JP4166205B2 - Printing system, printing apparatus, document replacement apparatus, and printer driver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system, a printing apparatus, a document replacement apparatus, and a printer driver, and more specifically, a printing system, a printing apparatus, a document replacement apparatus, and the like for partially replacing a changed part of a print document composed of a plurality of pages. And a printer driver.

  In general, when a document is created using a personal computer (PC), it is printed once on a sheet, the contents are confirmed, and correction is performed. This correction work is usually performed a plurality of times. In some cases, a document once created is modified or changed. In such a case, if the entire document is printed each time correction is performed, printing of the uncorrected portion wastes paper and printing time. Therefore, only the changed portion is printed, and the print result of the document before the change is printed. Often replaced. However, in many cases, it is very troublesome to specify a changed portion for printing only the changed portion (for example, to specify by the number of pages), to search for a corresponding portion from the document before the change, and to replace it.

  In order to solve these problems, for example, in Patent Document 1, print data of a document before change is saved in advance, and when the document after change is printed, the print data and print data of the document before change are printed. A method has been proposed in which the difference is extracted and only the print data of the page with the difference is transmitted to the printer for printing.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, after sorting information is added to each page of a document and printed, the document sorting apparatus is used, and the sorting information added by the document sorting apparatus is read and sorted according to the sorting information. A technique for realizing a desired sorting process has been proposed.

Also, in Patent Document 3, print data of a document before change is stored in advance, and the number of pages to be changed is specified for the stored print data of the document before change, and only the print data of that part is specified. A printing system has been proposed that can print after replacing the print data with changed print data and obtain a print result of the changed document.
JP 2000-57129 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-316302 JP 2002-251272 A

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, in order to obtain the print result of the document after the change, the user can replace the print result of the document before the change with the user after printing the page having the difference. There is a need to do. In addition, since the user has to search for the changed portion in pages or the number of sheets in the document before the change, in order to identify the changed portion from the document before the change when the number of pages of the document increases. It takes time and effort.

  Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to add sorting information to all pages of the printing result, which is troublesome at the time of document creation, printing, and sorting preprocessing.

  Furthermore, in the invention described in Patent Document 3, since it is necessary to search for a changed portion in units of pages or the number of sheets from the print result of the document before the change, it takes time and effort to specify the changed portion from the document before the change. Take it. Also, in order to obtain the print result of the document after the change, it is necessary to print the print data of the document after the change including the part where there is no change, and it is possible to waste paper by printing the part without the change. There is sex.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a separator page is provided in a printed document composed of a plurality of pages, and changes and the like are made in a document unit (hereinafter referred to as a section) divided by the separator page. A printing system and printing apparatus that can print only the document in the added section, and can automatically replace the print result in the added section with respect to the print document before replacement. It is an object of the present invention to provide a document replacement device and a printer driver.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a first technical means according to the present invention includes a print data generation unit that generates print data, and a print unit that performs print processing based on the print data, and the print data In a printing system in which a print document consisting of a plurality of pages is partially replaced by a generation unit and a printing unit, the print document before replacement includes a separator page for dividing the print document into a plurality of document units (hereinafter referred to as sections). The print data generation unit includes a section designating unit that designates a section to be replaced with respect to the plurality of sections, and the printing unit replaces the section designated by the section designating unit. Printing means capable of selectively printing partial print data; paper feeding means for feeding the pre-replacement print document; and detecting the separator page from the fed print document It is determined whether or not a section including the detected separator page matches the designated section, and if the two match, the printing unit prints the print data of the replacement portion corresponding to the section. If the two do not match, the replacement process of discharging the print document before replacement from the printing unit as it is and replacing only the specified section of the print document before replacement with the document of the replacement part Means.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, when the replacement processing means discharges the print document before replacement, another discharge path is provided so as not to pass through the printing means. It is characterized by that.

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, a first paper discharge means for discharging an unnecessary document that has become unnecessary due to replacement of the print document before replacement, and the unnecessary document And a second paper discharge unit for discharging the pre-replacement printed document and the replacement part document.

  According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the paper of the separator page is configured in a color different from that of the paper of the print document before the replacement, and the separator page detecting means includes: The separator page is detected based on a difference in sheet color.

  A fifth technical means is the technical means according to any one of the first to fourth technical means, wherein the paper of the separator page has a thickness different from that of the paper of the print document before the replacement, and the separator page detecting means is The separator page is detected based on the difference in sheet thickness.

  Sixth technical means according to any one of the first to fifth technical means, wherein the paper of the separator page is configured in a different size from the paper of the print document before replacement, and the separator page detecting means includes: The separator page is detected based on a difference in paper size.

  A seventh technical means is any one of the first to sixth technical means, wherein the paper of the separator page is configured in a form different from the paper of the print document before replacement, and the separator page detecting means includes: The separator page is detected depending on the form of the paper.

  An eighth technical means is the technical means according to any one of the first to third technical means, wherein the paper of the separator page is a paper of the printed document before the replacement, and the separator page is placed in a specific area of the paper. Identification information for identifying this is provided in advance, and the break page detecting means detects the break page based on the presence or absence of the identification information.

  According to a ninth technical means, in the eighth technical means, the identification information of the separator page includes information on the number of the separator pages, and the replacement processing means determines whether the separator page is based on the information on the number of separator pages. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not a section including a symbol matches a section specified by the section specifying means.

  The tenth technical means designates a character string or image data as the identification information of the section changed by the section specifying means in the eighth technical means, and the replacement processing means has the identification information of the separator page, It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not the character string or image data specified by the section specifying means is matched.

  The eleventh technical means is any one of the first to eighth technical means, wherein the replacement processing means counts the number of separator pages detected by the separator page detector, and On the basis of the number information, it is determined whether or not the section including the separator page matches the section specified by the section specifying means.

  A twelfth technical means is any one of the first to eleventh technical means, wherein the section designating means is a separator page to be replaced with respect to a plurality of separator pages included in the print document before replacement. The replacement processing means replaces only the specified separator page included in the print document before replacement.

  In a thirteenth technical means according to any one of the first to eleventh technical means, the section designating means can designate a section to be replaced and a separator page for the plurality of sections and the separator pages. The replacement processing means replaces the designated section and its separator page included in the print document before replacement.

  A fourteenth technical means performs a printing process on the basis of print data, and in a printing apparatus that partially replaces a print document consisting of a plurality of pages, the print document before replacement includes a plurality of document units ( In the following, the page is divided into sections), and the printing apparatus includes a section designating unit for designating a section to be replaced with respect to the plurality of sections, and a replacement portion corresponding to the specified section. Storage means for storing the print data, print means for selectively printing the stored print data, paper feed means for feeding the print document before replacement, and the separator from the fed print document It is determined whether or not the section including the detected separator page and the section including the detected separator page match the specified section. When the printing unit is instructed to print the print data of the corresponding replacement part, and the two do not match, the print document before replacement is discharged as it is from the printing unit, and the designated print document before replacement is designated And a replacement processing unit that replaces only the section with the document of the replacement part.

  According to a fifteenth technical means, in the document replacement device for partially replacing a print document consisting of a plurality of pages, the print document before replacement is a delimiter for dividing the print document into a plurality of document units (hereinafter referred to as sections). The document replacement device is provided with a section designation information input means for inputting information for designating a section to be replaced for the plurality of sections, and feeds the print document before the replacement. A paper feed unit that feeds a document of a replacement part printed in advance according to the section to be replaced, a separator page detection unit that detects the separator page from the fed print document before replacement, and the detection It is determined whether or not the section including the separator page matches the section specified in the section specifying information. The corresponding replacement part document is discharged from the paper feeding means, and if the two do not match, the print document before replacement is discharged, and only the specified section of the print document before replacement is replaced with the replacement part. It is characterized by having a replacement processing means for replacing a part of the document.

  In a sixteenth technical means according to the fifteenth technical means, the paper feeding means is set in a state where the replacement part document includes a separator page, and the separator page detecting means feeds the paper from the paper feeder. The separator page is detected from the replacement part document.

  In a seventeenth technical means, in the fifteenth technical means or the sixteenth technical means, as the paper feeding means, a first paper feeding means for feeding the document of the replacement part and a print document before the replacement are fed. A second paper feeding unit is provided.

  According to an eighteenth technical means, in any one of the fifteenth to seventeenth technical means, an information processing apparatus including a section specifying means for specifying a section to be replaced with the plurality of sections via a network. And the section designation information input means acquires the section designation information from the information processing apparatus.

  In a nineteenth technical means according to any one of the fifteenth to eighteenth technical means, a reading means for reading a sheet on which information for designating a section to be replaced is printed for the plurality of sections. And the section designation information input means acquires the section designation information by the reading means.

  A twentieth technical means is a first paper discharge means for discharging an unnecessary document that has become unnecessary due to the replacement process in the print document before replacement in any one of the fifteenth to nineteenth technical means. And a second paper discharge means for discharging the printed document other than the unnecessary document before the replacement and the document of the replacement part.

  A twenty-first technical means is a printer driver for executing a function as a section specifying means in the printing system according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects.

  The printing system, printing apparatus, document replacement apparatus, and printer driver of the present invention automatically detect a separation page provided in a printed document when partially replacing a printed document that has been printed once. A document unit (section) including “” is designated, and only the document in the section can be automatically replaced.

  A separator page is provided in a printed document consisting of multiple pages, and only the document in the section that has been changed in the document unit (section) divided by the separator page can be printed, and printing before replacement Since it is possible to automatically replace the print result of the section in which a change or the like is applied to the document, it is possible to greatly save printing paper and printing time.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing system generates a printing unit 10 that performs printing processing based on printing data, and generates printing data in the printing unit 10. A print data generation unit 20 for transmission is included. The printing unit 10 is, for example, a printer, and includes a device interface (I / F) unit 11, a print data receiving unit 12, a document printing unit 13, a pre-change document feeding unit 14, a separator page detection unit 15, and a document replacement process. The image forming unit 16 includes a print paper feeding unit 17, an unnecessary document discharge unit 18, and a changed document discharge unit 19.

  The print data generation unit 20 is, for example, a printer driver on a personal computer (PC), and includes a print section specification unit 21, a data generation unit 22, a print data transmission unit 23, and a device I / F unit 24. Has been. Also, in the figure, 1 is a print document before replacement including a separator page (hereinafter referred to as a document before change), and 2 is unnecessary by replacing a print document of a replacement part (hereinafter referred to as a change part document) (not shown). The unnecessary document 3 is a changed document obtained by replacing the changed document with respect to the document 1 before the change. In the present embodiment, the document to be replaced is described as a representative example of a document with changes and the like.

  A PC including the print data generation unit 20 includes a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, a storage device such as a RAM, ROM, and HDD (hard disk) as a semiconductor memory, an input device, a display device, a communication device, an output device, and a system. A general-purpose computer having a bus (not shown) or the like, and a print data generation unit 20 (printer driver) is a program having a setting function related to printing of the printer (printing unit 10). This printer driver is installed in a storage device such as an HDD and functions on the OS (Operating System) of the PC. When printing is executed, the CPU reads the printer driver into a RAM that is an execution area.

  Further, the progress of the process and the processing result are presented to an operator or the like through a display device such as a CRT or LCD, and in each process, the operator can use a necessary parameter or the like from an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse (pointing device). Is specified. Further, the communication device is a network interface for connecting to various communication networks, and can thereby connect each PC so as to be accessible. The output device is connected to an external device such as a printer and outputs data. These CPU, RAM, ROM, storage device, input device, display device, communication device, and output device are connected to each other via a system bus.

  Here, the separator page is provided in the document for the purpose of making it easy to understand the page where each chapter of the document starts in the case of a document composed of chapter sections, for example, a chapter structure. This is paper, and before the first page of each chapter, insert paper (colored paper, cardboard, index paper, etc.) that is different from the paper on which the entire document is printed, or the first page of each chapter Alternatively, a separator page may be provided by printing.

  A document provided with a separator page is divided into several document units by the separator page. Hereinafter, each document unit divided by a separator page is referred to as a section. Since the number of sections is significantly smaller than the number of pages of the entire document, it is possible to specify the change part more easily than specifying the page. In addition, since the separator page is printed on a sheet different from the document other than the separator page, it can be easily determined even in the document 1 before the change, and the replacement is easy. In the present invention, only the changed part is printed for each section, and the corresponding part of the document before the change is designated and automatically replaced.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between the user interface displayed by the print section specifying unit 21 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the document 1 before being changed. FIG. 2A shows the user interface displayed by the print section designation unit 21, and FIG. 2B shows the document 1 before change corresponding to each section and separator page displayed on the user interface.

Hereinafter, each unit of the print data generation unit 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.
First, the print section designation unit 21 displays a user interface (hereinafter referred to as UI) for designating a section to be changed for the document 1 before change, and the user can designate a desired section from this UI. . That is, the print section designation unit 21 displays the UI shown in FIG. 2A, and checks the check boxes corresponding to section 0, separator page 1, section 1,. The relevant section and / or separator page in the document 1 before change shown in (B) can be designated as a replacement target. In this way, since only the section, only the separator page, or the section and the separator page can be specified as the replacement target, even when only the separator page is changed or both the section and the separator page are changed It can be easily replaced.

  The data generation unit 22 generates print data to be transmitted to the printing unit 10 based on document data created by an application (not shown). At this time, the “changed section” specified by the print section specifying unit 21 is added to the print data. The print data transmission unit 23 transmits the print data created by the data generation unit 22 to the printing unit 10. The device I / F unit 24 is a communication interface for communicating with the printing unit 10 by connecting to the printing unit 10 via a wired or wireless network or a network.

Hereinafter, each unit of the printing unit 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.
The device I / F unit 11 is a communication interface for communicating with the print data generation unit 20 by connecting to the print data generation unit 20 via a wired or wireless network or a network. The print data receiving unit 12 receives the print data from the print data generating unit 20 and transmits the “changed section” information specified by the print section specifying unit 21 to the document replacement processing unit 16. Also, the print data corresponding to the received “changed section” is transmitted to the document printing unit 13. The document printing unit 13 performs printing on a sheet based on the print data transmitted from the print data receiving unit 12.

  The pre-change document feeding unit 14 includes a paper feed tray for feeding the pre-change document 1 and feeding it. The document 1 before the change includes the above-described separator page, and is divided into a plurality of sections by the separator page. The separator page detection unit 15 detects a separator page from the document 1 before being changed fed from the document feeder 14 before change. For example, the separator page is different in paper color, thickness, size, form (for example, using index paper) from the original document 1 and is separated by various sensors. Be detected. Alternatively, the first page of each section (for example, the first page of each chapter) included in the document 1 before the change is used as a separator page by using a paper thickness, paper size, paper form, etc. that are different from those of other papers. It is good.

  In accordance with the “changed section” information from the print data receiving unit 12, the document replacement processing unit 16 prints the corresponding portion of the document 1 before the change by the document printing unit 13 (that is, the changed part document). And replace.

  That is, the document replacement processing unit 16 determines whether or not the section including the break page detected by the break page detection unit 15 matches the “changed section” information. In this case, the section number may be recognized by a method such as counting the number of separator pages detected by the separator page detector 15. When the two match, the document printing unit 13 is instructed to print the print data of the changed portion corresponding to the “changed section”. When the two do not match, the document 1 before the change is discharged from the document printing unit 13 as it is. Then, only the “changed section” of the document 1 before the change is replaced with the changed part document. The result is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19 as the changed document 3.

  Further, the printing paper feeding unit 17 includes a paper feeding tray for feeding paper (usually white paper) for printing the changed part document in the document printing unit 13. The unnecessary document discharge unit 18 is provided with a discharge tray for discharging a document (unnecessary document 2) that has been replaced by the change to the document 1 before the change and becomes unnecessary. The changed document discharge unit 19 includes a discharge tray for discharging the changed document 3 in which the changed portion is replaced with respect to the document 1 before the change.

  According to the present embodiment, a changed section (that is, a section to be printed) is specified for a document before change using a printer driver or the like, and if the document before change is set in the printer, the specification is made. The changed part corresponding to the set section can be printed, and the changed document obtained by replacing the print result can be obtained.

  When the document replacement processing unit 16 discharges the document 1 before the change, the document replacement unit 16 that does not pass through the document printing unit 13 other than the discharge path through which the document printing unit 13 passes without printing. The paper discharge path may be provided separately. As described above, by providing another paper discharge path, the document printing unit 13 is not occupied when the document 1 before the change is discharged, and the paper discharge process of the document 1 before the change and the printing process of the changed part are performed. Can be performed in parallel, so that the replacement process can be performed efficiently.

  In FIG. 1, first, the user puts the document 1 before the change in the document feed unit 14 before the change in advance. Next, “changed section” is designated from the printing section designation unit 21. That is, the “changed section” is designated using the user interface shown in FIG. 2A, and the document data is printed according to the section. The data generation unit 22 generates print data based on the document data, and the print data is transmitted from the print data transmission unit 23 to the printing unit 10.

  In the printing unit 10, the print data reception unit 12 receives the print data created by the data generation unit 22. The print data receiving unit 12 transmits the “changed section” information added to the print data to the document replacement processing unit 16 and transmits the print data to the document printing unit 13. When the document replacement processing unit 16 receives the “changed section” information, the document replacement processing unit 16 feeds the document 1 before change from the document change unit 14 before change one by one.

  The separator page detection unit 15 determines whether the sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 14 is a separator page. If it is determined that the page is a separator page, the page is transmitted to the document replacement processing unit 16. The document replacement processing unit 16 counts the number of detected separator pages. The document replacement processing unit 16 changes the paper feed if the section of the document 1 being fed before the change (this is calculated from the number information of the detected separator pages) is different from the “changed section”. The previous document 1 is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19. For example, when the third section is designated as the “changed section”, when the first, second, fourth,... Sections are fed, the sheet is discharged to the changed document discharge section 19.

  In addition, when the section of the document 1 before the change being fed matches the “changed section”, the document replacement processing unit 16 determines that the fed document 1 before the change is an unnecessary document and is unnecessary. Paper is discharged to the document discharge unit 18. When the section of the original document 1 being fed matches the “changed section” and the separator page detection unit 15 detects the next separator page, for example, When the “section” is the section 3 and the separator page detection unit 15 detects the separator page inserted between the sections 3 and 4 (that is, the fourth separator page), the document replacement processing unit 16 The fourth page is not received from the page detector 15 and a print request is issued to the document printer 13.

  When there is a print request from the document replacement processing unit 16, the document printing unit 13 prints the print data of the corresponding part on a sheet and passes it to the document replacement processing unit 16. When the printed paper is transferred from the document printing unit 13, the document replacement processing unit 16 discharges the changed paper to the document discharge unit 19 after the change. When the printing of the changed portion is completed, the document printing unit 13 notifies the document replacement processing unit 16 of a print end notification. When the document replacement processing unit 16 receives the print end notification, the document replacement processing unit 16 feeds the portion after the fourth page that has been stopped by the page separator detection unit 15 from the pre-change document paper supply unit 14 and discharges the post-change document. The paper is discharged to the unit 19.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of discharge trays for the unnecessary document discharge unit 18 and the changed document discharge unit 19 are provided, but a single discharge tray may be used. However, when paper is discharged to one paper discharge tray, it is necessary for the user to select the changed document 3 and the unnecessary document 2, which is troublesome. By using a plurality of paper discharge trays as in this embodiment, the changed document 3 can be easily taken out.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the document replacement device is separated from the printer (printing unit 10) shown in FIG. 1. With this configuration, a document replacement process can be easily performed even with a conventional printer. Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the printing unit 10 and the print data generation unit 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The printing unit 10 is, for example, a printer, and the device I / F unit 11, The print data receiving unit 12 and the document printing unit 13 are configured. The print data generating unit 20 is a printer driver on a PC, for example, and includes a print section specifying unit 21, a data generating unit 22, and a print data transmitting unit 23. , And a device I / F unit 24. In the figure, 1 indicates a print document before replacement (a document before change) including a separator page, and 4 indicates a print document at a replacement part (hereinafter referred to as a changed part document).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a document replacement unit according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which 30 is a document replacement unit, and the document replacement unit 30 (hereinafter, document replacement device 30) is External I / F unit 31, section designation information input unit 32, changed document paper feed unit 33, pre-change document paper feed unit 34, separator page detection units 35 and 36, document storage unit 37, document replacement processing unit 38, unnecessary document A paper discharge unit 39 and a post-change document paper discharge unit 40 are included.

  In FIG. 3, first, the user designates “changed section” from the print section designating unit 21 of the print data generating unit 20. That is, “changed section” is designated using the user interface shown in FIG. 2A, and the document data is printed according to the section. The data generation unit 22 generates print data based on the document data, and the print data is transmitted from the print data transmission unit 23 to the printing unit 10.

  In the printing unit 10, the print data reception unit 12 receives the print data created by the data generation unit 22. Based on the “changed section” information added to the print data, the print data receiving unit 12 prints out only the document 4 of the changed part corresponding to the section. It is assumed that the document 1 before change is printed out and stored first.

  In FIG. 4, the user puts the document 4 of the changed part acquired from the printing unit 10 shown in FIG. 3 into the changed document paper feed unit 33, and puts the document 1 before change into the pre-change document paper feed unit 34 and sets it. Keep it. Of course, the document 1 before the change and the document 4 of the changed part may be set in one paper feed tray, but the user needs to set them without fail considering the order of placement. As in this embodiment, by placing the paper trays in a plurality of paper feed trays, the order in which they are placed is not mistaken.

  The section designation information input unit 32 is a means for the user to input information for designating a “changed section”. The user may directly input and specify from the user interface or the like, for example, an external I / F Via the unit 31, it is possible to connect to a PC provided with the print data generation unit 20 via a network or the like, and information for designating a “changed section” may be input from an external PC or the like. The input “changed section” information is transmitted from the section designation information input unit 32 to the document replacement processing unit 38.

  When specifying the section to be replaced, that is, the “changed section” from the printer driver on the PC, the “changed section” information is transmitted to the document replacement device 30 simultaneously with the output to the printing unit (printer) 10. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user to directly specify the “changed section” from the document replacement device 30.

  As another embodiment, the section designation information input unit 32 includes a reading unit that reads a sheet on which information for designating a “changed section” is printed, and the section designation information is input by the reading unit. You may make it do. For example, when the printing unit (printer) 10 prints print data corresponding to “changed section”, the section designation information shown in FIG. 2A is printed on paper. When the document replacement device 30 places a print document on the paper feed tray of the changed document paper feed unit 33 or the pre-change document paper feed unit 34, the paper on which the section designation information is printed on the top of the paper. Set. The sheet on which the section designation information is printed is first fed, the section designation information is read by the reading means of the section designation information input unit 32, and "changed section" information is input.

  When the document replacement processing unit 38 receives the “changed section” information, the document replacement processing unit 38 feeds the document 1 before change from the document change unit 34 before change one by one. The separator page detector 36 determines whether the sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 34 is a separator page. If it is determined that the page is a separator page, the page is transmitted to the document replacement processing unit 38. The document replacement processing unit 38 counts the number of detected separator pages. If the section of the document 1 before the change being fed (this is calculated from the number of detected separator pages) is different from the “changed section”, the document replacement processing unit 38 will change the paper before the change. The document 1 is changed and discharged to the document discharge unit 40. For example, when the third section is designated as the “changed section”, and sections 1, 2, 4... Are fed, the changed sheet is discharged to the document discharge section 40.

  In addition, when the section of the document 1 before the change being fed matches the “changed section”, the document replacement processing unit 38 determines that the fed document 1 before the change is an unnecessary document and is unnecessary. Paper is discharged to the document discharge unit 39. When the section of the document 1 before being fed matches the “changed section” and the separator page detection unit 36 detects the next separator page, for example, When the “section” is a section 3 and the break page detector 36 detects a break page inserted between the sections 3 and 4 (that is, the fourth break page), the document replacement processing unit 38 The fourth page is not received from the page separator 36 and is fed from the changed document paper feed unit 33.

  The document replacement processing unit 38 discharges the changed portion of the document 4 fed from the changed document feeding unit 33 to the changed document discharge unit 40. Next, the document replacement processing unit 38 feeds the portion after the fourth separator page, which has been stopped by the separator page detection unit 36, from the pre-change document paper supply unit 34 to the post-change document discharge unit 40. Eject paper.

  The document replacement device 30 according to the present embodiment includes a break page detection unit 35 and a document storage unit 37, and the changed document 4 is set in a state including a break page (not shown) regardless of whether or not the change is made. (See FIG. 10 described later). This is for detecting the section of the document 4 of the changed part with a separator page. The separator page detection unit 35 determines whether the changed document 4 fed from the changed document feeder 33 is a separator page or not. If it is determined that the page is a separator page, the page is transmitted to the document replacement processing unit 38. The document storage unit 37 temporarily stores the separator page fed from the changed document feeding unit 33. Since the separator page included in the document 4 of the changed portion also serves as the rear end of the changed section, after being fed at the end of the processing of the section, it is stored until the processing of the next section starts.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the printer (printing unit 10) shown in FIG. 1 includes a printing section specifying unit 21. With this configuration, the replacement portion can be specified from the display panel of the printer body. Since the change can be made, the document replacement process can be easily performed. The printer (printing unit 10) of the present embodiment includes a printing section designating unit 21 and a storage unit (not shown) that stores print data of a replacement part corresponding to the designated section in the printing unit 10 illustrated in FIG. ).

  In FIG. 1 described above, the user puts the document 1 before the change in the document feed unit 14 before the change in advance. Next, “changed section” is designated from the printing section designating section 21 of the printing unit 10. That is, the user interface shown in FIG. 2A is displayed on the display panel of the printing unit 10 to designate “changed section”. At this time, the print data corresponding to the section is held in the storage unit. When the document replacement processing unit 16 receives the “changed section” information designated by the printing section designating unit 21, the document replacement processing unit 16 feeds the document 1 before the change from the pre-change document feeding unit 14 one by one.

  The separator page detection unit 15 determines whether the sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 14 is a separator page. If it is determined that the page is a separator page, the page is transmitted to the document replacement processing unit 16. The document replacement processing unit 16 counts the number of detected separator pages. If the section of the document 1 before the change being fed (this is calculated from the number of detected separator pages) is different from the “changed section”, the document replacement processing unit 16 changes the pre-change of the fed sheet. The document 1 is changed and discharged to the document discharge unit 19. For example, if the third section is designated as the “changed section”, and the sections 1, 2, 4,... Are fed, the sheet is discharged to the changed document discharge section 19.

  In addition, when the section of the document 1 before the change being fed matches the “changed section”, the document replacement processing unit 16 determines that the fed document 1 before the change is an unnecessary document and is unnecessary. Paper is discharged to the document discharge unit 18. When the section of the original document 1 being fed matches the “changed section” and the separator page detection unit 15 detects the next separator page, for example, When the “section” is the section 3 and the separator page detection unit 15 detects the separator page inserted between the sections 3 and 4 (that is, the fourth separator page), the document replacement processing unit 16 Then, the fourth page is not received from the page detector 15, and a print request for print data held in the storage unit is issued to the document printing unit 13.

  When there is a print request from the document replacement processing unit 16, the document printing unit 13 prints the print data of the corresponding part on a sheet and passes it to the document replacement processing unit 16. When the printed paper is delivered from the document printing unit 13, the document replacement processing unit 16 discharges the changed paper to the document discharge unit 19 after the change. When the printing of the changed portion is completed, the document printing unit 13 notifies the document replacement processing unit 16 of a print end notification. When the document replacement processing unit 16 receives the print end notification, the document replacement processing unit 16 feeds the portion after the fourth page that has been stopped by the page separator detection unit 15 from the pre-change document paper supply unit 14 and discharges the post-change document. The paper is discharged to the unit 19.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a separator page. This example shows an example in which an index sheet having a heading tab on one side of the sheet is used as a separator page.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of a separator page. FIG. 6A shows a character in a specific area of a sheet (for example, the first page of each chapter) included in the document 1 before the change. An example in which identification information such as an image or an image is given. The separator page detector 15 detects whether or not the sheet is a separator page based on the presence or absence of identification information. In this case, it is only necessary to print the identification information on the sheet included in the document 1 before the change, so that it is not necessary to use a special sheet as the separator page. FIG. 6B shows an example in which identification information is given to a sheet having a form different from the sheet size of the document 1 before the change.

  In this way, the separator page paper only needs to be configured in a different color, paper thickness, paper size, paper form, and the like from the paper of the document 1 before the change, and the separator page detection unit 15 determines these differences. Whether or not the paper is a separator page is detected by a sensor or the like for detection.

  Further, as in the case of the separator page shown in FIG. 6A, when the separator page identification information includes information on the number of separator pages (for example, Chapter 1), the document replacement processing unit 16 determines the number of separator pages. Based on the information, it may be determined whether or not the section including the separator page matches the section specified by the print section specifying unit 21. In this case, the document replacement processing unit 16 needs to have a means for performing character recognition. As a result, even if the number of inserted page separators is unknown, the replacement section can be specified.

  In addition, as in the separator page shown in FIG. 6B, when the separator page identification information includes a character string or an image, the separator page identification information includes the character string specified by the print section specifying unit 21 or You may make it determine whether it corresponds with an image. In this case, the document replacement processing unit 16 needs to have means for performing character / image recognition. As a result, even if the number of inserted page separators is unknown, the replacement section can be specified.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the flow of document replacement processing to which the present invention is applied. This example will be described based on the printing system shown in FIG. First, the printing unit 10 initializes the section of the document 1 before change that is currently processed to 0 (step S1), and determines whether one sheet is fed from the document feed unit 14 before change (step S2). When one sheet is fed (in the case of YES), it is detected whether it is a separator page (hereinafter referred to as separator sheet) (step S3), and when a separator sheet is detected (in the case of YES), the current processing 1 is added to the section of the document 1 before being changed (step S4).

  Next, the printing unit 10 determines whether or not the detected separator sheet is a separator sheet to be changed (step S5). If the separator sheet is not a separator sheet to be changed (NO), the sheet is fed from the pre-change document feeder 14. The separator sheet is discharged to the document discharge unit 19 after the change (step S6), and it is determined whether the section of the document 1 before the change that is currently processed matches the section designated for replacement (step S7). . It is determined whether or not they match (step S8). If they do not match (in the case of NO), the process returns to step S2, and if they match (in the case of YES), the section portion to be changed from the print data of the changed document is determined. The print data is printed and discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19 (step S9), and the process returns to step S2.

  The above process is a process for replacing the section other than “section 0” shown in FIG. 2B. Since the first page of the section other than “section 0” is a separator, the separator is detected. , It is determined whether it is a section to be replaced.

  On the other hand, when the printing unit 10 does not detect a separator sheet in the above-described step S3 (in the case of NO), the printing unit 10 determines whether the section of the document 1 before processing that is currently processed matches the section designated for replacement. It discriminate | determines (step S10). It is determined whether or not they match (step S11). If they do not match (NO), the document is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19 (step S12). On the other hand, if they match in the above step S11 (in the case of YES), it is determined whether or not it is the first sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 14 (step S13). In this case, the unnecessary document is discharged to the paper discharge unit 18 (step S14). After the paper discharge process is completed, the process returns to step S2.

  On the other hand, in the above step S13, if it is the first sheet (in the case of YES), it is discharged to the unnecessary document discharge unit 18 (step S15), and the print data for the print section to be changed is printed from the print data of the changed document. Then, it is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19 (step S16). The process here is a process for replacing the section of “section 0” shown in FIG. 2B, and since the first page of the section of “section 0” is not a separator, it is the document 1 before the change. The first page is detected and it is determined whether or not it is a section to be replaced.

  On the other hand, in the above-described step S5, if it is the separator sheet to be changed (in the case of YES), the separator sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 14 is discharged to the unnecessary document discharge section 18 (step S17). Then, the print data of the separator sheet is printed from the print data of the changed document, and is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19 (step S18). The process proceeds to step S7, and the document 1 before processing that is currently processed It is discriminated whether or not the section of 1 coincides with the section designated for replacement.

  Next, when no sheet is fed in step S2 described above (in the case of NO), the printing unit 10 determines whether there is print data that has not been printed in the changed document (step S19). If there is print data (YES), the print data is printed and discharged to the changed document discharge unit 19 (step S20). On the other hand, if there is no print data in the step S19 (NO), the process is terminated as it is.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the flow of document replacement processing to which the present invention is applied. This example will be described based on the document replacement device 30 shown in FIG. First, the document replacement device 30 initializes the section of the document 1 before change that is currently processed to 0 (step S21), and determines whether one sheet has been fed from the document feed unit 34 before change (step S22). ) When one sheet is fed (in the case of YES), it is detected whether or not it is a separator (step S23). When a separator is detected (in the case of YES), the current processing before the change 1 is added to the section of document 1 (step S24).

  Next, the document replacement device 30 determines whether or not the detected separator sheet is a separator sheet to be changed (step S25), and if it is not a separator sheet to be changed (NO), the document replacement device 30 feeds paper from the pre-change document feeder 34. The changed separator sheet is discharged to the changed document discharge section 40 (step S26), and it is determined whether the section of the document 1 before processing that is currently processed matches the section designated for replacement (step S27). ). It is determined whether or not they match (step S28). If they do not match (NO), the process returns to step S22. If they match (YES), the process proceeds to step S41 shown in FIG.

  The above process is a process for replacing the section other than “section 0” shown in FIG. 2B. Since the first page of the section other than “section 0” is a separator, the separator is detected. , It is determined whether it is a section to be replaced.

  On the other hand, if the document replacement device 30 does not detect a separator sheet in the above-described step S23 (in the case of NO), whether the section of the document 1 before change that is currently processed matches the section designated for replacement. Is determined (step S29). It is determined whether or not they match (step S30). If they do not match (NO), the document is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 40 (step S31). On the other hand, if they match in the above step S30 (in the case of YES), it is determined whether or not it is the first sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 34 (step S32). In this case, the unnecessary document is discharged to the paper discharge unit 39 (step S33). After the paper discharge process is completed, the process returns to step S22.

  On the other hand, in the above step S32, if it is the first sheet (in the case of YES), it is discharged to the unnecessary document discharge unit 39 (step S34) and the process proceeds to step S41 shown in FIG. The process here is a process for replacing the section of “section 0” shown in FIG. 2B, and since the first page of the section of “section 0” is not a separator, it is the document 1 before the change. The first page is detected and it is determined whether or not it is a section to be replaced.

  On the other hand, in the above-described step S25, when it is the separator sheet to be changed (in the case of YES), the separator sheet fed from the pre-change document feeder 34 is discharged to the unnecessary document discharge section 39 (step S35). Then, it is determined whether or not a separator is left in the document storage unit 37 (step S36). If no separator is left (in the case of NO), one sheet is fed from the changed document feeder 33 and the changed document Paper is discharged to the paper discharge unit 40 (step S37). If the separator sheet remains in step S36 (YES), the separator sheet is fed from the document storage unit 37 and discharged to the changed document discharge unit 40 (step S38), and step S27. Then, it is determined whether or not the section of the document 1 before change that is currently processed matches the section designated for replacement.

  Next, in the above-described step S22, when no sheet is fed (in the case of NO), the document replacement device 30 determines whether or not a sheet remains in the changed document sheet feeding unit 33 (step S39), and the sheet is replaced. If there is (YES), all the remaining sheets are fed from the changed document feeding unit 33 and discharged to the changed document discharge unit 40 (step S40). On the other hand, if there is no remaining sheet (in the case of NO) in step S39, the process is ended as it is.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the flow of document replacement processing to which the present invention is applied, and is a continuation of the flow shown in FIG. After step S28 shown in FIG. 8 (in the case of YES) or step S34, first, the document replacement device 30 determines whether or not one sheet has been fed from the changed document sheet feeding unit 33 (step S41). When the paper is fed (in the case of YES), it is determined whether or not the paper is a separator (step S42). If the paper is not a separator (in the case of NO), the paper is discharged to the changed document discharge unit 40 (step S42). S43), the process returns to step S41.

  On the other hand, if the separator sheet is a separator sheet (YES) in step S42, it is determined whether the separator sheet fed from the changed document feeder 33 is a separator sheet to be replaced (step S44). (In the case of NO), the separator sheet fed from the changed document feeding unit 33 is discharged to the unnecessary document discharging unit 39 (step S45), and the process proceeds to step S22 shown in FIG. If it is the separator sheet to be replaced in step S44 (YES), the separator sheet fed from the changed document feeder 33 is sent to the document storage section 37 (step S46), and step S22 shown in FIG. 8 is performed. Migrate to Further, in the above-described step S41, when even one sheet cannot be fed (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to step S22 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of a separator page inserted into the document 4 of the changed portion shown in FIG. This example shows a state in which the changed part document 4 is set to replace the section 0, the section 1, the section 3, and the section 7. The document replacement device 30 shown in FIG. 4 includes a separator page detection unit 35 and a document storage unit 37, and the document 4 of the changed part is a separator page (in this example, the separator pages 1 and 2 in this example). It is set in a state including the separator page 3, the separator page 7) (see FIG. 10). This is for detecting the section of the document 4 of the changed part with a separator page.

  In the flow shown in FIG. 9, the break page detection unit 35 determines whether the changed portion of the document 4 fed from the changed document feed unit 33 is a break page. If it is determined that the page is a separator page, the page is transmitted to the document replacement processing unit 38. The document storage unit 37 temporarily stores the separator page fed from the changed document feeding unit 33. Since the separator page included in the document 4 of the changed portion also serves as the rear end of the changed section, after being fed at the end of the processing of the section, it is stored until the processing of the next section starts.

  As described above, each embodiment has been described mainly with respect to each function in the printing system and document replacement device of the present invention. However, the present invention also describes a document as described as a method for executing each step in the printing system and document replacement device. It can take a form as a replacement method. Further, a form as a program (that is, a printer driver) having a function for designating a changed section in a printed document, and a form as a recording medium on which the program is recorded are possible.

  An embodiment of a recording medium storing a program according to the present invention will be described. Specific recording media include CD-ROM (-R / -RW), magneto-optical disk, DVD-ROM (-R / -RW / -RAM), FD, HD, flash memory, memory card, Memory sticks and other various types of ROMs, RAMs, and the like can be assumed, and the above-described functions can be easily realized by recording and distributing the above-described programs on these recording media. Then, the recording medium as described above is mounted on an information processing apparatus such as a computer and the program is read by the information processing apparatus, or the program is stored in a storage medium provided in the information processing apparatus. By reading, the function can be executed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the correspondence of the user interface displayed by the printing area designation | designated part shown in FIG. 1, and the document before a change. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the printing part which concerns on other embodiment of this invention, and a print data generation part. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the document replacement part which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a separator page. It is a figure which shows the other example of a separator page. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the flow of the document replacement process to which this invention is applied. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other example of the flow of a document replacement process to which this invention is applied. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the flow of document replacement processing to which the present invention is applied, and is a continuation of the flow shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a separator page inserted in the changed part document illustrated in FIG. 4.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document before change, 2 ... Unnecessary document, 3 ... Document after change, 4 ... Document of change part, 10 ... Printing part (printer), 11, 24 ... Device I / F part, 12 ... Print data receiving part , 13 ... Document printing section, 14, 34 ... Pre-print document feeding section, 15, 35, 36 ... Separation page detection section, 16, 38 ... Document replacement processing section, 17 ... Printing paper feeding section, 18, 39 ... Unnecessary document discharge unit, 19, 40... Changed document discharge unit, 20... Print data generation unit (printer driver), 21... Print section designation unit, 22... Data generation unit, 23. Document replacement unit (document replacement device), 31... External I / F unit, 32... Section designation information input unit, 33.

Claims (21)

  A printing system that includes a print data generation unit that generates print data and a print unit that performs a print process based on the print data, and a print document including a plurality of pages is partially replaced by the print data generation unit and the print unit The print document before replacement includes a separator page for dividing the print document into a plurality of document units (hereinafter referred to as sections), and the print data generation unit replaces the plurality of sections with a replacement target. Section specifying means for specifying the section to be, and the printing unit is capable of selectively printing the print data of the replacement portion corresponding to the section specified by the section specifying means; and A sheet feeding means for feeding a printed document, a separator page detecting means for detecting the separator page from the fed print document, and a section including the detected separator page. If the two match, the print unit is instructed to print the replacement portion of the print data corresponding to the specified section. If the two do not match, the pre-replacement A printing system comprising: a replacement processing unit that discharges a print document as it is from the printing unit, and replaces only the designated section of the print document before the replacement with the replacement part document.   The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the replacement processing unit is provided with another discharge path so as not to pass through the printing unit when discharging the print document before replacement. Printing system to do.   3. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a first paper discharge unit for discharging an unnecessary document that has become unnecessary due to replacement among the printed documents before replacement, and the replacement of documents other than the unnecessary document before the replacement And a second discharge unit for discharging the replacement document and the replacement part document.   4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the separator page paper is configured in a color different from that of the print document before the replacement, and the separator page detection unit includes a difference in paper color. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the separator page is detected.   5. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of the separator page is configured to have a thickness different from that of the print document before the replacement, and the separator page detection unit includes a difference in sheet thickness. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the separator page is detected.   6. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of the separator page is configured in a size different from that of the print document before the replacement, and the separator page detection unit is configured to detect a difference in the paper size. A printing system that detects the separator page.   7. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of the separator page is configured in a different form from the sheet of the print document before the replacement, and the separator page detecting unit has a difference in the form of the sheet. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the separator page is detected.   4. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the sheet of the separator page is the sheet of the printed document before the replacement, and identifies the separator page in a specific area of the sheet. 5. The printing system is characterized in that identification information for preprocessing is given in advance, and the break page detecting means detects the break page based on the presence or absence of the identification information.   9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the identification information of the separator page includes information on the number of separator pages, and the replacement processing unit includes a section including the separator page based on the information on the number of separator pages. A printing system for determining whether or not a section specified by the section specifying means matches.   9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein a character string or image data is specified as identification information of a section to be changed by the section specifying means, and the replacement processing means is configured so that the identification information of the separator page is displayed by the section specifying means. A printing system for determining whether or not a specified character string or image data is matched.   9. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the replacement processing unit counts the number of separator pages detected by the separator page detection unit, and based on the counted separator page number information. And determining whether or not a section including the separator page matches a section specified by the section specifying means.   12. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the section designating unit is capable of designating a separation page to be replaced with respect to a plurality of separation pages included in the print document before replacement, The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the replacement processing unit replaces only the designated separator page included in the print document before replacement.   12. The printing system according to claim 1, wherein the section designating unit can designate a section and a separator page to be replaced with respect to the plurality of sections and the separator pages, and the replacement process. The means replaces the designated section and its separator page included in the print document before replacement.   In a printing apparatus that performs print processing based on print data and partially replaces a print document composed of a plurality of pages, the print document before replacement divides the print document into a plurality of document units (hereinafter referred to as sections). A separator page is provided, and the printing apparatus stores, for the plurality of sections, section specifying means for specifying a section to be replaced, and print data for a replacement portion corresponding to the specified section. Means, a printing means capable of selectively printing the stored print data, a paper feed means for feeding the print document before replacement, and a separator page detection for detecting the separator page from the fed print document Means and whether or not the section including the detected separator page matches the specified section, and if both match, the replacement part corresponding to the section If the printing unit is instructed to print the print data and the two do not match, the print document before replacement is discharged from the printing unit as it is, and only the designated section of the print document before replacement is A printing apparatus comprising: replacement processing means for replacing a replacement part document.   In the document replacement device for partially replacing a printed document composed of a plurality of pages, the printed document before replacement is provided with a separator page for dividing the printed document into a plurality of document units (hereinafter referred to as sections), and the document replacement The apparatus includes, for the plurality of sections, a section designation information input unit that inputs information for designating a section to be replaced, and feeds the print document before the replacement, and the section to be replaced In response, a sheet feeding unit that feeds a document of a replacement part printed in advance, a separator page detecting unit that detects the separator page from the supplied printed document before replacement, and a section including the detected separator page Judge whether it matches the section specified in the section specification information, and if both match, the replacement part corresponding to the section If the document is discharged from the paper supply means and the two do not match, the print document before replacement is discharged, and only the designated section of the print document before replacement is replaced with the document of the replacement part. A document replacement device comprising replacement processing means.   16. The document replacement device according to claim 15, wherein the paper feed unit is set in a state in which the replacement part document includes a separator page, and the separator page detection unit is configured to supply the replacement part fed from the paper supply unit. A document replacement device that detects the separator page from the document.   17. The document replacement apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the paper supply means is a first paper supply means for supplying the replacement part document and a second supply for supplying the pre-replacement print document. A document replacement device comprising a paper means.   18. The document replacement device according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of sections are connected to an information processing apparatus including section specifying means for specifying sections to be replaced via a network. A document replacing device, wherein the section designation information input means acquires the section designation information from the information processing apparatus.   19. The document replacement device according to claim 15, further comprising: a reading unit that reads a sheet on which information for designating a section to be replaced is printed with respect to the plurality of sections. The section replacement information input unit acquires the section specification information by the reading unit.   20. The document replacement apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a first paper discharge unit for discharging an unnecessary document that has become unnecessary due to a replacement process among the print documents before replacement, and the unnecessary document replacement apparatus. A document replacement apparatus, comprising: a second paper discharge unit for discharging the printed document other than the document before replacement and the document of the replacement part.   A printer driver for executing a function as section specifying means in the printing system according to claim 1.

Images