JP2019202517A - Image formation apparatus, image formation program and image formation system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus, an image formation program and an image formation system that can reduce unnecessary printing in variable printing.SOLUTION: When print data is variable print data, as print data for variable printing, including common data as data on a common part of the variable printing and variable data as data on a variable part of the variable printing, an MFP prints an image of a page including an image based upon the common data and an image based upon individual data (S157) if property information on the individual data included in the variable data of the variable print data meet extraction conditions (YES at S154), and does not print the image of the page if the property information does not meet the extraction conditions (NO at S154).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that executes variable printing, an image forming program, and an image forming system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming system that executes variable printing is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Variable printing is used, for example, for printed matter such as direct mail that is printed by replacing some information such as a destination for each page. The print data for variable printing includes data for a common part for variable printing and data for a variable part for variable printing. In variable printing, the image of the common part generated by executing RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing on the data of the common part of the variable print in the print data is stored in the storage unit, and the print data Among them, the variable part image generated by executing the RIP process on the individual data of the variable part variable print data is overlapped with the common part image stored in the storage unit. Therefore, the total printing time for a plurality of pages can be shortened compared to a technique for generating an image of a common portion for each page.

JP 2010-157099 A

  However, in the conventional image forming system, printing is performed based on all the individual data even if the variable printing variable data among the variable printing print data includes individual data that does not require printing. There is a problem of being executed. For this reason, for example, the user needs to find out and remove unnecessary printed materials from a large amount of printed materials.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming program, and an image forming system that can suppress unnecessary printing in variable printing.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a printing device and a printing execution unit that executes printing by the printing device based on printing data, and the printing execution unit includes data that is common to variable printing. If the variable print data includes variable data as variable print data including common data as variable data and variable data as variable print variable data, the individual data included in the variable data of the variable print data When specific information satisfies a specific condition, an image of a page including an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data is printed, and the specific information does not satisfy the specific condition The image of the page is not printed.

  With this configuration, when the specific information of the individual data of the variable print data satisfies the specific condition, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can generate a page including an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data. On the other hand, when the specific information of the individual data of the variable print data does not satisfy the specific condition, the image of the page including the image based on the common data and the image based on the individual data is not printed. Unnecessary printing can be suppressed in variable printing.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention may include a condition receiving unit that receives the specific condition.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention accepts specific conditions designated by the user, so that convenience can be improved.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the condition receiving unit receives the specific condition in association with a user, and the print execution unit determines whether or not the specific information satisfies the specific condition. In this case, the specific condition associated with the sender of the variable print data may be used.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus of the present invention suppresses unnecessary printing in variable printing according to a specific condition associated with a sender of variable print data, so that convenience can be improved.

  An image forming program according to the present invention causes an image forming apparatus including a printing device to realize a print execution unit that executes printing by the printing device based on print data. In the case of variable print data as variable print data, including common data as common portion data and variable data as variable print variable data, the variable data of the variable print data When specific information of the included individual data satisfies a specific condition, an image of a page including an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data is printed, and the specific information is the specific information When the condition is not satisfied, the image of the page is not printed.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus that executes the image forming program of the present invention is based on the image based on the common data and the individual data when the specific information of the individual data of the variable print data satisfies the specific condition. A page containing an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data when the specific information of the individual data of the variable print data does not satisfy the specific condition while printing the image of the page including the image Therefore, unnecessary printing can be suppressed in the variable printing.

  An image forming system of the present invention includes the above-described image forming apparatus and a computer, and the computer includes an operation device and a print data generation unit that generates the print data. When generating variable print data, the specific information received via the operation device is added to the individual data.

  With this configuration, the image forming system of the present invention adds the specific information set by the user to the individual data of the variable print data, so that convenience can be improved.

  The image forming apparatus, the image forming program, and the image forming system of the present invention can suppress unnecessary printing in variable printing.

1 is a block diagram of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the database shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the variable print data produced | generated by the computer shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a page printed by an MFP based on variable print data illustrated in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows an example of the extraction condition information shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the computer shown in FIG. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the computer shown in FIG. 7 in the case of producing | generating variable print data. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of the MFP shown in FIG. 5 when extraction condition information is set. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the operation of the MFP illustrated in FIG. 5 when print data is received. FIG. 11 is a flowchart subsequent to the operation shown in FIG. 10. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming system 10 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) 20 serving as an image forming apparatus, a computer 30 that transmits print data to the MFP 20, and variable print data (hereinafter referred to as “variable print data”). )), A server 40 that manages a database 41 including data that is a source of individual data of variable print variable data (hereinafter referred to as “variable data”). The MFP 20, the computer 30, and the server 40 are communicably connected to each other via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

  The image forming system 10 can include at least one MFP other than the MFP 20 similar to the MFP 20. Similarly, the image forming system 10 can include at least one computer similar to the computer 30 in addition to the computer 30.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the database 41.

  The database 41 illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of data in which values associated with the item “name” and values associated with the item “destination” are associated.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the variable print data 50 generated by the computer 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, variable print data 50 defines variable print common part data (hereinafter referred to as “common data”) 51, variable data 52, and common part and variable part layouts in a printed page. Control data 53 to be included. The variable data 52 includes a plurality of individual data including the individual data 52a.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a page 60 printed by the MFP based on the variable print data 50 shown in FIG.

  The page 60 shown in FIG. 4 includes a common portion 61 printed based on the common data 51 (see FIG. 3) and variable portions 62 and 63 printed based on the individual data of the variable data 52. . The variable portion 62 is a portion that is printed based on the value associated with the item “name” in the individual data of the variable data 52 (see FIG. 3). The variable portion 63 is the variable data 52. This is a portion to be printed based on the value associated with the item “destination” in the individual data. The layout of the common portion 61 and the variable portions 62 and 63 in the page 60 is defined in the control data 53 (see FIG. 3). The variable portions 62 and 63 printed on the same page 60 are printed based on the same individual data in the variable data 52.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the MFP 20.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the MFP 20 includes an operation unit 21 that is an operation device such as a button for inputting various operations and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. Unit 22, a printer 23 that is a printing device that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper, a scanner 24 that is a reading device that reads an image from a document, an external facsimile apparatus (not shown), and communication such as a public telephone line A fax communication unit 25 that is a fax device that performs fax communication via a line, and a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a wired or wireless network without using a network, such as a LAN or the Internet. A certain communication unit 26 and various information are stored. For example, a storage unit 27 which is a nonvolatile storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and a control unit 28 for controlling the entire MFP 20 are provided.

  The storage unit 27 stores an image forming program 27a. For example, the image forming program 27a may be installed in the MFP 20 at the manufacturing stage of the MFP 20, or may be additionally installed in the MFP 20 from an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, or on the network. To the MFP 20 may be additionally installed.

  The storage unit 27 stores extraction condition information 27b indicating individual data extraction conditions for variable data of variable print data.

  The control unit 28 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and various data, and a RAM (Random) as a memory used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit 28. Access Memory). The CPU of the control unit 28 executes a program stored in the storage unit 27 or the ROM of the control unit 28.

  The control unit 28 executes the image forming program 27a, thereby realizing a condition receiving unit 28a that receives the extraction condition and a print execution unit 28b that executes printing by the printer 23 based on the print data.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the extraction condition information 27b.

  The extraction condition information 27b illustrated in FIG. 6 indicates a correspondence relationship between the extraction condition, the attribute to which the extraction condition is applied, and the user to which the extraction condition is applied. For example, in FIG. 6, the extraction condition of number 1 is a condition that is applied to the user “USER001”, and the value of the attribute “<number>” matches either 1-3 or 7-10. Is a condition of extracting. In FIG. 6, the extraction condition of number 11 is a condition that is applied to all users, and is a condition that data whose attribute “<name>” value is not listed in the business relationship cancellation list is extracted. is there. Here, the business relationship cancellation list is information indicating a list of original business partners whose users have canceled the business relationship, and may be stored in the storage unit 27 or from a storage unit outside the MFP 20. It can be read.

  Note that the extraction conditions included in the extraction condition information 27b may be other than those shown in FIG. For example, the extraction condition included in the extraction condition information 27b may be a condition that a specific character string is included in the value of a specific attribute.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the computer 30.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the computer 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an operation device such as a keyboard and a mouse for inputting various operations, and a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information. And a communication unit 33 that is a communication device that communicates with an external device directly via a wired or wireless network via a network such as a LAN or the Internet, for example, and a semiconductor memory that stores various types of information. , A storage unit 34 that is a nonvolatile storage device such as an HDD, and a control unit 35 that controls the entire computer 30. The computer 30 may be configured by, for example, a PC (Personal Computer).

  The storage unit 34 stores a print data generation program 34a for generating print data. The print data generation program 34a may be installed in the computer 30 at the manufacturing stage of the computer 30, for example, or the computer 30 from an external storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a USB memory. May be additionally installed, or may be additionally installed on the computer 30 from the network.

  The control unit 35 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM that stores programs and various data, and a RAM as a memory used as a work area of the CPU of the control unit 35. The CPU of the control unit 35 executes a program stored in the storage unit 34 or the ROM of the control unit 35.

  The control unit 35 implements a print data generation unit 35a that generates print data by executing the print data generation program 34a.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 will be described.

  First, the operation of the computer 30 when generating variable print data will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the operation of the computer 30 when generating variable print data.

  The control unit 35 of the computer 30 executes the operation shown in FIG. 8 when the start of the variable print data generation process is instructed via the operation unit 31.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the print data generation unit 35 a of the control unit 35 generates the layout of the common part and the variable part in the page of the printed material according to the instruction via the operation unit 31 (S 101), and generates it in S 101. Control data corresponding to the layout is generated (S102).

  After the process of S102, the print data generation unit 35a accepts data extraction conditions for the database 41 in response to an instruction via the operation unit 31 (S103). For example, the print data generation unit 35a may extract data including a specific name from the data included in the database 41, or a condition that the value associated with the item “name” is a specific name. Among them, it is possible to accept a condition such as extracting data whose value associated with the item “destination” is a specific address.

  After the process of S103, the print data generation unit 35a acquires a plurality of data from the database 41 according to the extraction condition received in S103 (S104), and sets each of the plurality of data acquired in S104 as individual data. Variable data is generated (S105).

  Next, the print data generation unit 35a receives attribute information including the attribute and the value of the attribute in response to an instruction via the operation unit 31 (S106), and generates the attribute information received in S106 in S105. The added variable data is added (S107).

  For example, when the individual data of the variable data generated in S105 includes the item “name”, the print data generation unit 35a may receive the attribute “<name>” corresponding to the item “name” in S106. . Here, the value of the attribute “<name>” is a value associated with the item “name” in the individual data.

  The print data generation unit 35a may accept a different number for each of the individual pieces of variable data generated in S105 as the value of the attribute “<number>” in S106.

  Note that the attributes that can be added to the variable data in S107 are attributes included in an attribute list described later.

  After the process of S107, the print data generation unit 35a generates common data according to an instruction via the operation unit 31 (S108).

  Next, the print data generation unit 35a generates variable print data including the control data generated in S102, variable data to which attribute information is added in S107, and common data generated in S108 (S109). The operation shown in FIG.

  The print data generation unit 35a may generate variable print data without adding attribute information to the variable data in response to an instruction via the operation unit 31. The print data generation unit 35a does not need to add attribute information to the variable data when the items included in the individual data of the variable data can be used as attributes as they are.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when the extraction condition information 27b is set will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the operation of the MFP 20 when the extraction condition information 27b is set.

  The control unit 28 of the MFP 20 executes the operation shown in FIG. 9 when the start of the process of setting the extraction condition information 27b is instructed via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the condition receiving means 28a of the control unit 28 specifies a user to which the extraction condition is applied (S121). Here, when the user who has instructed the start of the process of setting the extraction condition information 27b is a general user, the condition receiving unit 28a identifies this user as a user to which the extraction condition is applied. To do. On the other hand, when the user who has instructed the start of the process of setting the extraction condition information 27b is an administrator, the condition receiving unit 28a extracts the user specified via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26. Identifies the user to whom the condition applies. Here, when the user who has instructed the start of the process of setting the extraction condition information 27b is an administrator, the condition receiving unit 28a determines whether the specific user or all users are the operation unit 21 or the communication. It can be specified via part 26.

  The condition accepting unit 28a assigns one of the attributes from the list of attributes to which the extraction condition can be applied (hereinafter referred to as “attribute list”) to the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26 after the process of S121. In response to the received instruction (S122). Here, the attribute list can include not only default attributes but also attributes added by the user. That is, the condition receiving unit 28a can include an attribute according to an instruction via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26 in the attribute list.

  After the process of S122, the condition receiving unit 28a receives the extraction condition for the attribute received in S122 in accordance with an instruction via the operation unit 21 or the communication unit 26 (S123).

  After the process of S123, the condition receiving unit 28a includes the correspondence relationship between the user specified in S121, the attribute received in S122, and the extraction condition received in S123 in the extraction condition information 27b (S124). The operation shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the MFP 20 when receiving print data will be described.

  10 and 11 are flowcharts of the operation of the MFP 20 when print data is received.

  The control unit 35 of the computer 30 transmits the generated print data to the MFP 20. When the control unit 28 of the MFP 20 receives the print data via the communication unit 26, the control unit 28 performs the operations shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the print execution unit 28b of the control unit 28 determines whether or not the received print data (hereinafter referred to as “target print data”) is variable print data (S141).

  If the print execution means 28b determines in S141 that the target print data is not variable print data, the printer 23 executes printing corresponding to the target print data (S142), and ends the operations shown in FIGS. .

  When the print execution unit 28b determines in S141 that the target print data is variable print data, the print execution unit 28b acquires control data in the target print data (S143).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b acquires common data in the target print data (S144).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b executes RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing on the common data acquired in S144 (S145). That is, the print execution unit 28b generates a common part image (hereinafter referred to as “RIP processed common partial image”) that has been RIP processed.

  Next, the print execution unit 28b stores the RIP-processed common partial image generated in S145 in the storage unit 27 (S146).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b determines whether the extraction condition information 27b includes an extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data (S147). Here, the extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data includes the extraction condition associated with all users in addition to the extraction condition associated with only the sender of the target print data. .

  When the print execution unit 28b determines in S147 that the extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data is not included in the extraction condition information 27b, the print execution unit 28b selects one of the variable data in the target print data that is not yet targeted. Only individual data is targeted (S148).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b executes RIP processing for the individual data targeted in S148 (S149).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b superimposes the RIP-processed common partial image stored in S146 and the variable-part image subjected to the RIP process in S149 on the layout defined in the control data acquired in S143. Thus, an image of one page is generated (S150).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b executes printing of one page image generated in S150 by the printer 23 (S151).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b determines whether there is individual data that is not yet targeted in the variable data in the target print data (S152).

  If the print execution unit 28b determines in S152 that there is individual data that is not yet included in the variable data in the target print data, the print execution unit 28b executes the process in S148.

  If the print execution unit 28b determines in S152 that there is no individual data that is not yet included in the variable data in the target print data, the operation shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 ends.

  When the print execution unit 28b determines in S147 that the extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data is included in the extraction condition information 27b, the print execution unit 28b selects one of the variable data in the target print data that has not yet been targeted. Only individual data is targeted (S153).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b determines whether the attribute information of the individual data targeted in S153 satisfies the extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data (S154).

  When the print execution unit 28b determines in S154 that the attribute information of the individual data targeted in S153 satisfies the extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data, the print execution unit 28b performs RIP processing on the individual data targeted in S153. Execute (S155).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b superimposes the RIP-processed common partial image stored in S146 and the variable-part image subjected to the RIP process in S155 with the layout defined in the control data acquired in S143. Thus, an image of one page is generated (S156).

  Next, the print execution unit 28b executes the printing of the image of one page generated in S156 by the printer 23 (S157).

  When the print execution unit 28b determines in S154 that the attribute information of the individual data targeted in S153 does not satisfy the extraction condition associated with the sender of the target print data, or executes the process in S157, the print execution unit 28b It is determined whether or not there is individual data not yet targeted in variable data in the data (S158).

  If the print execution unit 28b determines in S158 that there is individual data that is not yet included in the variable data in the target print data, the print execution unit 28b executes the process in S153.

  When the print execution unit 28b determines in S158 that there is no individual data that is not yet targeted in the variable data in the target print data, the operation shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 ends.

  As described above, the MFP 20 includes a page including an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data when the attribute information of the individual data of the variable print data satisfies the extraction condition (YES in S154). When the attribute information of the individual data of the variable print data does not satisfy the extraction condition (NO in S154), the image based on the common data and the image based on the individual data are included. Since the page image is not printed, unnecessary printing can be suppressed in the variable printing.

  Since the MFP 20 accepts the extraction condition specified by the user (S123), the convenience can be improved.

  The MFP 20 suppresses unnecessary printing in variable printing according to the extraction condition associated with the sender of variable print data (YES in S147), so that convenience can be improved.

  Since the image forming system 10 adds the attribute information set by the user to the individual data of the variable print data (S107), the convenience can be improved.

  In this embodiment, the computer 30 generates variable data of variable print data based on data included in the database 41. However, the computer 30 may generate variable data based on data other than data included in the database 41. For example, the computer 30 may generate variable data based on data stored in the storage unit 34, or may generate variable data based on data input via the operation unit 31.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an MFP in the present embodiment, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer.

10 image forming system 20 MFP (image forming apparatus)
23 Printer (printing device)
27a Image forming program 28a Condition receiving means 28b Print execution means 30 Computer 31 Operation unit (operation device)
35a Print data generation means 50 Variable print data 51 Common data 52 Variable data 52a Individual data 60 Page 61 Common part 62, 63 Variable part

Claims (5)

A printing device;
Print execution means for executing printing by the printing device based on print data,
The print execution means is variable print data as variable print data, wherein the print data includes common data as common part data for variable printing and variable data as variable part data for variable printing. In some cases, when specific information of individual data included in the variable data of the variable print data satisfies a specific condition, an image of a page including an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data An image forming apparatus, wherein an image is printed, and the image of the page is not printed when the specific information does not satisfy the specific condition.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a condition receiving unit configured to receive the specific condition. The condition accepting means accepts the specific condition in association with a user,
The print execution unit uses the specific condition associated with a sender of the variable print data when determining whether the specific information satisfies the specific condition. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. In an image forming apparatus provided with a printing device,
Realizing a printing execution means for executing printing by the printing device based on print data;
The print execution means is variable print data as variable print data, wherein the print data includes common data as common part data for variable printing and variable data as variable part data for variable printing. In some cases, when specific information of individual data included in the variable data of the variable print data satisfies a specific condition, an image of a page including an image based on the common data and an image based on the individual data An image forming program that prints an image and does not print the image of the page when the specific information does not satisfy the specific condition. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
With a computer and
The computer
An operating device;
Print data generating means for generating the print data,
The print data generation unit adds the specific information received via the operation device to the individual data when generating the variable print data.

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