Printing control apparatus and printing method

Abstract

To solve the problem where, if additional information is printed at a predetermine position when images are printed by superimposing them, the additional information also overlaps, resulting in poor visibility of the additional information.SOLUTION: A printing control apparatus according to the present disclosure is a printing control apparatus for controlling a printing apparatus that prints on a medium, comprises: an acquisition unit for acquiring a print job and job information that is information related to the print job; a job execution unit for causing the printing apparatus to print a first layer on a media in response to a first print job and causing the printing apparatus to print a second layer on the first layer in response to a second print job; and an information printing unit for causing the printing apparatus to print the job information of the first print job and the job information of the second print job without overlapping each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus and a printing method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes printing additional information such as a date and a page number at a predetermined position on a recording sheet.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When printing by overlapping images, if additional information is printed at a predetermined position, the additional information is also printed overlapping, resulting in poor visibility of the additional information.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to make additional information easily visible when printing by overlapping images.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A main invention for achieving the above object is a printing control apparatus that controls a printing apparatus that performs printing on a medium, the printing control apparatus including: an acquisition unit that acquires a printing job and job information that is information related to the printing job; a job execution unit that causes the printing apparatus to print a first layer on the medium in response to a first printing job and causes the printing apparatus to print a second layer on the first layer in response to a second printing job; and an information printing unit that causes the printing apparatus to print the job information of the first printing job and the job information of the second printing job without overlapping.

[0007] Other features of the present invention will be clarified by the description in this specification.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the visibility of printed job information can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 7

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Figure 9

Figure 10

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Figure 13

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] ===Embodiment=== <Overall Configuration> FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the overall configuration of the printing system 100. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing system 100. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the head 10.

[0011] In the following description, the direction in which the carriage 21 moves may be referred to as the "scanning direction", "main scanning direction", or "moving direction". The direction in which the medium M moves during printing is referred to as the "conveying direction", the side that supplies the medium M is referred to as the "upstream (upstream side)", and the opposite side (the side from which the medium M is discharged) is referred to as the "downstream (downstream side)". The conveying direction may also be referred to as the "sub-scanning direction". Note that the direction from the downstream side to the upstream side is referred to as the "reverse conveying direction", and moving the medium M in the reverse conveying direction may be referred to as "reverse conveyance".

[0012] The printing system 100 is a system that performs printing on the medium M. The printing system 100 includes a printing device 1 and a printing control device 50. However, the printing system 100 may be configured by the printing device 1 alone if the printing device 1 realizes the functions performed by the printing control device 50. Also, a part of the functions of the printing control device 50 described later may be realized by the printing device 1.

[0013] The printing device 1 is a device for performing printing on the medium M. Here, the printing device 1 is an inkjet printer. The medium M is a long strip-shaped sheet member and is a member to be printed (printing medium). The medium M is, for example, roll paper, film, cloth, etc. The printing device 1 includes a head 10, a carriage unit 20, a conveyance unit 30, and a control unit 40.

[0014] The head 10 ejects ink onto the medium M. The head 10 is mounted on the carriage 21 and is movable in the scanning direction together with the carriage 21. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of nozzle arrays 11 are provided on the lower surface of the head 10. The nozzle array 11 has a plurality of nozzles arranged along the conveyance direction, and the plurality of nozzle arrays 11 are arranged along the scanning direction.

[0015] The head 10 has a color ink nozzle array for ejecting color ink and a special ink nozzle array for ejecting special ink. The color ink is ink for printing a color image on the medium M, and includes, for example, colored inks such as cyan ink, magenta ink, yellow ink, and black ink. The head 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a cyan ink nozzle array 11C, a magenta ink nozzle array 11M, a yellow ink nozzle array 11Y, and a black ink nozzle array 11K as color ink nozzle arrays. However, a color ink nozzle array for ejecting other colors (for example, orange ink, green ink, etc.) may be provided on the head 10. The special ink is different from the color ink, and includes, for example, transparent (including translucent) inks such as clear ink, white ink, silver ink, etc. The clear ink, which is a special ink, includes a gloss ink for controlling the gloss of the image and a primer ink (substrate adjustment ink) for adjusting the substrate of the medium. The head 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a white ink nozzle array 11W as a special ink nozzle array. Note that the head 10 may not have a special ink nozzle array.

[0016] The carriage unit 20 moves the carriage 21 in the scanning direction. The carriage unit 20 has the carriage 21 and the carriage motor 22. The carriage 21 mounts the head 10 and is configured to be movable in the scanning direction. The carriage motor 22 is a drive source for moving the carriage 21. Note that the carriage unit 20 has a transmission mechanism (not shown; for example, gears, pulleys, belts, etc.) for transmitting the driving force of the carriage motor 22 to the carriage 21. When the carriage unit 20 moves the carriage 21 in the scanning direction, the head 10 moves in the scanning direction.

[0017] The conveyance unit 30 conveys the medium M. The conveyance unit 30 has the conveyance member 31 and the conveyance motor 32. The conveyance member 31 is a member that conveys the medium M by rotating, such as a conveyance roller, for example. The conveyance motor 32 is a drive source for rotating the conveyance member 31. Note that the conveyance unit 30 has a transmission mechanism (not shown; for example, gears, etc.) for transmitting the driving force of the conveyance motor 32 to the conveyance member 31. When the conveyance unit 30 rotates the conveyance member 31, the medium M is conveyed in the conveyance direction (or the reverse conveyance direction).

[0018] The control unit 40 controls the printing apparatus 1. The control unit 40 controls each part of the printing apparatus 1 (the head 10, the carriage motor 22, the conveyance motor 32, etc.) according to the command code from the printing control apparatus 50.

[0019] The printing control apparatus 50 controls the printing apparatus 1. The printing control apparatus 50 creates a command code for controlling the printing apparatus 1 and transmits the command code to the printing apparatus 1. The printing control apparatus 50 causes the printing apparatus 1 to perform printing through the command code. The printing control device 50 is configured here by a general-purpose personal computer. The printing control device 50 has, as hardware, an arithmetic processing unit (not shown), a storage device, and a communication device. The arithmetic processing unit is configured by, for example, a CPU or the like. The storage device is configured by, for example, a main storage device such as a RAM and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive or an SSD. By the arithmetic processing unit executing the programs stored in the storage device, various functions described later are realized. The communication device is configured by, for example, a communication module and communicates with the printing device 1. The communication device transmits a command code to the printing device 1 or receives a signal from the printing device 1, for example. A display device 56 and an input device 58 are connected to the printing control device 50. The printing control device 50 will display various screens described later on the display device 56. Also, the printing control device 50 will acquire the information input by the input device 58.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing control device 50 has a printing control unit 51. The printing control unit 51 has a function of creating a command code for controlling the printing device 1. The printing control unit 51 is realized by the printing control device 50 (computer) executing a control program for controlling the printing device 1. The printing control unit 51 has an acquisition unit 52, a job execution unit 53, and an information printing unit 54.

[0021] The acquisition unit 52 acquires a print job and job information which is information related to the print job. The acquisition unit 52 causes the display device 56 to display a screen for acquiring the print job and the job information, and acquires the information input by the input device 58 on the screen.

[0022] FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams of an example of the screen displayed on the display device 56. FIG. 4 shows a management screen 60. FIG. 5 shows a setting screen 70 for job information. The acquisition unit 52 will cause the screens shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to be displayed on the display device 56.

[0023] The management screen 60 shown in FIG. 4 has a status display area 61, a job display area 62, and an information display area 63.

[0024] The status display area 61 is an area for displaying the status of the printing apparatus 1. The acquisition unit 52 displays the status of the printing apparatus 1 in the status display area 61 based on the status data received from the printing apparatus 1. For example, in the status display area 61, as the status of the printing apparatus 1, the model name of the printing apparatus 1, the remaining amount of ink in the printing apparatus 1, etc. are displayed.

[0025] The job display area 62 is an area for displaying print jobs. For example, in the job display area 62, there are provided an execution list 621 for displaying print jobs being executed by the printing apparatus 1, a code processing list 622 for displaying print jobs in which command codes are being generated, a registration list 623 for registering print jobs, and the like. For example, when an operator registers image data to be printed, the print job corresponding to the image data is displayed in the registration list 623. Here, the operator registers image data in PDF format named "Sample.pdf", and as a result, a print job with the job name "Sample.pdf" is registered in the registration list 623. Note that the job name of the print job does not have to be the same as the file name of the image data. As will be described later, it is also possible to register a plurality of print jobs in the registration list 623. The acquisition unit 52 will acquire the print jobs registered in the registration list 623. In the job display area 62 (specifically, below the registration list 623), there are provided a setting button 62A, an execution button 62B, a deletion button 62C, etc. The setting button 62A is a button for setting a print job. For example, when an operator selects a print job in the registration list 623 and presses the setting button 62A, the acquisition unit 52 will display the setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 5 on the display device 56. The execution button 62B is a button for determining the execution of a print job. For example, when an operator presses the execution button 62B, the execution of the print job displayed in the registration list 623 will be started. The deletion button 62C is a button for deleting the print job in the registration list 623.

[0026] The information display area 63 is an area for displaying job information. For example, when an operator selects a print job from the registration list 623, the job information of the selected print job will be displayed. As job information, for example, information regarding the image data that is the source of the print job (such as the file name of the image data (corresponding to the job name) and the file format, etc.) and information regarding the execution of the print job (such as the model name of the printing device 1, the print quality, the necessity of printing additional information, etc.) are included.

[0027] The setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 5 has an item area 71 and a setting area 72.

[0028] The item area 71 is an area for selecting items. The setting area 72 is an area for setting the items selected by the operator. When the operator selects an item in the item area 71, the information regarding the selected item can be set in the setting area 72.

[0029] In the example shown in FIG. 5, in the setting area 72, the printing settings of job information are made. An operator can select whether to print the job information in the setting area 72. For example, when the operator checks the check box of "Add job information" in the input area, the job information will be additionally printed on the medium M. Also, the operator can select the items of the job information to be printed. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the print job is set so that "model name", "job name (file name)", "quality setting", and "print date and time" are printed on the medium M as job information. The acquisition unit 52 will acquire the information set in the setting area 72 as job information.

[0030] The acquisition unit 52 can display not only the setting screen 70 for the printing settings of job information but also the setting screen 70 for setting other items. Also, the acquisition unit 52 can acquire other job information (such as print quality, etc.).

[0031] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the state of printing an image and job information according to a print job.

[0032] The job execution unit 53 causes the printing apparatus 1 to print an image according to the print job. For example, when the operator selects a print job in the registration list 623 and presses the execute button 62B, the job execution unit 53 generates a command code corresponding to the selected print job and transmits the generated command code to the printing apparatus 1. Thereby, the job execution unit 53 can cause the printing apparatus 1 to print an image corresponding to the print job through the command code. In the example shown in FIG. 6, an image named "Sample" is printed on the medium M according to the print job.

[0033] The information printing unit 54 causes the printing device 1 to print job information. When it is set to print job information as shown in FIG. 5, the information printing unit 54 causes the job information 80 to be printed outside the printing area R of the image as shown in FIG. 6. In the example shown in FIG. 6, "model name", "job name (file name)", "quality setting", and "print date and time" are printed on the medium M as the job information 80. The information printing unit 54 generates command data for causing the printing device 1 to print the job information 80 as shown in FIG. 6, and transmits the command data to the printing device 1. Note that the information printing unit 54 may directly perform the generation process of the command data for causing the job information 80 to be printed, or may cause the job execution unit 53 to perform it. For example, the information printing unit 54 generates an image (image with job information) in which job information is added to an image corresponding to a print job (for example, an image named "Sample"), and causes the job execution unit 53 to generate command data for causing the printing device 1 to print the image with job information, thereby indirectly generating command data for causing the job information 80 to be printed.

[0034] <Overlap printing> FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the state of overlap printing.

[0035] Overlap printing is printing that overlaps two or more images. Overlap printing is sometimes called "multi-layer printing". In the example shown in FIG. 7, a background image is printed on the media M as the first layer L1, and a circular pattern image is printed on the first layer L1 as the second layer L2, so that two images (the background image and the circular pattern image) are printed overlapping each other. For example, the background image of the first layer L1 is an image filled with white ink, and the circular pattern image of the second layer L2 is a color image formed by color ink. When performing the overlap printing shown in FIG. 7, a print job for the background image and a print job for the circular pattern image are registered in the registration list 623 in the job display area 62 of the management screen 60 (see FIG. 4), and it is set to perform overlap printing on the two print jobs registered in the registration list 623 (specifically, the print jobs are set so that after the execution of the print job for the first layer L1, the media M is returned to the origin (the print start position of the first layer L1)).

[0036] In the following description, the print job for the first layer L1 may be referred to as the "first print job", the print job for the second layer L2 may be referred to as the "second print job", and the print job for the nth layer may be referred to as the "nth print job".

[0037] When overlap printing is set in the print job, the job execution unit 53 generates a command code for causing the printing device 1 to print the image of the first layer L1 (here, the background image) according to the first print job, a command code for reverse transporting the media M to the origin after printing the first layer L1, and a command code for causing the printing device 1 to print the image of the second layer L2 (here, the circular pattern image) according to the second print job after the reverse transport, and transmits the command code to the printing device 1. Thereby, the job execution unit 53 can cause the printing device 1 to perform the overlap printing shown in FIG. 7 through the command code. That is, the printing device 1 prints the background image that becomes the first layer L1 on the media M according to the command code, reversely transports the media M after printing the background image, and prints the circular pattern image that becomes the second layer L2 on the background image after the reverse transport, thereby performing the overlap printing shown in FIG. 7.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a reference explanatory diagram of printing of job information 80 during overlay printing.

[0039] Even during overlay printing, it is possible to set the print job so as to print the aforementioned job information 80. However, if the print position of the job information 80 is set to a predetermined position with respect to the print image, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 8, the two printed job information 80s will overlap. As a result, the visibility of the printed job information 80 deteriorates.

[0040] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the state of overlay printing according to the present embodiment.

[0041] In the example shown in FIG. 9, a circular pattern image is printed on the medium M as the first layer L1, a background image is printed on the first layer L1 as the second layer L2, and a triangular pattern image is printed on the second layer L2 as the third layer L3, whereby three images are printed in an overlay manner. Thus, in overlay printing, not only can two images be printed in an overlay manner, but it is also possible to overlay three or more images. Further, when the medium M is transparent, a color image may be printed under a background image (for example, a white solid image). Even if the background image is printed on top of the color image, the color image can be visually recognized through the transparent medium M.

[0042] When performing the overlay printing shown in FIG. 9, the operator registers a print job (first print job) of a circular pattern image, a print job (second print job) of a background image, and a print job (third print job) of a triangular pattern image in the registration list 623 in the job display area 62 of the management screen 60 (see FIG. 4). Further, after the operator registers the three print jobs in the registration list 623, the operator sets to perform overlay printing of the three print jobs in the registration list 623. Specifically, the operator sets the print job so as to return the medium M to the origin after execution of the first print job, and also sets the print job so as to return the medium M to the origin after execution of the second print job. By the operator registering and setting three print jobs, the acquisition unit 52 (see FIG. 2) acquires the three print jobs and the job information of each print job. After the operator registers and sets the print job for the overlay print, the operator presses the execution button 62B (see FIG. 4) to execute the overlay print.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the information printing unit 54 includes a print area determination unit 54A and an arrangement determination unit 54B.

[0044] The print area determination unit 54A determines the print area R of the image to be overlaid. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the print area R of the image to be overlaid. The print area determination unit 54A defines a rectangular area (the dotted area in the figure) that can include a plurality of images to be overlaid as the print area R of the image to be overlaid. For example, the print area determination unit 54A identifies the coordinates (y1 and y2) of the pixels at the most upstream and the most downstream in the conveyance direction among the three images of the three print jobs, and the coordinates (x1 and x2) of the pixels at both ends in the scanning direction, and determines the rectangular area shown by the dotted line in the figure as the print area R based on these coordinates. However, the print area R is not limited to the area shown by the dotted line in FIG. 10. For example, the print area determination unit 54A may specify the print area R so that a margin of a predetermined width is provided around the printed image. Further, the method for determining the print area R may not be the method of specifying the coordinates of the diagonal line of the rectangle as shown in FIG. 10.

[0045] The arrangement determination unit 54B determines the print positions of the job information 80. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the arrangement determination unit 54B determines the print positions of the three pieces of job information 80 so that the three pieces of job information 80 to be printed do not overlap. Further, the arrangement determination unit 54B determines the print positions of the three pieces of job information 80 outside the print area R determined by the print area determination unit 54A. In the case of the example shown in FIG. 9, the arrangement determination unit 54B determines the print positions of the three pieces of job information 80 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the print area R. Further, the arrangement determination unit 54B determines the print positions of the three pieces of job information 80 so as to be arranged in the order of the print jobs.

[0046] When superimposed printing is set, the information printing unit 54 generates command data for causing the job information 80 to be printed at the position determined by the placement determination unit 54B. Also, as already described, the job execution unit 53 generates command codes for causing the printing device 1 to print, with the images corresponding to the respective printing jobs superimposed.

[0047] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a command code. Command code A is a command code for causing the printing device 1 to print the job information 80 of the first printing job. Command code A is generated by the print control unit 51 based on the job information of the first printing job acquired by the acquisition unit 52. Note that, as already described, the process of generating the command data for causing the job information 80 to be printed may be directly performed by the information printing unit 54, or the information printing unit 54 may cause the job execution unit 53 to perform it. Command code B is a command code for causing the printing device 1 to print the image (here, an image of a round pattern) of the first printing job. Command code B is generated by the print control unit 51 (job execution unit 53) based on the first printing job acquired by the acquisition unit 52. Command code C is a command code for causing the printing device 1 to reverse-convey the medium M. Command code C is generated by the print control unit 51 (job execution unit 53) based on the fact that superimposed printing is set. Note that command codes D to H are also similarly generated by the print control unit 51 (job execution unit 53, information printing unit 54) based on the printing job, the settings of the printing job, etc. The print control unit 51 transmits the generated command codes to the printing device 1, causing the printing device 1 to perform superimposed printing.

[0048] FIGS. 12A to 12C are explanatory diagrams of the state in which the printing device 1 prints the first layer L1 and the second layer L2.

[0049] FIG. 12A is an explanatory diagram of the state of printing the first layer L1. First, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the first print job and the circular pattern image that becomes the first layer L1 on the medium M according to the command code A and the command code B (see FIG. 11). At this time, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the first print job on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the circular pattern image (specifically, the print area R including the three images to be overprinted). For this reason, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the first print job before the circular pattern image.

[0050] FIG. 12B is an explanatory diagram of the state of reverse conveyance of the medium M. After printing the circular pattern image (and the job information 80 of the first print job) that becomes the first layer L1, the printing apparatus 1 reversely conveys the medium M according to the command code C (see FIG. 11). Here, the printing apparatus 1 reversely conveys the medium M until it can print the job information 80 of the second print job on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the print area R.

[0051] FIG. 12C is an explanatory diagram of the state of printing the second layer L2. After reversely conveying the medium M, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the second print job and the background image that becomes the second layer L2 on the medium M according to the command code D and the command code E (see FIG. 11). At this time, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the second print job on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the background image (specifically, the print area R including the three images to be overprinted). For this reason, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the second print job before the background image. Further, the background image that becomes the second layer L2 is printed on the circular pattern image of the first layer L1.

[0052] Note that after printing the background image (and the job information 80 of the second print job) that becomes the second layer L2, the printing apparatus 1 reversely conveys the medium M according to the command code F (see FIG. 11). Further, after reversely conveying the medium M, the printing apparatus 1 prints the job information 80 of the third print job and the triangular pattern image that becomes the third layer L3 on the medium M according to the command code G and the command code H (see FIG. 11).

[0053] In the above example, the job information 80 of each printing job was printed before the image of each printing job, but the printing timing of the job information 80 is not limited to this. For example, the job information of the first to third printing jobs may be printed together before the image of the first printing job. That is, the command codes A, D, and G may be arranged before the command code B. In this case, since the job information can be printed together, the time required for the entire printing of the printing job and the job information can be shortened.

[0054] FIGS. 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams of the printing positions of the job information 80.

[0055] In the above description, as shown in FIG. 13A (and FIG. 9), the job information 80 is printed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the printing area R. Thereby, even when the printing apparatus 1 prints an image on the printing area R, the operator can confirm the job information 80 printed on the medium M. As shown in FIG. 13A, when the job information 80 is printed on the downstream side in the conveyance direction from the printing area R, it is desirable that a plurality of job information 80 be arranged side by side in the scanning direction (in other words, it is desirable that the information printing unit 54 generate a command code for printing a plurality of job information 80 side by side in the scanning direction). Thereby, compared with the case where a plurality of job information 80 are arranged side by side in the conveyance direction, the medium M can be saved.

[0056] Note that the printing position of the job information 80 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 13A. For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the job information 80 may be printed outside the scanning direction of the printing area R. Thereby, compared with the case shown in FIG. 13A, media M can be saved. As shown in FIG. 13B, when the job information 80 is printed outside the scanning direction of the printing area R, it is desirable that a plurality of job information 80 be arranged side by side in the conveyance direction (in other words, it is desirable that the information printing unit 54 generate a command code for printing a plurality of job information 80 side by side in the conveyance direction). Thereby, compared with the case where a plurality of job information 80 are arranged side by side in the scanning direction, a wider printing area R (area for printing an image) in the scanning direction can be secured.

[0057] When an operator does not check the job information 80 during printing, as shown in FIG. 13C, the job information 80 may be printed upstream of the printing area R in the conveyance direction. Thus, the printing position of the job information 80 is not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B.

[0058] As described above, the printing control device 50 of the present embodiment includes an acquisition unit 52 that acquires a print job and job information, a job execution unit 53 that causes the printing device 1 to print an image on the media M according to the print job, and an information printing unit 54 that causes the printing device 1 to print the job information 80 of the print job (see FIG. 2). In the present embodiment, when causing the printing device 1 to perform overlay printing, the information printing unit 54 causes the printing device 1 to print a plurality of job information 80 so that the plurality of job information 80 to be printed on the media M do not overlap (see FIGS. 9 and 13A to 13C). That is, when the job execution unit 53 causes the printing device 1 to print the first layer L1 on the media M according to the first print job and causes the printing device 1 to print the second layer L2 on the first layer L1 according to the second print job, the information printing unit 54 causes the printing device 1 to print the job information 80 of the first print job and the job information 80 of the second print job without overlapping them. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the visibility of the printed job information 80 is improved compared with the reference explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 8.

[0059] In the above description, the print control device 50 is configured by a computer, and the acquisition unit 52, job execution unit 53, and information printing unit 54 are provided outside the printing device 1 (see FIG. 2). However, the print control device 50 is not limited to being configured by a computer provided outside the printing device 1. For example, the control unit 40 of the printing device 1 may include the acquisition unit 52, job execution unit 53, and information printing unit 54, and the control unit 40 of the printing device 1 may function as the print control device 50. Alternatively, by providing a part of the functions of the acquisition unit 52, job execution unit 53, and information printing unit 54 in the control unit 40 of the printing device 1, the print control device 50 may be configured by a computer outside the printing device 1 and the control unit 40 of the printing device 1.

[0060] Also, in the above description, during overlay printing, the job execution unit 53 causes the printing device 1 to reverse-convey the medium M (see FIG. 12B). However, overlay printing may be performed without reverse-conveying. For example, by discharging ink from a part of the nozzles on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the nozzle row 11 (see FIG. 3) to print the first layer L1 and discharging ink from a part of the nozzles on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the nozzle row 11 to print the second layer L2, the images of the first layer L1 and the second layer L2 may be overlaid and printed on the medium M without reverse-conveying.

[0061] It is desirable that the job information 80 to be printed includes at least one of the setting information of the printing device 1, the name of the print job, and the execution date and time of the print job. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9, "model name" and "quality setting" are printed as the setting information of the printing device 1, "job name (file name of image data)" is printed as the name of the print job, and "print date and time" is printed as the execution date and time of the print job. Note that the setting information of the printing device 1 is not limited to "model name" and "quality setting", and other setting information (for example, color setting, etc.) may also be used. Also, the execution date and time of the print job is not limited to the print date and time, and other dates and times (for example, generation date and time of the command code, transmission date and time of the command code) may also be used.

[0062] In addition, it is desirable that the job execution unit 53 prints one of the first layer L1 and the second layer L2 with color ink and the other layer with special ink. In such a case, it is particularly advantageous to cause the printing apparatus 1 to print the job information 80 without overlapping it so as to facilitate confirmation of the job information 80. However, both the first layer L1 and the second layer L2 may be printed with color ink, or both may be printed with special ink. Also, although an example in the case where the special ink is white ink has been described (see FIGS. 3 and 9), the special ink may be ink other than white ink (for example, silver ink or transparent ink). Note that since the job information 80 printed with special ink may be difficult to visually recognize, the information printing unit 54 may cause the job information 80 of the print job to be printed with special ink to be printed with color ink. Thereby, the visibility of the job information 80 is improved. However, the job information 80 of the print job to be printed with special ink may be printed with special ink.

[0063] Further, in the present embodiment, it is desirable that the image printed as the first layer L1 according to the first print job (for example, the circular pattern image in FIG. 9) and the image printed as the second layer L2 according to the second print job (for example, the background image in FIG. 9) are different. In such a case, it is particularly advantageous to cause the printing apparatus 1 to print the job information 80 without overlapping it so as to facilitate confirmation of the job information 80. However, even when printing the same image in an overlapping manner (so-called overprinting), the job information 80 of the first print job and the job information 80 of the second print job may be printed without overlapping.

[0064] Also, in this embodiment, when the job execution unit 53 causes the printing apparatus 1 to print by overlapping images that constitute respective layers according to a plurality of print jobs (in other words, when the job execution unit 53 generates a command code for overlay printing), it is desirable that the information printing unit 54 causes the printing apparatus 1 to print the layer number 81 of the print job as job information 80 (in other words, it is desirable that the information printing unit 54 generates a command code for causing the printing of job information 80 including the layer number 81). FIG. 9 shows a state in which the layer number 81 of the print job is printed as job information 80. By printing the layer number 81 of the print job as job information 80, the work of checking the images of each layer becomes easy. However, the layer number 81 may not be included in the job information 80.

[0065] Also, in this embodiment, when the job execution unit 53 causes the printing apparatus 1 to print by overlapping images that constitute respective layers according to a plurality of print jobs, it is desirable that the information printing unit 54 prints a plurality of pieces of job information 80 arranged in the order of the print jobs (in other words, it is desirable that the information printing unit 54 generates a command code for printing a plurality of pieces of job information 80 arranged in the order of the print jobs). FIG. 9 shows a state in which a plurality of pieces of job information 80 are printed arranged in the execution order of the print jobs from left to right. By arranging the job information 80 in order like this, the work of checking the job information 80 becomes easy. Note that, as shown in FIG. 13B, when a plurality of pieces of job information 80 are arranged side by side in the conveyance direction, it is desirable that the plurality of pieces of job information 80 are arranged in order along the conveyance direction.

[0066] As described above, the printing method of the present embodiment includes an acquisition step of acquiring a print job and job information, a job execution step of causing an image to be printed on a medium M by a printing apparatus 1 according to the print job, and an information printing step of causing the job information 80 of the print job to be printed on the printing apparatus 1. Further, in the present embodiment, when performing overlay printing in the job execution step, in the information printing step, a plurality of job information 80 to be printed on the medium M is printed without overlaying. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 9, the visibility of the printed job information 80 is improved as compared with the reference explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 8.

[0067] ===Other Embodiments=== The above embodiments are presented as examples and do not limit the scope of the invention. The above configurations can be implemented in appropriate combinations, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1 Printing apparatus, 10 Head, 11 Nozzle row, 11C Cyan ink nozzle row, 11M Magenta ink nozzle row, 11Y Yellow ink nozzle row, 11K Black ink nozzle row, 11W White ink nozzle row, 20 Carriage unit, 21 Carriage, 22 Carriage motor, 30 Conveying unit, 31 Conveying member, 32 Conveying motor, 40 Control unit, 50 Print control device, 51 Print control unit, 52 Acquisition unit, 53 Job execution unit, 54 Information printing unit, 54A Print area determination unit, 54B Arrangement determination unit, 56 Display device, 58 Input device, 60 Management screen, 61 Status display area, 62 Job display area, 621 Execution list, 622 code processing list, 623 registration list, 62A setting button, 62B execution button, 62C deletion button, 63 information display area, 70 setting screen, 71 item area, 72 setting area, 80 job information (printed job information), 81 layer number, 100 printing system, M media, L1 first layer, L2 second layer, L3 third layer, R printing area

Claims

1. A print control device that controls a printing device that prints on a medium, an acquisition unit that acquires a print job and job information that is information related to the print job; a job execution unit that causes the printing device to print a first layer on the media in response to a first print job and causes the printing device to print a second layer on the first layer in response to a second print job; an information printing unit that causes the printing device to print the job information of the first print job and the job information of the second print job without overlapping each other; A print control device comprising:

2. 2. The print control device according to claim 1, The job information includes at least one of setting information of the printing device, a name of the print job, and an execution date and time of the print job.

3. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, The job execution unit causes one of the first layer and the second layer to be printed with color ink, and causes the other of the first layer and the second layer to be printed with special ink.

4. 4. The print control device according to claim 3, The information printing unit is a print control device that causes the job information of the print job to be printed with the special ink to be printed with the color ink.

5. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, A print control device, wherein an image printed as the first layer in response to the first print job is different from an image printed as the second layer in response to the second print job.

6. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, A print control device, wherein when the job execution unit causes the printing device to print images that constitute each layer according to multiple print jobs by overlaying them, the information printing unit causes the printing device to print the layer number of the print job as the job information.

7. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, The information printing unit causes a plurality of pieces of job information to be printed in the order of the print jobs.

8. 3. The print control device according to claim 1, The information printing unit prints the job information downstream of a print area of ​​the print job in a transport direction.

9. A printing method for printing on a medium, comprising: An acquisition step of acquiring a print job and job information that is information related to the print job; a job execution step of printing a first layer on the media in response to a first print job and printing a second layer on the first layer in response to a second print job; an information printing step of printing the job information of the first print job and the job information of the second print job without overlapping each other; A printing method including:

Images