Program, print supporting apparatus, advertisement printing system and print supporting method

Abstract

To make it possible to reduce the number of steps of picking work of a printed matter to be packed together with a commodity in a form matched to the actual situation at a physical distribution site.SOLUTION: A program causes a computer to execute: a printed-matter information acquiring process for acquiring printed-matter information about a printed matter to be packed together with an article to be shipped; a process for acquiring original data of the printed matter to be packed together with the article to be shipped out of original data of previously-prepared printed matters based on the printed-matter information; a print-job generating process for generating a print job for printing the original data; and a process for providing the print job to a printer and allowing the printer to output the printed matter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a program for printing an advertisement to be enclosed with a shipped product, a printing support device, an advertisement printing system, and a printing support method.

Background Art

[0002] E-commerce (EC) for purchasing goods (products) via the Internet has become widespread. In order to encourage purchasers to make a next purchase, a sales business operator (brand) often encloses and ships a paper medium for advertisement such as a leaflet or a brochure together with the product. At a logistics site, leaflets are enclosed in one shipment to meet the brand's requirements. Picking leaflets corresponding to different products for each purchaser takes time. Also, when handling multiple brands and products, the number of leaflets is large, and it also takes time for the confirmation work to ensure that the enclosed leaflets are not mispacked.

[0003] In order to reduce the picking work, there is a system that uses a collating machine to bundle multiple types of printed materials for each package. There is also a system that can print delivery notes and labels with multiple printers at the time of packing, and convey the papers from each output by a conveyor and bundle them together. However, these systems require a large investment.

[0004] As an invention for printing an advertisement to be enclosed with a product, there is a shipping management system described in Patent Document 1. This shipping management system includes a core system that acquires information on a product ordered from a customer and information on the customer, and a printing support system that supports printing of an advertisement to be enclosed with the product when shipping the product to the customer. The printing support system includes a manuscript creation unit that creates manuscript data of an advertisement to be enclosed with the product based on the information on the product and the information on the customer acquired by the core system. The printing support system also includes an instruction unit that instructs the controller of a printing machine to start printing so that printing of the advertisement based on the manuscript data is completed at the timing of shipping the product.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] According to the shipping management system described in Patent Document 1, since advertisements printed for inclusion with one product are bundled, the picking operation can be reduced. However, in the shipping management system described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a manuscript creation section and layout the advertisements to be included with the product from scratch to create a manuscript. When this is done at the logistics site, it is necessary to confirm whether the created manuscript data conforms to the intentions of the sales business operator (brand). However, since this is difficult to achieve, it does not match the current situation at the logistics site. Also, computers and software are required for creating the advertisement manuscript. Furthermore, it is necessary to define an algorithm for estimating the manuscript creation time to match the shipping timing.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a program, a printing support device, an advertisement printing system, and a printing support method that can reduce the man - hours of the operation of picking printed materials to be included with products in a form that matches the actual situation at the logistics site.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The above object of the present invention is achieved by the following means.

[0009] (1) A program for causing a computer to execute a printed matter information acquisition process for acquiring printed matter information regarding printed matter bundled with an article to be shipped, a process for acquiring the manuscript data of the printed matter bundled with the article to be shipped from among the manuscript data of the printed matter prepared in advance based on the printed matter information, a printed job generation process for generating a print job for printing the manuscript data, and a process for providing the print job to a printing machine and causing the printing machine to output the printed matter.

[0010] (2) The print job includes an instruction to print printed matter with different manuscript sizes. The program according to (1).

[0011] (3) The print job includes an instruction to discharge the printed matter to one discharge unit provided in the printing machine. The program according to (1).

[0012] (4) The printing machine is provided with a cutting machine, and the print job includes an instruction for a process of cutting the medium after printing on the medium. The program according to (3).

[0013] (5) The printing machine is provided with a cutting machine, and the print job includes an instruction for a process of printing a plurality of the printed matters on one medium and cutting the medium. The program according to (3).

[0014] (6) The printing machine is provided with a cutting machine, and the print job generation process accepts any one of speed, cost, and medium as a priority item, and generates the print job according to the priority item. The program according to (3).

[0015] (7) When the priority item is speed, the print job generation process generates a print job including an instruction for a process of printing the printed matter on the minimum number of media and cutting the media. When the priority item is cost, the print job generation process selects a combination of media with the minimum cost of the media and generates a print job according to the combination. When the priority item is the media, the print job generation process generates a print job including an instruction to preferentially print on the media. The program according to (6).

[0016] (8) The print job generation process according to the program described in (1) generates a print job that includes a waybill to be pasted on a delivery container that houses the article, in addition to the printed matter included in the article.

[0017] (9) The print job according to the program described in (8) includes an instruction to discharge the waybill to a discharge unit different from the discharge unit where the printed matter is discharged, an instruction to first discharge the waybill to the same discharge unit where the printed matter is discharged, or an instruction to finally discharge the waybill to the same discharge unit where the printed matter is discharged.

[0018] (10) A print support device including a printed matter information acquisition unit that acquires printed matter information regarding printed matter included in an article to be shipped, a manuscript data acquisition unit that acquires manuscript data of the printed matter included in the article to be shipped from among pre-prepared manuscript data of printed matter based on the printed matter information, a print job generation unit that generates a print job for printing the manuscript data, and a print job output unit that provides the print job to a printing machine and causes the printing machine to output the printed matter.

[0019] (11) An advertising print system including a print support device and a printing machine, wherein the print support device includes a printed matter information acquisition unit that acquires printed matter information regarding printed matter included in an article to be shipped, a manuscript data acquisition unit that acquires manuscript data of the printed matter included in the article to be shipped from among pre-prepared manuscript data of printed matter based on the printed matter information, a print job generation unit that generates a print job for printing the manuscript data, and a print job output unit that provides the print job to the printing machine and causes the printing machine to output the printed matter.

[0020] (12) A printing support method in which a printing support device executes: a step of acquiring print information regarding a printed matter to be included in an article to be shipped; a step of acquiring, based on the print information, the original manuscript data of the printed matter to be included in the article to be shipped from among the original manuscript data of the printed matter prepared in advance; a step of generating a print job for printing the original manuscript data; and a step of providing the print job to a printing machine and causing the printing machine to output the printed matter.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a program, a printing support device, an advertising printing system, and a printing support method that can reduce the man-hours of the work of picking a printed matter to be included in a product in a form suitable for the actual situation at the logistics site, because the original manuscript data prepared in advance by a sales business operator (brand) can be printed as it is and directly included in the product to be shipped.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] ≪Outline of Advertising Printing System≫ The following describes an advertising printing system in an embodiment for implementing the present invention. The advertising printing system includes a printing support device that generates a printing job for printing an advertisement to be enclosed with a shipped product (article). The advertising printing system includes a printing machine that receives the printing job and prints the advertisement.

[0024] The printing support device acquires leaflet or booklet manuscript data related to the shipped product, generates a printing job, and sends it to the printing machine. The printing machine prints the leaflet or booklet and discharges it to a single discharge unit (discharge tray). The printed matter may include a delivery note or a thank-you note.

[0025] An operator who packs the product can directly pack the delivery note, thank-you note, and leaflet in the single discharge unit together with the product. There is no need to pick the leaflets according to the product or the sales business operator, and an efficient and error-free packing operation can be performed. Also, even when the sales business operator (brand) specifies the packing order of the leaflets when picking a plurality of leaflets, the order can be specified at the time of printing, so that the packing operation can be performed without special attention.

[0026] ≪Configuration of Advertising Printing System≫ FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an advertising printing system 10 according to the first embodiment. The advertising printing system 10 includes a printing support device 100 and a printing machine 210. The shipment management system 240 holds information such as the product and leaflets to be packed, the shipping destination, and the shipping date and time for each shipped item.

[0027] ≪Configuration of Printing Support Device≫ The printing support device 100 is a computer and includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 120, and an input / output unit 180. User interface devices (not shown) such as a display, a keyboard, and a mouse are connected to the input / output unit 180. The input / output unit 180 includes a communication device and can transmit and receive data to and from other devices such as the shipment management system 240 and the printing machine 210.

[0028] <<Printing Support Device: Memory Unit>> The memory unit 120 is configured to include memory devices such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an SSD (Solid State Drive). The shipping item information 130 and the program 128 are stored in the memory unit 120. The program 128 includes descriptions of the processes of each functional unit provided in the control unit 110 described later (see FIG. 3).

[0029] <<Memory Unit: Shipping Item Information>> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the shipping item information 130 according to the first embodiment. The shipping item information 130 is information related to individual shipping items (sent items). The shipping item information 130 includes information such as identification information, destination, shipping date and time, product, invoice, delivery note, thank-you note, and leaflet.

[0030] The identification information is the identification information of the shipping item. The destination is the delivery destination of the shipping item. The shipping date and time is the scheduled date and time for shipping (sending) the shipping item. The product is the identification information or name of the product to be shipped, and may include the quantity of the product. The product is not necessarily one item, and there may be multiple identical products or multiple different products.

[0031] The invoice is the identification information of a file including the print data (manuscript data) of the invoice including the destination. The delivery note is the identification information of a file including the print data of the delivery note indicating the product to be shipped. The thank-you note is the identification information of a file including the print data of the thank-you note with a thank-you for the order described therein. The content of the thank-you note may be changed depending on the number of customer orders or may include the customer's name and product information.

[0032] The leaflet is the identification information of a file including the print data of the advertisement of the product or the merchant. Even if there is one product, the leaflet is not necessarily one, and there may be identification information of multiple files. Also, the size (manuscript size) of the leaflet is not limited to one, and there are multiple sizes. The paper (medium) on which the leaflet is printed is not limited to one, and there are ordinary paper, coated paper, etc.

[0033] <<Printing Support Device: Control Unit>> Returning to FIG. 1, the description of the control unit 110 will be continued. The control unit 110 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and is provided with a printed matter information acquisition unit 111 and a print job generation unit 112.

[0034] The printed matter information acquisition unit 111 acquires the shipped item information 130 (printed matter information) from the shipped item management system 240. The printed matter information acquisition unit 111 further acquires the print data (original data) of invoices, delivery receipts, thank-you notes, and leaflets. In other words, the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 acquires printed matter information and original data including data related to one or more items to be shipped and data related to the printed matter enclosed with the item.

[0035] The print job generation unit 112 generates a print job based on the print data of invoices, delivery receipts, thank-you notes, and leaflets. Next, the print job generation unit 112 transmits the generated print job to the printing machine 210. In the print job, the invoice is instructed (set) to be printed on the seal paper. Also, in the print job, the printed matter is instructed to be discharged to one discharge unit 217 (discharge tray) of the printing machine 210. Note that the print job generated by the print job generation unit 112 may include instructions for printing printed matter with different original sizes.

[0036] <<Printing Support Process>> FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the printing support process according to the first embodiment. The processes of the printing support device 100 and the printing machine 210 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. In step S11, the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 starts a process of repeating steps S12 to S17.

[0037] In step S12, the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 accesses the shipped item management system 240 and acquires the shipped item information 130. In step S13, if the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 has successfully acquired the shipped goods information 130 in step S12 (step S13 → YES), it proceeds to step S14. If the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 fails to acquire the shipped goods information 130 (step S13 → NO), it ends the print support process.

[0038] In step S14, the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 acquires print data based on the identification information of the files included in the invoice, delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer of the shipped goods information 130 (see FIG. 2). In step S15, the print job generation unit 112 generates a print job based on the print data acquired in step S14. Next, the print job generation unit 112 transmits the generated print job to the printing machine 210.

[0039] In step S16, the printing machine 210 prints the invoice, delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer and discharges them to the discharge unit 217. The operator packs the delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer together with the product in a box, attaches the invoice to the box, and ships it (see FIGS. 4 and 5 described later). Subsequently, the operator reports to the print support apparatus 100 that the packing and shipping operations have been completed. For example, the operator presses a key indicating the end of the operation on the keyboard connected to the print support apparatus 100 to report the end of the operation. In step S17, the printed matter information acquisition unit 111 receives the report of the end of the operation and returns to step S12.

[0040] ≪Packing Operation≫ FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the packing operation (see step S16 in FIG. 3) according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the operator puts the delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer among the printed matters discharged to the discharge unit 217 together with the product in a box and packs them. Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the operator attaches the invoice to the box and ships it. For example, the operator moves the box to the shipping belt conveyor and ships it. Subsequently, the operator reports the end of the operation to the print support apparatus 100.

[0041] ≪Features of the Advertising Printing System≫ According to the advertising printing system 10, delivery notes, thank-you notes, and flyers to be packed with the shipped goods are printed in a batch and discharged to the discharge unit 217. Therefore, the operator does not need to pick flyers according to the products or sales businesses. As a result, the work efficiency is improved and the mistake of picking up the wrong flyer is reduced. In addition, the invoice is printed on the sealing paper and printed together with the delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer, and discharged to the discharge unit 217. Therefore, there is no mistake of sticking the wrong invoice, and mis-delivery can be prevented.

[0042] ≪Modification example: Invoice≫ In the above-described embodiment, the printing (discharge) order of the invoice, delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer is not defined. Since the invoice is not packed like the delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer, it may be discharged first or last. In other words, the print job generation unit 112 generates a print job including a setting (instruction) to print the invoice first or last.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the invoice is discharged to the same discharge unit 217 as the delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer, but it may be discharged to a discharge unit different from the discharge unit 217. Since the invoice is to be pasted on the box, it may be discharged to a discharge unit different from the discharge unit 217 so as not to be mistakenly packed.

[0044] ≪Modification example: Discharge unit≫ In the above-described embodiment, the discharge destination of the delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer is set to the discharge unit 217 in the print job. Instead of this, it may be set so that the discharge destination is the discharge unit 217 in the setting of the printing machine 210 without being set in the print job.

[0045] ≪Second Embodiment≫ In the above-described first embodiment, the invoice, delivery note, thank-you note, and flyer are printed on the paper (medium) stored in the paper feed unit (paper feed tray) provided in the printing machine 210. The printing machine 210 may be provided with a cutting machine to create flyers of non-standard sizes. In addition, by using the cutting machine, full-bleed flyers can be created.

[0046] <<Second Embodiment: Configuration of Advertising Printing System>> FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an advertising printing system 10A according to the second embodiment. Compared with the first embodiment, the printing support device 100A of the advertising printing system 10A has a different print job generation unit 112A. The print job generation unit 112A generates a print job including an instruction to print on a sheet of paper and cutting information indicating how to cut the printed sheet of paper. The printing machine 210A of the advertising printing system 10A includes a cutting machine 215 and cuts the printed sheet of paper according to the cutting information.

[0047] The print job generation unit 112A may generate a print job including an instruction to print a plurality of flyers on one sheet of paper and cut them. For example, the print job generation unit 112A prints a flyer of a non-standard size on a sheet of paper larger than that size and generates a print job including an instruction to cut it to that size.

[0048] Also, the print job generation unit 112A prints two A4-sized flyers on one A3-sized sheet of paper and generates a print job including an instruction to cut it into two A4-sized sheets. When printing a plurality of printed materials on one sheet of paper, the information regarding the arrangement of the individual printed materials within the sheet of paper is called page layout information. The print job generation unit 112A generates a print job including page layout information and cutting information and sends it to the printing machine 210A. The printing machine 210A prints according to the page layout information and cuts the printed sheet of paper according to the cutting information.

[0049] <<Second Embodiment: Features of Advertising Printing System>> By using the advertising printing system 10A, it is possible to create flyers of non-standard sizes or full bleed flyers and include them with products. Similar to the first embodiment, the efficiency of the packaging operation is improved and the mistake of misplacing flyers is reduced.

[0050] <<Modification Example: Specification of Priorities>> By equipping the printing machine 210A with the cutting machine 215, it becomes possible to print the same printed matter using different papers. For example, in addition to printing two A4-sized flyers on two A4-sized papers, it can be printed on A3-sized paper and cut to create them. It may be possible to select a printing method (paper) according to the priorities specified by the operator. The priorities include speed, cost, and the type of paper (medium, printing medium).

[0051] <<Priority specification: Speed>> When speed is prioritized, the print job generation unit 112A generates a print job including an instruction to print and cut a plurality of invoices, thank-you notes, and flyers on a large-sized paper with the minimum number of papers. For example, when printing three A5-sized flyers, the print job generation unit 112A generates a print job including an instruction to print and cut on one A3-sized paper. As a result, the number of papers to be printed is minimized, and the time until printed and discharged is shortest.

[0052] <<Priority specification: Cost>> When cost is prioritized, the print job generation unit 112A seeks the combination of paper cost and printing cost that is the cheapest. Next, the print job generation unit 112A generates a print job including an instruction to print and cut on the paper with this combination. For example, assume that the paper costs of A3, A4, and A5 are 100 yen, 50 yen, and 25 yen respectively. Also, assume that single-sided printing is 20 yen. When creating three single-sided A5-sized flyers, if printed on one A3 paper with three-sided layout, it will cost 120 yen. If printed with two-sided layout on one A4 paper and one-sided on an A5 paper, it will cost 115 yen. At this time, the print job generation unit 112A generates a print job including an instruction to print and cut two on A4 paper and print one on A5 paper.

[0053] <<Priority specification: Paper>> If there is paper that you want to use preferentially and this paper is prioritized, the print job generation unit 112A generates a print job to print on this paper preferentially. When A5 paper is prioritized, the print job generation unit 112A generates a print job to print on three sheets of A5 paper. The cost is 135 yen, which is higher than cost priority.

[0054] ≪Other Modification Examples≫ As described above, some embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, these embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. For example, the shipment information 130 (see FIG. 2) includes identification information of a file including print data for invoices, thank-you notes, and flyers. Alternatively, the shipment information 130 may include the print data itself.

[0055] In the above-described embodiments, the print support device 100 and the printers 210, 210A are separate devices. Alternatively, the print support device 100 and the printers 210, 210A may be integrated. In the above-described embodiments, the products and flyers are packed in boxes. Instead of boxes, they may be packed in delivery containers including bags, cases, etc.

[0056] The present invention can take various other embodiments, and furthermore, various changes such as omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention described in this specification, etc., and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0057] 10, 10A Advertising Printing System 100, 100A Print Support Device 111 Print Information Acquisition Unit (Original Data Acquisition Unit, Print Information Acquisition Process) 112, 112A Print Job Generation Unit (Print Job Output Unit, Print Job Generation Process) 128 Program 130 Shipment Information 210, 210A Printing Machine 217 Discharge Unit 240 Shipping Goods Management System

Claims

1. A program for causing a computer to: perform a printed matter information acquisition process for acquiring printed matter information regarding printed matter included in an article to be shipped; perform a process of acquiring manuscript data of the printed matter to be included in the article to be shipped from among manuscript data of printed matter prepared in advance based on the printed matter information; perform a print job generation process for generating a print job for printing the manuscript data; and perform a process of providing the print job to a printing machine and causing the printing machine to output the printed matter.

2. The print job includes an instruction to print printed matter having different manuscript sizes. The program according to claim 1.

3. The print job includes: an instruction to discharge the printed matter to one discharge unit provided in the printing machine. The program according to claim 1.

4. The printing machine includes a cutting machine, and the print job includes: an instruction for a process of cutting the medium after printing on the medium. The program according to claim 3.

5. The printing machine includes a cutting machine, and the print job includes: an instruction for a process of printing a plurality of the printed matters on one medium and cutting the medium. The program according to claim 3.

6. The printing machine includes a cutting machine, and the print job generation process: receives any one of speed, cost, and a medium as a priority item, and generates the print job according to the priority item. The program according to claim 3.

7. The print job generation process: when the priority item is speed, generates a print job including an instruction for a process of printing the printed matter on a minimum number of media and cutting the media; when the priority item is cost, selects a combination of media that minimizes the cost of the media and generates a print job according to the combination; when the priority item is a medium, generates a print job including an instruction to preferentially print on the medium. The program according to claim 6.

8. The print job generation process: generates a print job including a shipping label attached to a delivery container that houses the article, in addition to the printed matter included in the article. The program according to claim 1.

9. The print job includes: an instruction to discharge the shipping label to a discharge unit different from the discharge unit where the printed matter is discharged; an instruction to first discharge the shipping label to the same discharge unit where the printed matter is discharged; or an instruction to finally discharge the shipping label to the same discharge unit where the printed matter is discharged. The program according to claim 8. ​

10. a printed matter information acquisition unit that acquires printed matter information regarding a printed matter included with an article to be shipped; a manuscript data acquisition unit that acquires, from among manuscript data of printed matter prepared in advance, manuscript data of the printed matter included with the article to be shipped, based on the printed matter information; a print job generation unit that generates a print job for printing the manuscript data; a print job output unit that provides the print job to a printing machine and causes the printing machine to output the printed matter, a print support apparatus.

11. A print advertising system comprising a print support apparatus and a printing machine, wherein the print support apparatus includes a printed matter information acquisition unit that acquires printed matter information regarding a printed matter included with an article to be shipped; a manuscript data acquisition unit that acquires, from among manuscript data of printed matter prepared in advance, manuscript data of the printed matter included with the article to be shipped, based on the printed matter information; a print job generation unit that generates a print job for printing the manuscript data; a print job output unit that provides the print job to a printing machine and causes the printing machine to output the printed matter. a print advertising system.

12. A print support method, wherein a print support apparatus performs a step of acquiring printed matter information regarding a printed matter included with an article to be shipped; a step of acquiring, from among manuscript data of printed matter prepared in advance, manuscript data of the printed matter included with the article to be shipped, based on the printed matter information; a step of generating a print job for printing the manuscript data; a step of providing the print job to a printing machine and causing the printing machine to output the printed matter. a print support method.

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