An automatic pre-press data processing and printing layout intelligent assembling system for export packing list

Abstract

The application discloses an automatic pre-press data processing and intelligent layout grouping system for export packing list, which comprises an original packing list data source module, a document structure acquisition module, a layout structure reconstruction module, a field candidate and evidence decision module, a manufacturer layout contract matching module, a packing printing data entity grouping module, a source integrity access control verification module and a standardized XLSX printing data generation module. The application belongs to the technical field of packing list processing and specifically relates to an automatic pre-press data processing and intelligent layout grouping system for export packing list, which effectively solves the problems of manual transcription, poor layout adaptation, high field recognition error rate, incompatible data format for downstream drawing systems, inability of automatic verification of field conflicts, field pollution and missing hazards in pre-press data processing of export packing list on the current market.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of packing list processing technology, specifically referring to an automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout compilation system for export packing lists. Background Technology

[0002] In the pre-press data preparation stage of the export packaging and printing industry, it is necessary to process the export packing lists (PLs) provided by customers. The original PL carriers are mainly in PDF and XLSX formats, with extremely different layout structures. They have complex layouts such as multiple pages, multiple columns, merged cells, multiple worksheets, and side-by-side layouts. The data content is mixed with order information, shipping marks, size and box specifications, summary data, as well as non-printing text such as headers, footers, and remarks.

[0003] Traditional processing methods rely on staff to manually identify fields line by line, copy and transcribe or manually enter core printing fields such as order number, box number, markings, size, quantity, weight, and box specifications, and then manually adjust the format to generate a table file that can be read by an external drafting system. The overall workload is large, with a lot of repetitive work, and it is highly dependent on the experience of the operators. It is very easy to produce problems such as omissions, errors, serial numbers, misaligned columns, duplicate rows, and non-printing instructions contaminating the printing fields. This leads to repeated review and rework, resulting in low production efficiency.

[0004] Existing general-purpose PDF text extraction tools, OCR recognition tools, and PDF to Excel converters can only extract plain text or cell data, which has obvious shortcomings: extracting in the order of text flow will disrupt the visual layout and cause cross-column data corruption; relying solely on keyword search fields will mistakenly extract table headers, notes, and redundant historical information; overall OCR recognition will lose the original coordinate information and business area attribution, and cannot distinguish between front and side labels, packing details, and summary area data; directly exporting two-dimensional arrays cannot control cell format and data type, and is prone to problems such as loss of leading zeros and abnormal data format, causing errors in reading by external drawing systems and making it difficult to stably adapt to prepress automated production processes. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In response to the above situation and to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, this invention proposes an automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists. This system effectively solves the problems currently in the market, such as reliance on manual transcription for export packing list pre-press data processing, poor layout adaptation, high field recognition error rate, data format incompatibility with downstream drawing systems, inability to automatically verify field conflicts, and the existence of potential field contamination and missing data.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this invention is as follows: This invention proposes an automated pre-press data processing and intelligent layout assembly system for export packing lists, comprising an original packing list data source module, a document structure acquisition module, a layout structure reconstruction module, a field candidate and evidence adjudication module, a manufacturer layout contract matching module, a packing printing data entity assembly module, a source integrity access control verification module, and a standardized XLSX printing data generation module. The original packing list data source module is used to access two types of original export packing list files: PDF format PL files and XLSX format PL files, completing file identity verification and business stage verification, serving as the system's original input data source; the document structure acquisition module and... The original packing list data source module is connected to read the original PL file data, uniformly extract and construct data elements that retain coordinate position information, including text content, coordinate information, annotation information, cell information, page number information, and worksheet information, forming structured raw data with location traceability information; the manufacturer layout contract matching module is connected to the document structure acquisition module, used to store preset manufacturer layout contracts, the layout contract includes field areas, reading direction, field type, size processing rules, single-size mixed-size grouping and splitting rules, and performs layout template matching with the structured raw data output by the document structure acquisition module, binding the corresponding manufacturer layout processing rules; the layout structure reconstruction module is connected to the document structure... The module is connected to the layout acquisition module. Based on structured raw data with location traceability information, combined with the manufacturer's layout contract, it performs visual row recognition, visual column recognition, and business area segmentation to divide the main label area, side label area, packing details area, summary area, and contamination note area, thus completing the reconstruction of the layout business area structure. The field candidate and evidence adjudication module is connected to the layout structure reconstruction module and is used to generate candidate values ​​for each field and corresponding source evidence information. The source evidence information includes page number, business area, coordinate frame, and cell address. For fields with multiple candidate conflicts or insufficient evidence, evidence comparison and adjudication are performed, and confirmed fields and conflicting fields are marked. The packing and printing data entity assembly module is connected to the manufacturer's contract matching module and the field candidate and evidence adjudication module, respectively. Based on the manufacturer's contract rules and adjudication confirmation fields, it assembles data entities with order-box group-size-mark as the associated subject, ensuring the corresponding relationship between order, box segment, size, quantity, weight, box specification, and mark fields, and constructing a complete packing and printing data entity. The source integrity access control verification module is connected to the packing and printing data entity assembly module, performs source integrity verification, and intercepts abnormal data such as missing required fields, incorrect field source roles, non-printed text contamination, and contradictory business data, blocking the flow of abnormal data downstream and only allowing data that passes verification.The standardized XLSX printing data generation module is connected to the source integrity access control verification module. It generates standardized XLSX printing data files from verified boxed printing data entities according to a fixed column order and cell type, retains source traceability information for each field, and outputs the data to an external mapping system for subsequent plate-making and printing processes.

[0007] Preferably, when the PDF text layer information is insufficient, the document structure acquisition module uses conditional OCR to generate supplementary text evidence. The OCR supplementary text evidence has a lower priority than the original PDF text layer evidence and cannot directly and unconditionally overwrite the original PDF text field information.

[0008] To better achieve the effect of field traceability and control, the field candidate and evidence adjudication module binds complete source evidence information to each confirmed output field, including business area affiliation, coordinate location, and original cell / page number information, so as to realize full-link field source traceability.

[0009] To achieve the goal of anomaly blocking more quickly, the source integrity access control verification module is configured with an anomaly blocking mechanism. When it detects that field conflicts cannot be automatically resolved, core required fields are missing, or non-printed notes are mixed into printed fields, it directly blocks the output of formal data and enters the manual review mode to prevent erroneous data from flowing into the downstream mapping system.

[0010] Furthermore, the standardized XLSX printing data generation module fixes the worksheet name, header order, numerical cell format, text cell format, and null value semantic format to avoid issues such as missing leading zeros and disordered data formats, ensuring stable reading and parsing by external drawing systems.

[0011] Furthermore, the external drawing system is an independent reading terminal and is not part of the main scope of this system; the system only adapts to the vendor PL layout that has been configured in the layout contract, and directly enters the review blocking process for unrecognized layouts without performing automatic field guessing processing.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this invention using the above structure are as follows: 1. This invention constructs a complete automated PL prepress data processing link, replacing manual line-by-line transcription and copying, significantly reducing repetitive manual labor and improving the efficiency of export packing printing prepress data processing; 2. Through the field candidate and evidence adjudication module and the layout structure reconstruction module, it avoids the problems of cross-regional value mixing and incorrect note contamination caused by pure keyword matching, ensuring the correctness of field attribution and reducing serialization and misalignment errors; 3. Through the source integrity access control verification module, it intercepts abnormal data such as missing, conflicting, and contaminated fields in advance, preventing erroneous data from flowing into the downstream plate-making process and reducing the risk of rework and scrap; 4. The standardized XLSX printing data generation module ensures stable reading by external drawing systems, establishes a unified machine-readable prepress data interface, and realizes automated format adaptation and conversion from different layout customer PLs to printing plate-making data; 5. It realizes the retention of source evidence of the entire field link, which can trace back the original position and source area of ​​the field, facilitating error tracing and verification, while taking into account the abnormal blocking mechanism of conflicting fields, ensuring the overall reliability of prepress data. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall process structure of an automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists proposed in this invention.

[0014] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention proposes an automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout assembly system for export packing lists, including an original packing list data source module, a document structure acquisition module, a layout structure reconstruction module, a field candidate and evidence adjudication module, a manufacturer layout contract matching module, a packing printing data entity assembly module, a source integrity access control verification module, and a standardized XLSX printing data generation module.

[0017] like Figure 1As shown, the original packing list data source module contains PDF format PL files and XLSX format PL files. As the original PL input data source, the file identity and business stage are first verified. After the verification is passed, the file is sent to the document structure acquisition module.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, the document structure acquisition module reads the original PL data, extracts text, annotations, and cell information with coordinate information, and forms positional structured original data; when the original text information of the PDF is insufficient, conditional OCR is enabled to supplement the text evidence, and the OCR evidence does not cover the original PDF text information; at the same time, the layout information is matched to the vendor layout contract matching module, and the corresponding vendor layout rules are called.

[0019] like Figure 1 As shown, the layout structure reconstruction module completes visual line recognition and business area segmentation based on location-based structured raw data, distinguishing between the front label, side label, packing details, summary, and contaminated areas of the remarks, and completing the reconstruction of the business area of ​​the layout.

[0020] like Figure 1 As shown, the field candidate and evidence adjudication module generates candidate values ​​for each field and their corresponding coordinates, as well as evidence from the business area, performs field evidence comparison and adjudication, and marks confirmed fields and conflicting fields.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the packing and printing data entity grouping module combines the manufacturer's layout contract rules and ruling confirmation fields to group data entities with order-box-size-mark as the associated subjects, maintain the field association relationship, and complete the intelligent grouping of printing layout data.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the source integrity access control verification module performs integrity verification, blocking abnormal data that is missing core fields, has field conflicts, or has polluted notes, and only allows compliant data to pass through, thus ensuring the compliance of prepress data.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, the standardized XLSX printing data generation module will generate standardized XLSX printing data with fixed column order and fixed cell type from the verified data, and deliver it to the external drawing system for reading to complete the subsequent plate making and printing process.

[0024] In practical use, users can upload original export packing list PL files in PDF or XLSX formats for pre-print processing in batches or once. The system first performs dual compliance verification on the uploaded files through the original packing list data source module, namely file identity integrity verification and business stage validity verification. It automatically identifies damaged files, files with abnormal formats, invalid draft files, and historical redundant documents, and only includes compliant and valid formal business packing list files into the system data source and transfers them to the downstream processing module, thus preventing invalid data from entering the automated processing chain from the source.

[0025] After file verification, the document structure acquisition module automatically reads the full layout data of the original PL file. Abandoning the traditional single-text stream extraction mode, it uniformly collects and integrates text content, pixel coordinates, annotation information, cell attributes, page numbers, and multi-worksheet information to construct structured original layout data with complete coordinate traceability capabilities. This fully restores the complex layout structure of the original packing list, including multi-column layout, merged cells, multi-page layout, and side-by-side arrangement. For abnormal scenarios such as missing, garbled, or incomplete original text layers in the PDF file, the system will activate a conditional OCR recognition mechanism to generate supplementary text evidence. It strictly adheres to the priority rule of "original text first, OCR supplementation," ensuring that OCR-recognized data does not overwrite or replace the original PDF text information. This effectively avoids layout loss and field errors caused by pure OCR recognition, guaranteeing the authenticity and reliability of the original data.

[0026] Subsequently, the system works in conjunction with the manufacturer's contract matching module to intelligently compare and match the structured layout data with the manufacturer's exclusive contract templates pre-stored in the system's backend. It automatically binds the corresponding manufacturer's exclusive processing rules, such as field reading area, layout reading direction, field data type, size conversion rules, and single-size and mixed-size splitting and grouping, to achieve adaptive adaptation of differentiated layouts. For unfamiliar manufacturer layouts that have not been entered into the system template, the system will directly trigger a blocking review mechanism to avoid blind field guessing and recognition, thus avoiding the risk of recognition errors caused by unknown layouts.

[0027] After matching the manufacturer's specific processing rules, the layout reconstruction module relies on structured data with coordinate traceability to perform intelligent visual analysis and processing. Through visual row recognition and visual column recognition algorithms, it restores the true layout and accurately completes the segmentation of multi-dimensional business areas, independently dividing the front label printing area, side label printing area, packing details data area, order summary statistics area, as well as non-printing pollution areas such as headers, footers, and remarks. It completely isolates valid printing fields from invalid interference text, completes the reconstruction of standardized printing layout business structure, and provides layout support for accurate field extraction.

[0028] The field candidate and evidence adjudication module, based on the reconstructed business layout area, traverses and extracts all core printing fields such as order number, carton number, markings, size, quantity, weight, and carton specifications, generating multi-dimensional field candidate values. Simultaneously, it binds a complete source evidence chain to each set of candidate values, including the page number, business area category, precise coordinate frame, and original cell address for traceability information. For anomalies such as multiple candidate field conflicts, insufficient field evidence, and cross-regional field overlap, the system automatically performs multi-dimensional evidence comparison and adjudication, combining layout priority, coordinate rationality, and manufacturer rules and standards to complete intelligent judgment. Finally, it marks and generates "confirmed" fields and "conflict" fields. All confirmed fields retain full-chain traceability evidence for easy subsequent problem verification and tracing.

[0029] After completing the field adjudication and classification, the packing and printing data entity assembly module combines the matched manufacturer's layout contract rules with the valid confirmed fields after system adjudication. Taking "order-box group-size-mark" as the core association, it integrates the scattered independent fields into a unified data entity assembly. It strictly binds core business data such as order information, box number, size specifications, packing quantity, gross weight and net weight, outer box specifications, and front and side label printing content, solidifies the logical relationship between each field, and completely solves the problems of field misalignment, data disconnection, omissions and errors, and duplication and redundancy in traditional processing methods. It constructs a packing and printing data entity with a complete structure, rigorous logic, and adaptability to printing plate making requirements.

[0030] Afterwards, the source integrity access control verification module conducts a final compliance verification on the compiled printing data entities, comprehensively checking for various anomalies such as missing core required fields, mismatch between field source business roles, non-printing remarks contaminating printing fields, and logical inconsistencies in business data. The system is configured with a dedicated anomaly blocking mechanism. For unqualified data such as field conflicts, missing core fields, data contamination, and logical errors that cannot be automatically resolved, the system directly blocks the data from flowing downstream, suspends the automated processing flow, and automatically switches to manual review mode. Operators then correct the abnormal data accordingly. Only fully compliant, conflict-free, and contamination-free standardized data can be released smoothly, preventing erroneous data from flowing into the downstream plate-making process at the source, and reducing production rework and scrap costs.

[0031] Finally, the standardized XLSX printing data generation module transforms the verified and approved compliant packing and printing data entities into a dedicated XLSX file for printing, following a unified and fixed industry standard format. This standardized format unifies worksheet names, header order, numerical and text cell formats, and null value semantics, completely resolving common issues in traditional conversion tools such as missing leading zeros, incorrect data formats, null value anomalies, and device read failures. Simultaneously, the output file fully retains the source traceability information for all fields, enabling end-to-end data traceability and auditability. The resulting standardized machine-readable file can be directly integrated with external mapping systems, allowing for stable reading and parsing by external devices, smoothly completing subsequent plate-making and printing processes. This efficiently automates, standardizes, and achieves high-precision processing of pre-press data for export packing lists, replacing traditional repetitive manual work and significantly improving pre-press production efficiency and printing data accuracy.

[0032] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0033] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0034] The present invention and its embodiments have been described above. This description is not restrictive, and the accompanying drawings are only one embodiment of the present invention; the actual structure is not limited thereto. In conclusion, if those skilled in the art are inspired by this description and design similar structures and embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, such designs should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automated prepress data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists. Includes, characterized in that: The system includes a raw packing list data source module, a document structure acquisition module, a layout structure reconstruction module, a field candidate and evidence adjudication module, a manufacturer layout contract matching module, a packing and printing data entity assembly module, a source integrity access control verification module, and a standardized XLSX printing data generation module. The raw packing list data source module is used to access two types of raw export packing list files: PDF format PL files and XLSX format PL files. It completes file identity verification and business stage verification, serving as the system's raw input data source. The document structure acquisition module is connected to the original packing list data source module. It reads the original PL file data, extracts and constructs data elements that retain coordinate position information, including text content, coordinate information, annotation information, cell information, page number information, and worksheet information, forming structured original data with location traceability information. The manufacturer layout contract matching module is connected to the document structure acquisition module. It stores preset manufacturer layout contracts. The layout contract includes field areas, reading direction, field type, size processing rules, and single-size mixed-size grouping and splitting rules. This data is then matched with the structured original data output by the document structure acquisition module. The data is matched with layout templates and bound to the corresponding manufacturer's layout processing rules. The layout structure reconstruction module is connected to the document structure acquisition module. Based on the structured raw data with location traceability information, combined with the manufacturer's layout contract, it performs visual row recognition, visual column recognition, and business area segmentation to divide the main label area, side label area, packing details area, summary area, and remarks contamination area, thus completing the reconstruction of the layout business area structure. The field candidate and evidence adjudication module is connected to the layout structure reconstruction module and is used to generate candidate values ​​for each field and corresponding source evidence information. The source evidence information includes page number, business area, and coordinates. The system uses boxes and cell addresses to compare and adjudicate evidence for fields with multiple conflicting candidates or insufficient evidence, marking "confirmed" and "conflict" fields. The packing and printing data entity assembly module is connected to the manufacturer's contract matching module and the field candidate and evidence adjudication module. Based on the manufacturer's contract rules and the adjudicated fields, it assembles data entities using order-box group-size-marking as the associated entities, ensuring the corresponding relationships between order, box segment, size, quantity, weight, box specifications, and marking fields, thus constructing a complete packing and printing data entity. The source is complete. The access control verification module is connected to the packing and printing data entity assembly module. It performs source integrity verification, intercepts abnormal data with missing required fields, incorrect field source roles, non-printed text contamination, and contradictory business data, and blocks the flow of abnormal data downstream, allowing only data that passes verification to pass. The standardized XLSX printing data generation module is connected to the source integrity access control verification module. It generates standardized XLSX printing data files from the verified packing and printing data entities according to a fixed column order and cell type, retains field source traceability information, and outputs it to an external drawing system for it to read and complete the subsequent plate making and printing process.

2. The automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the PDF text layer information is insufficient, the document structure acquisition module uses conditional OCR to generate supplementary text evidence. The OCR supplementary text evidence has a lower priority than the original PDF text layer evidence and cannot directly and unconditionally overwrite the original PDF text field information.

3. The automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists according to claim 2, characterized in that: The field candidate and evidence adjudication module binds complete source evidence information to each confirmed output field, including business area affiliation, coordinate location, and original cell / page number information, to achieve full-link traceability of field source.

4. The automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists according to claim 3, characterized in that: The source integrity access control verification module is configured with an anomaly blocking mechanism. When it detects that field conflicts cannot be automatically resolved, core required fields are missing, or non-printed notes are mixed into printed fields, it directly blocks the output of formal data and enters the manual review mode to prevent erroneous data from flowing into the downstream mapping system.

5. The automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists according to claim 4, characterized in that: The standardized XLSX printing data generation module fixes the worksheet name, header order, numerical cell format, text cell format, and null value semantic format, avoiding issues such as missing leading zeros and data format disorder, and ensuring stable reading and parsing by external drawing systems.

6. The automated pre-press data processing and intelligent printing layout system for export packing lists according to claim 5, characterized in that: The external mapping system is an independent reader and is not part of the main scope of this system. The system only adapts to the vendor PL layout that has been configured in the layout contract. If the layout is not recognized, it will directly enter the review and blocking process without automatic field guessing.

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