Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6748858
-
Patent Number
6,748,858
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 4, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 15, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Hirshfeld; Andrew H.
- Crenshaw; Marvin P
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 101 232
- 101 233
- 101 234
- 101 236
- 101 237
- 101 238
- 400 624
- 400 625
- 400 61
- 400 70
- 400 76
- 399 45
- 399 404
- 399 389
- 399 405
- 399 403
- 414 786
- 414 788
- 271 298
- 271 176
-
International Classifications
- B41F1324
- B65H106
- G03G1500
- G06K300
- B65B3550
-
Abstract
A printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing stacks of printed sheets from falling apart which can occur when continuously printing stacks of sheets of different sheet sizes. A printing press is controlled to suspend printing for removal of printed sheets, to change the storage destination of the printed sheets or to change printing order, based on a result of sequential or simultaneous comparisons between print sizes of a plurality of print data and a previously determined permissible limit.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing system for direct printing using digital data.
2. Description of the Background Art
In a printing press for printing a large number of products, printed sheets are ejected into a stocker attached to the printing press and then transported for post-processing such as a bookbinding process.
The printing press is capable of printing on sheets of paper having a variety of sizes. When the stocker receives an accumulation of printed sheets of difference sizes, for example, by the ejection of a large number of A4 printed sheets followed by a large number of A3 printed sheets, a sheet stack falling apart accident is liable to occur in the stocker.
To prevent such an accident, it is desirable to do printing on successive sheets of as uniform sizes as possible when printed sheets are to be accumulated. The uniformity of the sizes of the sheets prevents the occurrence of the sheet stack falling apart even in the case of the accumulation of a large number of printed sheets in the stocker.
To prevent the sheet stack falling apart accident, there has been a printing press having the function of prompting a user to remove previously printed sheets, if accumulated in the stocker, out of the stocker before printing on sheets of a size different from the size of the previously printed sheets.
Many of the conventionally used printing presses are printing presses using plates, i.e., those of the type in which a colorant such as ink is applied to the plates for formation of a print image for printing. In such a conventional printing press, printing on sheets of a size different from that of the previously printed sheets requires the exchange of the plate previously used for printing for another. The printing press must be inevitably stopped during the time for the plate exchange. It is hence possible to spare time for removing the accumulated sheets out of the stocker while the printing press is stopped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended for a printing system for continuously printing products of different sheet sizes.
According to the present invention, the printing system comprises: a) a printing apparatus including a-1) a printing section for continuously printing a plurality of print data on a plurality of sheets of paper to provide a plurality of printed sheets, a-2) a stock section including at least one stocker, and a-3) an ejecting mechanism for ejecting the plurality of printed sheets into the stock section; and b) a controller including b-1) an acquiring element for acquiring print sizes corresponding respectively to the plurality of print data, b-2) a comparing element for making a comparison between the print sizes, and b-3) a control element for controlling the printing section and the ejecting mechanism based on a result of the comparison by the comparing element to provide a stable stack including printed sheets of different sheet sizes in the stock section.
Preferably, the print sizes of the print data to be continuously printed are compared with each other. If the print size of print data to be printed later is greater by at least a predetermined value than the print size of printed sheets stored in the stocker, a printing process is suspended, and an operator is prompted to remove the printed sheets out of the stocker; otherwise the destination of the printed sheets for the print data to be printed later is changed to another stocker capable of storing the printed sheets.
This avoids the falling apart of stacks of printed sheets due to the accumulation of a stack of printed sheets of a greater sheet size on a stack of printed sheets of a smaller sheet size.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the controller comprises: a sorting element for sorting the print sizes of the plurality of print data to determine printing order, based on the result of the comparison between the print sizes by the comparing element; and an element for controlling the printing section to print the plurality of print data in the printing order.
This gives precedence to the printing of the sheets having a greater print size to prevent stacks of printed sheets from falling apart.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the falling apart of a stack of printed sheets of different sizes accumulated.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows an overview of a printing system;
FIG. 2
shows a construction of a controller;
FIG. 3
shows an example of a permissible limit table;
FIG. 4
is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the printing system of
FIG. 1
and, more particularly, operations of the controller and a printing press;
FIGS. 5A through 5D
specifically illustrate the operation of the printing system of
FIG. 1
in the flowchart of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
shows an overview of another printing system;
FIG. 7
shows a construction of another controller;
FIG. 8
is a flowchart for illustrating an operation of the printing system of
FIG. 6 and
, more particularly, operations of the controller of FIG.
7
and another digital printing press;
FIGS. 9A through 9E
specifically illustrate the operation of the printing system of
FIG. 6
in the flowchart of
FIG. 8
;
FIG. 10
shows a construction of still another printing system embodying the present invention;
FIG. 11
shows a construction of still another controller;
FIG. 12
is a flowchart for illustrating, especially, an operation of the controller of
FIG. 11
;
FIGS. 13A through 13D
illustrate that the controller of
FIG. 11
orders print data in the operation shown in the flowchart of
FIG. 12
;
FIG. 14
shows an order change menu presented on a display;
FIGS. 15A through 15C
illustrate the status of a digital printing press when the operation shown in the flowchart of
FIG. 12
is executed; and
FIG. 16
is a flowchart for illustrating a modification of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 1
shows an overview of a first printing system
100
according to the present invention. The printing system
100
comprises a controller
1
, a digital printing press
2
, and image processing terminals
4
. The controller
1
and the image processing terminals
4
are connected through a network
3
. The controller
1
and the digital printing press
2
are connected through a communication line CL.
The image processing terminals
4
produce page data PD for printing a product comprised of a plurality of pages or book data BD comprised of a plurality of page data PD. The controller
1
receives the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
4
through the network
3
. The controller
1
rasterizes the received page data PD or book data BD, and transmits resultant print data RPD representing a print image to the digital printing press
2
connected thereto through the communication line CL.
The digital printing press
2
performs printing under the control of the controller
1
. The digital printing press
2
comprises a control section
21
, a stocker
22
, and a detector
23
in addition to a paper feed section, a transport path and a printing section which are not shown. The control section
21
controls the entire digital printing press
2
. The print data RPD transmitted from the controller
1
through the communication line CL is received by the control section
21
and is converted into binary half-tone data which in turn is transmitted to the printing section. When a sheet of paper is fed from the paper feed section not shown through the transport path to the printing section, the printing section transfers a print image represented in a half-tone form onto the sheet. A printed sheet
24
is transported through the transport path and stored in the stocker
22
. A control signal CD transmitted through the communication line CL is similarly received by the control section
21
and used to control the sections of the digital printing press
2
. The control section
21
transmits a status signal SD through the communication line CL to inform the controller
1
about the status of the digital printing press
2
.
The stocker
22
is provided to store the sheets
24
of paper printed in the printing section not shown. The stocker
22
has a stocker floor painted black for judgment by the detector
23
to be described later.
The stocker
22
is provided with the detector
23
. The detector
23
has a light emitter
231
and a light receiver
232
. Light emitted from the light emitter
231
is reflected from the stocker floor of the stocker
22
or from the printed sheets
24
. Since the stocker floor is black, there is a difference in illuminance between the light reflected when the printed sheets
24
are accumulated in the stocker
22
and the light reflected when they are not. The detector
23
detects a change in illuminance of the reflected light received by the light receiver
232
to detect the presence/absence of the printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
. The detector
23
transmits information about the presence/absence of the printed sheets
24
through a signal line
25
to the control section
21
. For example, the detector
23
transmits “1” to the control section
21
when the printed sheets
24
are accumulated in the stocker
22
, and “0” when they are not. The control section
21
adds the information about the presence/absence of the printed sheets
24
to the status signal SD to be transmitted through the communication line CL to inform the controller
1
about the presence/absence of the printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
.
The technique of detecting the printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
by the detector
23
is not limited to the above-mentioned example. A detector for transmission-type detection, rather than the above-mentioned reflection-type detection, may be provided.
The printed sheets
24
are products resulting from the repeated operations of the control section
21
, the paper feed section not shown, the transport path not shown and the printing section not shown to print the print image represented by the print data RPD on a plurality of sheets of paper. The printed sheets
24
include printed sheets
24
a
of “A4” size when the size of the print image represented by the print data RPD is “A4,” and printed sheets
24
b
of “A3” size when the size of the print image is “A3.” Or the printed sheets
24
include the printed sheets
24
a
of “A4” size when the print size in the setting of the page data PD is “A4,” and the printed sheets
24
b
of “A3” size when the print size in the setting of the page data PD is “A3.”
For separation of the printed sheets
24
accumulated in the stocker
22
, it is desirable that slip paper is inserted between the printed sheets
24
a
and
24
b
or the printed sheets
24
a
and
24
b
are shifted in position when stored.
The signal line
25
is used to transmit the information about whether or not the printed sheets
24
are stored in the stocker
22
from the detector
23
to the control section
21
.
FIG. 2
shows a construction of the controller
1
. The controller
1
is a personal computer in typical use, and comprises a CPU
11
, a display
12
, an input section
13
, a network I/F
14
, a media drive
15
, a storage section
16
, a memory
17
and the communication line CL. The CPU
11
controls the entire controller
1
, and in particular executes in the memory
17
a program recorded on a media disc
18
inserted in the media drive
15
to implement the functions of the controller
1
. The display
12
presents thereon information necessary for the operations of the controller
1
. The input section
13
includes a mouse and a keyboard, and is used by an operator entering a command into the controller
1
. The network I/F
14
is provided to connect the controller
1
and the network
3
to each other. Through the network I/F
14
, the controller
1
receives the page data PD or book data BD from the image processing terminals
4
connected to the network
3
. A program for implementing the functions of the controller
1
may be downloaded from a server not shown through the network I/F
14
. When the digital printing press
2
is connected through the network
3
to the controller
1
, the controller
1
transmits the print data RPD and the control signal CD to the digital printing press
2
through the network I/F
14
and receives the status signal SD from the digital printing press
2
through the network I/F
14
. The media drive
15
is used to read the program recorded on the media disc
18
. The program read by the media drive
15
implements the functions of the controller
1
. When the controller
1
operates offline from the image processing terminals
4
, a subsequent process may be performed by recording the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
4
on the media disc
18
and reading the media disc
18
by the media drive
15
. The storage section
16
stores therein the program read by the media drive
15
. The storage section
16
also stores therein the page data PD, the book data BD and print data RPD. The communication line CL is connected to the digital printing press
2
and is particularly used to transmit the print data RPD and the control signal CD to the control section
21
and to receive the status signal SD transmitted from the digital printing press
2
.
The memory
17
is a work area in which the CPU
11
executes the program stored by the storage section
16
. In consequence of the execution of the program by the CPU
11
, the functions of a print size acquiring section
171
, a print size comparing section
172
, and a printing control section
173
are implemented in the memory
17
.
The print size acquiring section
171
acquires and stores print sizes of at least two print data RPD, respectively. For acquirement of the print sizes, the print size acquiring section
171
comprises a print image size acquiring section
1711
and a page size acquiring section
1712
.
The print image size acquiring section
1711
acquires the size of the print image represented by the print data RPD produced by rasterizing the page data PD produced by the image processing terminals
4
in an RIP section (not shown) of the controller
1
. The print image size acquiring section
1711
acquires dimensions measured respectively in the X- and Y-directions (referred to hereinafter as x- and y-dimensions) of an area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD.
The page size acquiring section
1712
acquires a page size designated by the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
4
. When an operator of the image processing terminals
4
designates a sheet size on which the page data PD or book data BD is to be printed, information about the sheet size is contained in the page data PD or book data BD. The page size acquiring section
1712
acquires the sheet size information contained in the page data PD or book data BD thus designated.
The print size acquiring section
171
uses the functions of the print image size acquiring section
1711
and/or the page size acquiring section
1712
to acquire a print size (referred to hereinafter as a first print size SF) of print data printed first (referred to hereinafter as first print data RPDF) and a print size (referred to hereinafter as a second print size SB) of print data to be printed next (referred to hereinafter as second print data RPDB), and stores the first and second print sizes SF and SB.
The print size comparing section
172
makes a comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB both acquired by the print size acquiring section
171
. The printing control section
173
determines whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
2
or not, based on a result of comparison between the print sizes SF and SB.
The printing control section
173
determines whether to do printing of the second print data RPDB continuously after the printing of the first print data RPDF or not, thereby to determine whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
2
or not. Additionally, the printing control section
173
prompts an operator of the controller
1
to determine whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
2
or not.
For determining whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
2
or not, the printing control section
173
first references the presence/absence of the accumulation of the printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
which is detected by the detector
23
of the digital printing press
2
. If the printed sheets
24
are not accumulated in the stocker
22
, there is no possibility that a stack of the printed sheets
24
falls apart. Then, the controller
1
need not effect particular control of the continuous operation of the digital printing press
2
. Only when informed about the presence of the accumulation of the printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
from the detector
23
, the controller
1
operates the print size acquiring section
171
, the print size comparing section
172
and the printing control section
173
to control the continuous operation of the digital printing press
2
.
The printing control section
173
comprises a permissible limit table
1731
. The permissible limit table
1731
contains a plurality of permissible limits of differences resulting from the comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB.
Although depending on the type and strength of the sheets and the number of printed sheets
24
, the falling apart of a stack of the printed sheets
24
of different sheet sizes in the stocker
22
does not occur (i.e., a stable stack of the printed sheets
24
are provided) when the difference, if any, obtained by the comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB in the print size comparing section
172
is not significant. This allows the digital printing press
2
to do printing of the second print data RPDB continuously after the first print data RPDF. For this reason, the printing control section
173
references one of the permissible limits contained in the permissible limit table
1731
, and determines to print the second print data RPDB continuously after the first print data RPDF if the difference between the first print size SF and the second print size SB obtained as a result of comparison by the print size comparing section
172
falls within the referenced permissible limit.
FIG. 3
shows an example of the construction of the permissible limit table
1731
.
The permissible limit table
1731
may contain any numerical value entered by the operator of the controller
1
.
In this manner, to determine whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
2
or not, the controller
1
has the functions of:
1) acquiring the first print size SF of the first print data RPDF to be printed first, and the second print size SB of the second print data RPDB to be printed next;
2) making a comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB;
3) determining to print the second print data RPDB continuously after the first print data RPDF if the result of comparison falls within the permissible limit; and
4) printing the second print data RPDB without waiting for the determinations 1) to 3) if the printed sheets
24
are not stored in the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
.
FIG. 4
is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of the printing system
100
and, more particularly, the operations of the controller
1
and the digital printing press
2
.
In Step S
1
, the controller
1
receives and rasterizes the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
4
to produce the print data RPD, and the digital printing press
2
performs printing. The print data RPD for use in printing in Step S
1
is used for the first printing in the printing system
100
and thus is defined as the first print data RPDF.
In Step S
2
, the print size acquiring section
171
causes the print image size acquiring section
1711
or the page size acquiring section
1712
to function to acquire the first print size SF from the first print data RPDF. It is assumed in this case that the print size acquiring section
171
causes the print image size acquiring section
1711
to acquire the x- and y-dimensions of the area occupied by the print image represented by the first print data RPDF as the first print size SF to store the first print size SF.
When the print size acquiring section
171
causes the page size acquiring section
1712
to function to acquire the first print size SF, the page size acquiring section
1712
analyzes the page data PD or book data BD before the rasterization into the first print data RPDF to retrieve a description about a page size contained therein. The print size acquiring section
171
may cause the page size acquiring section
1712
to acquire and store the description about the retrieved page size as the first print size SF.
In Step S
3
, a judgment is made as to whether or not the controller
1
has received new page data PD or book data BD from the image processing terminals
4
. If the controller
1
has not received the new data, the processing is terminated.
If new page data PD or book data BD is received, the controller
1
rasterizes the received page data PD or book data BD to produce the print data RPD. The print data RPD for use in printing in the processes of Step S
3
and its subsequent steps is to be printed after the first print data RPDF printed first in Step S
1
and thus is defined as the second print data RPDB.
Next, in Step S
4
, the controller
1
verifies whether or not the printed sheets
24
are accumulated in the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
. To verify the status of the stocker
22
, the printing control section
173
of the controller
1
transmits the control signal CD through the communication line CL to the control section
21
of the digital printing press
2
. The control section
21
of the digital printing press
2
receives a signal through the signal line
25
from the detector
23
in response to the control signal CD. The control section
21
judges that the printed sheets
24
are accumulated in the stocker
22
if the signal from the detector
23
is “1” and that the printed sheets
24
are not accumulated in the stocker
22
if the signal from the detector
23
is “0.” The control section
21
adds this information to the status signal SD to transmit the status of the stocker
22
to the controller
1
.
If the printed sheets
24
are not accumulated in the stocker
22
, the process proceeds to Step S
5
. In Step S
5
, the print size acquiring section
171
resets the first print size SF acquired in Step S
2
to “0.” Since the printed sheets
24
are not accumulated in the stocker
22
, printing using the second print data RPDB produced in Step S
3
becomes the substantially first printing. After the completion of the process in Step S
5
, the process proceeds to Step S
12
to perform printing of the second print data RPDB.
If the printed sheets
24
are accumulated in the stocker
22
, the process proceeds to Step S
6
and its subsequent steps. In Step S
6
, the print size acquiring section
171
causes the print image size acquiring section
1711
or the page size acquiring section
1712
to function to acquire the second print size SB from the second print data RPDB. As in Step S
1
, it is assumed that the print size acquiring section
171
causes the print image size acquiring section
1711
to acquire the x- and y-dimensions of the area occupied by the print image represented by the second print data RPDB as the second print size SB to store the second print size SB.
When the print size acquiring section
171
causes the page size acquiring section
1712
to function to acquire the second print size SB, the page size acquiring section
1712
analyzes the page data PD or book data BD before the rasterization into the second print data RPDB to retrieve a description about a page size contained therein. The print size acquiring section
171
may cause the page size acquiring section
1712
to acquire and store the description about the retrieved page size as the second print size SB.
In Step S
7
, the printing control section
173
reads a permissible limit C from the permissible limit table
1731
. The operator of the controller
1
selects the permissible limit C to be referenced for comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB among the plurality of permissible limits contained in the permissible limit table
1731
in consideration for such as the type and strength of the sheets used in the digital printing press
2
. The permissible limit C includes a permissible x-dimension limit Cx and a permissible y-dimension limit Cy.
Steps S
8
and S
9
are the process steps of making a comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB. In Step S
8
, a comparison is made between the x-dimension SFx of the first print size SF and the x-dimension SBx of the second print size SB. This comparison is made using Expressions (1) and (2).
SFx
−(
SBx+Cx
)≧1 (1)
Expression (1) is to compare the first print size SF with the sum of the second print size SB and the permissible x-dimension limit Cx. If Expression (1) holds, the x-dimension of the first print size SF is sufficiently greater than the x-dimension of the second print size SB, and the process then proceeds to a judgment in Step S
9
.
|
SFx−SBx|≦Cx
(2)
Expression (2) is to judge whether the difference between the x-dimensions of the first and second print sizes SF and SB falls within the permissible x-dimension limit Cx. If Expression (2) holds even when the second print size SB is greater than the first print size SF, it is judged that there is no possibility that the stack falling apart, and the process proceeds to the judgment in Step S
9
. If Expression (2) does not hold, it is judged that there is a possibility that the stack falls apart, and the process proceeds to Step S
10
.
If the x-dimension of the first print size SF and the x-dimension of the second print size SB satisfy Expressions (1) and (2), the process proceeds to Step S
9
.
Only one of Expression (1) and (2) may be used for comparison between the x-dimension of the first print size SF and the x-dimension of the second print size SB.
In Step S
9
, a comparison is made between the y-dimension SFy of the first print size SF and the y-dimension SBy of the second print size SB. This comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB is made using Expressions (3) and (4).
SFy
−(
SBy+Cy
)≧0 (3)
|
SFy−SBy|≦Cy
(4)
As illustrated, Expressions (3) and (4) differ from Expressions (1) and (2) only in the direction of the dimension to be compared. Thus, if there is no possibility that the stack falls apart as a result of the comparison in Expressions (3) and (4), the process proceeds to Step S
12
; otherwise the process proceeds to Step S
10
.
Also, only one of Expression (3) and (4) may be used for comparison between the y-dimension of the first print size SF and the y-dimension of the second print size SB.
In Step S
10
, the printing control section
173
shows on the display
12
a message such as “Remove accumulated printed sheets out of the stocker of the printing press” to prompt the operator of the controller
1
to remove the accumulated printed sheets
24
out of the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
.
When this message is displayed, the printing control section
173
verifies the status of the stocker
22
through the control section
21
of the digital printing press
2
(Step S
11
). As far as the printed sheets
24
remain in the stocker
22
, the printing process is not performed on the second print data RPDB, and the process returns to Step S
10
since there is a possibility that the stack falls apart. Thus, since the printing process is not performed on the second print data RPDB as far as the printed sheets
24
remain in the stocker
22
, the stack falling apart does not occur. The time for the operator of the controller
1
to remove the printed sheets
24
is ensured.
If it is judged in Step S
11
that the printed sheets
24
are absent in the stocker
22
, the printing control section
173
stops showing the message on the display
12
, and the process goes to Step S
5
. Then, the print size acquiring section
171
sets the stored first print size SF to “0.” After the removal of the printed sheets
24
out of the stocker
22
, the printed sheets
24
to be produced by the next printing process on the second print data RPDB become the first printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
. This means the absence of the first print size SF.
In Step S
12
, the controller
1
effects the printing of the second print data RPDB. The CPU
11
of the controller
1
transmits the second print data RPDB through the communication line CL to the digital printing press
2
, and the control section
21
of the digital printing press
2
causes the paper feed section, transport path and printing section not shown to function to perform the printing of the second print data RPDB.
After the completion of the printing of the second print data RPDB, the second print size SB is substituted for the first print size SF stored in the print size acquiring section
171
(Step S
13
). This is because after the accumulation of the printed sheets
24
in the stocker
22
due to the printing process of the second print data RPDB in the process of Step S
12
, the print size of these printed sheets
24
is handled as the first print size SF for the next printing process. After the completion of the process in Step S
13
, the process returns to Step S
3
. Thus, the printing process in the printing system
100
is repeatedly performed.
FIGS. 5A through 5D
specifically illustrate the operation of the printing system
100
in the flowchart of FIG.
4
. It is assumed that the sizes of the sheets usable in the digital printing press
2
in the printing system
100
of
FIG. 1
include “A3w,” “A3” and “A4.” The “A3w” sheet has x- and y-dimensions slightly greater than those of the “A3” sheet.
FIG. 5A
shows a status in the printing system
100
when the first printing is performed based on print data RPD
1
. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
1
has the “A3w” size. At the time shown in
FIG. 5A
, since there are no printed sheets
24
accumulated in the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
, the printing of the print data RPD
1
is the first printing. Thus, the controller
1
performs the printing, whereby printed sheets
24
a
of the “A3w” size are accumulated in the stocker
22
. At this time, the first print size SF stored in the print size acquiring section
171
is the same as the “A3w” size, i.e., SFx=318 (mm) and SFy=469 (mm).
FIG. 5B
shows a status in the printing system
100
when printing based on print data RPD
2
is performed following the first printing. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
2
has the “A3” size. At the time shown in
FIG. 5B
, since the printed sheets
24
a
of the “A3w” size are accumulated in the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
, the controller
1
defines the print data RPD
1
as the first print data RPDF and the print data RPD
2
as the second print data RPDB to execute the processes of Step S
3
and its subsequent steps shown in the flowchart of FIG.
4
. At this time, the second print size SB stored in the print size acquiring section
171
is the same as the “A3” size, i.e., SBx=297 (mm) and SBy=420 (mm). For purposes of simplicity, both of the limits Cx and Cy in the permissible limit C are set at “0.” The print size comparing section
172
makes a comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB. Since SF>SB in this case, the controller
1
performs printing based on the print data RPD
2
, whereby printed sheets
24
b
of the “A3” size are accumulated on the printed sheets
24
a
in the stocker
22
. Because of the relation SF>SB, the second print size SB is substituted for the first print size SF stored in the print size acquiring section
171
. Thus, SFx=297 (mm) and SFy=420 (mm) are substituted for the first print size SF.
FIG. 5C
shows a status in the printing system
100
when printing based on print data RPD
3
is subsequently performed. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
3
has the “A4” size. At the time shown in
FIG. 5C
, the printed sheets
24
a
of the “A3w” size and the printed sheets
24
b
of the “A3” size are accumulated in the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
. The controller
1
defines the print data RPD
2
as the first print data RPDF and the print data RPD
3
as the second print data RPDB to execute the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
4
. Since SF>SB also in this case, the controller
1
performs printing based on the print data RPD
3
, whereby printed sheets
24
c
of the “A4” size are accumulated on the printed sheets
24
b
in the stocker
22
. Because of the relation SF>SB in
FIG. 5C
, SFx=210 (mm) and SFy=297 (mm) which are the same as those of the area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD
3
are substituted for the first print size SF.
FIG. 5D
shows a status in the printing system
100
which is ready for printing based on print data RPD
4
. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
4
has the “A3w” size again. At the time shown in
FIG. 5D
, the printed sheets
24
a
,
24
b
and
24
c
are accumulated in the stocker
22
of the digital printing press
2
. The controller
1
defines the print data RPD
3
as the first print data RPDF and the print data RPD
4
as the second print data RPDB to execute the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.
4
. Then, SF<SB since the first print size SF is the “A4” size whereas the second print size SB acquired by the print size acquiring section
171
is the “A3w” size. There is a possibility that the stack of the printed sheets
24
a
,
24
b
and
24
c
(referred to collectively as the printed sheets
24
) falls apart if the printing based on the print data RPD
4
is performed with the printed sheets
24
a
,
24
b
and
24
c
accumulated in the stocker
22
. The printing control section
173
prompts the operator to remove the accumulated printed sheets out of the stocker
22
on the display
12
, and stops printing based on the print data RPD
4
until the detector
23
of the stocker
22
detects the removal of the printed sheets
24
out of the stocker
22
.
As described above, in the printing system
100
shown in
FIG. 1
, the controller
1
and the digital printing press
2
of
FIG. 2
operate as illustrated in the flowchart of
FIG. 4
to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of continuous printing to prevent the reduction in printing efficiency when the possibility of the stack falling apart is small although difference sheet sizes are used.
Second Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 6
shows an overview of a second printing system
200
according to the present invention. The printing system
200
comprises a controller
201
, a digital printing press
202
, and image processing terminals
204
. The controller
201
and the image processing terminals
204
are connected through a network
203
. The controller
201
and the digital printing press
202
are connected through the communication line CL.
The image processing terminals
204
are similar in function to the image processing terminals
4
described with reference to
FIG. 1
, and will not be described herein. The controller
201
rasterizes the page data PD or book data BD transmitted from the image processing terminals
204
. The controller
201
transmits the resultant print data RPD representing a print image to the digital printing press
202
connected thereto through the communication line CL. Additionally, the controller
201
controls the operation of a selector
2023
so that printed sheets
2025
are stored in one of a plurality of stockers
2024
, which will be described later.
The digital printing press
202
performs printing under the control of the controller
201
. The digital printing press
202
comprises a control section
2021
, a paper feed section, a printing section, the selector
2023
and the plurality of stockers
2024
. The control section
2021
controls the entire digital printing press
202
. The print data RPD transmitted from the controller
201
through the communication line CL is received by the control section
2021
and is converted into binary half-tone data which in turn is transmitted to the printing section. A sheet is fed from the paper feed section through a transport path
2022
to the printing section which in turn transfers a print image represented in a half-tone form onto the sheet. A printed sheet
2025
with the print image transferred thereon by the printing section is transported from the printing section through the transport path
2022
and is stored in one of the stockers
2024
selected by the selector
2023
. The control signal CD transmitted through the communication line CL is similarly received by the control section
2021
and used to control the sections of the digital printing press
202
. The control section
2021
transmits the status signal SD through the communication line CL to inform the controller
201
about the status of the digital printing press
202
.
The selector
2023
selects the stocker
2024
for storing the printed sheet
2025
printed by the printing section under the control of the control section
2021
having received the control signal CD transmitted from the controller
201
. The printed sheet
2025
is transported from the printing section through the transport path
2022
and is stored in one of the stockers
2024
selected by the selector
2023
.
The digital printing press
202
comprises the plurality of stockers
2024
each for storing the printed sheets
2025
therein. The stockers
2024
have unique identification codes, respectively, for distinction therebetween. For example, the number of stockers
2024
is two, identification codes “a” and “b” are assigned to the two stockers
2024
, respectively. The stockers
2024
are used in the order of identification codes, unless otherwise specified. Each of the stockers
2024
, similar to the stocker
22
illustrated in
FIG. 1
, is provided with a detector
2026
which transmits information about the presence/absence of the accumulation of the printed sheets
2025
in an associated one of the stockers
2024
through a signal line
2028
to the control section
2021
.
The printed sheets
2025
are products resulting from the repeated operations of the control section
2021
, the paper feed section and the printing section to print the print image represented by the print data RPD on a plurality of sheets of paper. The printed sheets
2025
include printed sheets
2025
a
of “A4” size when the size of the print image represented by the print data RPD is “A4,” and printed sheets
2025
b
of “A3” size when the size of the print image is “A3.” Or the printed sheets
2025
include the printed sheets
2025
a
of “A4” size when the print size in the setting of the page data PD is “A4,” and the printed sheets
2025
b
of “A3” size when the print size in the setting of the page data PD is “A3.”
For separation of the printed sheets
2025
, it is desirable that slip paper is inserted between the printed sheets
2025
a
and
2025
b
or the printed sheets
2025
a
and
2025
b
are shifted in position when stored.
A signal line
2027
is used by the control section
2021
controlling the selector
2023
. The control section
2021
transmits a control signal through the signal line
2027
to the selector
2023
to cause the selector
2023
to make a selection between the stockers
2024
.
FIG. 7
shows a construction of the controller
201
. The controller
201
is a personal computer in typical use, and comprises a CPU
211
, a display
212
, an input section
213
, a network I/F
214
, a media drive
215
, a storage section
216
, a memory
217
and the communication line CL. The controller
201
is similar in construction to the controller
1
illustrated in
FIG. 2
except the memory
217
and will not be described herein.
The memory
217
is a work area in which the CPU
211
executes a program stored by the storage section
216
. In consequence of the execution of the program by the CPU
211
, the functions of a print size acquiring section
2171
, a print size comparing section
2172
, and an ejected paper control section
2173
are implemented in the memory
217
.
The print size acquiring section
2171
acquires and stores the first print size SF and the second print size SB for each of the stockers
2024
. For acquirement of the print sizes, the print size acquiring section
2171
comprises a print image size acquiring section
21711
and a page size acquiring section
21712
.
The print image size acquiring section
21711
acquires the size of the print image represented by the print data RPD produced by rasterizing the page data PD produced by the image processing terminals
204
in an RIP section (not shown) of the controller
201
. The print image size acquiring section
21711
acquires the x- and y-dimensions of an area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD.
The page size acquiring section
21712
acquires a page size designated by the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
204
. When an operator of the image processing terminals
204
designates a sheet size on which the page data PD or book data BD is to be printed, information about the sheet size is contained in the page data PD or book data BD. The page size acquiring section
21712
acquires the sheet size information contained in the page data PD or book data BD thus designated.
The print size acquiring section
2171
uses the functions of the print image size acquiring section
21711
and/or the page size acquiring section
21712
to acquire the first print size SF of the first print data RPDF and the second print size SB of the second print data RPDB for each of the stockers
2024
, and stores the print sizes SF and SB.
The ejected paper control section
2173
controls the selector
2023
through the control section
2021
of the digital printing press
202
to make a selection between the stockers
2024
for storing the printed sheets
2025
. This selection is made based on a result of comparison made by the print size comparing section
2172
between the first print size SF of the first print data RPDF and the second print size SB of the second print data RPDB which are acquired by and stored in the print size acquiring section
2171
. To this end, the ejected paper control section
2173
comprises a counter i and a stocker register n.
The counter i stores the number of selections of the stockers
2024
. Each time the ejected paper control section
2173
makes a new selection between the stockers
2024
, the counter i is incremented by one.
The stocker register n stores the value of the select number of the stocker
2024
in which the printed sheets
2025
are to be stored. Specifically, when the stocker register n stores the value “1,” the ejected paper control section
2173
sets the value of the select number of the stocker at “1” and determines a stocker
2024
a
having the first one of the identification codes of the stockers
2024
as the stocker in which the printed sheets
2025
are to be stored. When the stocker register n stores the value “2,” the ejected paper control section
2173
sets the value of the select number of the stocker at “2” and determines a stocker
2024
b
having the second one of the identification codes of the stockers
2024
as a stocker in which the printed sheets
2025
are to be stored (referred to hereinafter as a destination stocker of the printed sheets).
The ejected paper control section
2173
stores a stocker count m. The stocker count m is the number of stockers
2024
provided in the digital printing press
202
.
The ejected paper control section
2173
prompts an operator of the controller
201
to determine whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
202
or not.
The ejected paper control section
2173
further comprises a permissible limit table
21731
. The permissible limit table
21731
contains a plurality of permissible limits of differences resulting from the comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB, and is similar to the permissible limit table
1731
illustrated in FIG.
2
. For comparison in the print size comparing section
2172
, similar to the comparison given by Expressions (1) through (4), the ejected paper control section
2173
references one of the permissible limits contained in the permissible limit table
21731
. If the result of the comparison shows that the first print size SF is sufficiently greater than the second print size SB or that the difference between the first print size SF and the second print size SB falls within the referenced permissible limit, the ejected paper control section
2173
controls the selector
2023
of the digital printing press
202
to store the printed sheets
2025
with the first print data RPDF printed thereon and the printed sheets
2025
with the second print data RPDB printed thereon in the same stocker
2024
.
The print size comparing section
2172
is similar in function to the print size comparing section
172
illustrated in
FIG. 2
, and will not be described herein.
In this manner, to determine whether to continuously operate the digital printing press
202
or not, the controller
201
has the functions of:
1) acquiring the first print size SF of the first print data RPDF to be printed first, and the second print size SB of the second print data RPDB to be printed next;
2) making a comparison between the first print size SF and the second print size SB; and
3) storing the printed sheets with the first print data RPDF printed thereon and the printed sheets with the second print data RPDB printed thereon in the same stocker
2024
if the result of comparison falls within a stackable limit.
FIG. 8
is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of the printing system
200
and, more particularly, the operations of the controller
201
and the digital printing press
202
.
In Step S
101
, the counter i and the stocker register n in the ejected paper control section
2173
are set at “1.” This means that the printing system
200
always uses one stocker
2024
in which the printed sheets
2025
are to be stored.
In Step S
102
, the controller
201
receives and rasterizes the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
204
to produce the print data RPD, and the digital printing press
202
performs printing.
The print data RPD for use in printing in Step S
102
is used for the first printing in the printing system
200
and thus is defined as the first print data RPDF. Because of the first printing in Step S
102
, the plurality of stockers
2024
of the digital printing press
202
store no printed sheets
2025
therein. The ejected paper control section
2173
transmits the control signal CD in accordance with the stocker register n to cause the control section
2021
of the digital printing press
202
to operate the selector
2023
. This causes the selector
2023
to select one of the stockers
2024
which serves as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
for the first print data RPDF. Since the stocker register n is “1” in the first printing, the stocker
2024
a
having the “first” one of the identification codes is selected as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
, for example, when the digital printing press
202
comprises the stockers
2024
a
and
2024
b.
In Step S
103
, the print size acquiring section
2171
acquires the print size of the printed sheets stored in the stocker
2024
in the form of a stocker-by-stocker first print size SF1. Stocker-by-stocker first print sizes corresponding to the stocker register n are designated hereinafter by the reference character SFn. The technique in which the print size acquiring section
2171
acquires the stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn is similar to the technique indicated in Step S
2
of the flowchart shown in FIG.
4
.
The stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn may be identified by referencing the stocker register n in the ejected paper control section
2173
.
Steps S
104
through S
106
are similar in operation to Steps S
3
, S
6
and S
7
of
FIG. 4
, and will not be described herein.
In Steps S
107
and S
108
, comparisons are made between the stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn and the second print size SB by the calculations using Expressions (1) and (2) and Expressions (3) and (4) in the processes of Steps S
8
and S
9
of FIG.
4
. In the subsequent step, the stocker
2024
serving as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
for the second print data RPDB is determined.
The process proceeds to Step S
116
if the conditions in Steps S
107
and S
108
are satisfied, i.e., if a difference between the second print size SB and any one of the stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn falls within the permissible limit C. In Step S
116
, the ejected paper control section
2173
changes the stocker resister n to designate the stocker
2024
corresponding to the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn which satisfies the conditions in Steps S
107
and S
108
as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
for the second print data RPDB.
For example, if the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn satisfying the conditions in Steps S
107
and S
108
is “SF1,” the ejected paper control section
2173
changes the stocker register n to “1” in order to determine the stocker
2024
corresponding to the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF1 as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
. Likewise, the ejected paper control section
2173
changes the stocker register n to “2” when determining the stocker
2024
corresponding to a stocker-by-stocker first print size SF2 as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
. Concurrently with changing the stocker register n, the ejected paper control section
2173
transmits the control signal CD to cause the selector
2023
of the digital printing press
202
to operate, thereby designating the corresponding stocker
2024
as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
.
Thereafter, in Step S
118
, the second print data RPDB is transmitted to the digital printing press
202
, whereby printing is performed. At this time, the printed sheets
2025
with the second print data RPDB printed thereon are stored in the stocker
2024
designated by the ejected paper control section
2173
in Step S
116
.
In Step S
119
, the second print size SB is substituted for the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn stored in the print size acquiring section
2171
. This is because after the accumulation of the printed sheets
2025
in any one of the stockers
2024
due to the printing process of the second print data RPDB in the process of Step S
118
, the print size of these printed sheets
2025
is handled as the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn for the next printing process. After the completion of the process in Step S
119
, the process returns to Step S
104
. Thus, the printing process in the printing system
200
is repeatedly performed.
The process proceeds to Step S
109
if the relationships between all of the stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn and the second print size SB are out of the permissible limit of stacking as a result of the comparisons in Steps S
107
and S
108
.
The processes in and after Step S
109
are to change the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
to a new stocker different from the stocker in which the printed sheets
2025
have been stored in the above steps. Supposing the printed sheets
2025
for the second print data RPDB which does not satisfy the condition in Step S
107
or S
108
are stored in any one of the stockers
2024
in which the printed sheets
2025
have already been stored, there is a possibility that the stack of the printed sheets
2025
falls apart. The processes in and after Step S
109
are intended to prevent such an accident.
In Step S
109
, the ejected paper control section
2173
increments the counter i by one. Specifically, the counter i is incremented by one each time the ejected paper control section
2173
makes a new selection between the stockers
2024
.
In Step S
110
, a comparison is made between the numerical value of the counter i and the stocker count m in the digital printing press
202
. If i≦m as a result of comparison, the process proceeds to Step S
111
in which the numerical value of the counter i is written into the stocker register n.
In Step S
112
, the ejected paper control section
2173
operates the selector
2023
so as to select the stocker
2024
corresponding to the stocker resister n newly written in Step S
111
.
Specifically, the writing of the numerical value of the counter i in the stocker register n means the addition of one new stocker
2024
to be used in the digital printing press
202
. The ejected paper control section
2173
operates the selector
2023
so as to select the added stocker
2024
as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
on which the second print data RPDB is printed. For example, if the counter i is changed to “2” whereby “2” is written in the stocker register n when the digital printing press
202
comprises the stockers
2024
a
and
2024
b
, the ejected paper control section
2173
operates the selector
2023
so as to store the printed sheets
2025
in the stocker
2024
b
having the identification code corresponding to the stocker register n.
After the determination of the stocker
2024
serving as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
for the second print data RPDB by the operation of the selector
2023
, the process proceeds to Step S
117
. In Step S
117
, the print size acquiring section
2171
acquires the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn which is “0” for the stocker
2024
newly selected. This is because, for the newly selected stocker
2024
, the printed sheets
2025
to be produced by the process of printing the second print data RPDB become the first printed sheets
2025
and the first print size SF does not exist, as in Step S
5
of FIG.
4
.
Thereafter, in Step S
118
, the second print data RPDB is transmitted to the digital printing press
202
, whereby printing is performed. At this time, the printed sheets
2025
with the second print data RPDB printed thereon are stored in the stocker
2024
designated by the ejected paper control section
2173
in Step S
112
.
If i>m as a result of comparison between the counter i and the stocker count m in Step S
110
, the ejected paper control section
2173
performs the processes in Step S
113
and its subsequent steps. This relation i>m as a result of comparison between the counter i and the stocker count m means that the number of times a new stocker is selected exceeds the number of stockers in the digital printing press
202
. In actuality, however, the selection of a new stocker
2024
is not permitted since the digital printing press
202
has no newly selectable stocker
2024
. In Step S
113
, the ejected paper control section
2173
displays a message directing the operator of the controller
201
to remove the printed sheets
2025
out of all of the stockers
2024
on the display
212
, thereby prompting the operator of the controller
201
to intervene. The process of printing the second print data RPDB which does not satisfies the condition in Step S
107
or S
108
is suspended.
In Step S
114
, the ejected paper control section
2173
judges whether or not the printed sheets
2025
are removed out of all of the stockers
2024
. The detectors
2026
provided for the respective stockers
2024
detect the presence/absence of the printed sheets
2025
stored therein, and transmit the status of the respective stockers
2024
to the control section
2021
. As far as the detectors
2026
detect that the printed sheets
2025
remain unremoved in any one of the stockers
2024
, the ejected paper control section
2173
maintains its state of Step S
113
. When the detectors
2026
detect that all of the stockers
2024
store no printed sheets
2025
, the control section
2021
issues the status signal SD based on information so indicating to transmit such a status to the ejected paper control section
2173
.
After the removal of the printed sheets
2025
out of all of the stockers
2024
, the process proceeds to Step S
115
. In Step S
115
, the ejected paper control section
2173
sets the counter i and the stocker register n again at “1.” The ejected paper control section
2173
further transmits the control signal CD in accordance with the set stocker register n to cause the control section
2021
of the digital printing press
202
to operate the selector
2023
. This causes the selection of the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
for the second print data RPDB among all of the stockers
2024
in accordance with one of the identification codes assigned to the individual stockers
2024
which corresponds to the stocker register n. For example, if the ejected paper control section
2173
sets the stocker register n at “1” after the removal of the printed sheets
2025
out of all of the stockers
2024
when the digital printing press
202
comprises the stockers
2024
a
and
2024
b
, the stocker
2024
a
is selected as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
in accordance with the order of the identification codes.
After the removal of the printed sheets
2025
out of the stockers
2024
, there is no first print size SF. Hence, in Step S
117
, the print size acquiring section
2171
acquires the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn which is “0” for the stocker
2024
selected as the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
. Thereafter, in Step S
118
, the second print data RPDB is transmitted to the digital printing press
202
, whereby printing is performed. At this time, the printed sheets
2025
with the second print data RPDB printed thereon are stored in the stocker
2024
designated by the ejected paper control section
2173
in Step S
115
.
FIGS. 9A through 9E
specifically illustrate the operation of the printing system
200
in the flowchart of FIG.
8
. It is assumed that the sizes of the sheets usable in the digital printing press
202
in the printing system
200
of
FIG. 8
include “A3w,” “A3” and “A4,” as described with reference to FIG.
4
.
FIG. 9A
shows a status in the printing system
200
when the first printing is performed based on print data RPD
11
. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
11
has the “A4” size. At the time shown in
FIG. 9A
, since there are no printed sheets
2025
accumulated in the plurality of stockers
2024
of the digital printing press
202
, the printing of the print data RPD
11
is the first printing. Thus, the ejected paper control section
2173
makes the following settings: the counter i=1, the stocker register n=1, and the stocker count m=2. The controller
201
performs the printing, whereby printed sheets
2025
a
of the “A4” size are stored in the stocker
2024
a.
FIG. 9B
shows a status in the printing system
200
when printing based on print data RPD
12
is performed following the first printing. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
12
has the “A3” size. At the time shown in
FIG. 9B
, since the printed sheets
2025
a
of the “A4” size are stored in the stocker
2024
a
of the digital printing press
202
, the controller
201
defines the print data RPD
11
as the first print data RPDF and the print data RPD
12
as the second print data RPDB to execute the processes of Step S
104
and its subsequent steps shown in the flowchart of FIG.
8
.
At this time, the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn to be stored in the print size acquiring section
2171
is “SF1” corresponding to the stocker
2024
a
because the stocker register n=1, and the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF1 has the same value as the “A4” size of the area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD
11
. The second print size SB to be stored in the print size acquiring section
2171
has the same value as the “A3” size. Both of the limits Cx and Cy in the permissible limit C are assumed to be 50 (mm).
The print size comparing section
2172
makes a comparison between the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF1 and the second print size SB. Since SF1<SB in this case, the ejected paper control section
2173
judges that the accumulation of the printed sheets
2025
for the second print data RPDB on the printed sheets
2025
a
stored in the stocker
2024
a
is not permitted in printing based on the print data RPD
12
, and the controller
201
proceeds to Step S
109
. The ejected paper control section
2173
increments the counter i by one, and compares the incremented counter i with the stocker count m. Since i≦m, the ejected paper control section
2173
changes the stocker register n to “2,” and operates the selector
2023
to change the destination stocker of the printed sheets
2025
to be ejected from the printing section to the stocker
2024
b
in accordance with the order of the identification codes of the stockers. Thereafter, the controller
201
performs printing based on the print data RPD
12
in the process of Step S
117
, whereby resultant printed sheets
2025
b
are stored in the stocker
2024
b
. In Step S
119
, the stocker-by-stocker first print size SFn is changed to “SF2” corresponding to the stocker
2024
b
since the stocker register n=2, and the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF2 having the same value as the “A3” size is stored in the print size acquiring section
2171
.
FIG. 9C
shows a status in the printing system
200
when printing based on print data RPD
13
is subsequently performed. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
13
has the “A3w” size. At the time shown in
FIG. 9C
, the printed sheets
2025
a
of the “A4” size and the printed sheets
2025
b
of the “A3” size are stored in the stockers
2024
a
and
2024
b
, respectively, of the digital printing press
202
. The controller
201
defines the sizes of the areas occupied by the print images represented by the print data RPD
11
and RPD
12
as the respective stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn and the size of the area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD
13
as the second print size SB to execute the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.
8
.
In this case, SF1<SB and SF2<SB, but both of the differences between the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF2 which is the “A3” size defined as X=297 (mm) and Y=420 (mm) and the second print size SB which is the “A3w” size defined as X=318 (mm) and Y=469 (mm) fall within the permissible limit C. Therefore, the stocker
2024
b
corresponding to the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF2 is determined as the destination stocker of printed sheet
2025
c
. The controller
201
performs printing based on the print data RPD
13
, whereby the resultant printed sheets
2025
c
are accumulated on the printed sheets
2025
b
in the stocker
2024
b.
FIG. 9D
shows a status in the printing system
200
when printing based on print data RPD
14
is subsequently performed. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
14
has the “A4” size again. The controller
201
defines the sizes of the areas occupied by the print images represented by the print data RPD
11
and RPD
13
as the respective stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn and the size of the area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD
14
as the second print size SB to execute the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.
8
.
In this case, since SF1≧SB, the ejected paper control section
2173
operates the selector
2023
to determine the stocker
2024
a
corresponding to the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF1 as the destination stocker of printed sheet
2025
d
for the print data RPD
14
. The controller
201
performs printing based on the print data RPD
14
, whereby the resultant printed sheets
2025
d
having the “A4” size are accumulated on the printed sheets
2025
a
in the stocker
2024
a.
FIG. 9E
shows a status in the printing system
200
when printing based on print data RPD
15
is subsequently performed. It is assumed that the area occupied by a print image represented by the print data RPD
15
has the “A3” size again. The controller
201
defines the sizes of the areas occupied by the print images represented by the print data RPD
14
and RPD
13
as the respective stocker-by-stocker first print sizes SFn and the size of the area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD
15
as the second print size SB to execute the operation shown in the flowchart of
FIG. 8
, as in FIG.
4
C and
4
D.
In this case, since SF1<SB but SF2≧SB, the ejected paper control section
2173
operates the selector
2023
to determine the stocker
2024
b
corresponding to the stocker-by-stocker first print size SF2 as the destination stocker of printed sheet
2025
e
for the print data RPD
15
. The controller
201
performs printing based on the print data RPD
15
.
As described above, in the printing system
200
shown in
FIG. 6
, the controller
201
and the digital printing press
202
of
FIG. 7
operate as illustrated in the flowchart of
FIG. 8
to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method capable of changing the destination stocker of the printed sheets when different sheet sizes are used, and capable of continuous printing to prevent the reduction in printing efficiency when the possibility of the stack falling apart is small although difference sheet sizes are used.
The ejected paper control section
2173
may operate the selector
2023
so that when the printed sheets
2025
are removed out of any one of the stockers
2024
, rather than all of the stockers
2024
, the sheet-removed stocker
2024
is selected as the destination stocker.
Third Preferred Embodiment
FIG. 10
shows an overview of a third printing system
300
according to the present invention. The printing system
300
comprises a controller
301
, a digital printing press
302
, and image processing terminals
304
. The controller
301
and the image processing terminals
304
are connected through a network
303
. The controller
301
and the digital printing press
302
are connected through the communication line CL.
The image processing terminals
304
are similar in function to the image processing terminals
4
described with reference to
FIG. 1
, and will not be described herein.
The digital printing press
302
performs printing under the control of the controller
301
. The digital printing press
302
comprises a control section
321
, a paper feed section
322
, a transport path
323
, a printing section
324
, and a stocker
325
.
The control section
321
controls the entire digital printing press
302
. The control section
321
receives the print data RPD transmitted from the controller
301
through the communication line CL, converts the print data RPD into binary half-tone data RPDD, and transmits the binary half-tone data RPDD to the printing section
324
. The control signal CD transmitted through the communication line CL is similarly received by the control section
321
and used to control the sections of the digital printing press
302
. The control section
321
transmits the status signal SD through the communication line CL to inform the controller
301
about the status of the digital printing press
302
.
The paper feed section
322
stores sheets of paper for use in printing, and feeds the sheets through the transport path
323
to the printing section
324
. The paper feed section
322
comprises a plurality of paper feed cassettes storing sheets
326
of paper therein, and a paper feed mechanism not shown for taking the sheets
326
, one at a time, out of the each of the plurality of paper feed cassettes. The plurality of paper feed cassettes store the sheets
326
of respectively different sizes and different types. The plurality of paper feed cassettes have unique identification codes, respectively, for distinction therebetween. For example, identification codes “a,” “b” and “c” are assigned to the paper feed cassettes, respectively.
The transport path
323
is provided to transport the sheets
326
taken out of the paper feed section
322
to the printing section
324
and the stocker
325
.
The printing section
324
prints a print image represented by the print data RPD on the sheets
326
transported thereto through the transport path
323
. The printing section
324
is a mechanism, e.g., for electrostatographic printing. When a sheet
326
is fed from the paper feed section
322
storing the sheets
326
of different sizes through the transport path
323
to the printing section
324
, the printing section
324
transfers the print image represented in a half-tone form onto the sheet
326
, based on the binary half-tone data RPDD produced by the control section
321
. A printed sheet
327
with the print image transferred thereon is transported through the transport path
323
to the stocker
325
.
The stocker
325
is provided to store the sheets
327
printed in the printing section
324
.
A stack
328
is an accumulation of the printed sheets
327
which result from the repeated operations of the control section
321
, the paper feed section
322
, the transport path
323
and printing section
324
to print the print image represented by the print data RPD on the plurality of sheets
326
. The stack
328
includes a stack
328
a
of printed sheets
327
a
of “A4” size when the size of the print image represented by the print data RPD is “A4,” and a stack
328
b
of printed sheets
327
b
of “A3” size when the size of the print image is “A3.” Or the stack
328
includes the stack
328
a
of the printed sheets
327
a
of “A4” size when the print size in the setting of the page data PD is “A4,” and the stack
328
b
of the printed sheets
327
b
of “A3w” size when the print size in the setting of the page data PD is “A3.”
For separation of the stacks
328
accumulated in the stocker
325
, it is desirable that slip paper is inserted between the stacks
328
or the stacks
328
are shifted in position when stored.
FIG. 11
shows a construction of the controller
301
. The controller
301
is a personal computer in typical use, and comprises a CPU
311
, a display
312
, an input section
313
, a network I/F
314
, a media drive
315
, a storage section
316
, a memory
317
and the communication line CL. The controller
301
is similar in construction to the controller
1
illustrated in
FIG. 2
except the memory
317
and will not be described herein.
The memory
317
is a work area in which the CPU
311
executes the program stored by the storage section
316
. In consequence of the execution of the program by the CPU
311
, the functions of a print size acquiring section
3171
, a print size comparing section
3172
, a print data ordering section
3173
and a queue
3174
are implemented in the memory
317
.
The print size acquiring section
3171
acquires and stores the print size of each of the plurality of print data RPD. For acquirement of the print sizes, the print size acquiring section
3171
comprises a print image size acquiring section
31711
and a page size acquiring section
31712
.
The print image size acquiring section
31711
acquires the size of the print image represented by the print data RPD produced by rasterizing the page data PD produced by the image processing terminals
304
in an RIP section (not shown) of the controller
301
. The print image size acquiring section
31711
acquires the x- and y-dimensions of an area occupied by the print image represented by the print data RPD.
The page size acquiring section
31712
acquires a page size designated by the page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
304
. When an operator of the image processing terminals
304
designates a sheet size on which the page data PD or book data BD is to be printed, information about the sheet size is contained in the page data PD or book data BD. The page size acquiring section
31712
acquires the sheet size information contained in the page data PD or book data BD thus designated.
The print size acquiring section
3171
uses the functions of the print image size acquiring section
31711
and/or the page size acquiring section
31712
to acquire the print size SP of each of the print data RPD, and stores the print sizes SP.
The print size comparing section
3172
makes a comparison between the print sizes SP acquired by the print size acquiring section
3171
. Based on a result of comparison, the print data ordering section
3173
orders the plurality of print data RPD.
The print data RPD stored in the storage section
316
of the controller
301
are in many cases arranged in a given order without considerations for the prevention of the stack falling apart, for example, in the order in which the print data RPD are produced, in order of names of the print data RPD or in order of amounts of the print data RPD. For the purpose of preventing the stack from falling apart, the print data ordering section
3173
sorts the print data RPD in such an order that the stacks
328
of the printed sheets
327
are to be accumulated in descending order of print sizes in the stocker
325
, to produce print data ordering information RPL. The plurality of print data RPD are outputted to the digital printing press
302
in the order defined by the print data ordering information RPL produced by the print data ordering section
3173
.
The print data ordering section
3173
comprises a permissible limit table
31731
and an order change section
31732
.
The permissible limit table
31731
contains a plurality of permissible limits of differences resulting from the comparison between the print sizes of the respective print data. Although depending on the type and strength of the sheets
326
and the number of printed sheets
327
, the falling apart of the stacks
328
of different sheet sizes in the stocker
325
does not occur when the difference, if any, obtained by the comparison between the print sizes SP in the print size comparing section
3172
is not significant. Hence, by referencing one of the permissible limits contained in the permissible limit table
31731
, the print data ordering section
3173
can produce the print data ordering information RPL which permits printing of the print data RPD having a smaller print size SP prior to printing of the print data RPD having a greater print size only when the result of comparison in the print size comparing section
3172
falls within the referenced permissible limit. The permissible limit table
31731
may contain any numerical value entered by the operator of the controller
301
. The permissible limit table
31731
used herein may be similar to that shown in FIG.
3
.
The order change section
31732
accepts a change made by the operator of the controller
301
to the order of the print data RPD determined by the print data ordering section
3173
. As mentioned above, depending on the type and strength of the sheets
326
and the number of printed sheets
327
, the falling apart of the stacks
328
of different sheet sizes in the stocker
325
does not occur. In such a case, the operator can arrange the print data RPD in a desired order, rather than in the order of the print sizes. In accordance with an operator's input to the input section
313
, the order change section
31732
accepts the change in the order of the print data RPD determined by the print data ordering section
3173
. The print data ordering section
3173
produces the print data ordering information RPL in response to the change in the order accepted by the order change section
31732
.
The queue
3174
outputs in a predetermined order the print data RPD stored in the storage section
316
to the digital printing press
302
. The queue
3174
produces ordering information IL containing the order in which the print data RPD are stored in the storage section
316
and print data names so that the print data RPD are outputted in the order in which the print data RPD are stored in the storage section
316
, unless otherwise specified. When the print data ordering section
3173
produces the print data ordering information RPL, the queue
3174
stores the print data ordering information RPL, and outputs the print data RPD stored in the storage section
316
to the digital printing press
302
, in the order defined by the print data ordering information RPL.
Alternatively, the queue
3174
may store therein the print data RPD themselves in the order defined by the print data ordering information RPL and output the print data RPD to the digital printing press
302
.
In this manner, to continuously performing printing which prevents the stack falling apart in the digital printing press
302
, the controller
301
has the functions of:
1) acquiring the print sizes SP of the respective print data RPD;
2) making a comparison between the print sizes SP of the respective print data RPD;
3) ordering the print data RPD in accordance with the print sizes SP to output the print data RPD in this order to the digital printing press; and
4) changing the order of the print data RPD in response to the operator's desire.
FIG. 12
is a flowchart for illustrating the operation of the printing system
300
and, more particularly, the operation of the controller
301
.
In Step S
301
, the controller
301
receives the plurality of page data PD or book data BD produced by the image processing terminals
304
. The page data PD or book data BD produced using application software not shown in the image processing terminals
304
are transmitted through the network
303
to the controller
301
. The controller
301
stores the received page data PD or book data BD in the storage section
316
.
In this step, the queue
3174
stores the order in which the page data PD or book data BD are stored as well as the names of the page data PD or book data BD in the form of the ordering information IL.
In Step S
302
, the print size acquiring section
3171
causes the print image size acquiring section
31711
or the page size acquiring section
31712
to perform its function upon the plurality of print data RPD obtained by rasterizing the plurality of page data PD or book data BD in the RIP section (not shown) of the controller
301
, to thereby acquire the print sizes SP of the respective print data RPD. It is assumed in this case that the print size acquiring section
3171
causes the print image size acquiring section
31711
to function, thereby to acquire and store the x- and y-dimensions of the area occupied by the print image represented by each of the print data RPD as the print size SP.
When the print size acquiring section
3171
causes the page size acquiring section
31712
to function to acquire the print sizes SP, the page size acquiring section
31712
analyzes each of the page data PD or book data BD before the rasterization into the print data RPD to retrieve a description about a page size contained therein. The print size acquiring section
3171
may cause the page size acquiring section
31712
to acquire and store the description about the retrieved page size as the print size SP.
In Step S
303
, the print size comparing section
3172
prompts the operator of the controller
301
to make a selection between dimensions along x- and y-axes (referred to hereinafter as x- and y-dimensions) for comparison between the print sizes SP. The print size comparing section
3172
displays a screen for prompting the selection between the x- and y-dimensions for the comparison on the display
312
and waits for a select command of the operator.
As a result, if the x-dimensions are selected for the comparison between the print sizes SP, the process proceeds to Step S
304
. If the y-dimensions are selected for the comparison between the print sizes SP, the process proceeds to Step S
305
.
In response to the selection in Step S
303
, the print size comparing section
3172
makes a comparison between the x-dimensions SPx of the respective print sizes SP stored in the print size acquiring section
3171
in Step S
304
. A technique for the comparison includes, for example, comparing an x-dimension SPx with a reference x-dimension SPx of a particular print size SP, and comparing the x-dimension SPx of each of the print sizes SP with the other x-dimensions SPx in a round-robin manner. As a result of comparison, information about a relation between the x-dimensions SPx is transmitted to the print data ordering section
3173
.
In response to the selection in Step S
303
, the print size comparing section
3172
makes a comparison between the y-dimensions SPy of the respective print sizes SP in Step S
305
. Step S
305
is similar in process to Step S
304
except the direction in which comparison is made, and will not be described herein. As a result of comparison, information about a relation between the y-dimensions SPy is transmitted to the print data ordering section
3173
.
In Step S
306
, the print data ordering section
3173
produces the print data ordering information RPL, based on the result of comparison in Step S
304
or S
305
. Based on the information about the relation between the x-dimensions SPx obtained in Step S
304
or between the y-dimensions SPy obtained in Step S
305
, the print data ordering section
3173
orders the print data RPD corresponding to the print sizes SP including the x-dimensions SPx or the y-dimensions SPy.
For example, if the comparison between x-dimensions SPx
21
, SPx
22
, SPx
23
of respective print data RPD
21
, RPD
22
, RPD
23
shows a relation: SPx
23
>SPx
21
>SPx
22
, the print data ordering section
3173
regards the relation between print sizes SP
21
, SP
22
, SP
23
of the respective print data RPD
21
, RPD
22
, RPD
23
as SP
23
>SP
21
>SP
22
to produce the print data ordering information RPL containing the order: RPD
23
, RPD
21
, and RPD
22
.
By referencing a permissible limit C contained in the permissible limit table
31731
, the print data ordering section
3173
can produce the print data ordering information RPL which permits the output of the print data RPD having a smaller print size SP prior to the output of the print data RPD having a greater print size only when the difference therebetween is not significant.
For example, if print data RPD
24
and RPD
25
having respective x-dimensions SPx
24
and SPx
25
are stored in the controller
301
in the order: RPD
24
and RPD
25
but the result of comparison between the x-dimensions SPx
24
and SPx
25
in Step S
304
shows a relation: SPx
25
>SPx
24
, the print data ordering section
3173
typically produces the print data ordering information RPL containing the order of output: RPD
25
, RPD
24
. However, when the result of comparison between the x-dimensions SPx
24
and SPx
25
of the respective print data RPD
24
and RPD
25
falls within the permissible limit C designated by the operator of the controller
301
or satisfies.
|
SPx
24
−
SPx
25
|≦
C
(5)
then the print data ordering information RPL containing the order stored in the storage section
316
of the controller
301
, rather than the relation obtained in Step S
204
, is produced. In Expression (5), the absolute value of the result of comparison between the x-dimensions is used for judgment as to whether or not the difference falls within the permissible limit C.
After the print data ordering information RPL is produced in Step S
306
, the order change section
31732
in the print data ordering section
3173
presents the print data ordering information RPL on the display
312
, and waits for a correction by the operator.
If the operator judges that it is necessary to correct the displayed print data ordering information RPL, the process proceeds to Step S
309
. In Step S
309
, the operator controls the input section
313
to manipulate the ordering of the print data ordering information RPL presented on the display
312
. After the operator completes the correction of the print data ordering information RPL, the process proceeds to Step S
310
. If a further correction of the print data ordering information RPL is needed, the process in Step S
309
is repeated.
If the operator judges that output is allowed using the print data ordering information RPL presented on the display
312
, the process proceeds to Step S
310
. The print data ordering section
3173
transmits the produced print data ordering information RPL to the queue
3174
. The queue
3174
substitutes the print data ordering information RPL transmitted thereto for the ordering information IL stored in Step S
301
. The queue
3174
reads the print data RPD in the order contained in the print data ordering information RPL from the storage section
316
, and transmits the print data RPD in the same order to the digital printing press
302
. When the digital printing press
302
receives the print data RPD through the communication line CL, the control section
321
in the digital printing press
302
converts the print data RPD into the binary half-tone data RPDD and transmits the binary half-tone data RPDD to the printing section
324
. The sheets
326
of the size corresponding to the print size of the print data RPD are fed from the paper feed section
322
through the transport path
323
to the printing section
324
. The printing section
324
transfers the print image represented by the binary half-tone data RPDD onto the sheets
326
, whereby the printed sheets
327
are ejected into the stocker
325
. The digital printing press
302
repeatedly perform the above-mentioned operation on the transmitted print data RPD, thereby to store the stack
328
of the printed sheets
327
in the stocker
325
. When the transmission of the print data RPD from the controller
301
is completed, the digital printing press
302
stops operating, and the processes shown in
FIG. 12
are completed.
FIGS. 13A through 13D
illustrate that the controller
301
orders the print data RPD in the operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.
12
.
FIG. 13A
shows job data JDa, JDb, JDc and JDd (referred to collectively as job data JD) stored in the storage section
316
as arranged in the order inputted from the image processing terminals
304
in Step S
301
. Each of the job data JD includes a group of some of the print data RPD. It is assumed that the job data JDa includes print data RPDa having the “A4” size, the job data JDb includes print data RPDb having the “A3” size, the job data JDc includes print data RPDc having the “B5” (JIS B5) size, and the job data JDd includes print data RPDd having the “B4” (JIS B4) size.
FIG. 13B
shows the ordering information IL produced initially in the queue
3174
. Prior to the rasterization of the page data PD, the queue
3174
produces the ordering information IL based on the order in which the book data BD are stored in the storage section
316
. At this time, the ordering information IL produced by the queue
3174
contains the order in which the book data BD are stored in the storage section
316
, and has not yet been processed to prevent the stacks
328
from falling apart in the stocker
325
.
In Step S
302
, the print size acquiring section
3171
acquires the print sizes SP of the print data RPD constituting the job data JD, respectively. Since the job data JDa, JDb, JDc and JDd include the print data RPDa, RPDb, RPDc and RPDd having the “A4,” “A3,” “B4,” and “B5” sizes, respectively, as mentioned above, the print size acquiring section
3171
acquires and stores the print size SPa (x=210, y=297) for the print data RPDa, the print size SPb (x=297, y=420) for the print data RPDb, the print size SPc (x=257, y=364) for the print data RPDc, and the print size SPd (x=182, y=257) for the print data RPDd. The above-mentioned dimensions x and y are in millimeters (mm).
In Step S
303
, the operator of the controller
301
selects the x- or y-dimensions for the comparison between the print sizes SP. The print size comparing section
3172
produces a display for prompting the selection of the x- or y-dimensions for the comparison. Then, the operator controls the input section
313
to respond to the prompt, whereby the selection in Step S
303
is made. It is assumed in this case that the y-dimensions of the print sizes SP are selected for the comparison.
In Step S
305
, the print size comparing section
3172
reads the print sizes SP stored in the print size acquiring section
3171
, and makes a comparison between the y-dimensions of the respective print sizes SP. Specifically, the print size comparing section
3172
reads the print sizes SPa, SPb, SPc and SPd, and makes a comparison between the y-dimensions of the respective print sizes SPa, SPb, SPc and SPd to determine a relation between the print sizes SPa, SPb, SPc and SPd. The print sizes SPa, SPb, SPc and SPd acquired by the print size acquiring section
3171
include respective y-dimensions SPay=297 (mm), SPby=420 (mm), SPcy=364 (mm) and SPdy=257 (mm). The print size comparing section
3172
compares these y-dimensions SPay, SPby, SPcy and SPdy to derive a relation: SPby>SPcy>SPay>SPdy.
In Step S
306
, the print data ordering section
3173
produces the print data ordering information RPL, based on the relation between the dimensions of the print sizes SP obtained as a result of the comparison by the print size comparing section
3172
. Since the relation between the y-dimensions of the print sizes SP obtained in Step S
305
is SPby>SPcy>SPay>SPdy as mentioned above, the print data ordering section
3173
regards the relation between the print sizes SP as SPb>SPc>SPa>SPd to determine the order of output of the job data JD corresponding to the print sizes SP, thereby producing the print data ordering information RPL.
In this process, the print data ordering section
3173
references the permissible limit table
31731
. If the difference between the print sizes SP falls within the permissible limit C, the relation between the print sizes SP determined in Step S
305
may be changed. For purposes of simplification, it is assumed that the permissible limit C=0 and there is no change in the relation determined in Step S
305
.
FIG. 13C
shows the job data JD as ordered by the print data ordering section
3173
. As shown in
FIG. 13C
, the order of output of the job data JD is the descending order of the print sizes, unlike the order shown in FIG.
13
A. This corresponds to the relation between the print sizes A3>B4>A4>B5. This order of output results in the descending order of the sizes of the printed sheets
327
from the bottom when the stacks
328
are accumulated in the stocker
325
to prevent the stack falling apart.
In Step S
307
, the print data ordering section
3173
presents the produced print data ordering information RPL on the display
312
, and waits for a change in the order by the operator.
FIG. 14
shows an order change menu ML for allowing the operator to change the print data ordering information RPL as presented on the display
312
by the print data ordering section
3173
. The order change menu ML comprises a before-change print data output order display field
361
, an after-change print data output order display field
362
, an OK button
365
, and a cancel button
366
.
The before-change print data output order display field
361
is to display the print data ordering information RPL produced in Step S
306
. The before-change print data output order display field
361
comprises a plurality of sequence number fields
361
a
and a plurality of print data name display fields
361
b
, and presents the contents of the print data ordering information RPL. The sequence number fields
361
a
show the order of output, and the print data name display fields
361
b
show print data names or job data names.
The before-change print data output order display field
361
has a scroll bar
363
. If there are a large number of sequence number fields
361
a
or print data name display fields
361
b
, the operator can manipulate the scroll bar
363
using a pointer PO to view all of the print data ordering information RPL.
The after-change print data output order display field
362
is to allow the operator to enter a change, if desired, in the contents of the print data ordering information RPL. The after-change print data output order display field
362
comprises a plurality of sequence number fields
362
a
and a plurality of print data name entry fields
362
b
. The sequence number fields
362
a
, similar to the sequence number fields
361
a
, show the order of output. The print data name entry fields
362
b
are to accept an operator's entry of a print data name or job data name whose place in the order is intended to change. The operator controls the pointer PO through the input section
313
to drag and drop a print data name or job data name presented in the before-change print data output order display field
361
into a print data name entry field
362
b
corresponding to a desired sequence number field
362
a
in the after-change print data output order display field
362
, thereby changing the print data ordering information RPL.
The after-change print data output order display field
362
also has a scroll bar
364
. If there are a large number of sequence number fields
362
a
or print data name entry fields
362
b
, the operator can manipulate the scroll bar
364
using the pointer PO to view a change in all of the print data ordering information RPL.
To perform printing based on the print data ordering information RPL displayed in the before-change print data output order display field
361
, the operator clicks the OK button
365
while leaving the after-change print data output order display fields
362
blank. If the operator wants to change the order, the operator carries out desired ordering in the after-change print data output order display field
362
and thereafter clicks the OK button
365
. In response to the clicking of the OK button
365
, the print data ordering section
3173
ends the displaying of the order change menu ML, and transmits the print data ordering information RPL to the queue
3174
. To abort the change in the order of the print data, the operator clicks the cancel button
366
. In response to the clicking of the cancel button
366
, the print data ordering section
3173
also ends the displaying of the order change menu ML. Then, the print data ordering section
3173
judges that printing is to be done based on the print data ordering information RPL displayed in the before-change print data output order display field
361
to transmit the print data ordering information RPL to the queue
3174
.
Another technique of manipulating the ordering includes, for example, designating a print data name whose place in the order is intended to change, and inserting the print data name into a desired place in the order of the print data being displayed based on the print data ordering information RPL on the display.
It is assumed in this case that no change is made to the print data ordering information RPL, and the process proceeds to Step S
310
. In Step S
310
, the queue
3174
receives the print data ordering information RPL produced by and transmitted from the print data ordering section
3173
, and substitutes the print data ordering information RPL for the ordering information IL having been stored therein.
FIG. 13D
shows the print data ordering information RPL produced by the print data ordering section
3173
and stored in the queue
3174
. The queue
3174
transmits the job data JD stored in the storage section
316
in the order defined by the print data ordering information RPL to the digital printing press
302
. Specifically, the queue
3174
reads the job data JD in the order: JDb, JDc, JDa and JDd from the storage section
316
, and transmits the job data JD in the same order through the communication line CL to the digital printing press
302
.
The digital printing press
302
prints the job data JD in the order received. The control section
321
of the digital printing press
302
converts the plurality of print data RPDb included in the received job data JDb into respective binary half-tone data RPDDb, and transmits the binary half-tone data RPDDb to the printing section
324
. Since the print size of the plurality of print data RPDb included in the job data JDb is “A3,” the control section
321
causes the paper feed section
322
to feed sheets
326
b
of the “A3” size through the transport path
323
to the printing section
324
. The printing section
324
transfers the binary half-tone data RPDDb onto the fed sheets
326
b
of the “A3” size. Resultant printed sheets
327
b
pass through the transport path
323
into the stocker
325
. In this manner, the control section
321
, the paper feed section
322
, the transport path
323
and the printing section
324
operate repeatedly to accumulate a stack
328
b
for the job data JDb in the stocker
325
. The result is shown in FIG.
15
A.
Likewise, upon receipt of the job data JDc, the digital printing press
302
transfers a print image represented by the plurality of print data RPDc onto sheets
326
c
corresponding to the “B4” print size of the print data RPDc included in the job data JDc, to accumulate a stack
328
c
in the stocker
325
, as shown in FIG.
15
B. Although the stack
328
b
has already been accumulated in the stocker
325
, the stack falling apart does not occur because the “A3” size of the printed sheets
327
b
in the stack
328
b
is greater than the “B4” size of printed sheets
327
c
in the stack
328
c.
The digital printing press
302
also prints the job data JDa and JDd using sheets
326
a
and
326
d
having the “A4” and “B5” sizes corresponding to the print data RPDa and RPDd included in the job data JDa and JDd, respectively, to accumulate stacks
328
a
and
328
d
in the stocker
325
, as shown in FIG.
15
C. The stacks
328
accumulated in the stocker
325
do not fall apart since the sizes of the printed sheets
327
a
,
327
b
,
327
c
and
327
d
in the respective stacks
328
a
,
328
b
,
328
c
and
328
d
have a relation:
327
b
>
327
c
>
327
a
>
327
d.
As described above, the controller
301
shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
operates as illustrated in the flowchart of
FIG. 12
to provide a printing system capable of compatibility between the prevention of the stack falling apart and the continuous printing.
Modifications
The controller
301
may perform an operation shown in the flowchart of FIG.
16
. Steps S
321
and S
322
of
FIG. 16
are similar to Steps S
301
and S
302
in the flowchart of
FIG. 12
, and will not be described herein.
In Step S
323
, the print size comparing section
3172
makes a comparison between the x-dimensions of the respective print sizes SP acquired by the print size acquiring section
3171
. The details of the process in Step S
323
are similar to those in Step S
304
of FIG.
12
. Specifically, the relation between the x-dimensions SPx of the respective print sizes SP is determined.
In Step S
324
, the print size comparing section
3172
makes a comparison between the y-dimensions of the respective print sizes SP acquired by the print size acquiring section
3171
. The details of the process in Step S
324
are similar to those in Step S
305
of FIG.
12
. Specifically, the relation between the y-dimensions SPy of the respective print sizes SP is determined.
In Step S
325
, the print size comparing section
3172
presents the relation between the x-dimensions SPx obtained in Step S
323
and the relation between the y-dimensions SPy obtained in Step S
324
on the display
312
. The operator can make a selection between referencing the x-dimensions SPx and referencing the y-dimensions SPy of the print sizes in Step S
326
for production of the print data ordering information RPL.
As an example, it is assumed that only sheets having the “A3” and “A4” sizes are usable for printing in the digital printing press
302
. Since both the x-dimensions SPx of these sizes are SPx=297 (mm), there is no inequality between the x-dimensions SPx in Step S
323
, and the x-dimensions SPx are displayed in Step S
325
substantially in the order in which the print data RPD are stored in the storage section
316
. However, because of the difference in y-dimension SPy between the “A3” sheets (SPy=420 (mm)) and the “A4” sheets (SPy=210 (mm)), there is an inequality between the y-dimensions SPy. This allows the determination of the order of the print data different from the order in which the print data RPD are stored in the storage section
316
.
As described above, in Step S
326
, the operator can select the production of the print data ordering information RPL using the x-dimensions SPx or the y-dimensions SPy in accordance with the displayed result.
If the operator selects the production of the print data ordering information RPL using the x-dimensions SPx, the process proceeds to Step S
327
. In Step S
327
, the print data ordering section
3173
produces the print data ordering information RPL based on the relation between the x-dimensions SPx compared by the print size comparing section
3172
. The process in Step S
327
is similar to that in Step S
306
of
FIG. 12
, and will not be described herein.
If the operator selects the production of the print data ordering information RPL using the y-dimensions SPy, the process proceeds to Step S
328
. In Step S
328
, the print data ordering section
3173
produces the print data ordering information RPL based on the relation between the y-dimensions SPy compared by the print size comparing section
3172
. The process in Step S
328
is similar to that in Step S
306
of
FIG. 12
, and will not be described herein.
The processes in Steps S
329
through S
331
are similar to those in Steps S
307
through S
310
of
FIG. 12
, and will not be described herein.
As described above, the controller
301
shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11
operates as illustrated in the flowchart of
FIG. 16
to provide a printing system capable of compatibility between the prevention of the stack falling apart and the continuous printing.
The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned preferred embodiments.
The controller and the digital printing press are illustrated as separate devices in the above-mentioned preferred embodiments, but may be integrated together.
The present invention may be embodied in such a manner that the image processing terminals have the same functions as the controller to control the digital printing press through the network.
For comparison between the first print size and the second print size, the control section may reference the permissible limit table based on the types or sizes of the sheets loaded in the digital printing press
2
without the need for the designation by the operator.
While the invention has been described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is understood that numerous other modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A printing system comprising:a) a printing apparatus including a-1) a printing section for continuously printing a plurality of print data on a plurality of sheets of paper to provide a plurality of printed sheets, a-2) a stock section including at least one stocker, and a-3) an ejecting mechanism for ejecting said plurality of printed sheets into said stock section; and b) a controller including b-1) an acquiring element for acquiring print sizes corresponding respectively to said plurality of print data, b-2) a comparing element for making a comparison between said print sizes, and b-3) a control element for controlling said printing section and said ejecting mechanism based on a result of the comparison by said comparing element to provide a stable stack including printed sheets of different sheet sizes in said stock section.
- 2. The printing system according to claim 1,wherein said comparing element makes a comparison between a first print size of first printed sheets lying in a top position of said stable stack and a second print size of second print data, and wherein said control element determines whether or not to eject second printed sheets on which said second print data is printed onto said stable stack in accordance with said result of the comparison.
- 3. The printing system according to claim 2,wherein said control element comprises an ejecting element for allowing ejection of said second printed sheets onto said stable stack if a first condition is satisfied, said first condition being such that said second print size is less than said first print size.
- 4. The printing system according to claim 3,wherein said control element allows said ejecting element to eject said second printed sheets onto said stable stack if a second condition is satisfied, said second condition being such that said second print size is greater than said first print size and a difference between said first and second print sizes is less than a predetermined threshold value.
- 5. The printing system according to claim 4,wherein said at least one stocker includes a first stocker and a second stocker, wherein said stable stack is provided in said first stocker, and wherein said control element allows said ejecting element to eject said second printed sheets into said second stocker if neither said first condition nor said second condition is satisfied.
- 6. The printing system according to claim 5,wherein said acquiring element acquires said second print size as a new value of said first print size for the stocker in which said second printed sheets are stored, after said stable stack is provided, and wherein said comparing element makes a comparison between said new value of said first print size and a new value of said second print size.
- 7. The printing system according to claim 4,wherein said control element stops printing said second print data when neither said first condition nor said second condition is satisfied in said stock section.
- 8. The printing system according to claim 1,wherein said control element comprises: a sorting element for sorting the print sizes of said plurality of print data to determine printing order, based on said result of the comparison between said print sizes by said comparing element; and an element for controlling said printing section to print said plurality of print data in said printing order.
- 9. The printing system according to claim 8,wherein said sorting element comprises a disabling element, said disabling elements disabling said sorting element for at least two print data when a difference between print sizes of said at least two print data compared by said comparing element is less than a threshold value.
- 10. The printing system according to claim 8,wherein said comparing element compares single dimensions of said plurality of print data with each other.
- 11. The printing system according to claim 1,wherein, when a group of lower printed sheets and a group of upper printed sheets adjacent to each other in said stable stack are observed, a difference obtained by subtracting the size of said upper printed sheets from the size of said lower printed sheets is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
- 12. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, said printing apparatus including a printing section for continuously printing a plurality of print data on a plurality of sheets of paper to provide a plurality of printed sheets, a stock section having at least one stocker, and an ejecting mechanism for ejecting said plurality of printed sheets into said stock section, said method comprising the steps of:a) acquiring print sizes corresponding respectively to said plurality of print data; b) making a comparison between said print sizes; and c) controlling said printing section and said ejecting mechanism based on a result of the comparison in said step b) to provide a stable stack including printed sheets of different sheet sizes in said stock section.
- 13. The method according to claim 12,wherein said step a) comprises the step of making a comparison between a first sheet size of first printed sheets lying in a top position of said stable stack and a second sheet size of second print data, and wherein said step c) comprises the step of determining whether or not to eject second printed sheets on which said second print data is printed onto said stable stack in accordance with said result of the comparison.
- 14. The method according to claim 12,wherein said step c) comprises the steps of: sorting the print sizes of said plurality of print data to determine printing order, based on said result of the comparison between said print sizes by said comparing element; and controlling said printing section to print said plurality of print data in said printing order.
- 15. A controller for a printing apparatus, said printing apparatus including a printing section for continuously printing a plurality of print data on a plurality of sheets of paper to provide a plurality of printed sheets, a stock section including at least one stocker, and an ejecting mechanism for ejecting said plurality of printed sheets into said stock section, said controller comprising:an acquiring element for acquiring print sizes corresponding respectively to said plurality of print data, a comparing element for making a comparison between said print sizes, and a control element for controlling said printing section and said ejecting mechanism based on a result of the comparison by said comparing element to provide a stable stack including printed sheets of different sheet sizes in said stock section.
- 16. The controller according to claim 15,wherein said comparing element makes a comparison between a first sheet size of first printed sheets lying in a top position of said stable stack and a second sheet size of second print data, and wherein said control element determines whether or not to eject second printed sheets on which said second print data is printed onto said stable stack in accordance with said result of the comparison.
- 17. The controller according to claim 15,wherein said control element comprises: a sorting element for sorting the print sizes of said plurality of print data to determine printing order, based on said result of the comparison between said print sizes by said comparing element; and an element for controlling said printing section to print said plurality of print data in said printing order.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
P2001-005268 |
Jan 2001 |
JP |
|
P2001-005269 |
Jan 2001 |
JP |
|
P2001-346449 |
Nov 2001 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2000-0047907 |
Jul 2000 |
KR |