JP2898525B2 - Imposition processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imposition processing apparatus used in plate making, and more particularly, to a specified book or catalog including a plurality of different imposition patterns, such as a book or a catalog. The present invention relates to an imposition processing apparatus capable of automatically performing imposition of a fold.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 11, in a magazine, a book, or the like (which is called a page material) in which two or more printed materials are bound instead of only one printed material, as shown in FIG. Etc. are printed on one sheet of paper, folded to the size of one page (this is referred to as folding), bound, cut, and finished. In the case of a single printed matter (hereinafter referred to as a large page), which is an aggregate of many pages, each page is arranged in order after folding, so that as shown in FIG. And, apparently, each page number of 1, 2, 3, ... (nomble)
Are not in order. This page layout (imposition pattern) depends on how to fold and whether the book is right-open or left-open, and the orientation (up and down) of each page is also arranged in an appropriate direction according to the fold method. Must.

For this reason, conventionally, an imposition processing apparatus having a function of automatically laying out (imposing) each page in each fold (large page) has been developed.
For example, a personal computer, Macintosh (made by Apple Inc., USA), which has recently been widely used as a simple desk editing (desktop publishing) device, has been developed with imposition strip (made by Ultimate Technology Inc., Canada). and, in this, PostScript (US Adobishisu <br/> Temu Inc. registered trademark) with four sides on which were prepared page data described in a format and specify conditions such as with eight surfaces, A function for automatically imposing a large page is provided.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] Some books and magazines
One book may include pages of different sizes. Further, depending on the contents of the book or due to the manufacturing process, a first printing machine is used for a certain part (fold) of one book, and another type of second part is used for the other part (fold). In some cases, a printing press is used. For example, FIG. 9 and FIG.
In the example shown in FIG. 2, the first fold (Sig. 1) and the fourth fold (Si
g. 4) uses the imposition pattern A having four surfaces on one side, and the second
For the fold (Sig. 2) and the third fold (Sig. 3), an imposition pattern B having two surfaces on one side is used.

When a plurality of folds are bound into one book, the pages constituting each fold (large page) depend on the binding method and the order of the fold. The actual page number of the frame will be different. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, even in the case of flat binding in which each fold is arranged and bound in order (the same applies to perfect binding), when each fold uses an imposition pattern having a different number of faces, The calculation of the actual page number is troublesome. Further, in the case of saddle stitching as shown in FIG.
The actual page number of each page frame changes in a complicated manner depending on how many folds are inserted therein. As an example, FIG. 10 and FIG.
Between the order of the page frames in each large page in the case of saddle stitching (the number shown in parentheses below each page frame) and the actual page number (the number shown in each page frame) Show the relationship.

In the above-described conventional imposition processing apparatus, when such different imposition patterns are included, the automatic imposition processing cannot be performed, and the operator is required for each folding (for each imposition pattern). Had to manually perform the process, for example, by specifying a page number. For this reason, especially in the case of saddle stitching as shown in FIGS. 9B and 10, a heavy burden is imposed on the operator in calculating the actual page number and the like.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to automatically perform imposition processing even when a plurality of different imposition patterns are included. To provide a device capable of performing the following.

[0008]

The imposition processing apparatus according to the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, has a plurality of different types.
An apparatus for performing the imposition of the printed matter including folding that, a) the page data storage means for storing the page data of each page of the printed material, b) multiple used in plurality of different folding constituting the printed matter
Imposition pattern data storage means for storing imposition pattern data representing several different imposition patterns; c) job file storage for storing a job file containing data specifying the imposition pattern data corresponding to each fold. Means, and d) imposition pattern data related to the designated folding
In addition to reading based on the contents of the file,
The actual page number of each page frame is based on a series of imposition pattern data.
And calculates the corresponding page data from the page data storage means.
Control means for reading and imposing the designated folding.

[0009]

The control means first refers to the contents of the job file and, based on the "data specifying the imposition pattern data" contained therein, stores the imposition pattern data for each fold from the imposition pattern data storage means. Read data. Then, based on a series of imposition pattern data relating to each fold , the actual page number of each page frame constituting the designated fold is calculated . In the following, reads the page data of the real page number which is calculated from the page data storage means, the imposition pattern data of the designated fold information (e.g., with two faces, the number imposition of such with four-sided (page frame Number), how to fold, the position and orientation of the page frame, etc.) to output imposition of the page.

[0010] It is also possible to perform imposition of all the folds of a target printed matter by automatically specifying the folds instead of imposing only the designated folds.

[0011]

1 shows an imposition processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the imposition processing apparatus of the present embodiment includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13,
(Including a plane memory corresponding to a large page), an output scanner 15, a keyboard, a digitizer,
Input device 16 such as mouse, display 1 such as CRT
7. An external device such as an external storage device 18 is provided. CP
An internal device such as U11 and these external devices are connected to a data bus,
They are connected via a command bus 20 and interfaces (I / F) 25, 26, 27, 28 provided respectively. Note that the internal device and the external device may all be integrated.

The CPU 11 performs the following imposition processing in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 12 or loaded from the external storage device 18.

When one book is created, the imposition processing apparatus according to the present embodiment treats this as one job and creates one job file for each job. The job file includes a fixed data section and a variable data section as shown in FIG. The fixed data portion includes data specifying the size of the page of the book to be created in the X and Y directions, the total number of folds m, and the binding method. When two or more pages of different sizes are included in one book, the page sizes X and Y are included in an imposition pattern file described later. The variable data section of the job file is provided with storage areas of the number m of folds designated by the fixed data section, and each storage area (first to m-th folds) has the imprint pattern of the fold. Data specifying data (generally, a file containing imposition pattern data = name of imposition pattern file) is stored.

The imposition pattern file is, for example, four imposition,
It is a file created for each imposition pattern (see FIGS. 10 and 11) according to the number of impositions such as eight impositions, the difference in folding, and the like, as shown in FIG. , Also composed of a fixed data section and a variable data section. The fixed data portion has the number of columns x and the number of rows y of the array of page frames included in the imposition pattern (large page) (the number of page frames constituting the imposition pattern is x × y on one side). , 2 × xx × y on both sides), the order of progression of each page frame (frame order), orientation, bleed margin amount (see FIG. 12), and spread margin amount (general term for fold width and cut width shown in FIG. 12) , The number of register mark data, the number of color patch data, and the like. In the variable data section, a storage area of 2 × x × y = 2 × n, the number of page frames on both sides, is prepared.
In each storage area, each page frame Pf11 to Pfxy (front),
Pb11 to Pbxy (back side) Store data such as the order (frame order) of pages to be entered ( see FIG. 11) in the fold, the orientation of the pages, and the like. In addition, in the variable data part,
It also includes registration mark information and data such as the type and arrangement position of the registration mark.

The method of using the imposition processing apparatus of the present embodiment having the above configuration is as follows. First, when one book, magazine, catalog, or the like composed of a plurality of folds is to be created, page data including material data such as characters and pictures constituting each page and layout data (by these data, A page image of each page composed of characters, pictures, etc.) is created, and stored in the external storage device 18 in such a manner that the page number can be extracted for each page. Next, a job file (FIG. 1A) corresponding to the one book or the like is created. This procedure will be described with reference to FIG. First, a search is performed to determine whether a job file having a similar folding configuration exists (step S11), and if so, the job file is read (step S12). If not, a job file as shown in FIG. 1A is created by newly inputting data such as a page size and a binding method (step S13).

Two methods for creating a new job file are described below. First, the first method is used when one book is composed of a repetition of a combination of a small number of imposition patterns, and after the operator first specifies the combination of the imposition patterns. After that, the imposition processing apparatus automatically repeats the combination of the imposition patterns to set the imposition pattern for each occasion. For example, in the case of a seven-fold book in which a set of two types of imposition patterns A and B is repeated, FIG.
As shown in (a), the operator designates two types of imposition patterns A and B (note that the imposition patterns are specified in advance on the display 1).
It is convenient to display them as icons on the file 7 and specify them by dragging them with the mouse and moving them onto the icon of the job file.)
Then, by giving a command of “repeat of the specified imposition pattern” to the apparatus, the CPU 11 causes the designated two folds from the first fold to the seventh fold as shown in FIG. An imposition pattern is set by repeating the imposition patterns A and B. This method is convenient when different folding apparatuses and printing machines are used (for efficiency of the printing and bookbinding processes), since only the combination of the imposition patterns corresponding to each of them is required.

A second method of creating a new job file is a method in which an operator designates one of the imposition patterns A to D for each fold as shown in FIG. . Thereby, an arbitrary collation book can be created.

Returning to FIG. 3, when a job file is created by the processing of step S12 or S13, it is next searched whether or not there is an imposition pattern similar to the imposition pattern to be used in each folding. (Step S14). Some standard imposition patterns are prepared in advance as imposition pattern template files. Therefore, in step S14, a search is made as to whether or not there is an imposition pattern template file close to the imposition pattern to be created. If there is a close one, the imposition pattern template file can be called and used as it is, or the called imposition pattern template file can be modified slightly to create an imposition pattern file according to the purpose. (Step S15). If a close imposition pattern does not exist, an imposition pattern file as shown in FIG. 1B is newly created from the beginning (step S1).
6). Note that the new imposition pattern file created here can be stored in a library of imposition pattern template files for use later.

The job file created in this way is stored in the external storage device 18.

Next, a procedure for creating a film (output film) for printing a certain fold of the printed matter based on the already created job file will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the operator inputs a job name using the keyboard 16 or the like, and specifies a job to be worked on (step S21). Next, the number of the fold to be output and the distinction between the front and back sides in the printed matter are input (step S22). Based on these designations, the CPU 11 calculates the output data for each occasion and creates an output film (step S23). This processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the CPU 11 reads a job file having a designated job name from the external storage device 18 (step S231). Then, by referring to the variable data section of the job file (see FIG. 1A), the names of all the imposition pattern files are read out, and those imposition pattern files are read from the external storage device 18 (step S1). S232).

Next, the CPU 11 calculates the actual page number of each page frame of the fold specified in step S22 and the specified surface (front or back) (step S233). Here, the case where the binding method of the real printed matter (the binding method is described in the fixed data portion of the job file as shown in FIG. 1A) is the flat binding or the perfect binding (FIG. 9A). The calculation of the actual page number is performed as follows. First, the designated fold Sig. k
Up to each fold Sig. By referring to the fixed data part of the imposition pattern file corresponding to j (j = 1 to k−1), the number of pages for each fold is calculated as 2 × x _j × y _j as described above,
Designated fold Sig. the total number of pages _{p k-1} to k Σ _{j = 1}
calculated at ^{_{k-1 (2 × x j}} × y j). This value _pk-1
To the actual page number of each page to be output by adding the frame order number of each page frame of the designated folding / designated surface (the number written in parentheses below each page frame in FIG. 10). Can be.

If the printed matter is bound in the saddle stitching mode (FIG. 9B), the frame order number of each page frame on the designated folding / designated surface is as follows: min to calculate the real page number is divided belonging page frame (However, since the page frame order in one folding is continuous through the front and rear surfaces, each definitive here
In the first half and the second half of the fold, the order of each frame is not necessarily a continuous value.)

(1) The page order of the first half of the frame is the same as the above. k (bound outside the designated fold) up to each fold Sig. j (j = 1~k-1) the total number of pages _{p k-1} of the ^{_{p k-1 = Σ j =}} 1 k-1 (2 × x j ×
y _j ). Then, 1/2 (p _k−1 / 2)
= Σ _{j = 1} ^k−1 (x _j × y _j )) and the frame order number of each page frame (the first half of the designated folding face) to obtain the actual page number.

(2) The page order of the latter half of the page order First, all the folding Sig. j (j = 1
To m), the total number of pages p _γ = Σ
_{j = 1} ^m (2 × x _j × y _j ) is calculated. Next, the designated fold Sig. after k (bound inside the designated fold)
Each fold Sig. The total number of pages p _{k + 1} of _j ( _{j = k + 1 to} ^m ) is calculated by p _{k + 1} = Σ _{j = k + 1} ^m (2 × x _j × y _j ). Then, the actual page number of the rear half page frame of the designated folding / designated surface is obtained by adding ( _pγ + _{pk + 1} ) / 2 to the frame order number of the page frame.

After the actual page number of each page frame is calculated in step S233, imposition is performed on the output film for each page frame as follows. First, by referring to the fixed data portion (FIG. 1B) of the imposition pattern file of the designated folding, the page data of the actual page number is extracted from the external storage device 18 (step S234), and the orientation of the page frame γ (0 °, 90 °,
If necessary, the page image is rotated (step S235). Then, the imposition position in the designated binding method is calculated from data such as various margins and page sizes (there may be placed in a job file as shown in FIG. 1A) (step S236), RA
The data of the page image is written in the memory area corresponding to the large page of M13, and the imposition processing of the page is completed (step S2).
37). These impositions are repeated for all pages of the designated folding / designated face (step S238). When the imposition is completed for all the page frames, a large page image in which all page images are imposed is scanned and output from the RAM 13 and exposed to, for example, a film, thereby completing a target film (step S239).

Instead of outputting the folds and surfaces designated by the operator as described above, all the folds of one printed matter may be output at once. In this case, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, after the operator specifies a job (step S31), the imposition processing apparatus automatically performs the calculation of the output data and the creation of the output film, as described above. Repeat for the fold. That is, after the folding counter j is initialized to 1 (step S32), the calculation of the output data of the folding specified by the folding counter and the creation of the output film are performed as described above (step S32).
33), the folding counter j is incremented by one (step S34). If the fold counter j has not reached the total number of folds m, the process of step S33 is repeated for the next fold. When the folding counter j reaches the total number m of foldings, the processing is terminated.

In the above embodiment, a part of the external storage device 18 or the RAM 13 for storing page data is stored in the page data storage means of the present invention. A part of the external storage device 18 for storing the job file or a part of the RAM 13 for the job file storage means.
1 corresponds to the control means.

[0029]

According to the imposition processing apparatus of the present invention, even when a plurality of imposition patterns are mixed, the imposition of one printed matter is uniformly managed as one job. Surface imposition can be performed automatically. Further, the output of all the occasions can be automatically performed. For this reason, the operator has to perform complicated and troublesome operations such as reading out and adding up the number of pages of the imposition pattern that is different at each folding.
It is released , and the labor of producing the output film is greatly reduced. Further, since a plurality of printing apparatuses and the like can be used efficiently, bookbinding time can be reduced and costs can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a job file (a) and an imposition pattern file (b) used in an imposition processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the imposition processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a job file creation process performed by the imposition processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing one method of creating a job file.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another method of creating a job file.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a routine for outputting a designated surface / designated fold using the imposition processing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a routine for performing full folding and full surface output using the imposition processing apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an output data calculation and output film creation routine.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of flat binding / perfect binding (a) and saddle binding (b).

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the frame order of each fold and the actual page number in the case of saddle stitching.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of various surface patterns.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an example of a large page.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 CPU, 12 ROM, 13 RAM 15 Output scanner device 16 Input device (keyboard, mouse, digitizer, etc.) 17 Display, 18 External storage device 25, 26, 27, 28 Interface 20 Command bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-4-136848 (JP, A) JP-A-4-55853 (JP, A) JP-A-59-74558 (JP, A) JP-A-6-558 208219 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03F 1/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for performing imposition of printed matter, including plurality of different Ori a plurality of configurations and page data storing means for storing the page data of each page of a) said printed material, b) the printed matter multi-used in a different folding of the species
Imposition pattern data storage means for storing imposition pattern data representing several different imposition patterns; c) job file storage for storing a job file containing data specifying the imposition pattern data corresponding to each fold. Means, and d) imposition pattern data related to the designated folding
In addition to reading based on the contents of the file,
The actual page number of each page frame is based on a series of imposition pattern data.
And calculates the corresponding page data from the page data storage means.
Control means for reading and performing the imposition of the designated folding.