JP2002036680A - Print order system, print order terminal, print order terminal, print order method, print order method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To order prints and receive orders via a network to improve the efficiency of ordering and order receiving procedures. SOLUTION: A customer has a print order terminal 100-1 to 10
In step 0-3, information on printing (for example, printing on a corrugated cardboard sheet) (for example, information on the type of the front liner base paper of the corrugated cardboard sheet, information on the printing method, and information on the color image to be printed on the front liner base paper) is input. . Information about the input printing is transmitted to the print order receiving terminal 200. The maker performs printing on the printing order receiving terminal 200 based on the received and output printing-related information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing (eg, corrugated cardboard sheet) ordering system, a print ordering terminal, a print ordering terminal, a print ordering method, a print ordering method, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of printing, consider printing on a cardboard sheet. Corrugated cardboard sheets are used for cardboard boxes that are widely used for transporting various materials and commodities.

[0003] Corrugated sheet is a corrugator (lamination machine)
And a corrugated core formed between two liner base papers.

[0004] In the single facer section of the corrugator, the core base paper is formed into a corrugated shape by a step roll, an adhesive is applied to the top of the step, bonded to the liner base paper to produce a single-sided corrugated cardboard, and then double-faced. In the facer portion, an adhesive is applied to the top of the middle core of the single-faced cardboard, and the other liner base paper is bonded to the middle core.

[0005] In recent years, cardboard printing has been increasingly colored, and the number of cardboards on which patterns are printed in color has been increasing.

[0006] Cardboard printing is most commonly performed by cutting or punching a corrugated cardboard sheet pasted by a corrugator into a predetermined size, and then performing flexographic printing on a single sheet of corrugated cardboard sheet.

[0007] There is also a method called preprinting, in which the liner base paper before bonding is printed in advance.
Also in this method, the printing is generally flexographic printing.

A commonly used corrugated cardboard liner has a brownish color using unbleached kraft pulp or corrugated cardboard pulp.

In the case of low corrugated cardboard used as a substitute for a paperboard box, white paperboard may be used as a liner, or printed paper may be laminated on the liner, especially for cosmetic printing.

[0010] There are cases where the design of the printing is designed by the customer and a case where the design is made by the cardboard maker. In any case, plate making for flexographic printing is performed. Realistically, test plate making is performed before plate making to check the appearance of the color of the pattern. If a change is made after plate making, the plate will have to be recreated, resulting in enormous losses.

From such a viewpoint, for example, a method of printing (printing) on a corrugated cardboard sheet by an ink jet printing method has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-31926.
In a printing method that does not perform plate making, such as an ink jet printing method, the problem of test plate making and plate re-making is eliminated, but in this case, the pattern is particularly affected by the type of base paper (grain, water absorption, oil absorption). Is presumed to change greatly.

[0012]

In the case of conventional flexographic printing, the exchange of design information with a floppy (registered trademark) disk (FD) or a CD-ROM has been carried out. like,
In a system in which image printing can be performed according to a command from a computer without performing plate making, FD and CD-ROM information can be used effectively. It is considered possible to use it.

It is an object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of ordering and order receiving procedures by ordering and receiving printing via a network.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a print ordering system according to the present invention provides a print ordering terminal for receiving a print order and a print ordering terminal connected to the print ordering terminal via a network. A print ordering terminal comprising: a print ordering terminal, wherein the print ordering terminal includes means for inputting information regarding printing, and means for transmitting the input information regarding printing to the print ordering terminal,
The print order receiving terminal includes a unit that receives the information about the print transmitted by the print order terminal, and a unit that outputs the received information about the print.

Here, the print ordering terminal may further include means for performing a print simulation based on the input information regarding the print, and display means for displaying a result of the simulation.

Here, the print ordering terminal may further include means for simulating printing based on the input information on the printing, and printing means for printing the result of the simulation.

Here, the print ordering terminal may further include means for receiving information used for the simulation.

Here, the print order receiving terminal may further include means for performing a print simulation based on the received information regarding the print, and means for transmitting a result of the simulation to the print ordering terminal. it can.

Here, the means for performing the simulation is configured to perform printing based on the information on the printing and the information supplemented by the order receiving side when the information necessary for performing the simulation is insufficient in the information on the printing. Simulation can be performed.

Here, the printing order receiving terminal is configured to input information of an image as a result of printing by the printing apparatus based on the received information on the printing, and to input information of the image as a result of printing by the printing apparatus. Means for transmitting to the print ordering terminal.

Here, the information of the image as a result of printing by the printing apparatus is supplemented by the information on the printing and the order receiving side when the information necessary for printing is insufficient for the information on the printing. The information may be information of an image obtained as a result of printing by the printing apparatus based on the obtained information.

Here, the printing order receiving terminal may further include means for transmitting all or a part of the received information regarding the printing to a printing apparatus.

Here, the information relating to the printing may be information relating to the printing of the cardboard sheet.

Here, the information on printing includes at least one of information on the type of the base liner base paper of the corrugated cardboard sheet, information on the printing method, and information on the color image to be printed on the base liner base paper. can do.

The print ordering terminal according to the present invention is a print ordering terminal for ordering a print connectable via a network to a print ordering terminal for receiving a print order. Means for transmitting the information on the printing to the print order receiving terminal.

A print order receiving terminal according to the present invention is a print order receiving terminal for receiving a print order connectable via a network to a print order terminal for ordering printing, and receives information on printing transmitted from the print order terminal. And a means for outputting the received information about the printing.

[0027] A print ordering method according to the present invention is a print ordering method for ordering printing at a print ordering terminal connected to a print ordering terminal connected to a print ordering terminal via a network. Inputting, and transmitting the input information regarding the printing to the print order receiving terminal.

[0028] A printing order receiving method according to the present invention is a printing order receiving method for receiving printing at a printing order receiving terminal connected to a print ordering terminal connected to a print ordering terminal via a network. Receiving the information about the printing transmitted by the user, and outputting the received information about the printing.

A computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the print ordering method.

Another computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute the printing order receiving method.

According to the above arrangement, it is possible to place an order for printing and receive an order via a network, and to improve the efficiency of ordering and order receiving procedures.

[0032]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print order system according to this embodiment. The print ordering system shown in FIG. 1 includes a print ordering terminal 200 for receiving a print order, and print ordering terminals 100-1 to 100-3 connected to the print ordering terminal 200 via a network 10 for ordering printing. . The number of print order terminals is one, two or four.
It may be more than one.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print ordering terminal according to this embodiment. The print order terminal 10 shown in FIG.
0 is a CPU (central processing unit) 105, a main storage device 11
0, an auxiliary storage device 115, a network interface 120, an input device 125, a display device 130, and a printing device 135.

The CPU 105 performs various controls of the print order terminal 100. The main storage device 110 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores various programs and data. The auxiliary storage device 115 can take the form of a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, or the like.
The input device 125 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The display device 130 is used for displaying input data, print simulation results, and the like. Printing device 135
Prints a print simulation result and the like.

The CPU 105 performs processing based on a control program such as an OS (Operating System) stored in the main storage device 105, a program for ordering printing, and the like.
These programs are available on floppy disk, CD-R
The program can be stored in the OM or the like, and read and executed in the main storage device 110, a hard disk, or the like before execution.

The print order terminal 100 can communicate with the print order terminal via the network interface 120 and the network.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a print order receiving terminal in the present embodiment. The print order receiving terminal 20 shown in FIG.
0 is the CPU 205, the main storage device 210, the auxiliary storage device 215, the network interface 220, the input device 225, and the display device 23 as in the print order terminal 100.
0, and a printing device 235.

The CPU 205 performs various controls of the print order terminal 200. The main storage device 210 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores various programs and data. The auxiliary storage device 215 can take the form of a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, or the like.
The input device 225 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. The display device 230 is used for displaying input data, print simulation results, and the like.

The printing device 235 is a printing device for printing a corrugated cardboard sheet in this embodiment. The printing device 235 may be handled as a part of the print order receiving terminal 200 or may be handled as another device. Also,
The printing device 235 may be connected to the print order receiving terminal 200 via a network.

The CPU 205 performs processing based on a control program such as an OS stored in the main storage device 205, a program for printing orders, and the like. These programs can be stored in a floppy disk, CD-ROM, or the like, and can be read and executed in the main storage device 210, a hard disk, or the like before execution.

The print order terminal 200 can communicate with the print order terminal via the network interface 220 and the network.

Hereinafter, a case where a customer orders printing of a cardboard sheet from the print ordering terminal 100 to the printing order receiving terminal 200 of the manufacturer will be described as an example.

The customer inputs information on cardboard sheet printing via the input device 125 at the print ordering terminal 100. The input information on the corrugated cardboard sheet printing is stored in the main storage device 110 or the auxiliary storage device 115, and is used in the subsequent processing.

The information relating to corrugated cardboard sheet printing includes the type (information) A of the front liner base paper of the corrugated cardboard sheet, the printing method (information) B, and the information C relating to the color image to be printed on the front liner base paper. In addition, the type and thickness of the front and back liner base paper, the thickness of the core, the thickness of the cardboard sheet, the blank shape (size,
Slits, ruled lines), the number of orders, and the like can be considered. However, even if the information is not necessarily the above information, for example, the thickness can be specified and the strength of the box can be specified, and the transaction is possible.

For example, for the type A of the front liner base paper, selectable types may be stored in advance in the print ordering terminal 100, and the customer may select from them. The same applies to other information.

The color image information C may be prepared and input on the print order terminal 100 on the spot, or may be prepared and stored in a file in advance and specified and input. Good.

The printing method B, in particular, a printing method without plate making, includes a method using various printers and a simple printing apparatus used for printing on a personal computer. Examples of the printer include an inkjet printer, a laser printer, an LED printer, an ion flow printer, a toner jet printer, and the like. Among them, an ink jet printer is most suitable because it is inexpensive and can print neatly on relatively uneven paper.

Even with the same ink-jet method, the finished color tone differs depending on the water-based ink, the oil-based ink, the pigment ink, and the like. Should be treated as a formula.

As a simple printing apparatus, an electrophotographic system is generally used, and examples thereof include an electrocoagulation system (commonly called an elography system), an electrostatic system (commonly called a xerographic system), and a laser system (commonly called an indigo system).

The type A of the front liner base paper is important in cardboard sheet printing. As described above, the color tone of the table liner to be printed is the color tone of the image desired by the customer,
Because it has a significant effect on whether or not to do so. Therefore, unless the customer understands the relationship between the color of the surface liner and the color tone of the image when printed, the customer cannot predict the finished color tone, and the customer sends the image information online to the manufacturer and prints directly from that information. The method is difficult to realize.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the customer can predict the finished color tone by the following method or method.

Method: Reference is made to a sample book when various colors are printed at various densities on various surface liner base papers by various printing methods, thereby estimating a color appearance when image information C is printed. The table liner base paper A to be used and the printing method B are determined.

Method: An arbitrary one of various table liner base papers and various printing methods is selected on the software, and the appearance of the color of the image when the image information C is superimposed thereon is observed on the display device 130. Alternatively, the front liner base paper A and the printing method B to be used by printing / observing with the printing device 135 are determined.

First, the method will be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic processing flow in the print ordering terminal when the method is used. First, at the print ordering terminal 100, the customer orders the liner base paper A and the printing method B based on the sample book.
Is selected (input) (step S11).

The sample book requires at least the three primary colors of red, blue, and yellow for each combination of the liner base paper type and the printing method, and requires the dot density to be changed for each color.

The reason why the density of the dots is required is that, in the case of a halftone in which the dot density is low (the number of dots per 1 mm is small) instead of solid printing, the color tone of the liner base paper affects the image information. This is because the color tone of C does not appear. This is a key point when estimating from the sample book.

The merit of using the sample book is that since it is printed on the liner base paper by the device owned by the manufacturer, the same color, ink amount,
That is, the number of dots is used. Therefore, the customer can design the color of the design while seeing the actual color tone when printed on the liner in, for example, a red halftone.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a sample book and each page of the sample book. In the example shown in FIG. 5, in each page 21 to 26 of the sample book 20, the base papers A1, A2 and A3
Samples printed with different dot densities for each printing method, printing methods B1 (water-based ink) and B2 (oil-based ink), and red, blue, and yellow are shown.

After selecting the liner base paper A and the printing method B, the customer creates an image (design) C (S12). The image C may be created in advance. Then, information on the liner base paper A, the printing method B, the image C, and the like are transmitted to the print order receiving apparatus 200 (S13). here,
Other information about printing may be transmitted.

Next, a method that can be used instead of the above method will be described. The method is a method of determining information on printing while simulating printing based on information on printing input by a customer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic processing flow in the print ordering terminal when the method is used. First, the customer selects the liner base paper A and the printing method B on, for example, computer software, and displays the corresponding base image on the display device 130.
(S21). Then, on the base image, image C
(Including obtaining image information with a digital camera or a scanner), or read the image C on the base image (S22). Thus, the color tone of the image C affected by the background can be viewed on the display device 130. In addition, it is also possible to print and view with the printing device 135. If the current composite image (image C and base image) is acceptable (S23), the information of liner base paper A, printing method B and image C is transmitted to print order receiving apparatus 200 (S24).
Here, other information regarding printing may be transmitted. If the current composite image is not satisfactory, the process returns to step S21, and the liner base paper A or the like is selected again (S2).
3).

However, in this method, it is desired that the software used by the customer draw with the number of dots that match the number of dots in the printing method used by the maker. In some cases.

The digital information and the printing information of the above-mentioned “background image” may be stored in the customer's computer in advance, sent to the manufacturer online, or acquired online from the manufacturer's website. It is also possible.

An advantage of online acquisition is that it is possible to respond in real time to changes in stencil paper and printing equipment on the manufacturer side.

When the information on the corrugated cardboard sheet printing input and determined by the print order terminal 100 in this way is transmitted to the maker's print order terminal 200 via the network, the print order terminal 200 receives the information. Information on corrugated cardboard sheet printing is stored in the main storage device 210 or the auxiliary storage device 215 and used in subsequent processing. Information on corrugated cardboard sheet printing is output (displayed, printed, transmitted, etc.) in some form. In the present embodiment, the image information C among the information on cardboard sheet printing is transmitted to the printing device 235 as electronic information. The maker uses the printing device 235 to print on the front liner base paper or a corrugated cardboard sheet using the specified front liner base paper A, the specified printing method B, and the specified image information C.

Here, the obtained print result image is stored as electronic information using an electronic camera or a scanner.
The electronic information may be transmitted to the customer online to obtain the customer's confirmation.

Incidentally, there is also a method in which the customer inputs (designates) only the image information C or, if necessary, the liner base paper A and / or the printing method B as the information on the cardboard sheet printing. This method differs from the method in which the customer uses the sample book described above or combines the color of the base paper and the color of the image on software to predict the finished color tone, and the customer first transmits the image information C to the manufacturer. At this stage, the final color tone is not predicted.

If the maker does not include the information of the base paper and / or the printing method in the information on the cardboard sheet printing received by the printing order receiving terminal 200 (the information required for performing the printing or the printing simulation is insufficient). If the information is not included, for example, an appropriate one is selected by the manufacturer's judgment. Then, the customer confirms the color tone when printing by the following method.

Method: The manufacturer draws the image information C on the base corresponding to the liner base paper on the software,
A method of storing the state as electronic information, transmitting the electronic information to the customer online, and obtaining the customer's confirmation.

Method: A method in which a maker performs test printing with the printing device 235, stores an image of the result of the test printing as electronic information with an electronic camera or a scanner, and transmits the electronic information to the customer online to obtain the customer's confirmation.

That is, the method is such that the maker draws the image information C on the base material corresponding to the liner base paper on software, stores the state as electronic information, transmits the electronic information to the customer online, According to this method, it is possible to check without necessarily performing test printing. Although this method is similar to the method, the method has an advantage that the customer does not need to have the same software as the maker because the synthesis of the background image and the image C is performed by the software of the maker.

The method is a method in which a manufacturer performs test printing, stores the state of the test printing as electronic information using an electronic camera or a scanner, and transmits the electronic information to a customer online to obtain the customer's confirmation. This method includes a test printing step, but has certainty in that it can be confirmed by actual printing.

At this stage, the customer can confirm the state of the image C printed on the liner base paper for the first time.

Therefore, in some methods and methods, the use cannot be determined in one flow, and the specification of the information on the cardboard sheet printing and the confirmation of the simulation result (method) or the test printing result (method) are performed twice. After repeating the above, final printing may be performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the basic processing flow in the print order terminal and the print order terminal when the method is used. The customer has a print order terminal 1
The image C is created at 00 (S31). At this time, the liner base paper A and / or the printing method B may be selected (S
32). Information on the image C (and the liner base paper A and / or the printing method B) is transmitted from the print order terminal 100 to the print order terminal 200 (S33). Here, other information regarding printing may be transmitted.

At the print order receiving terminal 200, the liner base paper A
And / or when the information of the printing method B is not transmitted, selection is performed on the information not transmitted (S3).
4). For example, when the information of the liner base paper A has been transmitted but the information of the printing method B has not been transmitted, the printing method B is selected on the order receiving side (manufacturer) side. This selection may be performed in consideration of the liner base paper A or the image C, or may be performed without consideration. Alternatively, a printing method selected when there is no information on the printing method may be determined in advance.

Next, the base image corresponding to the liner base paper A and the printing method B is combined with the received image C (S
35). On the receiving side, the composite image is displayed, for example, on the display device 2.
30 is displayed, and it is determined whether or not this composite image is sufficient (S36). If so, the composite image (simulation result) is transmitted from the print ordering terminal 200 to the print ordering terminal 100 (S37). If not, the process returns to step S34,
Reselect liner base paper A etc.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a basic processing flow in the print order terminal and the print order terminal when the method is used. The customer has a print order terminal 1
The image C is created at 00 (S41). At this time, the liner base paper A and / or the printing method B may be selected (S
42). Information on the image C (and the liner base paper A and / or the printing method B) is transmitted from the print ordering terminal 100 to the print ordering terminal 200 (S43). Here, other information regarding printing may be transmitted.

In the print order receiving terminal 200, the liner base paper A
If the information of the printing method B has not been transmitted, and / or the information not transmitted is selected (S4).
4). Then, test printing is actually performed by the printing device 235 based on the information of the liner base paper A, the printing method B, and the image C (S45). The obtained print result image is stored as electronic information in, for example, the auxiliary storage device 215, and transmitted from the print order terminal 200 to the print order terminal 100 (S46).

In the present embodiment, the ordering and ordering of cardboard sheet printing has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to ordering and ordering of other printings.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to place an order for printing and receive an order via a network, and to streamline the ordering and order receiving procedure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print order system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print order terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a print order receiving terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a basic processing flow in a print ordering terminal when a method is used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a sample book and each page of the sample book.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a basic processing flow in a print ordering terminal when a method is used.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a basic processing flow in a print order terminal and a print order terminal when a method is used.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a basic processing flow in a print order terminal and a print order terminal when a method is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 network 20 sample book 21-26 sample book page 100, 100-1 to 100-3 print order terminal 105, 205 CPU 110, 210 main storage device 115, 215 auxiliary storage device 120, 220 network interface 125, 225 input device 130, 230 Display device 135, 235 Printing device 200 Printing order receiving terminal

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 17/60 318Z 17/60 318 B41J 3/00 BF Term (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AQ05 AQ06 AR01 AS01 HN05 HN15 HQ06 KK18 2C262 AA24 AA29 AB11 EA11 EA12 FA13 FA14 GA59 5B021 AA01 BB02 EE04 NN23 PP08 5B049 BB00 CC05 FF01 FF07 GG02

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A print ordering system comprising: a print ordering terminal for receiving a print order; and a print ordering terminal for ordering printing connected to the print ordering terminal via a network, wherein the print ordering terminal includes: Means for inputting information regarding printing, and means for transmitting the input information regarding printing to the printing order receiving terminal, wherein the printing order receiving terminal receives the information regarding printing transmitted from the printing order receiving terminal. And a means for outputting the received information about the printing. 2. The printing order terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: means for simulating printing based on the input information on the printing; and display means for displaying a result of the simulation. 2. The print order system according to 1. 3. The printing order terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: means for simulating printing based on the input information on the printing; and printing means for printing the result of the simulation. Or the print order system according to 2. 4. The print ordering system according to claim 2, wherein said print ordering terminal further comprises means for receiving information used for said simulation. 5. The print order receiving terminal further comprises means for simulating printing based on the received information on the printing, and means for transmitting a result of the simulation to the print ordering terminal. The print order system according to claim 1. 6. The simulation means according to claim 1, wherein said information relating to said printing and said information supplemented by an order receiving side are provided when said information relating to said printing lacks information necessary for performing said simulation. The print order system according to claim 5, wherein a simulation is performed. 7. The printing order receiving terminal, comprising: means for inputting image information as a result of printing by a printing device based on the received printing information; and printing the image information as a result of printing by the printing device. 7. The print ordering system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the print order to the ordering terminal. 8. The image information obtained as a result of printing by the printing device is supplemented by the information on the printing and the order receiving side when the information necessary for printing the information on the printing is insufficient. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the information is information on an image printed by the printing apparatus based on the information.
The print order system described in. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing order receiving terminal further includes a unit that transmits all or a part of the received information regarding the printing to a printing apparatus. Order system. 10. The print order system according to claim 1, wherein the information on printing is information on printing of a cardboard sheet. 11. The information relating to printing includes at least one of information relating to a type of a base liner of a corrugated cardboard sheet, information relating to a printing method, and information relating to a color image to be printed on the base liner. The print order system according to claim 10, wherein: 12. A print ordering terminal for ordering prints connectable via a network to a print ordering terminal for receiving a print order, wherein: a means for inputting information relating to printing; A print ordering terminal comprising means for transmitting the order to the order receiving terminal. 13. A print order receiving terminal for receiving an order for printing connectable via a network to a print ordering terminal for ordering printing, wherein: a means for receiving information about printing transmitted by the print ordering terminal; Means for outputting information relating to printing. 14. A print ordering method for ordering printing at a print ordering terminal connected to a print ordering terminal connected to a print ordering terminal via a network, the method comprising: inputting information regarding printing; Transmitting the information on the printing to the print order receiving terminal. 15. A print order receiving method for receiving a print order at a print order receiving terminal connected to a print order terminal connected to a print order terminal via a network. A printing order receiving method, comprising: receiving; and outputting the received information regarding the printing. 16. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the print ordering method according to claim 14 is recorded. 17. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the print order receiving method according to claim 15 is recorded.