JP4872995B2 - Image processing apparatus, image forming system, and image processing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image forming system, and an image processing program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus is not limited to a process for forming an image on a printing medium, but a post-processing apparatus that performs a saddle stitch bookbinding process and other post-printing processes is used. In order to perform such post-print processing, it is necessary to perform imposition processing in which one or a plurality of images represented by print data are arranged on the print medium and the arrangement position and the arrangement direction are also controlled. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, an imposition that has been created based on imposition when printing contents expressed by a plurality of print data on printing paper and a direction in which the bookbinding machine obtains printing paper for bookbinding is completed. A printing system that determines the output order of print data is disclosed.

JP 2004-78449 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image forming system, and an image processing program capable of changing imposition information according to a post-printing processing function of a printing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 includes imposition information analysis means for analyzing imposition information of print data, and function acquisition means for acquiring a post-print processing function of the printing apparatus. When the print medium printed based on the imposition information cannot be post-processed by the post-print processing function, the imposition information of the print data is changed to imposition information that can be post-processed by the post-print processing function And imposition information changing means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the imposition information changing means divides the print data into data for each unit page before changing the imposition information of the print data. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the imposition information changing means is prepared based on the arrangement information prepared in advance indicating which page is arranged on which position of the printing paper. The print data is divided into data for each unit page.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the imposition information after the imposition information changing means has changed is printed by sending print data. It is characterized by comprising change information reply means for replying to the data generation device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the image processing apparatus transmits print data and imposition information to the image processing apparatus, and the surface. A print data generating device for receiving imposition information after the imposition information changing means has changed, and receiving and printing the print data and imposition information from the image processing device, and discharging the print medium after printing And a printing apparatus that performs post-processing based on the received imposition information.

  The invention of the image processing program according to claim 6 is based on imposition information analysis means for analyzing imposition information of print data, function acquisition means for acquiring a post-print processing function of a printing apparatus, and the imposition information. Imposition information changing means for changing the imposition information of the print data into imposition information that can be post-processed by the post-print processing function when the print medium printed in this way cannot be post-processed by the post-print processing function; It is made to function as.

  According to the first, fifth, and sixth aspects of the invention, the imposition information can be changed according to the post-printing processing function of the printing apparatus.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the imposition information can be easily changed as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily divide print data for various types of imposition information.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, printing can be performed after the user confirms the imposition information after the change.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of an image forming system according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, the image forming system includes a print data generation device 10, an image processing device 12, and a printing device 14. Each of these components is configured to be able to communicate with each other by communication means 16 such as a network.

  The print data generation apparatus 10 is configured by a personal computer or the like, generates print data and print instruction information, and transmits the print data and print instruction information to the image processing apparatus 12 via the communication unit 16. Here, the print data is image data representing an image formed by the printing apparatus 14. The print instruction information includes information related to printing excluding print data, such as the number of copies to be printed, the type of print paper as a print medium, imposition information, post-print processing information such as saddle stitch binding and stapling. included. The imposition information is instruction information for imposing a print sheet. The print data is printed in a predetermined arrangement on one or more pieces of image data (for example, A4 size image data) of each unit page, based on the imposition information, on a print sheet (for example, A3 size). Such print data and print instruction information can be created by, for example, a page description language (PDL).

  The image processing apparatus 12 compares the print data and the print instruction information received from the print data generation apparatus 10 with the post-print processing function acquired from the print apparatus 14, and the imposition information included in the print instruction information After printing, it is confirmed whether or not the printing apparatus 14 can execute saddle stitch binding, stapling, and other post-processing. If it can be executed, a print instruction is issued to the printing apparatus 14 based on the print data received from the print data generation apparatus 10 and the print instruction information. If it cannot be executed, the imposition information included in the print instruction information is changed based on the post-print processing function.

  The printing apparatus 14 includes an image forming apparatus 14a and a post-printing processing apparatus 14b. The image forming apparatus 14a prints the print data acquired via the image processing apparatus 12 with imposition based on the print instruction information. In the post-processing apparatus 14b, saddle stitch binding, stapling, and other post-processing are performed. In the post-printing processing device 14b, post-printing processing such as stapling, saddle stitching, bag binding, cardboard saddle stitching, case binding and cutting / folding is performed on the imprinted printing paper.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a hardware configuration of a computer constituting the image processing apparatus 12 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, an image processing apparatus 12 includes a central processing unit (for example, a CPU such as a microprocessor may be used) 18, a random access memory (RAM) 20, a read only memory (ROM) 22, a communication device 24, and a hard disk device ( HDD) 26. These components are connected to each other by a bus 28. The communication device 24 is connected to the bus 28 via the interface 24a, and the hard disk device 26 is connected to the bus 28 via the interface 26a.

  The CPU 18 controls the operation of each unit to be described later based on a control program stored in the RAM 20 or the ROM 22. The RAM 20 mainly functions as a work area for the CPU 18, and the ROM 22 stores a control program such as BIOS and other data used by the CPU 18.

  The communication device 24 includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port, a network port, and other appropriate communication interfaces, and the CPU 18 forms an image such as an image generation device such as a personal computer or a printer via communication means such as a network. Used to exchange data with devices and other external devices.

  Further, the hard disk device 26 can store various data necessary for processing to be described later.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image processing apparatus 12 according to the embodiment. 3, the image processing apparatus 12 includes a print processing analysis unit 30, an imposition information processing unit 40, a function acquisition unit 50, and a communication unit 60. These functions are, for example, processing operations of the CPU 18 and the CPU 18. This is realized by a program for controlling

  The print processing analysis unit 30 includes a print data analysis unit 32 and a print instruction information reconstruction unit 34. The print data analysis unit 32 analyzes the print data received from the print data generation device 10 via the communication unit 60 and determines whether the printing device 14 can print. The contents of this determination include, for example, whether or not the font used is supported by the printing apparatus 14, whether or not the printing apparatus 14 is compatible with color printing, and the like. Note that the printing function of the printing apparatus 14 is acquired by the function acquisition unit 50 described later. When the print data analysis unit 32 determines that printing is not possible, a warning to that effect may be transmitted to the print data generation apparatus 10 via the communication unit 60. The print instruction information reconfiguration unit 34 reconfigures the data format of the print instruction information received from the print data generation apparatus 10 so that the printing apparatus 14 can execute print processing.

  The imposition information processing unit 40 includes a print instruction information interpretation unit 42 and an imposition information change unit 44. The print instruction information interpretation unit 42 receives the reconfigured print instruction information from the print instruction information reconfiguration unit 34, and interprets imposition information and the like included in the print instruction information. At this time, the print instruction information interpreting unit 42 determines whether or not the printing paper printed based on the interpreted imposition information can be post-processed by the post-print processing function of the post-print processing apparatus 14b acquired by the function acquisition unit 50. to decide. If it is determined that post-processing can be performed, the print data and the print instruction information are transmitted to the printing apparatus 14 via the communication unit 60. At this time, the imposition information included in the print instruction information may be transmitted to the print data generation apparatus 10 before the print data and the print instruction information are transmitted to the printing apparatus 14 so that the user can reconfirm. If it is determined that post-processing cannot be performed, the imposition information changing unit 44 is notified of that.

  The imposition information changing unit 44 includes a print data dividing unit 44a and an imposition reconfiguring unit 44b. When the print data dividing unit 44a receives a notification from the print instruction information interpreting unit 42 that post-processing cannot be performed, the print data dividing unit 44a cancels the imposition information from the print data received from the print data generating apparatus 10, and divides the image data into unit page images. To do. This division processing can be performed by analyzing, for example, a description indicating a break of image data in a page description language. The imposition reconfiguration unit 44b uses the post-print processing device 14b to post the imposition information of the print data divided into the unit pages based on the post-print processing function of the post-print processing device 14b acquired by the function acquisition unit 50. Reconstruct into imposition information that can be processed. The reconfigured imposition information is transmitted to the print data generation apparatus 10 through the communication unit 60 together with the imposition target print data, and is configured so that the user can check it. At this time, it is preferable to transmit the print data to the print data generation apparatus 10 in an impositioned state. Note that the print data to be transmitted to the print data generation device 10 may be a so-called thumbnail image obtained by reducing the imposition image based on the imposition information.

  The function acquisition unit 50 communicates with the printing apparatus 14 via the communication unit 60 and acquires information regarding the printing function of the image forming apparatus 14a and the post-printing processing function of the post-printing processing apparatus 14b. Information about the acquired print function is passed to the print processing analysis unit 30, and information about the post-print processing function is passed to the imposition information processing unit 40. Examples of the printing function of the image forming apparatus 14a include usable paper size, paper type, usable font, whether double-sided printing is possible, whether multiple images can be formed on one page, and the like. The post-printing processing function of the post-printing processing device 14b includes the above-described stapling function, saddle stitch binding function, bag binding function, thick paper saddle stitching function, case binding function, and cutting / folding function.

  The communication unit 60 exchanges various types of information with the print data generation device 10 and the printing device 14 through the communication unit 16 and the communication device 24.

  FIGS. 4A and 4B show examples of print data arranged on a print sheet according to imposition information. FIG. 4A is an example of imposition when post-print processing information included in the print instruction information is saddle stitch binding. In FIG. 4A, for example, image data of N unit pages of A4 size is imprinted on the front and back surfaces of the printing paper α by two pages. Here, the printing paper is, for example, A3 size. The post-printing processing device 14b of the printing device 14 folds the (N / 4) sheets of printing paper α on which these N pieces of image data are printed, and binds them by stapling the fold lines. In this case, when the number of pages N increases, the printing paper α may not be folded in the post-printing processing apparatus 14b. Whether or not such post-processing can be performed is determined based on, for example, the print post-processing function of the post-print processing apparatus 14b acquired by the function acquisition unit 50 and the contents of the imposition information interpreted by the print instruction information interpretation unit 42. 42 determines. When post-processing cannot be performed by the post-printing processing apparatus 14b (in this example, the printing paper α cannot be folded), as shown in FIG. It is necessary to change to the imposition to be bound.

  For this reason, in the image processing apparatus 12 according to the embodiment, the print data dividing unit 44a divides the print data subjected to the imposition shown in FIG. 4A for each unit page of, for example, A4 size, and imposition The imposition information is reconfigured by the reconfiguration unit 44b. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4B, 20 unit pages are imposed on the front and back surfaces of, for example, five print sheets α. As a result, the post-printing processing device 14b only needs to fold five printing sheets, and post-processing is possible.

  FIG. 5 shows another example of print data arranged on a print sheet according to imposition information. FIG. 5 is an example of imposition when the post-print processing information included in the print instruction information is case binding. In this example, the cover pages (first and Nth pages and second and N-1th pages) are printed on the front and back surfaces of the A3 size printing paper α, and the other pages are A4 size printing paper β. Imprinted to be printed on. Here, for example, when the post-printing processing apparatus 14b does not have the case binding function, the print data dividing unit 44a divides the cover print data into A4 size unit pages, and the imposition reconstruction unit 44b. However, the imposition information is reconfigured so that all of these unit pages are printed on the A4 size printing paper β.

  Note that the post-processing performed by the post-print processing apparatus 14b of the printing apparatus 14 according to the embodiment is not limited to the examples illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5. FIG. For example, when the imposition information is saddle stitching, the print position of the print data is shifted in advance assuming an image shift when folding the print paper, but when dividing the print data into unit pages For this, it is preferable to perform a process for restoring the shift.

  FIG. 6 shows still another example of the print data arranged on the printing paper according to the imposition information. FIG. 6 shows an example of imposition when the post-print processing information included in the print instruction information is bookbinding by cutting and folding, and a large number of unit pages are impositioned on one print sheet. In this case, imposition information for each cutting / folding pattern, that is, in this example, arrangement information such as which page is arranged at which position on the printing paper is prepared in advance, and based on this arrangement information. It is preferable that the print data dividing unit 44a performs a process of dividing the page into unit pages. The arrangement information is stored in a storage device such as the hard disk device 26.

  FIG. 7 shows a flow of an operation example of the image processing apparatus 12 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 7, the print processing analysis unit 30 acquires print data and print instruction information from the print data generation apparatus 10 via the communication unit 60 (S1). Further, the function acquisition unit 50 acquires information related to the printing function of the image forming apparatus 14a and the post-printing processing function of the post-printing processing apparatus 14b from the printing apparatus 14 via the communication unit 60 (S2).

  The print data analysis unit 32 analyzes the print data and determines whether printing is possible with the printing apparatus 14 (S3). If the print data cannot be printed by the printing device 14 (S4), the print data analysis unit 32 notifies the print data generation device 10 of a warning to that effect via the communication unit 60 (S5), and the processing is terminated. .

  On the other hand, if the print data can be printed in S4, the imposition information processing unit 40 receives the print instruction information whose data format has been reconstructed by the print instruction information reconstructing unit 34, and the print instruction information interpreting unit 42 The imposition information included in the print instruction information is interpreted (S6). Next, whether or not the print instruction information interpretation unit 42 can post-process the printing paper printed based on the interpreted imposition information by the post-print processing function of the post-print processing apparatus 14b acquired by the function acquisition unit 50. Is determined (S7). If it is determined that post-processing cannot be performed, the imposition information changing unit 44 is notified of this.

  When the print data dividing unit 44a of the imposition information changing unit 44 receives a notification that post-processing cannot be performed from the print instruction information interpreting unit 42, the imposition information is canceled from the print data and divided into image data for each unit page. (S8). The imposition reconfiguration unit 44b reconfigures the imposition information of the divided print data into imposition information that can be post-processed by the post-print processing apparatus 14b (S9).

  Next, the imposition reconfiguration unit 44b transmits the reconfigured imposition information together with the imposition target print data to the print data generation apparatus 10 via the communication unit 60 (S10). In the print data generation apparatus 10, the user confirms the imposition print data based on the reconstructed imposition information, and transmits instruction information indicating whether printing is permitted or not to the image processing apparatus 12.

  When the image processing apparatus 12 receives the instruction information for permitting printing from the print data generation apparatus 10 (S11), it transmits the print data and the print instruction information to the printing apparatus 14 via the communication unit 60 (S12). If the instruction information indicates that printing is not permitted in S11, the process ends.

  If it is determined in S7 that post-processing can be performed, the process proceeds to S12, and print data and print instruction information are transmitted to the printing apparatus 14.

  The above-described program for executing the steps of FIG. 7 can be stored in a recording medium, and the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming system according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of the computer which comprises the image processing apparatus concerning embodiment. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the print data arrange | positioned on the printing paper by imposition information. It is a figure which shows the other example of the print data arrange | positioned on the printing paper by imposition information. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the print data arrange | positioned on the printing paper by imposition information. 6 is a flowchart of an operation example of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print data generation apparatus, 12 Image processing apparatus, 14 Printing apparatus, 14a Image forming apparatus, 14b Post-printing processing apparatus, 16 Communication means, 18 CPU, 20 RAM, 22 ROM, 24 Communication apparatus, 26 Hard disk apparatus, 28 Bus, 30 Print processing analysis unit, 32 Print data analysis unit, 34 Print instruction information reconstruction unit, 40 Imposition information processing unit, 42 Print instruction information interpretation unit, 44 Imposition information change unit, 44a Print data division unit, 44b Imposition Reconfiguration unit, 50 function acquisition unit, 60 communication unit.

Claims (4)

Imposition information analyzing means for analyzing imposition information of print data;
Function acquisition means for acquiring a post-print processing function of the printing apparatus;
When the print medium printed based on the imposition information cannot be post-processed by the post-print processing function, the imposition information of the print data is changed to imposition information that can be post-processed by the post-print processing function. Imposition information changing means;
Bei to give a,
The imposition information changing means divides the print data into data for each unit page before changing the imposition information of the print data,
When the post-print processing function acquired by the function acquisition unit is bookbinding by cutting / folding, the imposition information changing unit prepares in advance for each cutting / folding pattern which page on which position of the printing paper. Dividing the print data into data for each unit page based on the arrangement information indicating whether or not the arrangement is made;
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a change information return unit that returns the imposition information after the imposition information change unit has changed to the print data generation apparatus that has transmitted the print data. An image processing apparatus. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , and print data for transmitting print data and imposition information to the image processing apparatus and receiving imposition information after the imposition information changing means has changed. A generating apparatus; and a printing apparatus that receives and prints print data and imposition information from the image processing apparatus, and performs post-processing based on the received imposition information when the printed medium is discharged. An image forming system. On the computer,
It analyzes the imposition information of the print data,
It acquires the print post-processing capabilities of the printing device,
When the print medium printed based on the imposition information cannot be post-processed by the post-print processing function, the imposition information of the print data is changed to imposition information that can be post-processed by the post-print processing function. ,
Before changing the imposition information of the print data, the print data is divided into data for each unit page,
When the acquired post-print processing function is bookbinding by cutting / folding, it is prepared in advance for each cutting / folding pattern and is based on arrangement information indicating which page is arranged at which position on the printing paper. Dividing the print data into data for each unit page;
An image processing program for executing processing.

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