JP2004240772A - Press plate progress device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a press plate process device for exhibiting functions for monitoring and managing working states after defining an operator in charge of operation to allow the working to progress as to the progress of item work for allowing respective devices such as an RIP machine/inspection machine in a press plate process to progress. <P>SOLUTION: A press plate progress device is provided with: a progress management means for confirming progress states of press plate working such as RIP processing, plate inspection processing and output processing in each progress unit of an item and recording/managing the progress state data of each progress unit of the item; an operation input means for receiving an operator's name inputted by the operator; a display control means for displaying the progress states on a screen in each progress management unit managed by the progress management means; and a storage part for recording the progress state data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing the progress and history of work in a printing plate process and for working.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the printing plate process, the work progress system exists as a server for totalizing and instructing the work progress, and an imposition device, a Direct Digital Color Proofer (DDCP), a RIP (Raster Image Processor) machine that actually performs each work via a network. It is connected with such. Work instruction information was created from the manufacturing information describing the product manufacturing form, order receiving information describing the order form of the product, process management information for each product describing the creation process for each product, and the product creation deadline was described. There is a process management system that creates process design information from schedule information and receives and summarizes work performance information such as work start time, end time, and work conditions from each device. Has determined that the following work has been performed (Patent Document 1). In the plate making process, there is a layout management device that outputs a work history of a layout scanner (plate making system) and outputs work information data for each item (Patent Document 2). In addition, in order to reduce the burden on the operator, the folder is monitored at predetermined time intervals, and when data is stored in the folder, a predetermined required operation is automatically performed using a hot folder. Is partially automated (Patent Document 3). Thus, there are software and devices related to work management and work automation.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-19067
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-6-75356
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2000-118095 A
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the printing plate process, an operator is different for each item or partial operation, and work management is very important. Even if the work is automated and the burden on the workers is reduced, there are always people mixed. In particular, in the plate data inspection process, work history management such as who performed the inspection and what the results were may not be thoroughly carried out, which may become a problem later, and it is necessary to clarify responsibilities. The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and has a function of clarifying a work situation including work responsibilities in each apparatus of a printing plate process such as a new apparatus or an existing RIP machine / inspection machine. An object of the present invention is to provide a device having the same.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for managing a work progress of item data flowing through a printing plate process.
Checks the progress of the printing operation such as RIP processing, plate inspection processing, and output processing for each progress unit of the item, and records and manages the progress data for each progress unit of the item, including the name of the worker in charge for each process Progress management means, operation input means for receiving a worker name input by a worker, display control means for displaying a progress screen on a progress management unit managed by the progress management means, and recording the progress data And a storage unit for performing the operation.
[0006]
That is, when the progress management means records and manages the progress status data for each progress management unit, the progress management means always records and manages the name of the responsible worker for the processing step in which the responsible worker exists. This makes it easy to confirm where the responsibility lies when a trouble occurs.
[0007]
The printing plate advancing device according to a second aspect of the first invention is the printing plate advancing device according to the first aspect, wherein the progress management means starts and ends RIP work of the progress management unit data or performs output processing. Is detected by examining a data file existing in a specific folder of the processing device connected via the network. The printing plate advancing device having such a feature can detect the progress of the item work without any special hardware means except for connection with the processing device by a network cable.
[0008]
The printing plate advancing device according to a third aspect of the first invention is the printing plate advancing device according to the first aspect, wherein the progress management means is provided to a processing device such as a RIP device as necessary. It is characterized by having a function of issuing a command message for starting a necessary process operation through a network.
[0009]
A printing plate advancing device according to a fourth aspect of the first invention is the printing plate advancing device according to the first aspect, wherein the display control means displays a progress status for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means. When displaying on the screen, the progress status such as the start of work, during the work, the end of normal work, or the occurrence of an abnormality such as the detection of a defect is displayed on the screen while being distinguished by the display color. As a result, the progress is displayed at a glance.
[0010]
The printing plate advancing device according to a fifth aspect of the first invention is the printing plate advancing device according to the first aspect, wherein the display control means displays a progress status screen for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means. At the time of display, processing steps in which a worker in charge exists are displayed on the screen including the name of the worker in charge.
[0011]
The printing plate advancing device according to a sixth aspect of the first invention is the printing plate advancing device according to the first aspect, wherein the display control means is configured to display a progress status for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means. Is displayed together with the thumbnail image so that the user can easily grasp what kind of item is displayed on the screen.
[0012]
The printing plate advancing device according to a seventh aspect of the first invention is the printing plate advancing device according to the first aspect, wherein a database in which progress history data of each progress unit of the item is recorded and managed for each progress management unit is maintained. By the management, "worker name" or "date" or "part number" or "presence or absence of defect" (if there is a defect, "defect description") as a keyword, currently in progress or processing is completed And a function of searching for work history information of the selected item data. By accumulating information in such a manner, when a trouble or the like occurs, it is possible to investigate with various search conditions.
[0013]
A second invention for solving the problem is a series of a computer or a printing plate processing apparatus in which the computer is incorporated, whereby the computer or the printing plate processing apparatus operates as a printing plate advancement device according to the first invention. Is a computer program describing the above-mentioned instructions. By incorporating a computer program, for example, it is also possible to mount a similar function on a RIP device instead of an independent printing plate advance device.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[Overview of Plate Progressing Apparatus 1] Hereinafter, a plate moving apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of each work device such as an imposition device 5, a RIP machine 2, an inspection machine 4, a CTP device 3, and a color printer 7, which are managed by the plate moving device 1, an item information management device 6, and the plate moving device 1. FIG. For convenience, the imposition device 5, the RIP device 2, the inspection device 4, and the CTP device 3 are collectively referred to as a printing plate processing device group 100. The printing plate advancing device 1, the item information management device 6, and the printing plate process device group 100 are connected by a network 9. In addition, the printing plate advance device 1 also serves as a work management terminal for the operator of the inspection machine 4, and the inspection worker inputs a worker name to the printing plate advance device 1 before the inspection work, and performs an inspection. After the operation, the inspection result is input to the plate moving device 1. The item information management device 6 is a server device that manages the item information database 61. The item information database 61 stores and manages management information related to the submitted items. The RIP device 2 is provided with shared folders (input folder 1, output folder 1, 2) accessible from outside through the network 9, and when the edited DTP data is sent to the input folder 1, the RIP process is automatically performed. Is started.
[0015]
The plate progressing device 1 prompts an input from an inspection worker or the like, receives operation input means 11, constantly monitors the progress of an item flowing on the plate process apparatus group 100, and displays the progress information of the item. Progress management means 12 for collecting and, when necessary, instructing the apparatus to start a specific process, display control for displaying the progress of the item on the monitor display 14 in an easy-to-understand manner based on the information collected by the progress management means 12. The means 13 comprises a storage unit 15 for recording coarse image data, work history data of each item, and the like. The operation input unit 11 receives input from an operator through a barcode reader 111 and a keyboard 112. In addition, a button, a card reader, and a mouse on a dedicated operation console may be used as input devices.
[0016]
[Flow of Printing Plate Process Using Printing Plate Progressing Device 1] FIG. 2 is a data flow of a printing plate process in which the printing plate progressing device 1 is introduced. Hereinafter, a flow of a printing plate process in which the printing plate advancing device 1 is introduced and a flow of data associated therewith will be described with reference to FIG. The printing plate advancing device 1 manages the progress of the multi-impositioned folding unit data as a JOB. In FIG. 2, a box surrounded by a broken line in the center represents folders, data, and processes to be executed on the RIP device 2. That is, it is assumed that the input folders 1 and 2 and the output folders 1 and 2 are specific folders on the RIP device 2. Note that the output folders 1 and 2 do not have to be on the RIP machine. It may be a specific folder on the plate advance device 1.
[0017]
1) The layout data passed from the plate making process is multi-imposed by the imposition device 5, and when the obtained multi-imposition data is copied to the input folder 1 of the RIP device 2, the RIP process is started.
2) By RIP processing, two types of RIPed data of high resolution and low resolution (low resolution RIPed data can be used to perform plate inspection to reduce the load of data communication and arithmetic processing of a plate inspection machine, etc.) Although the resolution of the data is low, if the device has a high processing capacity, it is possible to proceed with only the high-resolution ripped data without creating this.) Created.
3) To start the inspection work, the operator in charge of the inspection inputs his / her name into the printing plate advance device 1. The low-resolution ripped data is copied from the output folder 2 to the printing plate advance device 1 and further copied from the plate advance device 1 to the inspection machine 4 to start inspection. Similarly, the high-resolution ripped data is copied from the output folder 1 to the plate advance device 1 for reprinting / reprinting.
4) Inspection results from the inspection machine 4 are input to the plate moving device 1 by an inspection operator. If there is a defect, an inspection result indicating the content of the defect is output from the inspection machine 4 by the printer 7 and sent to the plate making process. However, for defects that occurred during the imposition process, the inspection results are sent to the imposition process. Regardless of the presence or absence of a defect, the inspection result is stored in the plate moving device 1.
5) If there is no defect, an instruction to move the high-resolution ripped data from the output folder 1 to the input folder 2 is issued from the printing plate advance device 1 to the RIP device 2, and the process is executed.
6) When copying to the input folder 2 is completed, the RIP device 2 starts creating CTP output data and transferring the data to the CTP device 3. That is, when the copy to the input folder 2 is completed, the output process automatically starts.
[0018]
[Job Progress Status Display Function] FIG. 6 shows the configuration of a display frame 80 for displaying the progress status of one JOB displayed on the display 14 by the display control means 13. At the stage of performing the RIP processing, one item data (data in order unit) at the time of submission is decomposed into JOBs, which are processing units determined by one or more foldings. It is assumed that this JOB is uniquely identified and managed by a “product number”. There is a part number display column 81 at the upper left, and the part number for specifying the job is displayed. The upper part of the display frame 80 is a thumbnail image display column 82. After the RIP, the thumbnail images in which the ripped data is significantly thinned are displayed here. The lower part of the display frame 80 is provided with a portion for monitoring and displaying the progress of the RIP process, the inspection process, and the output process, and columns 83, 84, 85 for displaying the end (planned) time of each process and the worker name. Is provided.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows a change in the display of the display frame 80 in the case where one job goes from submission to RIP to inspection to resubmission to inspection to plate output. The numbers (1) to (4) in FIG. 3 and the numbers (5) to (7) in FIG. 4 correspond to the numbers in the flowchart in FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are display examples of the job in a state where the RIP process has been started. In FIG. 3 (1), no image is displayed in the thumbnail image display column 82 yet, and “work in progress” is displayed instead. {Circle around (5)} is the case of a re-submitted job, in which “re-submitted” is displayed in the thumbnail image display column 82 so as to be recognized as re-submitted data.
[0020]
When the RIP process is completed, the thumbnail image is displayed in the thumbnail image display field 82, and the display is as shown in FIG. The title of the RIP and the background of the display column 83 change to blue to indicate that the processing step has been completed normally. The display column 83 displays the end date and time.
[0021]
FIG. 3 (3) shows the state of the job in which the inspection process has started. In the thumbnail image display field 82, the word "work in progress" is displayed. In the display field 84, the estimated work end time and the name of the worker are displayed. Inspection title and the text in the display field 84 indicate that the work has started. Is displayed in blue. A display example in a case where the inspection operator determines that the inspection result is “NG” is FIG. The background of the examination title and the display column 84 is displayed in red.
[0022]
FIG. 4 (6) shows the display frame 80 in a state where the inspection result has been normally ended as “OK” and the output processing has started. The title of the test and the background of the display column 84 change to blue to indicate that the processing step has been completed normally. The output title and the characters in the display column 85 are displayed in blue to indicate that the output process has started. The display column 85 displays the output start time. FIG. 4 (7) shows the display frame 80 when the output processing is completed normally. The “work in progress” display in the thumbnail image display field 82 disappears, and the title of the version output and the background of the display field 85 become blue.
[0023]
FIG. 5 shows an example of the progress display screen displayed on the screen of the display 14 of the traveling device 1. In the example of FIG. 5, eight display frames 80 are displayed on the position screen so that the progress of eight jobs can be checked at one time. When data is sent to the RIP device 2, the frame of the new JOB input to the plate processing apparatus group 100 is shifted to the left, and a new JOB frame 80 is created and displayed in the lower right corner. In other words, the images are displayed from right to left in the lower part of the screen and from right to left in the upper part in order from the new job to the old job. By displaying on the screen as shown in FIG. 5, the manager of the process can grasp at a glance the progress of each job.
[0024]
The high-resolution ripped data after plate output is erased in a few days due to its large capacity, but the low-resolution ripped data is automatically erased after being stored for the same period as the history data, and the data display becomes thin (FIG. 5). (See display frame 80 in the upper left corner). The high-resolution RIPed data can be immediately output as a plate for several days before being erased. The work history can be selected from a list display, and a character input search can be performed based on an operator name, a product number, a product name, a high-resolution RIP-completed data name, or the like.
[0025]
[Detailed Description of Progress Management Unit 12] Next, the progress management unit 12 which plays a central role in realizing the progress device 1 as described above will be described in detail below.
[0026]
FIGS. 7 and 8 show flowcharts of the progress management means 12 for monitoring the work status such as RIP, inspection, and plate output for each item (corresponding to FIGS. 2 and 3). Hereinafter, the operation of the progress management unit 12 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The progress management means 12 constantly monitors the occurrence of several types of events occurring in the printing plate processing apparatus group 100. When a specific type of event occurs, the task of a certain product number proceeds to the next step. Is detected, and the state is transmitted to the display control means 13 of the progress management device 1, whereby the progress of a plurality of items flowing on the plate processing apparatus group 100 is displayed on the display 14. The events to be monitored are the appearance of a new file in the input folder 1 and the output folders 1 and 2 of the RIP device 2, the input of the inspection machine 4 to the progress management device 1, and the end of the output of the CTP device 3. .
[0027]
1) The progress management means 12 monitors the input folder 1 of the RIP device 2 and checks whether or not there is multi-faced data created by the imposition device 5 (S1). If the multi-faced data exists, the RIP process is started by the hot folder function of the RIP device 2 when the multi-faced data is copied to the input folder 1. The completed data exists in the input folder 1. When detecting the presence of new multi-faced data, the progress management means 12 reads the file name (S2).
2) The progress management means 12 accesses the management database 61 held by the item information management device 6 using the file name of the multi-faced data as a key, and processes the product number of the multi-faced data and the first school or re-submission. And obtains a flag indicating whether the job is in progress, such as (part number: 52030, flag indicating whether the first school or re-submission: first school, status status: RIP processing). The information is collectively recorded in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 15, and the display control unit 13 is instructed to newly generate a display frame 80 of the product number (S3). The display control means 13 newly displays a frame for displaying the progress of the job of the product number on the display monitor 14, and displays the word "work in progress" and the scheduled RIP end time (S4, FIG. 3B). 1 ▼). At this time, in the case of re-submission, the character of "re-submission" is displayed in a frame so that it can be recognized (see FIG. 4 (5)).
[0028]
3) The progress management means 12 monitors whether low-resolution ripped data has been created in the output folder 2 (S10).
4) When it is confirmed that new data has been created, this data is copied to the plate moving device 1. Similarly, since the output folder 1 stores high-resolution ripped data, this data is also copied to the plate advance device 1 (S12). Also, the data indicating the progress status of the job is updated ("Status status: RIP end").
5) The display control means 13 updates the display of the display frame 80 based on the updated data indicating the progress status of the job. That is, the low-resolution ripped data taken into the printing plate advance device 1 is converted into a coarse image (thumbnail) with a further reduced resolution, displayed in the display frame, and the “work in progress” display is erased. The column is painted in blue and the end time is displayed (S14, this state indicates the end of RIP shown in FIG. 3 (2)).
[0029]
6) The worker causes the operation input means 11 to read the worker name through the keyboard 112 or the barcode reader 111 when performing the inspection work with the inspection machine 4 (S12).
7) The progress management unit 12 notified from the OS that something has been input by the keyboard 112 or the barcode reader 111 checks the input data (S21). Is started, the low-resolution ripped data read in step S12 is copied from the printing plate advance device 1 to the inspection machine 4 (S22). At this time, if there is a plurality of part number data that can be inspected, the inspector selects a display frame and inputs an instruction to specify which part number data is to be subjected to the inspection process. There is a need. Also, the data indicating the progress status of the job is updated ("Status status: Inspection work in progress").
8) The display control means 13 updates the display of the display frame 80 based on the updated data indicating the progress status of the job. That is, the scheduled inspection end time / worker name is displayed for the monitor display frame of the corresponding product number, and "work in progress" is displayed above the thumbnail image (S24, the state of FIG. 3 (3)). Thereafter, the process returns to step S1 for monitoring the occurrence of an event.
9) The progress management unit 12 notified from the OS that something has been input by the keyboard 112 or the barcode reader 111 checks the input data (S21, S30). If the input data is an inspection result input, Then, processing according to the inspection result is performed.
10) As a result of the inspection, if the operator has determined that the defect is "NG: NG", the progress management means 12 updates the data indicating the progress status of the job ("Status STATUS: Inspection NG"). The display control means 13 updates the display of the display frame 80 based on the updated data indicating the progress status of the job. That is, the display of the “work in progress” in the monitor display frame of the corresponding product number is deleted, the background of the inspection column is turned red, “inspection NG” is displayed, and the inspection end time is displayed (S32, see FIG. 3-4). . The inspection result data is stored as history data in the plate moving device. These history data can be confirmed by the printing plate progressing device, but can also be confirmed by taking them into the item information database 61 of the item information management device 6. Thereafter, the process returns to step S1 for monitoring occurrence of an event.
11) As a result of the inspection, when the operator has determined that the job is “OK”, the progress management means 12 updates the data indicating the progress status of the job (“Status status: Inspection completed”). The display control means 13 updates the display of the display frame 80 based on the updated data indicating the progress status of the job. That is, the "work in progress" display is erased, the inspection column is filled with blue, "inspection OK" is displayed, and the inspection end time is displayed (S34). Further, the progress management means 12 captures the inspection result data in a predetermined log file. Then, in order to output from the CTP device 3, the progress management means 12 issues a command message to the RIP device 2 to instruct the RIP device 2 to move the high-resolution ripped data in the output folder 1 to the input folder 2 (S36). ).
12) When the movement is started according to the movement instruction, the progress management means 12 updates the data indicating the progress status of the job ("status status: output processing in progress"). The display control means 13 updates the display of the display frame 80 based on the updated data indicating the progress status of the job. In other words, "work in progress" is displayed above the thumbnail image in the display frame of the corresponding product number, the scheduled time of plate output end is displayed, and it is displayed that the work of the product number is being output (S38, FIG. 4-6).
13) Thereafter, the flow returns to step S1 for monitoring the occurrence of an event.
[0030]
14) When the progress management unit 12 detects that the plate output has been completed for the data being output by the CTP device 3 (S50), the progress management unit 12 updates the data indicating the progress status of the job ("status status: output completed"). And). The display control means 13 updates the display of the display frame 80 based on the updated data indicating the progress status of the job. That is, the "work in progress" display of the monitor frame display of the corresponding product number is erased, the plate output column is painted in blue, the plate output end time is displayed in the plate output column, and the process is terminated (S52, see FIG. 4-7). ). Thereafter, the process returns to step S1 for monitoring occurrence of an event. How the printing plate advancing device 1, which is an external device, detects the end of the output of the data being output depends on the specifications of the RIP device or the CTP device. Normally, the RIP device transfers the output data to the CTP device 3 through a dedicated high-speed data line, so that the RIP device can naturally know that the data output has been completed. The normal printing plate advancing device 1 generates an event that occurs in the RIP device when the output is completed, for example, a status flag changes to a memory area that can be shared accessed from the network, or a specific folder that can be shared accessed from the input folder 2 (output folder 3). ), The printing plate advance device 1 can know that the output has been completed.
[0031]
Each time an event indicating a change in the progress status of each job occurs, the progress management means 12 updates the data indicating the progress status of the job, and the display control means 13 updates the data indicating the progress status of the job. The display of the display frame 80 is displayed as shown in FIG. 3 (1) to FIG. 4 (7), and the display control means 13 functioning in this manner is a software technician who normally uses a software program. Can be realized.
[0032]
If the data indicating the progress status of the job managed by the progress management means 12 is created and registered as a database record that can be searched by commercially available database engine software or the like for each progress management unit, the data can be used later when a trouble occurs. For example, it is possible to determine the name of the person who performed the inspection work on the data of the part number by performing a search using the work date and time or the part number as a key. If the item of record, the name of the item, the name of multi-faced data, and the description of the content of the defect when there is a defect are also added, it is possible to perform a search based on them.
[0033]
As described above, the present invention has been described. However, the functions according to the present invention are not limited to being realized as the independent plate advance device 1, and the inspection machine 4 and the RIP device 2 have the functions according to the present invention. It is also possible.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
With the printing plate advancing device according to the present invention, it is possible not only to check the work progress in the printing plate process, but also to issue a work instruction such as plate output from the printing plate advancing device. Since the progress status is displayed together with the thumbnail images, the operator can easily grasp the progress of the work of which item and how far. In addition, the inspection work cannot proceed to the process without inputting the operator's name, which leads to clarification of work responsibilities, and by grasping the status of printing plate work, it is expected that the effect of reducing work errors and preventing defective accidents can be expected. Has a remarkable effect. An existing working device such as a RIP / inspection machine in a printing plate process can be provided with the device function of the present invention, and a remarkable effect that the introduction cost can be reduced can also be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a printing plate advancing device 1 and a printing plate process device group 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a work flow chart of a printing plate process when the printing plate advance device 1 is used.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a display change of a job display frame 80 due to progress of a job.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a change in display of a job display frame 80 due to progress of a job.
FIG. 5 is a progress management display screen of a job of the printing plate advance device 1.
6 is an explanatory diagram of a format of a job display frame 80. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the progress management means 12;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the progress management means 12;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Plate moving device
2 RIP device
3 CTP device
4 Inspection machine
5 Imposition device
6 Item information management device
7 color printer
11 Operation input means
12 Progress management means
13 Display control means
14 Display
15 Storage means
61 Item Information Database
100 plate processing equipment group

Claims (8)

An apparatus for managing the work progress of item data flowing through a printing plate process,
Checks the progress of the printing operation such as RIP processing, plate inspection processing, and output processing for each progress unit of the item, and records and manages the progress data for each progress unit of the item, including the name of the person in charge in each process. Progress management means, an operation input means for receiving a worker name input by a worker, a display control means for displaying the progress on a screen for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means, and the progress data. And a storage unit for recording. 2. The printing plate advance device of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the progress management means determines the start and end of the RIP work of the progress management unit data or the end of the output process by a specific one of the processing devices connected via the network. A printing plate advancing device characterized by detecting by checking a data file existing in a folder. 2. The printing plate advancing device according to claim 1, wherein said progress management means issues a command message for starting a necessary process operation to a processing device such as a RIP device via a network as necessary. A printing plate advancing device characterized by having a function of performing 2. The printing plate advance device of the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays a progress screen for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means on a screen. A printing plate advancing device characterized in that a progress status such as occurrence of an abnormality such as finding a defect is displayed on a screen while being distinguished by a display color. 2. The printing plate advance device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means displays a progress status on a screen for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means on a screen. A printing plate advancing device characterized by displaying on a screen including the name of a worker in charge. 2. The printing plate advancing device according to claim 1, wherein the display control means is capable of easily grasping what kind of item when displaying the progress on a screen for each progress management unit managed by the progress management means. A printing plate advancing device, which is displayed together with a thumbnail image in order to make the printing plate advance. 2. A printing plate advancement device according to claim 1, wherein a database is provided in which progress history data of each progress unit of the item is recorded and managed for each progress management unit. A printing plate progressing device having a function of searching for operation history information of item data that is currently in progress or has been processed by using the search key described above. A series of instructions for operating the computer or the printing plate processing device as the plate advancement device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 by incorporating the computer or the printing plate processing device into the plate processing device having the computer incorporated therein. A written computer program.

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