JP5895746B2 - Print control apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a program.

  In the on-demand printing business, orders are received online from various customers including data such as print contents, print settings, and post-processing (folding processing and bookbinding processing performed on a printed output). The received print data is printed by the digital printing system, and when post-processing is designated, the post-processing is performed by a post-processing device included in the system. Then, the post-processed individual printed matter is sorted and packed for each delivery destination specified in the order, and the packaged matter is sent to the corresponding delivery destination.

  In an on-demand printing operation that prints a small lot with a relatively small number of copies, it is necessary to perform operations such as packing together a plurality of printed materials of the same delivery destination in the same packing box. Since there may be cases where sophisticated judgments are required during packaging, such as the thickness and vertical / horizontal size of the printed matter relating to individual orders may differ, packing operations are rarely performed manually in this type of work. Absent.

  In this type of on-demand printing, printed materials related to a plurality of orders having the same delivery destination are still packed and delivered in one box. In this case, the size (for example, thickness) of the printed matter is generally different for each order, and experience is required to efficiently pack the different size printed matter in one box.

  In addition, as in the case of an order for delivery to another department of the same company, printed materials related to orders with the same delivery address and building but different delivery department are often packed and delivered in one box. In such a case, after the box is delivered to the delivery destination, it is necessary to sort the printed matter related to the individual orders in the box in the delivery destination building, etc., and deliver it to the corresponding delivery destination. Come. If the printed materials destined for the same delivery destination are simply collected in the same box, the distribution of the printed materials to individual delivery destinations within the delivery destination becomes a complicated operation.

  As prior art relating to product packaging, there are Patent Documents 1 and 2 shown below.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a product sorting system that sorts received products using a sorter according to items and quantities specified for each shipping destination. This system includes a sorting remaining data storage unit, a shipping data storage unit, a storage container volume storage unit, a commodity volume storage unit, an allocation content determination unit, a sorting remaining data storage unit, and a shipping data storage unit. A storage container number calculating means for calculating the number of necessary storage containers from the storage contents of the storage container volume storage means, the storage contents of the product volume storage means, and the assigned content determination means; Control means for controlling a plurality of sorters by the assigned content determining means to store the identified received goods in the storage container corresponding to the shipping destination based on the calculation result of the storage container number calculating means.

  In the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, the specification form and the quantity of the exterior case necessary for packaging are stored in advance in the exterior case development master based on the number of members to be packed within a predetermined period and the characteristics thereof. Next, in the layout terminal, the artificial intelligence or expert system is used to search whether there is a space around the outer case already stacked in order from the back side of the container. The outer case that satisfies the stored conditions will be placed. Then, based on the layout of the outer case, the layout terminal determines the type, the arrangement position, and the quantity of the showering material for fixing the outer case according to the adjacent outer case.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-80219 JP 7-53050 A

  An object of the present invention is to reduce the burden on an operator who packs each printed matter corresponding to each printing order in a packing container as compared with the case where the present invention is not used.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes: print data; delivery destination information indicating a delivery destination of a printed matter generated by printing the print data; and an individual or a department of the delivery destination of the printed matter within the delivery destination. Print order acquisition means for acquiring a print order including the delivery destination information shown, delivery order storage means for storing delivery order information indicating the delivery order of the printed matter for the individual or department in the delivery destination, and the acquired print order A packing operation unit selecting means for selecting a printing order group having the same delivery destination as a packing operation unit from the group, and delivery of each print order included in the packing operation unit in the delivery order of the delivery destination An order position determining means for determining a processing order of each print order and a packing position of each printed matter as a print result of each print order in a packing container according to the previous order; and the packing operation unit Included in For each print order, the printing apparatus executes printing of the print data of the print order in accordance with the processing order, and in association with the print, a filling instruction that represents the filling position of the printed matter corresponding to the print order And a control unit that performs control to cause the printing apparatus to print a document.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the order position determining means prints the print data of each printing order as the processing order in accordance with the processing order, and the printed matter created in order by the printing is in that order on the bottom surface of the packaging container. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when packing is started, the order in which the printed matter corresponding to the delivery destination with the earlier delivery order is closer to the outlet on the upper surface of the packing container is determined. It is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided recipient information storage means for storing recipient information that defines a recipient who receives the packing container packed with the printed matter among individuals or departments in the delivery destination. The order position determining means further includes the processing obtained from the delivery order when the packing operation unit includes a print order with the recipient specified based on the recipient information as a delivery destination. The order is changed so that a printed matter corresponding to a printing order with the recipient as a delivery destination is packed in a position closest to the take-out port on the upper surface of the packing container. The print control apparatus according to the above.

  The invention according to claim 4 further includes sorting instruction output means for causing the printing apparatus to print a sorting instruction including list information of the packing positions of the printed materials packed in the packing container. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus is a printing control apparatus.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the order position determination unit displays a printed matter corresponding to the print order created in accordance with the processing order in the stuffing instruction printed in correspondence with the printed matter. When stuffed into the stuffing position, when it protrudes from the packing container, it is determined whether or not the printed matter can be divided into a plurality of parts according to a predetermined division condition. The printed matter is divided into a plurality of parts, and the stuffing position is determined for each part of the result of the division, and the control means further determines the stuffing position for the part for each part of the result of the division. The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing instruction is expressed by the printing apparatus.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer, the print data, the delivery destination information indicating the delivery destination of the printed matter generated by printing the print data, and the individual of the delivery destination of the printed matter within the delivery destination. Or a printing order acquisition means for acquiring a printing order including a delivery destination information indicating a department, a delivery order storage means for storing delivery order information indicating a delivery order of printed matter to an individual or a department in the delivery destination, and the acquired printing A packing operation unit selection means for selecting a printing order group having the same delivery destination as a packing operation unit from among the order group; and delivery of each print order included in the packing operation unit in the delivery order of the delivery destination In accordance with the previous order, the order position determining means for determining the processing order of each print order and the packing position of each printed matter that is the printing result of each print order in the packing container; For each print order included in the print order, the printing apparatus prints the print data of the print order according to the processing order, and represents the stuffing position for the printed matter corresponding to the print order in association with the print. It is a program for functioning as a control unit that performs control to cause the printing apparatus to print a stuffing instruction.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 1 or 6, the burden of the operator who packs each printed matter corresponding to each printing order into a packing container can be reduced rather than the case where this invention is not used.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the effort of the work which delivers each printed matter collectively delivered to the same packaging container to each delivery destination in a delivery destination can be reduced rather than the case where this invention is not used. it can.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the recipient at the delivery destination can immediately take out the printed material addressed to him / her from the packaging container.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 4, the operation | work which distributes each printed matter in a packaging container to each delivery destination at a delivery destination can be made easier than the case where this invention is not used.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, when the printed matter corresponding to a printing order cannot be packed into a packing container as it is, it can pack separately.

It is a figure which shows the example of the system configuration for printing and packing containing the printing control apparatus of embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the printing control apparatus of embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the delivery order in a delivery destination. It is a figure which shows an example of delivery order information. It is a figure which shows the example of the relationship between a packing box and the pack of printed matter. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the method of the determination of the packing position in a packing box. It is a figure which shows an example of the data content memorize | stored in the stuffable amount memory | storage part. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of pasting of the printed matter corresponding to a printing order, and a packing instruction. It is a figure which shows an example of a packing instruction. It is a figure which shows another example of a packing instruction. It is a figure which shows an example of a classification instruction document. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence of a process sequence determination part. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence of a stuffing position determination part, an instruction document data preparation part, and a printing control part. It is a figure which shows typically the example which divides | segments the printing result of one printing order into several, and packs it in the same packing box. It is a figure which shows typically the example which divides | segments the printing result of one printing order into several, and packs it in a separate packing box. It is a figure which shows a part of an example of the process sequence in consideration of the case where it cannot pack into the packing box if the printing result of a printing order is put together in one pack. It is a figure which shows the remaining part of an example of the process sequence considering the case where it cannot pack into the packing box if the printing result of a printing order is put together in one pack. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence in case dividing | segmenting the printing result of a printing order is not permitted. It is a figure which shows an example of the process sequence in the case of switching whether the printing result of a printing order is divided | segmented according to the packing condition of a packing box.

  First, an example of a system to which the print control apparatus 10 of the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, a print control apparatus 10 connected to a network (for example, a local area network) 30 in a print service providing organization is sent from a PC (personal computer) 60 of an orderer 50 via a network 40 such as the Internet. It has a function to receive an incoming print order. The print control apparatus 10 also has a function of collecting received print orders for each delivery destination, scheduling printing and packing work, and printing out each print order to the printer 20 on the network 30 according to the schedule.

  Print orders are processed together for each identical delivery destination. The “delivery destination” is a place such as a building or facility to which a printed matter produced by this system according to a print order is delivered. There are multiple individuals or departments within a single “delivery destination”, and when a print order arrives with these individuals or departments as “delivery destinations”, the individual delivery destinations of the same delivery destination The printing results are collected and continuously printed and packed in one or more boxes in order. In the case of on-demand printing of a small lot, it is common that a plurality of orders with the same delivery destination arrive (for example, a plurality of orders from different persons in the same company or the same branch). As described above, in this specification, the term “delivery destination” refers to a place such as a building or a facility, and “delivery destination” refers to a printed matter relating to an individual order in the “delivery destination”. Refers to the person or department receiving. In many cases, the orderer 50 itself is a “delivery destination”.

  In this system, a bundle of printed matter 80 corresponding to one printing order output from the printer 20 is basically packed together by an operator 70 in charge of packing. In the case of an order for producing a plurality of printed copies, the printed copies for the number of copies that have been ordered are packed together. When the number of copies is large, the printed matter related to one order may be divided into a plurality of packages. However, this point is not an essential point for the feature of the present embodiment. In the following, a case where these are summarized will be described as a representative example. The bundle of printed materials to be packaged corresponds to the “delivery destination” specified in the order, and this packaging process is an operation for each delivery destination.

  The packaged printed matter (hereinafter referred to as “pack”) is packed into the packing box 90 by the operator 70. In the case of small lot printing, the individual packs 80 for each “delivery destination” are small, so these packs are grouped for each “delivery destination”, packed in a packaging box 90 of an appropriate size, and delivered. Thus, the packing process is a work for each delivery destination.

  At the delivery destination, the packing box 90 is opened, the individual packs 80 are taken out and sorted, and each pack is delivered (distributed) to the individual or department of each delivery destination in the delivery destination building or the like. In the present embodiment, processing for facilitating delivery (distribution) of the pack 80 to each delivery destination within the delivery destination is executed by the print control apparatus 10.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of the functional configuration of the print control apparatus 10. As illustrated, the print control apparatus 10 includes an order processing unit 102, a spooler 104, a delivery destination DB 106, a name identification processing unit 108, a processing order determination unit 110, a stuffing position determination unit 112, a stuffable amount storage unit 114, and instruction data creation. Section 116 and a print control section 118.

  The order processing unit 102 performs processing for receiving a print order sent from the PC 60 of the orderer 50. The print order sent includes, for example, print data (for example, written in a page description language) representing the contents of the printed matter, information such as print settings when printing the print data and post-processing settings for the print result , Information for specifying the orderer, information for specifying the “delivery destination”, delivery date designation, and the like. Note that the print control device holds the print data in advance and allows the orderer to select the print data that he / she wants to order, such as print settings and post-processing settings for the print results, information for specifying the orderer, “delivery destination” The print order may be received by accepting only the information specifying “” and information such as delivery date designation.

  The print settings include items such as the number of copies to be printed, paper size, paper quality, distinction between monochrome printing and color printing, and whether to perform double-sided printing. The post-processing setting includes designation of types of post-processing to be applied to the print results for each copy, for example, various bookbinding such as upper bookbinding and saddle stitching, various folding processes such as Z-folding, and the like.

  The information specifying the orderer is, for example, attribute information such as the name of the company and department to which the orderer belongs, the address (location of the department to which the orderer belongs), name, and telephone number. Of course, these are only examples, and it is not necessary that all of them are included, and other attribute items may be included. When the attribute information of the orderer is registered on the print control apparatus 10 side, the user ID issued to the orderer by the print control apparatus 10 side may be used as information for specifying the orderer.

  The information specifying the “delivery destination” includes, for example, the name and address of the delivery destination (company, branch, etc.) to which the delivery destination belongs, the representative telephone number of the delivery destination, the telephone number of the delivery destination, and the delivery destination. Is the attribute information such as the department name and personal name of the department, the department of the department and the telephone number of the individual, and the department name and the representative telephone number of the department when the delivery destination is the department. Of course, these are only examples, and it is not necessary that all of them are included, and other attribute items may be included. When these delivery destination attribute information is registered on the print control apparatus 10 side, the user ID issued to the delivery destination by the print control apparatus 10 side may be used as information for specifying the delivery destination.

  In the case of adopting the business model of the orderer equal delivery destination, the information specifying the orderer and the information specifying the delivery destination and the delivery destination are duplicated information, so only one is required.

  The spooler 104 accumulates (spools) each print order received by the order processing unit 102 until printing and packing processing are executed. For example, the spooler 104 holds the above-described print data, print / post-processing settings, and orderer / delivery destination information for each received print order.

  Delivery order information for each “delivery destination” (company, branch, etc.) is registered in the delivery destination DB (database) 106. Here, the delivery order information is information indicating the delivery order of printed materials for each delivery destination (individual or department) within the delivery destination.

  For example, assume that a certain branch (“delivery destination α”) registered as a delivery destination is on one floor of a building. FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the floor. As illustrated in FIG. 3, it is assumed that individual seats are arranged in groups such as A, B, C,... In this example, the delivery order is set in the order of groups A, B, C,... According to the positional order of the groups on the floor.

  FIG. 4 shows the delivery order information of this “delivery destination α” registered in the delivery destination DB 106. In this example, “group” is a unit of delivery destination, and identification information (delivery destination ID) is assigned to each group A, B, C,. In the delivery order information, a number indicating the delivery order of the delivery destination is registered in association with the ID of each delivery destination in the delivery destination. The lower the delivery order number, the earlier the delivery order.

  The delivery order information is determined for each delivery destination and registered in the delivery destination DB 106 in consideration of the position of each individual or department at each delivery destination, the flow line of delivery workers, and the like.

  The unit of the delivery destination in the delivery destination information is determined according to the circumstances of each delivery destination. For example, there is a delivery destination in which an individual is a unit of delivery destination, and there is a delivery destination in which a group of a plurality of individuals close to each other is a unit of delivery destination. Furthermore, each floor (floor) in a building composed of a plurality of floors may be used as a delivery destination unit, and the delivery order information in this case may be, for example, the order of floors.

  In addition, the delivery destination DB 106 specifies, for each delivery destination, a person (referred to as a “recipient”) who receives the packing box at the delivery destination and distributes the pack of each printed matter to each delivery destination. Information is also registered.

  In addition to the delivery destination DB 106, the print control apparatus 10 may have a customer database in which attribute information of an individual who is an orderer or a delivery destination is registered. Individuals or departments registered in the customer database may or may not be the same as the delivery destination unit in the delivery order information. If they are different, information on the correspondence between the individual or department and the unit of the delivery destination (that is, the correspondence between the ID of the individual or department and the delivery destination ID) is created and registered in the print control apparatus 10.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the name identification processing unit 108 executes “name identification” processing for the print order group spooled in the spooler 104. “Name collation” is a process of grouping a plurality of print orders for each “delivery destination”. Each group obtained as a result of name identification includes one or more orders having the same delivery destination. This group is a unit of packing work by the worker 70 (hereinafter referred to as “packing work unit”). For example, name identification is performed in the spooler 104 by using, as a key, the name of the company to which the delivery destination belongs, the pair of the company name and the branch name, the address of the delivery destination, or the telephone number included in the delivery destination information in the print order. This is done by sorting and searching for print orders. Which attribute information is used as a name identification key may be determined for each delivery destination, for example.

  One or more packing operation units are generated by the name identification processing unit 108, and one packing operation unit to be processed is selected from them.

  The processing order determination unit 110 determines the processing order of each print order included in the packing unit selected as a processing target. In this determination processing, delivery order information corresponding to the delivery destination of the packing work unit is obtained from the delivery destination DB 106, and the reverse order of the order indicated by the delivery order information is set as the processing order. As a result, each print order in the packing unit is printed and post-processed according to the processing order, and the boxes are packed in order from the bottom of the packing box. It will be located near the mouth). Therefore, if the packing box is unpacked at the delivery destination and the packs are taken out in order from the top, the packs are taken out in the order of delivery. For example, a person who distributes each pack in the delivery destination places the unpacked packaging box on the cart, patrols along the route of delivery order, takes out the packs in the order from the top, and delivers to the destination in order. Just pay it.

  The stuffing position determination unit 112 determines a stuffing position in a packing box of a pack of printed materials addressed to individual orders (delivery destinations). Here, at least the position in the cross section parallel to the bottom surface and the top surface of the packaging box is determined as the “packing position”. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, if the packing box 90 has such a size that it can be boxed by arranging three packs 80 in which printed products of a prescribed size (for example, A4 size) are bundled side by side, as shown in FIG. Three stuffing positions of “left alignment”, “center”, and “right alignment” are defined. Note that the positions such as “left alignment” and “right alignment” are positions when viewed from a predetermined reference plane 92 side of the box 90. When a pack of printed matter of a standardized size (thickness varies from one to another) is targeted, the “stuffing position” regarding the cross section of the box is an individual area that can be divided by size. .

  Which surface of the packaging box 90 is used as the reference surface 92 is determined in advance. For example, a rule may be established such that a surface to which a delivery destination label (address tag) indicating a delivery destination is attached is used as a reference surface 92, or the reference surface 92 indicates that the surface is a reference surface. A mark may be printed.

  In addition, in the cross section of the box 90 (in other words, when the box 90 is looked down from above), not only in which area it is, but also in the height above that area (for example, stacked in that area) In the pack group, it may be included in the stuffing position from the bottom surface of the box 90 or the order of stacking from the top surface).

  Packing positions of a certain pack 80 are the respective packing positions in the box 90 in a state where the pack group up to the pack 80 immediately before the pack 80 is packed in the packing box 90 in the processing order determined by the processing order determination unit 110. Determined by considering the stuffing situation. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the stuffing status of each stuffing position may be represented by “a stuffable amount” of each stuffing position. The stuffable amount at a certain stuffing position is a value obtained by subtracting the total height of the packs 80 stacked at the stuffing position at the time of stuffing up to the immediately preceding pack 80 from the height of the packing box 90. It is. In the stuffing position determination process, for example, as the stuffing position of a certain pack 80, the stuffing position having the maximum stuffable amount at the time of stuffing up to the immediately preceding pack 80 is selected.

  The packable amount storage unit 114 is a storage unit for work used by the pack position determination unit 112 when determining the pack position of each pack 80, and the packing box 90 at each point when the packs 80 are sequentially packed. The stuffable amount for each stuffing position set in is stored. FIG. 7 shows an example of data stored in the stuffable amount storage unit 114 at a certain time. This example. This is an example in the case where there are “left-justified”, “center”, and “right-justified” stuffing positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and a numerical value of the stuffable amount is shown for each stuffing position.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the instruction sheet data creation unit 116 creates the print data of the packing instruction sheet and the sorting instruction sheet based on the packing position of each pack 80 determined by the packing position determination unit 112.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the stuffing instruction 82 is attached to the pack 80 and indicates the stuffing position of the pack 80. The operator 70 creates a pack 80 by wrapping a bundle of printed materials related to a certain order X, and affixes a packing instruction 82 to the pack 80. Then, the pack 80 is packed into the packing position in the packing box 90 while checking the packing position by looking at the pasted packing instruction 82.

  In the stuffing instruction 82, in addition to the stuffing position, information on the delivery destination of the pack 80 and information on the contents (printed matter) of the pack 80 may be displayed. An example of such a stuffing instruction sheet 82 is shown in FIG. The stuffing instruction shown in FIG. 9 has two upper and lower columns, and information on the delivery destination and contents is displayed in the upper column, and packing information including the stuffing position is displayed in the lower column. Information on the delivery destination and the contents may be acquired from the print order information and the customer database.

  In the example of FIG. 9, the packing information includes information on the box number, the stuffing position, and the height position. The box number is a serial number given to each packing box when one packing operation unit is divided into a plurality of packing boxes and packed (that is, when it cannot be accommodated in one box). Further, the stuffing position in this example is a stuffing destination area of the pack 80 among the areas obtained by dividing the cross section parallel to the bottom surface of the packaging box for each plane size of the pack 80. In this example, the height position indicates the position of the pack 80 from the bottom surface of the stuffing position. In addition, the height position may be included in the concept of the stuffing position in addition to the position in the cross section of the box, or the box number may be included.

  Another example of the packing instruction is shown in FIG. In this example, the packing information indicating the packing destination of the pack 80 includes a graphical display in addition to the description in words. The illustrated display illustrated in a perspective view shows where to pack the pack 80 with respect to the state in which the packing box 90 has been packed up to the immediately preceding pack.

  One sort instruction is created for each packing box 90, and indicates to whom the pack 80 is packed and arranged in the packing box 90. FIG. 11 shows an example of the sorting instruction. This is an example of a packing box 90 in which the packs 80 can be accommodated in two rows horizontally, and schematically shows a packed state of the pack 80 group when viewed from the reference plane 92 of the packing box 90. In the schematic diagram, the rectangle indicating each pack indicates the department to which each pack is delivered, the name of the individual, and the like. In addition, in the sorting instruction in FIG. 11, the position of the cushioning material put in to fill the empty space of the packing box 90 is also displayed.

  The sorting instruction can be created when the packing destinations of all the packs 80 to be packed in the packing box 90 are determined. If there is a stuffing position where the stuffable amount at the time of this determination is larger than a predetermined buffer material threshold, the sorting instruction sheet will indicate the mark of the cushioning material having the stuffable amount at the top of the stuffing position. Add The printed sorting instruction is put into the packing box 90 or attached to the packing box 90 (for example, the reference surface 92). A person in charge of delivery at the delivery destination takes out each pack 80 from the packing box 90 with reference to this sorting instruction, and distributes it to each delivery destination in order.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 2, the print control unit 118 causes the printer 20 to print each print order in the packing work unit in order according to the processing order determined by the processing order determination unit 110. In the print processing for each print order, the printer 20 is controlled according to the print data, print settings, and post-processing settings included in the order information, and the ordered printed matter is produced in the number of copies ordered.

  In addition, for each print order, the print control unit 118 causes the printer 20 to print the print data of the stuffing instruction sheet to be attached to the printed matter pack 80 corresponding to the order. The timing for printing the stuffing instruction is, for example, a timing at which the correspondence with the pack 80 at the pasting destination can be known, such as immediately before or after printing the print data of the print order. For example, if the stuffing instruction is printed immediately after printing the print data of the print order (that is, between the printing of the printing order and the printing of the next printing order), the operator 70 is output. In addition, it is only necessary to work in a natural flow of packaging a bundle of printed materials of the printing order and attaching a packing instruction output after the printed materials to the pack of the packaging result.

  Further, for each packing box, the print control unit 118 causes the printer 20 to print the print data of the sorting instruction for the packing box after completing the printing for all the printing orders packed in the packing box, for example.

  The configuration of the print control apparatus 10 according to the embodiment has been described above.

  Next, an example of a processing procedure performed by the processing order determination unit 110 will be described with reference to FIG. In this procedure, the processing order determination unit 110 receives one of the packaging work units (a collection of print orders having the same delivery destination) generated as a result of the name identification performed by the name identification processing unit 108 (S10), and the packaging operation is performed. It is determined whether the delivery destinations of the print orders in the unit are all the same (S12). If they are all the same, it is not necessary to sort each delivery destination at the delivery destination, so the printing order in the packing unit may be printed and packed in any order. Therefore, the processing order of these print orders may be arbitrarily determined. However, as an example in FIG. 12, the order of the print orders within the packing unit is used as the processing order as it is (S14). The processing order is determined (S26).

  When the determination result of S12 is No, that is, when a plurality of print orders with different delivery destinations are included in the packing unit, the delivery order information for the destination corresponding to the packing unit is searched from the destination DB 106. (S16). If the delivery order information can be searched (the determination result in S16 is Yes), a tentative processing order is generated by sorting the print orders in the packing operation unit in descending order of the delivery order (S18). If the delivery order information of the delivery destination is not found (determination result No in S16), the order of the print orders in the packing operation unit is used as a temporary processing order as it is (S20).

  Next, the processing order determination unit 110 places an order in which the delivery recipient is the recipient of the packaging box (the person who receives the packaging box at the delivery destination and distributes the packed contents to each delivery destination). Is included (S22). If it is included, the print order addressed to the recipient in the processing order tentatively determined in S18 and S20 is moved to the end of the processing order (S24), and the processing order to which this change is made is finalized. The processing order is determined (S26). As a result, the print order addressed to the recipient is packed at the top of the packaging box, and the recipient can immediately take out the pack addressed to himself / herself when the packaging box is opened.

  If there is no order addressed to the recipient, S24 is skipped, and the processing order generated in S18 is determined as the final processing order (S26).

  Next, an example of the processing procedure of the stuffing position determination unit 112, the instruction data generation unit 116, and the print control unit 118 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this procedure, the stuffing position determining unit 112 takes out the first print order in the determined processing order as the current stuffing target (S28), and each stuffing position (for example, from the stuffable amount storage unit 114 (see FIG. 7)). The value of the current stuffable amount (see FIG. 6) is acquired (S30). At this point in time, the pack has not yet been packed into one pack, so the stuffable amount at all the stuffing positions is equal to the height of the box. In addition, the stuffing position determination unit 112 calculates the thickness of the printed matter pack 80 that is obtained when the print order taken out in S28 is printed and post-processed (S32). The thickness of the pack 80 may be calculated from the number of document pages represented by the print data of the print order and the value of the number of copies included in the print settings. Next, the stuffing position having the largest stuffing capacity among the stuffing positions is determined as the stuffing destination of the pack to be stuffed this time (S34). When there are a plurality of stuffing positions with the maximum stuffing capacity, any of them may be selected. Along with this determination, the thickness of the pack is subtracted from the stuffable amount at the stuffing position at the stuffing destination in the stuffable amount storage unit 114.

  Note that selecting the stuffing position with the maximum stuffable amount in S34 as the stuffing destination of the current pack 80 is merely an example. You may make it select according to another rule.

  Next, the instruction sheet data creation unit 116 creates print data of a stuffing instruction sheet representing the determined stuffing position (S36). The print control unit 118 receives the print data of the order to be stuffed this time, the setting information for printing and post-processing, and the print data of the stuffing instruction, and according to these data, first prints the print data of the order by the number of copies. 20 is printed and post-processed (S38), and then the print data of the packing instruction is printed on the printer 20 (S40). The worker 70 piles up the printed materials sequentially output from the printer 20, and when the output of the total number of the orders is completed, bundles them and packages them, and affixes a packing instruction to the pack 80 of the packaging result. . Then, the pack 80 is packed into the packing position in the packing box 90 indicated by the packing instruction. For example, in the case of using the packing box 90 that can pack the packs 80 illustrated in FIG. 6 in three rows, if the “left-justified” packing position is instructed in the packing instruction, the operator 70 indicates the packing instruction. Are packed in the left column when viewed from the reference plane 92 among the three columns.

  The print control apparatus 10 determines whether or not the process has been completed up to the last order in the process order after S40 (S42). If not completed, the process returns to S28, and the process for the next print order in the process order is performed. I do. When the processing of all the print orders in the processing order is completed, the instruction data generation unit 116 generates print data of the sorting instruction (see FIG. 11) based on the information on the stuffing position of each print order, The print controller 118 causes the printer 20 to print this (S44). When the cushioning material mark is indicated in the sorting instruction (see FIG. 11), the operator 70 puts the cushioning material into the stuffing position where the cushioning material mark is located and then closes the packing box 90 and fastens with tape. The packaging box 90 is sealed by, for example.

  The processing procedure shown in FIG. 13 is an example in the case where packs related to all printing orders in the packing work unit fit in one box. This procedure suffices if the amount of printed matter for each print order is calculated not only for the delivery destination, but also for each print order that can be stored in one box in one packing work unit when collecting names.

  However, when a unit of packing work is created simply by name identification, the pack 80 for each print order is automatically packed in a predetermined processing order. Even if the pack 80 is packed in any packing position, the pack 80 may protrude from the packing box 90. In such a case, the current packing box 90 may be simply sealed at that time, and the next packing box 90 may be packed with the current pack 80. However, in this method, since the thickness of the pack 80 of this time is large, when such a protrusion occurs, a large space is created in the current packing box 90, and space efficiency is improved even if the space is filled with a cushioning material. Not good. Therefore, in the following, when the pack 80 to be packed is out of the current packing box 90 regardless of the packing position, the pack 80 is divided and packed to improve the utilization rate of the packing box 90. aim. Hereinafter, such a modification will be described.

  In the example schematically illustrated in FIG. 14, the current pack 80 does not completely fit in the current packing box 90, that is, “box 1”, at the stuffing position “right-justified” at which the stuffable amount is the maximum. However, it is divided into two divided packs 82-1 and 82-2 (hereinafter referred to as “divided pack 82” when it is not necessary to distinguish between them), and packed into “right-justified” and “center” packed positions. Fits in “Box 1”.

  On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 15, although it is the same case, since the stuffable amounts at the stuffing positions “center” and “left-justified” are both small, the divided pack 82 is divided no matter how the current pack 80 is divided. -2 cannot be stored in "Box 1" and needs to be sent to the next packing box 90, "Box 2".

  In the procedure of the modified example described below, it is first determined whether or not the current pack 80 fits into the current packing box 90 as shown in the example of FIG. 14 by dividing, and only when the pack 80 does not fit as shown in the example of FIG. The divided result pack is turned to the next packing box 90. An example of such a processing procedure is shown in FIGS.

  The procedure of FIG. 16 is a procedure continued from S32 of the procedure of FIG. Each step before S32 may be the same as the example of FIGS. 12 and 13 in this modified example. In the procedure of FIG. 16, the stuffing position determination unit 112 determines whether or not the current stuffing target packaging box 90 is empty after S32 (S50). Here, when all of the current stuffable amounts (obtained in S30) obtained in S30 are equal to or less than a certain threshold value, it is determined that the current packing box 90 is not empty. This threshold is 0 or a small value close to 0. For example, if the empty space at the top of the packaging box 90 is less than or equal to this threshold value, there is no problem even if a cushioning material is not inserted (in other words, the aforementioned threshold value is determined as such). If the stuffable amount at all the stuffing positions in the current packing box 90 is less than or equal to the above-described threshold value, it is determined that there is no space in S50, the determination result is No, and the process proceeds to the process (described later) in FIG. .

  Otherwise, that is, when the stuffable amount of at least one stuffing position exceeds the above-described threshold value, the stuffing position determining unit 112 determines that the thickness of the current pack 80 obtained in S32 is the stuffing acquired in S30. It is determined whether or not the maximum value is exceeded (S51). If the result of this determination is No, the pack 80 of this time can be stuffed without protruding from the current packing box 90 with respect to the stuffing position with the maximum stuffing capacity, so the process proceeds to S34 in FIG. May be determined as the stuffing destination, and the processing after S36 may be performed.

  If the determination result in S51 is Yes, the current pack 80 protrudes from the current packing box 90 regardless of the packing position as it is. In this case, it is determined whether the current pack 80 is divided into a plurality of packs so that they can be packed without protruding into the current packing box 90 (S52).

  For example, it is only necessary to determine whether or not the pack 80 relating to the current print order can be stuffed based on the total stuffable amount at each stuffing position of the current packaging box 90. When the thickness of the pack 80 this time exceeds the total, it cannot be packed. If it does not exceed, it cannot be immediately packed. This is because the division of the pack 80 is based on the thickness per one copy of the printed matter corresponding to the print order, and a vacant space less than the thickness of the one copy does not function as a storage space for the divided pack 82. Therefore, if it does not exceed, the simulation is performed while changing the thickness of each divided pack 82 in units of the thickness per printed matter corresponding to the print order, so that all the divided packs 82 are empty in the current packing box 90. What is necessary is just to search for a division method that fits in the space (the total amount of stuffable positions at each stuffing position). In this simulation, for example, divided packs having thicknesses that can be accommodated at the respective stuffing positions may be allocated in descending order of the stuffable amount. If a division method capable of accommodating the current pack 80 is found, the determination result of S52 is Yes (packing is possible), and No is found (packing is impossible).

  In this division simulation, an allowable lower limit value of the thickness of the divided pack may be determined, and a division method capable of producing a divided pack that is equal to or less than the allowable lower limit value may not be allowed. This is because an excessively thin divided pack may be difficult to package or may not be efficient in terms of packaging materials. Further, an allowable upper limit value may be provided for the number of divided packs, and a division method in which the number of divided packs exceeds the allowable upper limit value may not be allowed. This is because if the pack 80 for one print order is divided into too many numbers, the distribution work at the delivery destination to each delivery destination may become complicated.

  If it is found in S52 that there is a division method that can pack the current pack 80 (current print order) into the current packing box 90, the current print order is divided into a plurality of divided packs 82 in accordance with the division method. (S54). At this time, the thickness and the stuffing position of each of the divided packs 82 are determined. The instruction sheet data creating unit 116 creates the stuffing instruction sheet print data for each of the divided packs 82 (S56). Then, the print control unit 118 causes the printer 20 to print the print data of the print order for each of the divided packs 82 (repeated by S62) by the number of copies of the divided packs 82 (S58). The operator creates the divided pack 82 by wrapping the output printed matter. Further, the stuffing instruction corresponding to the divided pack is printed on the printer 20 (S60). The operator attaches the packing instruction to the split pack 82 and packs the split pack 82 into the packing destination position indicated by the packing instruction in the current packing box 90.

  If a division method that can be packed into the current packing box 90 is not found in S52, for example, the current packing box 90 is packed as much as possible and the rest is transferred to the next packing box 90. The printing order is divided into a plurality of divided packs (S64). For example, in the division simulation of S52, all the filling positions (when the allowable upper limit value is set for the number of divisions, the (allowable upper limit value-1) filling positions in order from the filling position with the largest possible filling amount) are set. On the other hand, when the divided packs 82 having the maximum thickness are assigned (in units of one unit of thickness), the remaining number of copies that cannot be assigned becomes the divided pack 82 that is turned to the next packing box 90. In this case, the packing position of the divided pack 82 to be turned to the next packing box 90 may be determined in the same way as the determination method of the packing position of the pack 80 in S34 of FIG. At the time of S64, the thickness and the packing position of the divided pack 82 to be packed in the current packing box 90 and the divided pack 82 to be turned to the next packing box 90 are determined (the packing position of the divided pack to be turned to the next packing box 90 is It can be determined according to any rules). The instruction sheet data creation unit 116 creates the stuffing instruction sheet print data for each of the divided packs 82 (S66). Then, the print control unit 118 sets each divided pack 82 packed in the current packing box 90 as a processing continuation target, puts the divided pack 82 to be turned to the next packing box 90 on hold, and stores it along with the corresponding packing instruction data. (S68). And the process of S58-S62 is repeated about each division | segmentation pack 82 of a process continuation object.

  If it is determined in S62 that the processing such as printing has been completed for all the divided packs 82 except for the reserved ones, the print control apparatus 10 determines the information, print data, print, and post-processing for each divided divided pack 82. The processing returns to S28 while processing settings, the number of copies of the printed matter included in the divided pack, and the stuffing instruction data are stored, and processing for the next print order in the processing order is performed. If there is no next print order in the processing order, the process returns to S42. With respect to this next printing order, the current packing box 90 is tried to be packed by the procedure described above, and if it cannot be accommodated in the current packing box 90, a part or all of the next printing order is placed in the next packing box 90. To be put on hold. The above processing is repeated until the current packing box 90 is full, that is, until the determination result in S50 is No. Divided packs whose processing has been suspended to be sent to the next packaging box 90 are queued in the order in which they were generated (that is, in the order in which they were determined to be suspended). Printing or the like is performed on the suspended divided pack 82 when the current packing box 90 is full, that is, when the determination result of S50 is No.

  When the determination result in S50 of FIG. 16 is No, the print control apparatus 10 proceeds to the procedure of FIG. 17 and determines whether there is a pending divided pack (S70). If there is no pending split pack 82, the instruction data creation unit 116 creates the data of the current sorting instruction for the packing box 90 as in S44 of FIG. 13, and the print control unit 118 sorts the printer 20 according to the data. The instruction sheet is printed (S72). The operator 70 seals the current packing box 90 with a tape or the like by sealing or pasting the sorting instruction output in S72 in the current packing box 90. As a result, the current packing box 90 is completely packed, and the printing control apparatus 10 sets the next packing box 90 as a new “current packing box 90” and returns to S28 in FIG. Perform the process. At this time, the stuffable amount storage unit 114 stores the value of the stuffable amount of the new “current packing box 90”. In addition to this example, when the “current packing box 90” is completely packed and the “new packing box 90” is to be packed, the packable amount storage unit 114 can pack the “current packing box 90”. The value of the amount is reset, and the value of the stuffable amount of “new packing box 90” is stored.

  If it is determined in S70 that there is a pending split pack, the instruction document data creation unit 116 creates sorting instruction data for the current packing box 90 (S74). This sorting instruction includes the same order for the next box (for example, the box number) for the divided pack 82 packed in the current packing box 90 and the rest of which is turned to the next packing box 90. Include information that the remaining part of is packed. The sorting instruction is printed on the printer 20. As a result, the processing for the current packaging box 90 is completed, and the processing from S76 onward is executed with the next packaging box 90 as the new “current packaging box 90”.

  That is, the print control unit 118 sequentially extracts the pending divided packs from the head of the queue (S76), and prints data corresponding to the divided pack 82 corresponding to the number of copies included in the divided pack and the corresponding print settings and According to the post-processing setting, the printer 20 performs printing and post-processing (S78). Thereafter, the stuffing instruction corresponding to the divided pack 82 is printed on the printer 20 (S80). The above processing of S76 to S80 is repeated for all pending split packs in the queue (S82). Thereafter, the process returns to S28, and the process of the next print order in the process order is executed. If there is no next print order in the processing order, the process returns to S42.

  In addition, when the instruction sheet data creation unit 116 creates a sorting instruction sheet for the “current packing box 90” by packing the new “current packing box 90” in this way, the box The information indicating that the remaining part of the same order is packed in the previous box may be displayed in the sorting instruction.

  When packing is performed according to the procedure of FIGS. 16 and 17, a delivery destination that has delivered a plurality of packing boxes 90 corresponding to one packing work unit may work as follows. That is, the packing order (corresponding to the “processing order” of the print order group) is unpacked in order from the later packing box 90, and the pack 80 (or the divided pack 82) in the unpacked packing box 90 is taken out in order from the top. I'll do it. As a result, the packs 80 are taken out in an order that substantially matches the delivery order defined at the delivery destination.

  The procedure shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is to effectively use the volume of the packing box 90 by dividing a printed matter corresponding to one printing order into a plurality of divided packs 82. However, there are cases where it is not permitted to divide a printed matter corresponding to one print order into a plurality of divided packs 82. For example, there is a case where whether or not such division is permitted is designated in advance for each delivery destination (such designation may be registered in the delivery destination DB 106, for example). Accordingly, FIG. 18 shows a modification of the processing procedure of the print control apparatus when it is not permitted to divide one print order into a plurality of divided packs.

  The procedure in FIG. 18 is a procedure continued from S32 of the procedure in FIG. Each step before S32 may be the same as the example of FIGS. 12 and 13 in this modified example. In this modification, as in S50 of FIG. 16, it is determined whether or not there is an empty space in the current packing box 90 (S90). If there is an empty space, the pack relating to the current print order is similar to S51 of FIG. It is determined whether the thickness of 80 exceeds the maximum stuffable amount at that time (S92). If the determination result is Yes, the procedure of FIG. 16 attempted to divide the pack 80 related to the current print order, but the procedure of FIG. 18 does not divide and holds the current print order as a whole. Turn to the next packing box 90 (S94). At this time, print data of the print order and setting information of printing and post-processing are stored. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is a next print order in the processing order (S95). If there is, the process returns to S28 and executes the process. If there is no next print order in the processing order in S95, the packing of the current box is completed, and the process proceeds to S96 described later. Further, the stuffing position in the next packing box 90 for the print order may be determined and stored by the same method as in S34 of FIG. Pending print orders are queued. The print orders in this queue are taken out and processed in the first-in first-out order, as in the case of the processing of the pending split pack in FIG. .

  More specifically, when the determination result in S90 is No, the print control apparatus 10 determines whether there is a pending print order (S96). As in S44, the instruction document data creation unit 116 creates data for the current sorting instruction for the packing box 90, and the print control unit 118 causes the printer 20 to print the sorting instruction according to the data (S98). The operator 70 seals the current packing box 90 with a tape or the like by sealing or pasting the sorting instruction output in S72 in the current packing box 90. As a result, the current packing box 90 is completely packed, and the printing control apparatus 10 sets the next packing box 90 as a new “current packing box 90” and returns to S28 in FIG. Perform the process. If there is no next print order in the processing order, the current box packing is completed, and the process proceeds to S96 described later.

  If it is determined in S96 that there is a pending print order, the instruction data creation unit 116 creates data for the sorting instruction for the current packing box 90 and causes the printer 20 to print the data via the print control unit 118. (S100). In this sorting instruction, there is a message indicating that there is a part of the print pack arrangement order between the packaging box 90 and the next packaging box 90 that is replaced with the delivery order determined by the delivery destination. You may make it display. By printing this sorting instruction, the processing for the current packaging box 90 is completed, and the processing from S102 is executed with the next packaging box 90 as the new “current packaging box 90”.

  That is, the print control apparatus 10 sequentially retrieves the pending print orders from the head of the queue (S102), and the stuffing position determination unit 112 indicates the position of the stuffing destination of the printing result (pack 80) for the retrieved order. 16 is determined in the same manner as S34 of S16 (S104), and the instruction document data creation unit 116 creates stuffing instruction data representing the stuffing destination (S106). Note that if the method of determining the stuffing position and creating the stuffing instruction data when holding the print order in S94, S104 and S106 are unnecessary. Then, the print control unit 118 causes the printer 20 to print and post-process the print data corresponding to the print order in accordance with the corresponding print setting and post-processing setting (S108). Printing is performed (S110). The above processes of S102 to S110 are repeated for all pending print orders in the queue (S112). Thereafter, the process returns to S28, and the process of the next print order in the process order is executed. If there is no next print order in the processing order, the process returns to S42.

  Note that the instruction sheet data creation unit 116 performs packing for the new “current packing box 90” in this way, and creates a sorting instruction sheet for the “current packing box 90”. When a printing order in the packing of the box 90 is “held” and packed in the “current packing box 90”, the sorting instruction is packed with the previous box. A message indicating that there is a change in the order may be included.

  The example of FIG. 18 is an example in which division of all print orders (that is, pack 80) is not permitted. On the other hand, it is also conceivable to switch whether or not to allow the division of the print order in accordance with the packing state of the packing box 90. The main part of the processing procedure when such switching is performed is shown in FIG.

  In the procedure of FIG. 19, if there is an empty space in the current packing box 90 and the thickness of the pack 80 corresponding to the current print order exceeds the maximum stuffable amount in S50 and S51 of FIG. Based on whether the packing state of the packing box 90 satisfies the division condition, it is determined whether or not the pack can be divided (S120). The determination of whether or not the division is possible may be performed based on, for example, the ratio (volume ratio) of the volume of the packed pack group to the volume of the packing box 90. In this example, the division condition is that the volume ratio does not exceed a predetermined volume ratio threshold (for example, 95%). Instead of the volume ratio, a stuffable amount threshold value (for example, 5% of the height of the inner volume of the packing box 90) is set for the maximum value among the stuffable amounts at each stuffing position, and based on this threshold value. Whether or not division is possible may be determined. That is, in this example, the division condition is that the maximum value of the stuffable amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value. As another example, the division condition may be that all the divided packs that are formed when the current print order is divided into a plurality of pieces are equal to or greater than a predetermined thickness threshold (for example, 3 mm). This may be regarded as a condition for preventing a split pack that is too thin. According to this condition, for example, when it is decided to pack a split pack having a thickness corresponding to the maximum packing position corresponding to the maximum packable amount, the thickness of the remaining part other than the split pack is thick. When the value is below the threshold, no division is performed.

  If the division condition is not satisfied in S120, the current print order is suspended without being divided (S122), and is sent to the next packing box 90. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not there is a next print order in the processing order (S124). If there is, the process returns to S28 and executes the process. If there is no next print order in the processing order in S124, the current box packing is completed, and the process proceeds to S96. If the division condition is satisfied, the process proceeds to S52 in FIG. 15 to divide the print order.

  The print control apparatus 10 exemplified above is realized, for example, by causing a general-purpose computer to execute a program representing the processing of each functional module described above. Here, the computer includes, as hardware, a microprocessor such as a CPU, a memory (primary storage) such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), an HDD controller that controls an HDD (hard disk drive), Various I / O (input / output) interfaces, network interfaces that perform control for connection to a network such as a local area network, and the like have a circuit configuration connected via a bus, for example. Also, portable non-volatile recording of various standards such as a disk drive and a flash memory for reading and / or writing to a portable disk recording medium such as a CD or a DVD via the I / O interface, for example. A memory reader / writer for reading from and / or writing to a medium may be connected. A program in which the processing contents of each functional module exemplified above are described is stored in a fixed storage device such as a hard disk drive via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication means such as a network, and stored in a computer. Installed. The program stored in the fixed storage device is read into the RAM and executed by a microprocessor such as a CPU, thereby realizing the functional module group exemplified above. Further, the component groups of the print control apparatus 10 exemplified above are distributed and mounted on a plurality of computers that can communicate with each other via a network, and the distributed component groups communicate with each other via a network. Thus, the functions of the print control apparatus 10 described above may be realized.

  10 Print Control Device, 20 Printer, 30, 40 Network, 50 Ordering Party, 60 PC (Personal Computer), 70 Workers, 80 (Printed Product) Pack, 90 Packing Box, 102 Order Processing Unit, 104 Spooler, 106 Delivery Address DB (database), 108 name identification processing unit, 110 processing order determination unit, 112 stuffing position determination unit, 114 stuffable amount storage unit, 116 instruction form data creation unit, 118 print control unit

Claims (6)

Print data, delivery destination information indicating a delivery destination of a printed matter generated by printing the print data, and delivery destination information indicating an individual or a department of the delivery destination of the printed matter within the delivery destination A print order acquisition means for acquiring a print order;
A delivery order storage means for storing delivery order information indicating the delivery order of printed matter to an individual or department in the delivery destination;
A packing work unit selection means for selecting, from the acquired print order group, a print order group having the same delivery destination as a packing work unit;
Depending on the order of the delivery destination of each print order included in the unit of packing work within the delivery order of the delivery destination, the processing order of each print order and each printed matter that is the print result of each print order Order position determining means for determining a stuffing position in the packaging container of
For each print order included in the packing work unit, the printing apparatus executes printing of the print data of the print order according to the processing order, and the print product corresponding to the print order is associated with the print. Control means for performing control to cause the printing apparatus to execute printing of a filling instruction indicating a filling position;
A printing control apparatus comprising: The order position determining means prints the print data of each print order as the processing order in accordance with the processing order, and packs the printed materials sequentially created by the printing from the bottom surface of the packing container in that order. Determine the order in which the printed matter corresponding to the delivery destination whose order is earlier is closer to the outlet on the upper surface of the packing container,
The print control apparatus according to claim 1. Recipient information storage means for storing recipient information that defines a recipient who receives the packaging container packed with the printed matter among individuals or departments within the delivery destination,
The order position determining means, when the printing unit includes a print order to which the recipient specified based on the recipient information is a delivery destination, the processing order obtained from the delivery order, Change the order so that the printed matter corresponding to the printing order with the recipient as the delivery destination is packed in the position closest to the take-out port on the upper surface of the packaging container.
The print control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: A sorting instruction output means for causing the printing apparatus to print a sorting instruction including the list information of the filling positions of the printed materials packed in the packing container;
The printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing control apparatus is a printing control apparatus. The order position determining means packs the printed matter corresponding to the print order created in order according to the processing order into the packing position indicated in the stuffing instruction printed in correspondence with the printed matter. When protruding from the container, it is determined whether or not the printed matter can be divided into a plurality of parts according to a predetermined division condition. When it is determined that the printed matter can be divided, the printed matter is divided into a plurality of parts. , Determine the stuffing position for each part of the result of this division,
The control means further causes the printing apparatus to print the stuffing instruction indicating the stuffing position for the part for each part of the division result.
The print control apparatus according to claim 1. Computer
Print data, delivery destination information indicating a delivery destination of a printed matter generated by printing the print data, and delivery destination information indicating an individual or a department of the delivery destination of the printed matter within the delivery destination Print order acquisition means for acquiring a print order,
A delivery order storage means for storing delivery order information representing the delivery order of printed matter to an individual or department within the delivery destination;
A packing work unit selecting means for selecting a print order group having the same delivery destination as a packing work unit from the acquired print order group;
Depending on the order of the delivery destination of each print order included in the unit of packing work within the delivery order of the delivery destination, the processing order of each print order and each printed matter that is the print result of each print order Order position determining means for determining the stuffing position in the packing container,
For each print order included in the packing work unit, the printing apparatus executes printing of the print data of the print order according to the processing order, and the print product corresponding to the print order is associated with the print. Control means for performing control so as to cause the printing apparatus to print a filling instruction representing a filling position;
Program to function as.

Images