print processing unit Pr4 performs overlay printing of the last page and ends the processing.
Step S43: The print processing unit Pr4 performs overlay printing of the current page.
Step S44: The print processing unit Pr4 proceeds to the next page processing, and returns to step S36.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, registered form information having form information that matches the form information of the variable document Dv is extracted and extracted from the registered form information recorded in the registered form information recording unit Mr4. Among the registered form information, the master document Ds having the registered form information selected by the operator and the variable document Dv are combined, so that the paper size and the printing direction are the paper size and the printing direction of the variable document Dv. Is not selected.

  Therefore, the master document Ds and the variable document Dv can be appropriately combined, and overlay printing can be performed appropriately.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 10 and the host computer 11 form a printing system Sy, and the printer driver 35 of the host computer 11 includes a print format setting unit 43, a registered form information setting unit 44, a registered form information determining unit. 45, a master selection unit 46 and a printing condition setting unit 47 are arranged, and a registration form information recording unit Mr4 is arranged in the storage device 36 of the host computer 11, but a printing format setting unit 43, registration A form information setting unit 44, a registered form information determination unit 45, a master selection unit 46, and a printing condition setting unit 47 are arranged in the print control unit 22 of the printer 10, and the registered form information recording unit Mr4 is installed in the storage device 25 of the printer 10. It can be arranged.

  In that case, a print setting screen ds1, an overlay print setting screen ds2, ds4, and a registered form name setting screen ds3 are formed on a display unit (not shown) of the printer 10, and the operator operates the operation unit (not shown) of the printer 10. , Print conditions, print format, registered form name, etc. can be set.

  In the present embodiment, the operator inputs the registered form name by operating the operation unit 41 on the registered form name setting screen ds3 shown in FIG. When the screen ds3 is formed, for example, the paper size: A4, the print orientation: vertical, no rotation, etc. set by the print condition setting unit 47 based on the operation by the operator on the print setting screen ds1 (FIG. 4). In accordance with the printing conditions, it is possible to display “xxx-A4 no vertical rotation” or the like on the registered form name setting screen ds3 by default. In this case, the operator can edit the form name displayed by default on the registered form name setting screen ds3.

  Further, in the present embodiment, registration form information having form information that matches the form information of the variable document Dv is extracted from the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit Mr4, and the extracted registration is performed. When the operator selects a master document Ds having predetermined registered form information from the form information, rasterization is started for the master document Ds, but rasterization is performed for the master document Ds having the extracted registered form information. Can be started.

  For this purpose, the usage frequency of each master document Ds whose registration form information is registered in the registration form information recording unit Mr4 is recorded in the storage device 36, and when the registration form information is extracted, the usage frequency is in descending order. Rasterization of the master document Ds is started. In this case, when the operator selects a master document Ds having predetermined registration form information, rasterization for the unselected master document Ds is stopped, and rasterized data is erased in the rasterized data recording unit Mr2.

  In the present embodiment, the printer 10 as an image forming apparatus and a printing apparatus is described. However, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus equipped with software RIP.

  In this embodiment, the printing system Sy formed by the printer 10 and the host computer 11 is described. However, the present invention is formed by an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine and a host computer. Can be applied to the printing system.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

10 Printer 44 Registered Form Information Setting Unit 45 Registered Form Information Determination Unit Ds Master Document Dv Variable Document Mr1 Master Form Recording Unit Mr4 Registered Form Information Recording Unit Pr1 Master Registration Unit Pr2 Form Information Extraction Unit Pr4 Print Processing Unit

Claims (7)

(A) a master registration unit that registers a master document extracted from a print job by recording it in a master form recording unit;
(B) a form information extraction unit that extracts form information of the master document from the print job;
(C) a registration form information setting unit that records form information as registration form information in a registration form information recording unit;
(D) a registration form information determination unit that extracts registration form information having form information that matches the form information of the variable document from the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit;
(E) a print processing unit that performs overlay printing by combining the master document having the registered form information selected by the operator and the variable document among the registered form information extracted by the registered form information determination unit. A printing apparatus comprising:   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form information is a type of a medium to be printed and a printing direction.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form information is set by a printing condition setting unit that sets printing conditions. (A) a rasterizing unit that rasterizes a master document having registration form information selected by an operator and develops rasterized data of the master document in a rasterized data recording unit;
(B) The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the print processing unit rasterizes a variable document and develops rasterized data of the variable document in the rasterized data recording unit. (A) The rasterizing unit records the rasterized data of the master document as cache data in the cache data recording unit,
(B) The printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the print processing unit reads cache data from the cache data recording unit and develops the cache data in the rasterized data recording unit. In a printing system that includes a printing device and a host device and performs printing according to a print job transmitted from the host device to the printing device.
(A) a master registration unit that registers a master document extracted from a print job by recording it in a master form recording unit;
(B) a form information extraction unit that extracts form information of the master document from the print job;
(C) a registration form information setting unit that records form information as registration form information in a registration form information recording unit;
(D) a registration form information determination unit that extracts registration form information having form information that matches the form information of the variable document from the registration form information recorded in the registration form information recording unit;
(E) a print processing unit that performs overlay printing by combining the master document having the registered form information selected by the operator and the variable document among the registered form information extracted by the registered form information determination unit. A printing system comprising:   The printing system according to claim 6, wherein the master registration unit, the form information extraction unit, and the print processing unit are disposed in a printing apparatus, and the registration form information setting unit and the registration form information determination unit are disposed in a host apparatus.

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