JP5151024B2 - Printing support apparatus, printing apparatus, printing support method, and printing support program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing support apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing support method, and a printing support program, and in particular, a printing support apparatus, a printing apparatus, and the like that support a printing order when printing with a printing apparatus that prints a newspaper or the like. The present invention relates to a printing support method and a printing support program.

  When printing a large amount of printed matter such as a newspaper, printing is performed using a huge printing device called a “newspaper rotary press”. The newspaper offset rotary press is a high-speed printing apparatus that prints 70,000 to 90,000 copies in a morning newspaper every hour.

  In offset printing performed by a printing apparatus such as the above-described newspaper offset rotary press, printing is performed by transferring ink to paper through a rubber blanket. The printing plate itself has no irregularities, and printing is performed separately for the oil-based ink portion and the ink-free portion using the property that oil repels water.

  In such a printing apparatus, single color printing and multicolor printing can be performed. However, ink replacement is required, and when replacing the ink, cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus are necessary, which reduces ink replacement and cleaning work. Efficient printing is desired.

  On the other hand, in a small printing apparatus such as a printer, for example, as in the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to perform printing efficiently by performing job scheduling and performing job replacement based on job processing time and the like. Proposed. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, when document data is read, the time required for printing is predicted from the size of the data, and a document having a short time required for printing is selected and automatically executed. It has been proposed to do.

Further, in order to perform printing efficiently, the technique described in Patent Document 3 is based on identification information that identifies whether the recording head is a black head or a color head that integrates a plurality of ink ejecting nozzles. It has been proposed to perform the cleaning operation efficiently without mixing ink colors by changing the cleaning operation for each head.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-240459 JP-A-11-331451 Japanese Patent No. 3359156

  However, in a small-sized printing apparatus such as a printer, a technique for efficiently performing printing, such as the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above, has been proposed, but ink replacement, cleaning work, and the like are necessary. There is no mention of a large printing device such as a newspaper offset press.

  As described above, in a large-sized printing apparatus, efficient printing with reduced ink replacement work, cleaning work, and the like is desired, and the ink used in the printing apparatus has various restrictions (for example, by mixing ink). The technology of a small printing apparatus cannot be applied as it is.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to support efficient printing with reduced cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus at the time of ink replacement.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing support apparatus according to claim 1 is a printing support apparatus that determines a printing order of a printing apparatus that performs printing by exchanging ink according to a print job, and includes a plurality of print jobs. Based on the detection results of analyzing the contents and detecting the type of ink used in each print job, and the detection results of the detection means, print jobs that use ink that is used frequently are aggregated to take into account the ink characteristics. And an order changing means for changing the changed printing order again so as to obtain an ink combination order that does not cause a problem after the printing order is changed so that the predetermined ink is post-printed. Yes.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the detection unit analyzes the contents of a plurality of print jobs and detects the type of ink used in each print job.

Further, the order changing means changes the printing order of the print job for each type of ink that is frequently used based on the detection result of the detecting means so that the ink determined in advance in consideration of the ink characteristics is post-printed. after changing the print order, so that the problem becomes the ink combination order that does not occur, print order has been changed is changed again. As a result, it is possible to support efficient printing with reduced cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus at the time of ink replacement, and problems such as occurrence of discoloration when ink is mixed can occur. Can be prevented.

That is, the order changing means, by the Turkey to aggregate print jobs for each ink type for a large number of times used, it is possible to reduce the number ink replacement, also can reduce cleaning frequency and adjustment during ink replacement , Can support efficient printing.

Further , the order changing means further changes the printing order so that a predetermined ink is subjected to post-printing in consideration of ink characteristics. For example, as in the second aspect of the invention, considering the ink color as the ink characteristic, the printing order is changed so that the print job using the lighter ink than the ink having a high ink density is executed first. Thus, the cleaning work at the time of ink replacement can be simplified, and efficient printing can be supported.

In addition, when there is a print job of two-color printing that can be reproduced by four-color printing as in the third aspect of the invention, the four-color printing or the two-color printing is selected in consideration of the cost advantage of the ink. You may make it further provide a selection means.

The printing apparatus according to claim 4 is a printing apparatus that performs printing by exchanging ink according to a print job, and detects the type of ink used in each print job by analyzing the contents of the plurality of print jobs. Based on the detection means and the detection result of the detection means , the print order is changed so that print jobs that use ink that is frequently used are aggregated and the ink determined in advance is used for the post-printing. An order changing unit that re- changes the changed printing order so that the ink combination order does not cause a problem later, and an output unit that outputs a print job in the printing order changed by the order changing unit. It is a feature.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the detection unit analyzes the contents of a plurality of print jobs and detects the type of ink used in each print job.

In addition, the order changing means changes the printing order based on the detection result of the detecting means so that print jobs that use ink that is frequently used are aggregated so that a predetermined ink according to the ink characteristics becomes a post-print. After that, the changed printing order is changed again so that the ink combination order does not cause a problem . As a result, it is possible to support efficient printing with reduced cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus at the time of ink replacement, and problems such as occurrence of discoloration when ink is mixed can occur. Can be prevented.

The print support program according to claim 5 is a print support program that causes a computer to execute a process of determining a print order of a printing apparatus that performs printing by exchanging ink according to a print job, and includes the contents of a plurality of print jobs. And detecting a type of ink to be used in each print job, and collecting print jobs that use ink that is frequently used based on the detection result of the detection step in advance according to the ink characteristics. The computer is caused to execute an order changing step for changing the changed printing order again so that the ink combination order does not cause a problem after the printing order is changed so that the predetermined ink is postprinted. It is said.

According to the invention described in claim 5 , in the detecting step, the contents of a plurality of print jobs are analyzed to detect the type of ink used in each print job.

Also, in the order change step, based on the detection result of the detection step , the print order is changed so that print jobs that use ink that is used frequently are aggregated and the ink that is predetermined according to the ink characteristics is used as a back print. After that, the changed printing order is changed again so that the ink combination order does not cause a problem . As a result, it is possible to support efficient printing with reduced cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus at the time of ink replacement, and problems such as occurrence of discoloration when ink is mixed can occur. Can be prevented.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to support efficient printing with reduced cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus at the time of ink replacement.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[ Basic form]
This basic form is an example of a printing support apparatus that supports printing of a printing apparatus that performs offset printing used for newspaper printing or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus that is a printing support target of the printing support apparatus according to the basic embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus 30 includes an ink roller 32, a water roller 34, a plate cylinder 36, a blanket cylinder 38, and an impression cylinder 40.

  The plate cylinder 36 is provided with a plate having no irregularities on its surface, and performs printing with the image area A being oleophilic and the non-image area B being hydrophilic using the principle that oil repels water. That is, by moistening the surface of the plate cylinder 36 with the water roller 34 and then applying the oil-based ink with the ink roller 32, the non-image area B receives water and repels ink, whereas the image area A The ink is received by repelling water, and the ink is applied only to the image area A so that printing is possible. For the plate cylinder 36, for example, a PS (Pre-sensitized Plate) or a plastic film can be applied. Ink is supplied from the ink tank 42 to the ink roller 32, and water is supplied from the water tank 44 to the water roller 34.

  The blanket cylinder 38 transfers the image once transferred to the paper P after transferring the image of the plate cylinder 36 once.

  The impression cylinder 40 is disposed so as to face the blanket cylinder 38, and applies pressure when the image of the blanket cylinder 38 is transferred to paper.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing support apparatus 10 according to the basic form of the present invention.

  In the print support apparatus 10, print support control is performed in which the control unit 12 determines the print order of print jobs performed by the printing apparatus 30.

  Connected to the control unit 12 are a print job acquisition unit 14, a print job storage unit 16, a print job content analysis unit 18, a print job sort unit 20, and a printing apparatus 30.

  The print job acquisition unit 14 acquires a print job including print data for printing and stores the print job in the print job storage unit 16.

  The print job content analysis unit 18 analyzes the job content such as the ink type used in the print job stored in the print job storage unit 16.

  The print job sorting unit 20 sorts the print jobs in order of printing efficiency with consideration of ink replacement, cleaning at the time of ink replacement, and the like based on the analysis result of the print job content analysis unit 18, and the sorted print order Remember. Specifically, the print order is sorted so that print jobs of the same ink type are collected and printed.

  The control unit 12 performs print support control so that the printing apparatus 30 prints the print jobs stored in the print job storage unit 16 in the order of the print jobs stored in the print job sort unit 20. That is, the printing apparatus 30 outputs print jobs in the printing order changed by the print job sorting unit 20.

Here, a print support process performed by the print support apparatus 10 according to the basic embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the print support process performed by the print support apparatus 10 according to the basic form of the present invention.

  First, in step 100, the print job acquisition unit 14 reads the print job, stores it in the print job storage unit 16, and proceeds to step 102.

  In step 102, the type of ink used in each print job stored in the print job storage unit 16 is listed. In other words, the print job content analysis unit 18 analyzes the print job read by the print job acquisition unit 14 and stored in the print job storage unit 16 to list the types of ink used in each print job.

  Next, in step 104, it is determined whether or not the same type of ink is used by switching a plurality of times. The determination is made by the print job content analysis unit 18 determining whether or not there is a print job in which the same type of ink is switched from the ink types listed by the print job content analysis unit 18 and used. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 116.

  In step 106, the print job content analysis unit 18 detects the number of uses for each ink type, and the process proceeds to step 108. That is, since print jobs using the same type of ink are collected, the number of cleanings at the time of ink replacement and ink replacement can be minimized.

  In step 108, based on the analysis result of the print job content analysis unit 18, print jobs that use the most frequently used ink are aggregated by the print job sort unit 20, and the process proceeds to step 110.

  In step 110, the printing order of the print jobs is re-sorted by the print job sort unit 20 in consideration of the post-printing ink, and the process proceeds to step 112. In other words, the printing order of the print job is changed so that the ink used in the print job for post-printing becomes dark ink, or ink containing wax compounds, silicon, fluorine additives, etc. is used as the ink component Change the print order of the print jobs so that the print jobs are postprinted. As a result, no problem occurs even if the cleaning at the time of ink replacement is simplified. When considering post-printed ink, the colors such as the color float and mottle of the ink are separated by taking into account the polarities of the specific gravity, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity of the ink pigment. Such a problem can be prevented.

  In step 112, the print job content analysis unit 18 determines whether there is more ink to be used. If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to step 110 and the printing order of the print jobs is printed in consideration of the post-printing ink. When the job sort unit 20 re-sorts and the determination in step 112 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 114.

  In step 114, the control unit 12 stores the order of the sorted print jobs in the print job sort unit 20, proceeds to step 116, and performs printing according to the sort order stored in the print job sort unit 20. Printing support is provided to the printing apparatus 30, and a series of processing ends.

That is, the printing support apparatus 10 according to the present basic embodiment aggregates each ink type that is frequently used, and changes the print job printing order in consideration of the post-printing ink. Cleaning and adjustment can be minimized and printing can be started efficiently.
First Embodiment
Next, the printing support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the print support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the print support apparatus 10 according to the basic form, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

In a basic form, if there is a print job for printing by switching a plurality of times of the same type of ink, but so as to sort the print order to print collectively print job using the same type of ink, the first In the embodiment, whether or not a problem occurs due to a combination of inks is further detected and sorted.

Here, the print support process performed by the print support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of print support processing performed by the print support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step 200, the print job is read by the print job acquisition unit 14, stored in the print job storage unit 16, and the process proceeds to step 202.

  In step 202, the type of ink used in each print job stored in the print job storage unit 16 is listed. In other words, the print job content analysis unit 18 analyzes the print job read by the print job acquisition unit 14 and stored in the print job storage unit 16 to list the types of ink used in each print job.

  Next, in step 204, it is determined whether or not the same type of ink is used by switching a plurality of times. The determination is made by the print job content analysis unit 18 determining whether or not there is a print job in which the same type of ink is switched from the ink types listed by the print job content analysis unit 18 and used. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 206, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 220.

  In step 206, the print job content analysis unit 18 detects the number of uses for each ink type, and the process proceeds to step 208.

  In step 208, based on the analysis result of the print job content analysis unit 18, print jobs that use the most frequently used ink are aggregated by the print job sorting unit 20, and the process proceeds to step 210. That is, since print jobs using the same type of ink are collected, the number of cleanings at the time of ink replacement and ink replacement can be minimized.

  In step 210, the print job printing order is re-sorted by the print job sort unit 20 in consideration of the post-print ink, and the process proceeds to step 212. In other words, the printing order of the print job is changed so that the ink used in the print job for post-printing becomes dark ink, or ink containing wax compounds, silicon, fluorine additives, etc. is used as the ink component Change the print order of the print jobs so that the print jobs are postprinted. As a result, no problem occurs even if the cleaning at the time of ink replacement is simplified. When considering post-printed ink, the colors such as the color float and mottle of the ink are separated by taking into account the polarities of the specific gravity, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity of the ink pigment. Such a problem can be prevented.

  In step 212, the print job content analysis unit 18 determines whether there is a problem with the ink combination in the print order of the print jobs sorted by the print job sort unit 20. For example, it is determined whether or not there is a combination that changes color due to a chemical change when mixed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 214. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 216 as it is.

  In step 214, the print job sort unit 20 changes the print order so that the ink combination order does not cause a problem, and the process proceeds to step 216.

  In step 216, the print job content analysis unit 18 determines whether there is more ink to be used. If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to step 210 and the printing order of the print jobs is printed in consideration of the post-print ink. When the job sort unit 20 re-sorts and the determination in step 216 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 218.

  In step 218, the order of the sorted print jobs is stored in the print job sort unit 20, and the control unit 12 proceeds to step 220 to perform printing according to the sort order stored in the print job sort unit 20. Printing support is provided to the printing apparatus 30, and a series of processing ends.

  For example, in the present embodiment, when there are a plurality of print jobs (Nos. 1 to 4) as shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of print jobs using Sian ink exist, and these are collected. Then, in consideration of the post-printing, the print jobs are sorted so that the print job uses the light ink after the dark ink as shown in FIG.

  However, if magenta is used after spot color 2, the color changes due to a chemical change. Therefore, it is determined that a problem occurs, and the order of the print jobs is changed as shown in FIG. Note that the combination of inks causing the problem may be stored in advance as a database in the control unit 12 or the like.

By processing in this way, in the present embodiment, it is possible to minimize the cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus at the time of ink replacement without causing problems such as ink discoloration and to start printing efficiently. It becomes possible.
[ Second Embodiment]
Next, a printing support apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the print support apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same configuration as the print support apparatus 10 according to the basic form, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the basic mode, when there is a print job for switching the same type of ink multiple times and printing, the print order is sorted so that print jobs using the same type of ink are collectively printed. In the first embodiment, Whether or not a problem occurs due to a combination of inks is further detected and sorted. However, in the second embodiment, there is a two-color print job that can be reproduced by four-color printing in the first embodiment. In addition, the cost merits of four-color printing and two-color printing are further studied.

Here, a print support process performed by the print support apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a print support process performed by the print support apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  First, in step 300, the print job is read by the print job acquisition unit 14, stored in the print job storage unit 16, and the process proceeds to step 302.

  In step 302, the type of ink used in each print job stored in the print job storage unit 16 is listed. In other words, the print job content analysis unit 18 analyzes the print job read by the print job acquisition unit 14 and stored in the print job storage unit 16 to list the types of ink used in each print job.

  Next, in step 304, it is determined whether or not the same type of ink is used by switching a plurality of times. The determination is made by the print job content analysis unit 18 determining whether or not there is a print job in which the same type of ink is switched from the ink types listed by the print job content analysis unit 18 and used. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 306. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 322.

  In step 306, the print job content analysis unit 18 detects the number of uses for each ink type, and the process proceeds to step 308.

  In step 308, based on the analysis result of the print job content analysis unit 18, print jobs that use the most frequently used ink are aggregated by the print job sorting unit 20, and the process proceeds to step 310. That is, since print jobs using the same type of ink are collected, the number of cleanings at the time of ink replacement and ink replacement can be minimized.

  In step 310, if there is a two-color print job that can be reproduced by four-color printing in the print job, the cost merit of four-color printing and two-color printing is examined by the control unit 12, and the process proceeds to step 314.

  In step 312, the control unit 12 determines whether or not there is a cost advantage of four-color printing based on the examination result in step 310. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 314. Then, the process proceeds to step 316.

  In step 314, the control unit 12 selects two-color printing for a print job that does not have the merit of four-color printing, and the process proceeds to step 316.

  In step 316, the print job print order is re-sorted by the print job sort unit 20 in consideration of the post-print ink, and the process proceeds to step 318. In other words, the printing order of the print job is changed so that the ink used in the print job for post-printing becomes dark ink, or ink containing wax compounds, silicon, fluorine additives, etc. is used as the ink component Change the print order of the print jobs so that the print jobs are postprinted. As a result, no problem occurs even if the cleaning at the time of ink replacement is simplified. When considering post-printed ink, the colors such as the color float and mottle of the ink are separated by taking into account the polarities of the specific gravity, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity of the ink pigment. Such a problem can be prevented.

  In step 318, the print job content analysis unit 18 determines whether there is a problem with the ink combination in the print order of the print jobs sorted by the print job sort unit 20. For example, it is determined whether or not there is a combination that changes color due to a chemical change when mixed. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 320. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 322 as it is.

  In step 320, the print job sort unit 20 changes the print order so that the ink combination order does not cause a problem, and the process proceeds to step 322.

  In step 322, the print job content analysis unit 18 determines whether or not there is ink to be used. If the determination is affirmative, the process returns to step 316 and the above processing is repeated, and the determination in step 322 is denied. After that, the routine proceeds to step 324.

  In step 324, the order of the print jobs sorted as described above is stored in the print job sort unit 20, the process proceeds to step 326, and printing is performed according to the sort order stored in the print job sort unit 20. The control unit 12 provides printing support to the printing apparatus 30 and ends the series of processes.

As described above, since the present embodiment includes the same processing as that of the first embodiment, the cleaning and adjustment of the printing apparatus during ink replacement can be minimized without causing problems such as ink discoloration. It becomes possible to start printing efficiently.

  Further, in this embodiment, when there is a two-color print job that can be reproduced by four-color printing, the cost merit of the four-color printing and the two-color printing is further examined to determine whether the four-color printing or the two-color printing. Printing is possible.

In the second embodiment described above, the first embodiment, when there are two color printing jobs reproducible in four-color, 4-color and was to further consider the cost benefits of 2-color It may be applied to the basic form.

The configuration of the print support apparatus 10 according to the shape condition described above may be a hardware configuration, or as software configuration. That is, the print support processing that is performed in the print support apparatus 10 of the shape states, may be a process performed by hardware, or as a process carried out in software.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus that is a printing support target of a printing support apparatus according to a basic form of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing support apparatus according to a basic form of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of print support processing performed by the print support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of print support processing performed by the print support apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the printing assistance process performed with the printing assistance apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the printing assistance process performed with the printing assistance apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Print support apparatus 12 Control part 14 Print job acquisition part 16 Print job storage part 18 Print job content analysis part 20 Print job sort part 30 Printing apparatus

Claims (5)

A printing support apparatus that determines a printing order of a printing apparatus that performs printing by exchanging ink according to a print job,
Detection means for analyzing the contents of a plurality of print jobs and detecting the type of ink used in each print job;
Based on the detection result of the detection means , a problem occurs after the print order is changed so that the print jobs using the ink that is frequently used are aggregated and the predetermined ink is subjected to the post-printing in consideration of the ink characteristics. Order changing means for changing the changed printing order again so that the ink combination order does not occur ;
A printing support apparatus comprising: The order change means changes the print order so that a print job using an ink that is lighter than an ink having a high ink density is executed first in consideration of an ink color as an ink characteristic. The printing support apparatus according to 1. 4 if there is a 2-color print print job that can be reproduced in color printing, according to claim 1, further comprising a selection means for selecting whether to four-color printing or two-color printing cost considerations merit of the ink Or the printing assistance apparatus of Claim 2 .   A printing device that replaces and prints ink according to a print job,
  Detection means for analyzing the contents of a plurality of print jobs and detecting the type of ink used in each print job;
  Based on the detection result of the detection means, a problem occurs after the print order is changed so that the print jobs using the ink that is frequently used are aggregated and the predetermined ink is subjected to the post-printing in consideration of the ink characteristics. Order changing means for changing the changed printing order again so that the ink combination order does not occur;
  Output means for outputting a print job in the printing order changed by the order changing means;
A printing apparatus comprising:   A printing support program for causing a computer to execute processing for determining a printing order of a printing apparatus that performs printing by exchanging ink according to a print job,
  A detection step of analyzing the contents of a plurality of print jobs to detect the type of ink used in each print job;
  Based on the detection result of the detection step, there is a problem after the print order is changed so that the print jobs using the ink that is frequently used are aggregated and the predetermined ink is subjected to the post-printing in consideration of the ink characteristics. An order change step for re-changing the changed print order so that the ink combination order does not occur;
A printing support program for causing a computer to execute the above.

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