JP4586681B2 - Printing control apparatus, printing system, and form overlay printing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus and a printing system that output print data to a printing apparatus that performs form overlay printing, and a form overlay printing method thereof. More specifically, an external character data portion in form data is imaged in the printing control apparatus. The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus, a printing system, and a form overlay printing method thereof.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing apparatuses (printers) that register frequently used form data, such as quotations and forms, and perform form overlay printing by overlaying the print data and the form data at the time of printing are known. .

  Various printers having such a form overlay function have been proposed in the past. However, in existing printers, registered form data is developed on the printer side, and printing is performed by overlaying the print data.

Therefore, when external character data that cannot be processed by the printer is included in the form data, the printer has a problem that the form data cannot be developed and cannot be printed.
JP 08-072333 A

  As a countermeasure against such a problem, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a printer that can print form data including external characters by registering external character data in the printer in advance has been proposed. ing.

  However, such a printer is a dedicated printer, and the introduction cost is higher than that of a general-purpose printer.

  A method of processing all the form data as print data is also conceivable, but in this case, since the form data is superimposed on all pages, the print data size is enlarged and print performance is affected. .

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a printing control apparatus and printing system capable of performing form overlay printing corresponding to external character data by a general-purpose printing apparatus, and a form overlay printing method thereof. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a print control apparatus that outputs print data to a printing apparatus that performs form overlay printing by superimposing form data and print data. A storage unit that stores the main body form data that does not include external character data and other external character part form data; and print data that specifies the form data stored in the storage unit when the print data is received. A drawing unit that incorporates the external character part form data into a part of the image data and develops the image data, and an output unit that outputs the image data developed by the drawing unit and the body part form data to the printing apparatus. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the external character data detecting means for detecting whether or not there is external character data in the form data, and when the external character data is detected by the external character data detecting means The apparatus further comprises form data registration means for dividing the form data into the main body part form data and the external character part form data and registering the form data in the storage means.

The invention of claim 3 is the printing system comprising a printing apparatus for performing form overlay printing by superimposing the form data and the print data, a print control apparatus for outputting print data to the printing apparatus, the printing The control device stores the form data including the external character data separately into the main body part form data not including the external character data and the other external character part form data, and stores the form data stored in the storage unit. When the designated print data is received, drawing means for incorporating the external character part form data into a part of the print data and developing the image data, image data developed by the drawing means, and the main body form data Output means for outputting to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus receives a main unit frame from the output means. While expanded into image data Mudeta, characterized by printout by superimposing the expanded image data in said drawing means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a form overlay printing for a printing system comprising: a printing apparatus that performs form overlay printing by superimposing form data and print data; and a print control apparatus that outputs print data to the printing apparatus. In the method, the print control device detects whether or not there is external character data in the form data by external character data detection means, and when the external character data is detected by the external character data detection means, the form data is stored in the form data. When the main unit form data and the external character part form data are separately registered in the storage unit by the form data registration unit and the print data designating the form data stored in the storage unit is received, the drawing unit receives the print data. The external character form data is incorporated into a part of the image data and expanded into image data, and the drawing means Ri and the expanded image data and the main body form data output by the output unit to the printing device, the printing device is configured to expand the body portion form data from said output means to the image data, by said drawing means It is characterized in that it is printed out in a superimposed manner with the developed image data.

  According to the present invention, form data including external character data is stored separately in main body form data not including external character data and other external character form data, and print data designating the stored form data is stored. In this case, the external character form data is incorporated into a part of the print data and expanded into image data, and the expanded image data and the main body form data are output to the printing apparatus. With this printing apparatus, form overlay printing corresponding to external character data can be performed.

  This eliminates the need to introduce a dedicated printing device, thereby reducing costs. In addition, since only the external character form data is incorporated into the print data, the main body form data, which occupies most of the form data, is combined in the printing apparatus, so that all the form data has been incorporated into the print data conventionally. Compared to the case, the print data is not enlarged and the processing speed is not reduced.

  Embodiments of a printing control apparatus and printing system and a form overlay printing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a printing system configured by arranging a printing control apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where the print control apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the print server 10 is shown.

  The printing system includes a print server 10 that outputs print data sent from a host (not shown) to the printer 20 and a printer 20 that prints out data based on the print data sent from the print server 10. Composed.

  Here, a “form data creation tool” for creating form data is installed in the print server 10, and the user creates desired form data using this tool.

  When the form data creation tool 11 detects external character data from the character code at the time of creating the form data, it separates form data (main body part) 32 to be originally created from the form data (external character part) 31 in which only the external character data is collected. Output.

  The form data creation tool includes, as various processing function units, a form data creation unit 11a that creates form data in response to a user instruction, an external character data detection unit 11b that detects external character data from the created form data, When external character data is detected, it is divided into form data (external character portion) 31 in which only external character data is collected and form data (main body portion) 32 that is other form data that should be created in the printer server 10. The form data registration unit 11c registered in the storage unit 15 is configured.

  In addition, the print server 10 includes, as various processing function units, an editing unit 12 that edits print data and form data (external character portion) 31 sent from the host to an internal data format (for example, an extended metafile), The image forming apparatus includes a drawing unit 13 that develops print data in an internal data format edited by the unit 12 into image data, and an output unit 14 that outputs the print data imaged by the drawing unit 13 to the printer 20. .

  When form overlay printing is performed, information specifying form data (form data specifying information (for example, form name)) is added to print data sent from the upper level to the print server 10.

  Upon receiving this, the print server 10 outputs to the printer 20 the print data obtained by performing the above-described processing on the print data from the host and the form data specified by the form data designation information. At this time, if there is no external character data in the form data, the form data (main body part) 32 is output to the printer 20 by a method similar to the conventional method together with the print data subjected to predetermined processing.

  On the other hand, when external character data is included in the form data, the form data (external character part) 31 is incorporated into a part of the print data when the editing unit 12 performs an editing process on the print data from the upper level. Edit to internal data format. The print data in the internal data format including the edited external character data is developed into image data by the drawing unit 13 and then output from the output unit 14 to the printer 20.

  That is, the form data (external character portion) 31 is developed into image data together with print data from the upper level, and is output to the printer 20. Therefore, in the printer 20, whether or not external character data is included in the form data, only the form data (main body part) 32 is expanded into image data, and the form data and the image from the print server 20 are converted into an image. The print data is superimposed and printed out.

  Here, the printer 20 has, as various processing function units, a drawing unit 21 that develops the form data (main body unit) 32 into image data using the built-in font 21a, and the drawing unit 21 develops the image data into image data during form overlay printing. The form data (main body part) 32 and the imaged print data from the print server 10 are superimposed and combined, and an image is formed on the sheet based on the print data combined by the combining unit 22. And a print output unit 23.

  Here, the operation of form data creation processing by the form data creation tool will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a description will be given assuming that the form data creation tool is activated on the print server 10.

  When the user starts creating form data using an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard installed in the print server 10, the form data creating unit 11a creates form data according to the user instruction (step S101 and step S102). NO).

  When the form data is completed and the end of creation is instructed by the user (YES in step S102), the external character data detection unit 11b receives this instruction and detects whether there is external character data in the form data. This is performed (step S103).

  If external character data is not detected (NO in step S103), the form data registration unit 11c registers the created form data as form data (main body unit) 32 in the storage unit 15 (step S104). On the other hand, if the external character data is detected (YES in step S103), the form data registration unit 11c stores the form data (external character part) 31 in which only the external character data is collected. While registering in the storage unit 11 (step S105), form data other than external character data is registered in the storage unit 11 as form data (main body unit) 32 (step S106), and this form data creation process is terminated.

  Next, the operation of form overlay printing in the printing system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation of the print server 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The print server 10 stands by until print data is sent from the upper level (NO in step S201), but when print data is sent from the upper level (YES in step S201), this process is started.

  When this process is started, the editing unit 12 first determines whether or not form data designation information is added to the received print data (step S202). That is, it is determined whether printing is performed using the form overlay function or normal printing.

  If the form data designation information is not added by this determination (NO in step S202), the editing unit 12 edits the data into an internal data format (step S203), and the drawing unit 13 develops the image data. (Step S204), the data is output from the output unit 14 to the printer 20 (Step S205), and this process ends. On the other hand, if form data designation information is added (YES in Step S202), The editing unit 12 acquires form data corresponding to the designation information from the storage unit 15 (step S206).

  Subsequently, the editing unit 12 determines whether or not external character data is included in the acquired form data (step S207). That is, it is determined whether or not form data (external character portion) 31 exists.

  If there is no form data (external character part) 31 (NO in step S207), the editing unit 12 edits the received print data into an internal data format (step S208), while the form data (external character part). ) 31 (YES in step S207), the editing unit 12 incorporates the form data (external character part) 31 together with the received print data into a part of the print data and edits it into the internal data format (step S209). ).

  The print data edited in the internal data format in this manner is developed into image data in the drawing unit 13 (step S210), and then output from the output unit 14 to the printer 20 (step S211). Then, this process ends.

  Next, the operation of the printer 20 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the form overlay printing process in the printer 20 described with reference to FIG. 4 is a process performed in an existing printer 20 that is conventionally known.

  The printer 20 is on standby until print data is input from the print server 10 (NO in step S301). When print data is input from the print server 10 (YES in step S301), the drawing unit 21 is set. In step S302, it is determined whether the form data (main body part) 32 is input together with the data. That is, it is a determination as to whether printing based on the print data is form overlay printing.

  Here, when the form data (main body part) 32 has not been input, that is, in the case of normal printing (NO in step S302), the drawing unit 21 and the combining unit 22 do not perform any particular processing. The print output unit 23 performs a print process based on the print data (step S305), and the process ends. On the other hand, when the form data (main body unit) 32 is input (YES in step S302), The drawing unit 21 develops the form data (main body unit) 32 into image data (step S303), and the imaged form data (main body unit) 32 is also converted into an image input from the print server 10 as well. The print data is combined with the print data by the combining unit 22 (step S304).

  Then, the print output unit 23 performs a print process based on the combined print data (step S305), and the process ends.

  As described above, in the present invention, form data (body part) 32 that does not include external character data and form data (external character part) 31 that summarizes only external character data are created and registered at the time of creating form data. When print data designating form data is received, the print server 10 side embeds form data (external character portion) 31 into a part of the print data, expands it into image data, and includes the imaged external character data. Since the print data and the form data (main unit) 32 are output to the printer 20, the general-purpose printer can perform form overlay printing corresponding to the external character data.

  This eliminates the need to introduce a dedicated printer, thereby reducing costs. Since only the form data (external character part) 31 is incorporated in the print data, the form data (main body part) 32 that occupies most of the form data is combined in the printer, so conventionally all the form data is printed. Compared to the case where it is incorporated in the data, the print data is not enlarged and the processing speed is not reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the print data is output from the print server 10 to the printer 20 and the form data (main body) 32 is output at the same time has been described. Since the function of the present invention can be realized if the printer 20 has the form data (main body part) 32, the form data (main body part) 32 is output to the printer 20 particularly before printing on the printer 20 side. The timing does not matter. For example, the form data (main body unit) 32 may be downloaded from the print server 10 side to the printer 20 as a part of the startup process when the printer 20 is turned on.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the form data (external character portion) 31 is composed of only the external character data has been described. However, if the external character data is not included in the form data (main body portion) 32, the function of the present invention. Can be realized, the form data (external character portion) 31 may include data other than external character data.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where form overlay printing is performed by the printer 20 has been described. However, the printing apparatus is not limited to the printer 20 and may be a fax machine, a copier, a multifunction machine, or the like having a printing function.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the print control process of the present invention is executed by the print server 10 to which the print control apparatus according to the present invention is applied has been described. However, this process is executed by a program installed in the computer. It may be configured as follows.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The printing control apparatus and printing system and the form overlay printing method of the present invention can be applied to all printing control apparatuses that output print data to a printing apparatus that performs form-overlay printing. Form overlay printing corresponding to external character data can be performed by the printing apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of a printing system configured by arranging a printing control apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the form data creation process by the form data creation tool 11 shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of form overlay printing in the print server 10 shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of form overlay printing in the printer 20 shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print server 11 Form data creation tool 11a Form data creation part 11b External character data detection part 11c Form data registration part 12 Editing part 13 Drawing part 14 Output part 15 Storage part 20 Printer 21 Drawing part 21a Built-in font 22 Composition part 23 Print output part 31 Form data (external character part)
32 Form data (main part)

Claims (4)

In a print control apparatus that outputs print data to a printing apparatus that performs form overlay printing by superimposing form data and print data,
Storage means for storing form data including external character data separately into main body form data not including external character data and other external character form data;
When receiving print data specifying the form data stored in the storage means, a drawing means for incorporating the external character form data into a part of the print data and developing it into image data;
A printing control apparatus comprising: output means for outputting image data developed by the drawing means and the main body form data to the printing apparatus. External character data detection means for detecting whether there is external character data in the form data;
Form data registration means for dividing the form data into the main body form data and the external character form data and registering them in the storage means when external character data is detected by the external character data detection means. The print control apparatus according to claim 1. In a printing system having a printing device that performs form overlay printing by superimposing form data and print data, and a print control device that outputs print data to the printing device,
The print control device includes:
Storage means for storing form data including external character data separately into main body form data not including external character data and other external character form data;
When receiving print data specifying the form data stored in the storage means, a drawing means for incorporating the external character form data into a part of the print data and developing it into image data;
Output means for outputting the image data developed by the drawing means and the main body form data to the printing device;
The printing apparatus includes:
The printing system, wherein the main body form data from the output means is developed into image data, and is printed and output superimposed on the image data developed by the drawing means. In a form overlay printing method of a printing system, comprising: a printing apparatus that performs form overlay printing by superimposing form data and print data; and a print control apparatus that outputs print data to the printing apparatus.
The print control device detects whether or not there is external character data in the form data by an external character data detection means,
When the external character data is detected by the external character data detection means, the form data is divided into the main body part form data and the external character part form data, and registered in the storage means by the form data registration means,
When receiving the print data designating the form data stored in the storage means, the drawing means incorporates the external character form data into a part of the print data and expands it into image data,
The image data developed by the drawing means and the main body form data are output to the printing apparatus by an output means,
The printing apparatus expands the main body form data from the output unit into image data, and prints and outputs the image data superimposed on the image data expanded by the drawing unit. .

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