JP4200914B2 - Print control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a print control system, and more particularly to a print control system that outputs data to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium such as a color copying machine, a facsimile, or a printer.

  In conventional offset printing, intermediate products such as photo printing (printing paper), block printing, net negative, net positive, PS plate (printing plate), etc. are generated, and printing and bookbinding are performed based on these intermediate products. Etc. On the other hand, in recent years, “direct printing” or “on-demand printing” for directly printing from DTP data is known with the spread of DTP (DeskTop Publishing / Prepress).

  In DTP, print data obtained by processing a page layout on a computer is formed on a photographic paper or a plate-making film, and a printing plate is created and printed based on the print data. In addition, CTP (Computer To Plate) that directly forms a printing plate with electronic data without generating an intermediate product is also performed.

  As an apparatus that can be used for such a printing process, an image forming apparatus having a printing function such as a printer or a copying machine is known. Recent image forming apparatuses are colorized as the image quality is improved. For example, a color printer using an electrophotographic process (xerography) can form a high-quality and high-speed image. This color printer can receive print data and directly output printed matter without generating a printing plate or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a conventional image forming system. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus 11 and a DFE (Digital Front End) apparatus that passes print data to the image forming apparatus 11 and gives a print instruction.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional image forming apparatus. The DFE device has a drawing function and a printer controller (printing control device) function.

  The DFE device sequentially receives print data described in, for example, a page description language (PDL) from a client terminal, and converts the print data into a raster image (RIP processing: Raster Image Process). The DFE apparatus further sends RIP-processed image data and print control information (job ticket) such as the number of printed sheets and paper size to the image forming apparatus 11, and controls the print engine and paper transport system of the image forming apparatus 11, The image forming apparatus 11 is caused to execute a printing process.

  That is, the printing operation of the image forming apparatus 11 is controlled by a printer controller by the DFE apparatus. The print data includes four colors (YMCK) of three basic colors for color printing, ie, yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M), and black (K). Sent to.

  The image forming apparatus 11 records an image on printing paper using an electrophotographic process. The image forming apparatus 11 includes an IOT (Image Output Terminal) module 12, a feed module (FM: Feeder Module) 5 connected to the IOT module 12, an output module 17, a touch panel, etc. A user interface device 18 is provided. The IOT module 12 includes a toner supply unit 22 on which toner cartridges 24 for YMCK are mounted, and an IOT core unit 20.

  The IOT core unit 20 has a so-called tandem configuration in which print engines (printing units) 30 having an optical scanning device, a photosensitive drum, and the like are arranged in a line for each color and in the belt rotation direction. Further, the IOT core unit 20 includes an electric system control storage unit 39 that stores an electric circuit or the like that controls the print engine 30.

  In the IOT core unit 20, the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred (primary transfer) to the intermediate transfer belt 43, and then the toner image is transferred to the printing paper (secondary transfer). Multiple transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 43. The image (toner image) transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 43 is transferred onto the printing paper conveyed from the feed module 15 at a predetermined timing, and the toner image is melted and fixed on the paper by the fixing device 70. Thereafter, the paper is discharged out of the apparatus via the paper discharge processing device 72.

  Further, during double-sided printing, a sheet of paper that has already been printed on one side is temporarily held on a paper discharge tray (stacker) 74, pulled out from the paper discharge tray 74, reversed through a reverse conveyance path 49, and again IOT core unit 20 Passed to.

  As described above, the image forming system performs RIP processing on the print data, and transmits the RIP processed image data and print control information to the image forming apparatus 11.

Incidentally, the image forming system can also synthesize and print the print data and the scanned image. Usually, a scan image read by a scanner is composed of RGB or YMCK color data. The scanned image is converted into a page description language by, for example, a PDL conversion circuit before being transferred to the printer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-6-243210 (FIG. 2, paragraph 88)

  When the print data and the scan image are to be combined in the image forming system, the DFE apparatus needs to perform RIP processing not only on the print data but also on the scan image that has been converted into the page description language.

  However, since the scan image is usually multi-gradation image data, the amount of data is very large for RIP processing. For this reason, there has been a problem that the RIP processing burden is increased and the productivity from scanning to printing is remarkably reduced.

  The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-described problems, and provides a print control system capable of improving productivity until multi-tone image data is combined with print data and printed. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a client terminal that outputs page description language data including a background image, multi-gradation image data, and the multi-gradation image corresponding to the background image. A terminal device that outputs layout data indicating an image pasting position indicated by the data, page description language data output from the client terminal, and layout data output from the terminal device are converted into raster data. Raster data including the background image converted by the conversion means so that the image indicated by the multi-tone image data is pasted at the position indicated by the raster data of the layout data converted by the conversion means When, a, and combining means for combining a multi-tone image data output from the terminal device.

The invention of claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is an optical reading means for generating the multi-tone image data by reading an original image.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the optical reading means outputs identification information for identifying the multi-tone image data together with the multi-tone image data, and the converting means. Adds the identification information output from the optical reading means to the raster data, and the combining means corresponds to the multi-tone image data output from the optical reading means and the multi-tone image data. The raster data to which the identification information that matches the identification information is attached is synthesized .

Print control system according to the present invention, can be attached by omitting the trouble of performing a predetermined conversion process to the multi-gradation image data of the cemented Ri combined image, the image pasted to the image of the page description language data.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall schematic configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. The image forming system includes a high-speed LAN (Local Area Network) using a general-purpose communication protocol. For example, client terminals 400 and 402 for inputting electronic data (print data) described in a page description language (PDL) are connected to the high-speed LAN.

  The client terminals 400 and 402 are computers capable of executing various application programs under different operating systems (OS). A scanner device 410 that optically reads a document image is also connected to the high-speed LAN. For example, the client terminal 400 can display a preview of image data read by the scanner device 410 on a display (not shown), and can instruct a cutout range and a pasting position of the image data.

  The high-speed LAN includes DFE (Digital Front End) devices 500, 502, 504, 506, and 508, BEP (Back End Processor) devices 600, 602, and 604, and a CTP device 702 that directly creates a printing plate using electronic data. Are connected to each other.

  The press device 710 performs printing using the printing plate created by the CTP device 702. Further, a BEP device 600 is connected to the CTP device 702 in parallel (to a high-speed LAN). A high speed printer 746 is connected to the BEP device 600.

  On the output side of the BEP device 604, an output device 730, high-speed printers 740 and 742, which are similarly configured, and a CTP device 700 are connected. The output device 730 and the high-speed printers 740 and 742 output prints. The CTP device 700 creates a printing plate. The DFE device 502 is connected to printer proofers 720 and 722 that are similarly configured via the BEP device 602. The printer proofers 720 and 722 are used for confirming print output.

  The DFE device 504 is connected to the high speed printer 744. The DFE device 504 and the high-speed printer 744 are responsible for a department in charge of on-demand printing processing. The DFE device 506 is connected to the output device 732, and the DFE device 508 is connected to the large output device 750. The configuration including the DFE device 506 and the output device 732 and the configuration including the DFE device 508 and the large output device 750 are the same as the conventional configuration.

  The image forming system according to the present embodiment has functions of CTP for creating and printing a printing plate and POD (print on demand) for printing in real time with print data without creating a printing plate. .

  In the case of CTP, for example, an image is formed using each of the client terminal 400, the DFE device 500, the CTP device 700, and the press device 710. In the case of POD, for example, the client terminal 400, the DFE device 500, the BEP device 600, and the high-speed printer 746 are used to form an image.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a main part of the image forming system when CPT and POD are performed.

(In case of CPT)
The DFE device 500 has a function of converting data from the client terminal 400 into raster data (RIP processing) by ROP (Raster Operation) processing by a front-end processor unit or a front engine, and compressing the converted raster image. Prepare. Here, the DFE apparatus 500 mainly executes only RIP processing in order to create a printing plate. The CTP device 702 creates a printing plate based on raster data of a raster image (compressed) subjected to RIP processing. The press device 710 presses and prints an image on a print medium using the printing plate created by the CTP device 702.

  In the above example, the case where the printing plate is created using the print data from the DFE device 500 while the CTP device 702 is directly connected to the high-speed LAN has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. . For example, the CTP device 702 may be connected to a high-speed LAN via the BEP device 600 (for example, the configuration of the high-speed LAN, the BEP device 604, and the CTP device 700 in FIG. 1 may be used).

(In the case of POD)
The high-speed printer 746 includes an IOT module (IOT main body) 12, a feed (paper feed) module 5, and an output module 17. The feed module 15 may have a multistage configuration. Moreover, you may provide the connection module which connects between each module as needed. In addition, a finisher module may be connected to the subsequent stage of the output module 17. As the finisher module, for example, there are a stacker for stacking sheets and a stapler for binding one or more places, or a punching mechanism for punching holes.

  The DFE device 500 has a function of converting data from the client terminal 400 into raster data (RIP processing) and compressing the converted raster image. The DFE device 500 mainly performs RIP processing.

  The BEP device 600 has a process control function depending on the high-speed printer 746. In this control function, the user may give an instruction using the user interface device 18, or the instruction content may be determined in advance. The user interface device 18 may be configured by a GUI (Graphical User Interface) that accepts an instruction input while presenting an image to the user so that processing dependent on the high-speed printer 746 can be instructed, or an input device such as a keyboard. It may be configured.

  The BEP device 600 enables efficient high-speed output by using the RIP processed data stored in the DFE device 500. That is, the BEP device 600 generates a command code based on the print control information received from the DFE device 500, and controls the processing timing of each unit in the high-speed printer 746 according to the characteristics of the print engine. Further, the BEP device 600 completes the spool processing so as to match the engine characteristics of the IOT module 12, the feed module 15, the output module 17, etc., and then passes the image data to the IOT module 12.

  In this way, the DFE device 500 transfers one job unilaterally to the BEP device 600 in the order of RIP processing, without depending on the engine characteristics. The BEP device 600 rearranges pages for printing.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the DFE device 500 and the BEP device 600. The DFE device 500 unilaterally transfers one job to the BEP device 600 side in the order of RIP processing without depending on the engine characteristics. On the other hand, the BEP device 600 performs processing depending on the print job such as rearranging pages for printing and the print engine of the high-speed printer 746.

  The DFE device 500 receives print data (hereinafter referred to as PDL data) described in PDL from the client terminal 400, and temporarily stores the PDL data once and reads the PDL data from the data storage unit 509 for interpretation. And an RIP processing unit 510 that generates image data (raster data) in units of pages, and a compression processing unit 530 that compresses the image data generated by the RIP processing unit 510 according to a predetermined format. An interface unit 542 is provided following the compression processing unit 530.

  The RIP processing unit 510 expands the PDL data and generates image data. Therefore, the RIP processing unit 510 incorporates a decomposer that functions as a PDL interpretation unit and an imager, a so-called RIP engine. The compression processing unit 530 compresses the image data from the RIP 510 and immediately transfers the compressed image data to the BEP device 600.

  On the other hand, the BEP device 600 includes an image storage unit 602 that stores compressed image data, and a decompression processing unit 610 that decompresses compressed image data. Note that a data receiving unit 601 is provided before the image storage unit 602, and an output-side interface unit 650 is provided after the decompression processing unit 610.

  The image storage unit 602 receives compressed image data processed by the DFE device 500 regardless of the print job or the processing characteristics of the print engine of the high-speed printer 746 (for example, processed asynchronously with the processing speed of the print engine). Hold. Further, the image storage unit 602 also holds image data of a scanned image transmitted from the scanner device 410.

  The decompression processing unit 610 reads the compressed image data from the image storage unit 602, reads the compressed image data on the DFE device 500 side, and decompresses corresponding to the compression processing of the compression processing unit 530 on the DFE device 500 side. The decompressed image data is sent to the IOT core unit 20 side. Further, the decompression processing unit 610 performs image rotation, adjustment of the image position on the paper, enlargement or reduction, and synthesis with other image data on the image data read from the image storage unit 602 and decompressed. It has an editing function.

  The BEP device 600 also includes a print control unit 620 that functions as a printer controller that controls each unit of the BEP device 600 and the IOT core unit 20 depending on the processing performance of the IOT core unit 20.

  The print control unit 620 interprets (decodes) the job ticket from the DFE device 500 or receives a user instruction via the user interface device 18, and according to the processing characteristics of the print engine, the fixing device 70, or the finisher of the high-speed printer 746. An output form specifying unit 622 that specifies an output form (image position in a page, page discharge order, orientation, etc.), and the print engine, the fixing device 70, or the finisher so that a printed matter is output in the specified output form. And a control unit 624 that controls each unit. The output form specifying unit 622 has a function as an output form information acquiring unit that receives information related to the output form desired by the client.

(Combination of PDL data and scanned image)
The image forming system can print out by synthesizing the PDL data stored in the client terminal 400 and the scanned image read by the scanner device 410 by performing the following processing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a process of combining the PDL data stored in the client terminal 400 and the scanned image read by the scanner device 410.

  The scanner device 410 optically reads an image drawn on a document, generates image data representing a scanned image composed of three primary colors of RGB, and transmits this image data to the client terminal 400.

  The client terminal 400 stores PDL data representing a background image in advance. Based on the image data transmitted from the scanner device 410, the client terminal 400 displays a preview of the scanned image on a display (not shown).

  At this time, the user can confirm the scanned image and specify the cutout range of the scanned image on the client terminal 400. Further, the user can designate a position (layout) at which the scan image is pasted on the background image. When the user designates the position by operating an operation unit (not shown), the client terminal 400 transmits the information to the scanner device 410. Note that when there is no designation of the cutout range of the scan image, the entire scan image may be set as the cutout range. In addition, the client terminal 400 transmits PDL data representing a background image to the DFE device 500. The PDL data is data including a background image object and a line drawing object.

  On the other hand, the scanner device 410 converts RGB image data representing a scanned image into CMYK image data. Then, the scanner device 410 transmits to the BEP device 600 the image data CT2 of the scan image in the cutout range and the scan number for identifying the scan image. In addition, the scanner device 410 transmits layout data indicating a pasting position of the scan image, size information of the image data CT2, top information, file size, and resolution to the DFE device 500.

  As described above, the image data CT2 of the scanned image is not converted into PDL data as in the prior art, but is transmitted to the BEP device 600 as CMYK data, so that the RFE processing is not performed in the DFE device 500.

  The DFE device 500 performs RIP processing on the PDL data transmitted from the client terminal 400, the layout data transmitted from the scanner device 410, size information, top and bottom information, file size, and resolution. Then, the DFE device 500 compresses the RIP processed data and then transmits the compressed data to the BEP device 600.

  In the BEP device 600, image data CT2 of a scan image transmitted from the scanner device 410 and a scan number corresponding to the image data CT2 are stored. The BEP device 600 further expands the compressed data transmitted from the DFE device 500 to obtain image data LW representing a line image object for a background image, image data CT1 representing an object for a background image, and the like.

  FIG. 5A shows a line image character object for a background image by image data LW, FIG. 5B shows a object for a background image by image data CT1, and FIG. 5C shows an image data CT2. It is a figure which shows the multi-tone image object of a scan image.

  In the present embodiment, the line image character objects for the background image are “A” and “ABC” written vertically. The multi-tone image object for the background image has a scan image pasting area (a mesh portion in (B)) indicated by the layout data.

  The BEP device 600 synthesizes the decompressed image data LW, CT1 and the scanned image data CT2. Note that the BEP device 600 synthesizes the image data LW, CT1 and the image data CT2 having the same scan number when the expanded image data LW, CT1 has a scan number.

  Further, the BEP device 600 selects an optimal screen type (for example, 200R) on the engine (high-speed printer 724) side for the image data CT2 of the scanned image, and further the engine for the image data LW from the client 400. Select the optimal screen type for the side (for example, 600 lines). Then, the BEP device 600 transmits the composite data and screen type information to the high-speed printer 746. Note that the BEP device 600 can also give different tone characteristics to the image data of the scanned image and the image data for the background image, and transmit them to the high-speed printer 746.

  FIG. 6 is an image showing an image printed by the high-speed printer 746. That is, the image printed by the high-speed printer 746 is a composite of the images shown in FIGS. The line image object for the background image is drawn on a 600 line screen. The multi-tone image object of the scanned image is drawn on the 200R screen.

  As described above, the image forming system according to the present embodiment performs the RIP process only on the position information of the PDL data and the scan image when the scan image and the PDL data are combined and printed. The scan image is pasted on the print image represented by the completed image data (and position information).

  That is, the image forming apparatus does not perform the RIP process on the scan image that is the multi-tone image data, and performs the RIP process on the position information of the scan image, thereby greatly reducing the image processing burden on the scan image. The scan image and the PDL data can be synthesized. As a result, it is possible to greatly reduce the load of image processing related to the scanned image, and it is possible to improve productivity until the scanned image is combined with the print data and printed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a design modified within the scope of the claims.

  For example, data to be combined with PLD data may be multi-tone image data, and is not limited to image data of a scanned image. Further, the position where the scanned image is pasted is not limited to the case where the user designates it via the client terminal 400, but may be determined in advance.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall schematic configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment. It is a principal part conceptual diagram of the image forming system when performing CPT and POD. It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of a DFE apparatus and a BEP apparatus. It is a figure explaining the synthetic | combination process of the PDL data which the client terminal memorize | stored, and the scan image read with the scanner apparatus. (A) is a diagram showing a line drawing character object for a background image based on image data LW, (B) is a diagram showing an object for a background image based on image data CT1, and (C) is a multi-gradation of a scanned image based on image data CT2. It is a figure which shows an image object. 3 is an image showing an image printed by a high-speed printer. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a conventional image forming system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

400 Client terminal 410 Scanner device 500 DFE device 600 BEP device 746 High-speed printer

Claims (3)

A client terminal that outputs page description language data including a background image;
A terminal device that outputs multi-gradation image data and layout data indicating a pasting position of an image indicated by the multi-gradation image data with respect to the background image;
Conversion means for converting page description language data output from the client terminal and layout data output from the terminal device into raster data;
Raster data including a background image converted by the conversion means so that the image indicated by the multi-tone image data is pasted at a position indicated by raster data of the layout data converted by the conversion means; and the terminal device Combining means for combining multi-tone image data output from
Printing control system with. The terminal apparatus, the print control system according to claim 1 is an optical reading means for generating the multi-tone image data by reading an original image. The optical reading means outputs identification information for identifying the multi-tone image data together with the multi-tone image data;
The converting means adds identification information output from the optical reading means to the raster data,
The synthesizing unit synthesizes the multi-tone image data output from the optical reading unit and the raster data to which the identification information corresponding to the identification information corresponding to the multi-tone image data is attached.
The printing control system according to claim 2 .

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