Control device, control system and control program

Abstract

To reduce a burden of an operator within a range that satisfies a delivery dead line in comparison with a case where the delivery dead line and a paper sheet continuity are disregarded if a printing production is required again.SOLUTION: A print control apparatus 10 comprises a control unit 11 for controlling a print production process including print processing 30 and post processing 40 in a plurality of print productions. The control unit 11, in response to the occurrence of an event requiring additional print production after completion of the print processing, acquires information relating to a paper kind from print production information of print production having a delivery dead line, predicts a time required for each processing of the print production process in the print production, calculates an end time of the additional print production when the additional print production is carried out immediately after another print production using the same paper as that of the additional print production requiring the additional print production, and performs control to determine, depending on whether or not the end time is on or before the delivery dead line, whether or not the additional print production is carried out immediately after the other print production.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a control system, and a control program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a configuration for controlling the production of multiple types of commercial materials, which includes a printing process, a post-processing process, and an inspection process, while ensuring continuity of the same type of commercial materials in each process. Patent Document 2 describes a configuration in which, when a print result consisting of a plurality of parts is generated using a plurality of printers, a sorting process is performed based on the continuity of paper information between print jobs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6226564 [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-149062 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If defective products are found in the post-processing or inspection process, the printing and production must be repeated. In such cases, each process in the printing and production must be reallocated. Changing the paper and adjusting the equipment just to print and produce again is inefficient and places a burden on the workers. However, if a reprint production is arranged so that it follows another print production simply because the same paper is used, there is a possibility that the delivery date will not be met. The present invention aims to reduce the burden on workers while still meeting the delivery date, compared to a case in which the delivery date and paper continuity are not taken into consideration when reprinting and production is required. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The invention of claim 1 is a control device that includes a processor that controls a printing manufacturing process including printing processing and post-processing in multiple printing productions, and in response to the occurrence of an event in which the printing processing has been completed but re-printing is required, the processor acquires information regarding the paper type from the printing production information of the printing production having a delivery date, predicts the time required for each process of the printing manufacturing process in the printing production, calculates the end time of the reprinting production when the reprinting production is incorporated so as to be continuous with other printing productions that use the same paper as the reprinting production that requires the re-printing production, and determines whether to incorporate the reprinting production so as to be continuous with the other printing productions depending on whether the end time is in time for the delivery date. The invention of claim 2 is the control device described in claim 1, characterized in that the processor controls the reprint production to be continuous with the other print production when the end time is in time for the delivery date. The invention according to claim 3 is the control device according to claim 2, characterized in that the processor controls the reprint production so that it occurs immediately before the other print production. The invention of claim 4 is the control device described in claim 1, characterized in that, when the end time does not meet the delivery date, the processor controls the reprint production so that the reprint production is not consecutive to the other printing production that uses the same paper as the reprint production, and so that the reprint production precedes any unprocessed printing production. The invention of claim 5 is the control device described in claim 1, characterized in that the processor controls so that whether or not to connect the reprint production to the other print production is determined based on each process of the print production process. The invention of claim 6 is the control device described in claim 5, characterized in that the processor controls to determine whether or not to make the reprint production continuous with the other printing production when making the reprint production continuous with the other printing production in all processing of the printing production process would cause the end time to not meet the delivery date. The invention of claim 7 is the control device described in claim 6, characterized in that the processor controls the printing process of the printing production process so that the reprint production is performed immediately before the other printing production, and controls other processes other than the printing process so that the end time is in time for the delivery date. The invention of claim 8 is the control device described in claim 6, characterized in that the processor controls the printing production process so that the reprint production is not consecutive to other printing production processes that use the same paper as the reprint production, but rather controls downstream processing to precede the reprint production so that the completion time is in time for the delivery date. The invention of claim 9 is a control system that has a printing device and a post-processing device, and controls a printing manufacturing process including printing processing and post-processing in a plurality of printing productions, and is equipped with an acquisition means for acquiring information regarding the paper type from the printing production information of a printing production having a delivery date in response to the occurrence of an event in which the printing processing has been completed but a reprint production is required, a prediction means for predicting the time required for each process of the printing manufacturing process in the printing production, a calculation means for calculating the end time of the reprint production when the reprint production is incorporated so as to be continuous with other printing productions that use the same paper as the reprint production that requires the reprint production, using the time predicted by the prediction means, and a judgment means for judging whether to incorporate the reprint production so as to be continuous with the other printing productions, depending on whether the end time calculated by the calculation means is in time for the delivery date. The invention of claim 10 is a control program that causes a computer to realize various functions of a printing manufacturing process including printing processing and post-processing in multiple printing productions, and realizes the following functions: a function to obtain information regarding the paper type from the printing production information of a printing production having a delivery date in response to the occurrence of an event in which the printing processing has been completed but another printing production is required; a function to predict the time required for each process of the printing manufacturing process in the printing production; a function to calculate the end time of the reprint production when the reprint production is incorporated so that it is continuous with other printing productions that use the same paper as the reprint production that requires the another printing production; and a function to control the computer to determine whether or not to incorporate the reprint production so that it is continuous with the other printing productions depending on whether the end time will be in time for the delivery date. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the invention of claim 1, the burden on the worker is reduced within the scope of meeting the delivery date, compared to a case where the delivery date and the paper type are not taken into consideration when reprinting and production occurs. According to the invention of claim 2, the amount of paper change and equipment adjustment work just for reprinting and production is reduced compared to a case where the delivery date and paper type are not taken into consideration when reprinting and production is required. According to the invention of claim 3, the end time of the reprinting process can be brought forward, compared to a case where the reprinting process is not given priority over other printing processes. According to the invention of claim 4, delays in the delivery date of reprinting and production are reduced compared to a case where the delivery date is not taken into consideration when reprinting and production occurs. According to the invention of claim 5, the burden on the worker is reduced within the scope of meeting the delivery deadline, as compared with the case where the judgment is not made based on each process in the reprinting manufacturing process. According to the invention of claim 6, the efficiency of re-printing production is improved compared to a case where no judgment is made based on each process of the re-printing production process. According to the invention of claim 7, the number of times to change paper just for reprinting and production is reduced, compared to a case where the paper type is given priority over other processes and the reprinting process is not incorporated. According to the invention of claim 8, the burden on workers due to work solely for reprint production is reduced compared to a case in which reprint production is not given priority over other print production in downstream processing of the reprint production process. According to the invention of claim 9, when reprinting and production occurs, the burden on the worker is reduced within the scope of meeting the delivery date, as compared to a case where the delivery date and the paper type are not taken into consideration. According to the invention of claim 10, when reprinting and production are required, the burden on the worker is reduced within the scope of meeting the delivery date, as compared to a case where the delivery date and the paper type are not taken into consideration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of an overall configuration of a print control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a print control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a print control device. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for incorporating a reprint process by the print control device. [Diagram 5] 10 is a table showing an example of job information stored in a storage unit. [Figure 6-1] 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for incorporating reprint production by the print control device. [Figure 6-2] 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for incorporating reprint production by the print control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. <Overall configuration of the printing control system> First, the overall configuration of a print control system according to the present embodiment will be described. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a print control system according to the present embodiment. The print control system 1 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a print control device 10 that controls the entire print control system 1, a printing device 30, and a post-processing device 40. The print control system 1 may further include an inspection device 50 that inspects the print product output by the post-processing device 40.

[0009] The print control device 10 is a device for controlling the print manufacturing process including the printing process and post-processing in a variety of print manufacturing processes. The print device 30 is a device for performing so-called print processing, that is, forming an image on a recording material and outputting the image. The post-processing device 40 is a device for performing post-processing such as cutting, folding, and binding on the printed matter output by the print device 30. The print control device 10 communicates information with each of the print device 30, the post-processing device 40, and the inspection device 50, for example, via a network.

[0010] <Hardware configuration of print control device> Next, a hardware configuration of the print control device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the print control device 10 according to the present embodiment. The print control device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a storage unit 13.

[0011] The control unit 11 controls the operation of each unit of the print control device 10. The control unit 11 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11a that controls the entire device as an example of a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11b that stores programs and the like executed by the CPU 11a, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11c that is used as a working area when the CPU 11a performs calculations.

[0012] Here, the program executed by the CPU 11a as an example of a processor is provided to the control unit 11 in a state where it is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the recording medium include magnetic recording media (magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, etc.), optical recording media (optical disks, etc.), magneto-optical recording media, and semiconductor memories. Furthermore, the programs executed by the CPU 11a may be downloaded to the control unit 11 using a communication means such as the Internet.

[0013] In this embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPUs, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic devices, etc.). In addition, the operations of the processor may not only be performed by one processor, but may be performed by multiple processors in physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in this embodiment, and may be changed.

[0014] The communication unit 12 is, for example, a communication interface connected to a network. The communication unit 12 communicates information with each device, such as the printing device 30, the post-processing device 40, and the inspection device 50. Information received by the communication unit 12 includes, for example, job information, which is printing production information for a printing production having a delivery date, error information for each device, and consumable information. Information transmitted by the communication unit 12 includes, for example, image information and control information for the printing production process. The storage unit 13 is configured with a hard disk drive, a semiconductor memory, etc., and stores job information, image information, information transmitted from each device, and the like.

[0015] <Functional configuration of the control unit> Next, the functional configuration of the control unit 11 will be described. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control unit 11. The control unit 11 has a job information acquisition unit 21, an image information acquisition unit 22, a control information acquisition unit 23, a paper information acquisition unit 24, a processing time prediction unit 25, an end time calculation unit 26, a start time calculation unit 27, and a continuity determination unit 28. In Fig. 3, the communication unit 12 shown in Fig. 2 is shown divided into an image information transmission unit 12a that transmits image information and a control information transmission unit 12b that transmits control information and the like, according to its functions.

[0016] The job information acquisition unit 21 acquires job information from information transmitted from the external device 60 and received by the communication unit 12. The job information includes image information and control information such as the delivery date, paper type, and processing content of the printing production. The image information acquiring unit 22 acquires image information of an image to be formed in the printing process from the job information acquired by the job information acquiring unit 21. The acquired image information is transmitted to the printing device 30 from the image information transmitting unit 12a.

[0017] The control information acquisition unit 23 acquires control information for the print manufacturing process from the job information acquired by the job information acquisition unit 21 . The paper information acquisition unit 24 acquires information about the paper type, such as the paper size, from the control information included in the job information acquired by the job information acquisition unit 21. This paper information acquisition unit 24 functions as an example of an acquisition means that acquires information about the paper type from the printing production information of the printing production having a delivery date.

[0018] The processing time prediction unit 25 predicts the processing time based on information related to the processing time among the control information in the job information. This information related to the processing time includes the number of pages to be printed, the type of image such as black and white printing or color printing, the presence or absence of a post-processing process and the contents of the post-processing, the type of paper to be printed, etc. The prediction of the processing time also uses information on the processing capacity of the printing device 30 and the post-processing device 40, and information on the time required for inspection by the inspection device 50. This processing time prediction unit 25 functions as an example of a prediction means for predicting the time required for each process in the printing production process in the printing production. Each process is performed by one or more devices among the printing device 30, the post-processing device 40, and the inspection device 50.

[0019] The end time calculation unit 26 calculates the time when the print production will end (hereinafter referred to as the "end time"). The "end time" includes information on the time, as well as on the period, such as by hour, day, or week. For example, it also includes the delivery date in the schedule. The end time calculation unit 26 uses the time required for each process predicted by the processing time prediction unit 25 to calculate the end time when the specific print production will end. In this calculation, printing conditions are added, such as incorporating the specific print production so that the paper type is continuous with other print productions, or incorporating the specific print production at the beginning of other job information. Here, "continuous paper type" refers to, for example, a specific print production being continuous with other print productions that use the same paper as the specific print production. In this embodiment, attention is focused on an event where the printing process has ended but another print production (hereinafter referred to as "reprint production" ) is required. The end time calculation unit 26 functions as an example of a calculation means that performs a process of calculating the end time when reprint production is performed. Note that the "necessary event" that is focused on is not an event such as a "paper jam" where the device can perform the work and reprint on the spot, but an event such as stains on the printed matter or a problem with post-processing.

[0020] The start time calculation unit 27 uses the end time calculated by the end time calculation unit 26 to calculate the latest start time (hereinafter referred to as the "latest start time") among the times to start each process of a specific printing manufacturing process that is in time for the delivery deadline. The continuity determination unit 28 determines to incorporate a specific print production into a certain print production by consecutively using paper types within a range that satisfies the delivery date. The control information determined by the continuity determination unit 28 is transmitted from the image information transmission unit 12b to each device. The continuity determination unit 28 functions as an example of a determination means for determining whether or not to consecutively perform a reprint production with another print production depending on whether or not the end time will be in time for the delivery date.

[0021] <Printing process flow for reprint manufacturing> Next, the flow of the printing process in reprint production will be described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for incorporating a re-print process by the print control device 10. Fig. 5 is a table showing an example of job information stored in the storage unit 13.

[0022] First, the paper information acquisition unit 24 shown in FIG. 3 acquires information that "the paper type used in the reprint process is (A)" from the control information of the reprint production having the delivery date acquired by the control information acquisition unit 23 (step 101). The processing time prediction unit 25 predicts the time required for each process of the print production process in the reprint production from the control information and the paper information acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 24 (step 102). For example, 30 minutes for the print process, 30 minutes for the post-processing, 30 minutes for the inspection, etc. Then, the start time calculation unit 27 calculates the latest start time (H) of the start of the reprint process using the information on the end time calculated by the end time calculation unit 26 (step 103). For example, if the delivery date of the job information acquired by the control information acquisition unit 23 is 17:00, and the end time calculation unit 26 calculates that the reprint production requires 1 hour and 30 minutes, the start time calculation unit 27 calculates the latest start time (H) of the reprint process as 15:30.

[0023] Next, the continuity determination unit 28 determines whether there is job information for which the printing process is scheduled to end before the latest start time (H) of the reprinting process, in other words, job information that satisfies [scheduled end time of the printing process < H] (step 104). If there is job information that satisfies [scheduled end time of the printing process < H] (YES in step 104), the continuity determination unit 28 determines whether there is job information that satisfies [paper type to be used is A] (step 105). For example, assume that there is a plurality of job information as shown in FIG. 5 as other job information. Other job information before the latest start time (H) of 15:30 of the reprinting process is job information IDs 100, 101, 102, 103, and 104. In this example, there will be job information that satisfies [paper type to be used is A].

[0024] In step 105, if there is job information that satisfies [paper type to be used is A] (YES in step 105), the continuity determination unit 28 incorporates the reprinting process immediately before the job information that satisfies [paper type to be used is A] (step 106). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the job information that satisfies [paper type to be used is A] is job information IDs 101 and 102. Therefore, in this example, the reprinting process is incorporated immediately before job information ID 101, and the process ends. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 5, since job information IDs 101 and 102 satisfy [scheduled end time of the printing process < H], the reprinting process may be incorporated not necessarily immediately before job information ID 101, but between job information ID 101 and job information ID 102, or after job information ID 102.

[0025] In step 104, if there is no job information that satisfies [scheduled end time of the printing process < H] (NO in step 104), the reprinting process is incorporated at the head so that it precedes any unprocessed job information (step 107), and the process ends. Also, in step 105, if there is no print processing information that satisfies [paper type A to be used] (NO in step 105), the information is added to the top so that the re-print processing takes precedence over any unprocessed job information (step 107), and the process ends.

[0026] <The flow of printing, post-processing, and inspection in reprint manufacturing> In the example shown in Figure 4, in reprint production, the paper types are organized so that they are continuous, focusing only on the printing process, but it is also possible to organize the paper types so that they are continuous within a range that meets the delivery deadline by focusing on other processes as well. 6-1 and 6-2 are flowcharts showing the procedure for incorporating reprint production by the print control device. Here, it is assumed that the paper information acquisition unit 24 has already acquired the paper type for reprint production from the job information acquired by the job information acquisition unit 21.

[0027] First, in FIG. 6-1, the processing time prediction unit 25 predicts the processing time of each process in the printing production process in the reprint production from the control information acquired by the control information acquisition unit 23 and the paper information acquired by the paper information acquisition unit 24 (step 201). For example, it is predicted that the printing process will take X minutes, the post-processing will take Y minutes, and the inspection will take Z minutes. Then, the continuity determination unit 28 judges whether or not to incorporate the reprint process by making the paper type continuous within a range that satisfies the delivery date (step 202). Here, the range that satisfies the delivery date is the range in which [current time]+X+Y+Z, which is calculated as the end time by the end time calculation unit 26, satisfies the delivery date.

[0028] In step 202, if a reprint process is to be incorporated with successive paper types (YES in step 202), end time calculation unit 26 calculates the scheduled process end time (L) of the print process as the sum of the scheduled process start time of the print process and the time required for the print process (X), and sets (L) = [scheduled process start time] + X (step 203). The reprint process is incorporated immediately before other job information with successive paper types. In step 202, if the paper type is not consecutive and reprint processing is not incorporated (NO in step 202), end time calculation unit 26 calculates the estimated process end time (L) of the print processing by adding the current time and the time required for the print processing (X), and sets (L) = [current time] + X (step 204). The reprint processing is incorporated at the beginning of the unprocessed job information so that the reprint processing takes precedence over any other job information.

[0029] The continuity determination unit 28 judges whether to incorporate post-processing again by making the paper types continuous based on the calculated estimated process end time (L) of the printing process within the range that satisfies the delivery date (step 205). Here, the range that satisfies the delivery date is the range in which the [estimated process end time (L)]+Y+Z calculated as the end time by the end time calculation unit 26 satisfies the delivery date. In step 205, if post-processing is to be performed again for consecutive paper types (YES in step 205), end time calculation unit 26 calculates the scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing process as the sum of the scheduled start time of the post-processing process and the time required for the post-processing (Y), and sets (M) = [scheduled start time of process] + Y (step 206). In step 205, if the paper type is consecutive and post-processing is not to be performed again (NO in step 205), the end time calculation unit 26 calculates the scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing process as the sum of the scheduled end time (L) of the printing process and the time required for post-processing (Y), and sets (M) = L + Y (step 207).

[0030] The continuity determination unit 28 judges whether to incorporate a second inspection by continuing the paper type based on the calculated scheduled process end time (M) of the post-processing within the range that satisfies the delivery date (step 208). Here, the range that satisfies the delivery date is the range in which the [scheduled process end time (M)]+Z calculated as the end time by the end time calculation unit 26 satisfies the delivery date. In step 208, if the paper type is to be consecutively inspected again (YES in step 208), the end time calculation unit 26 calculates the scheduled end time (N) of the inspection process as the sum of the scheduled start time of the inspection process and the time required for the inspection (Z), and sets (N) = [scheduled start time of the process] + Z (step 209). In step 208, if the paper type is consecutive and re-inspection is not included (NO in step 208), the end time calculation unit 26 calculates the scheduled end time (N) of the inspection process as the sum of the scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing process and the time required for inspection (Z), and sets (N) = M + Z (step 210). Note that the scheduled end time (N) is an example of the end time of reprint production calculated by adding the printing conditions.

[0031] The continuity determining unit 28 judges, based on the calculated scheduled process end time (N), whether or not the relationship [scheduled process end time (N)]<[delivery time] is satisfied (step 211). If the relationship [Scheduled process end time (N)]<[Delivery date time] is satisfied (YES in step 211), the reprint production will be completed in time for the delivery date, and the process ends.

[0032] In step 211, if the relationship [Scheduled process end time (N)]<[Delivery time] is not satisfied (NO in step 211), the process proceeds to step 212 in FIG. 6-2. The end time calculation unit 26 recalculates the scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing by adding the scheduled end time (L) of the printing process and the time required for the post-processing (Y), so that (M)=L+Y (step 212).

[0033] The continuity determining unit 28 determines whether or not to make the paper types continuous and incorporate a second inspection based on the newly calculated scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing within the range that satisfies the delivery deadline (step 213). In step 213, if inspection is to be performed again for consecutive paper types (YES in step 213), the end time calculation unit 26 re-calculates the scheduled end time (N) of the inspection process by adding the scheduled start time of the inspection process and the time required for inspection (Z), and sets (N) = [scheduled start time of the process] + Z (step 214). In step 213, if the paper type is not to be consecutively inspected again (NO in step 213), the end time calculation unit 26 re-calculates the scheduled end time (N) of the inspection process by adding the scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing process and the time required for inspection (Z), and sets (N) = M + Z (step 215).

[0034] Based on the newly calculated scheduled inspection process end time (N), the continuity determining unit 28 judges whether or not the relationship [scheduled process end time (N)]<[delivery time] is satisfied (step 216). If the relationship [Scheduled process end time (N)]<[Delivery date time] is satisfied (YES in step 216), the reprint production will be completed in time for the delivery date, and the process ends.

[0035] In step 216, if the condition [scheduled process end time (N)]<[delivery time] is not satisfied (NO in step 216), the end time calculation unit 26 re-calculates the scheduled process end time (L) of the printing process by adding the current time and the time required for the printing process (X), and sets (L)=[current time]+X (step 217). Next, the end time calculation unit 26 recalculates the scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing by adding the scheduled end time (L) of the printing process and the time required for the post-processing (Y), so that (M)=L+Y (step 218).

[0036] The continuity determining unit 28 determines whether to make the paper types continuous and incorporate a second inspection based on the newly calculated scheduled end time (M) of the post-processing within the range that satisfies the delivery deadline (step 219). In step 219, if the paper type is to be consecutively inspected again (YES in step 219), the end time calculation unit 26 re-calculates the scheduled end time of the inspection process (N) by adding the scheduled start time of the inspection process and the time required for the inspection (Z), and sets (N) = [scheduled start time of the process] + Z (step 220), and the processing ends. In step 219, if the paper type is not to be consecutively inspected again (NO in step 219), the end time calculation unit 26 re-calculates the scheduled end time of the inspection process (N) by adding the scheduled end time of the post-processing process (M) and the time required for inspection (Z), and sets (N) = M + Z (step 221), and the process ends.

[0037] In this way, if multiple or all processes of the reprinting production process are incorporated with successive paper types, there are cases where the deadline is not met. However, in this embodiment, the reprinting process is incorporated immediately before other printing processes with successive paper types, and the other reprinting processes are incorporated so that they end in time for the deadline. Alternatively, downstream processes of the reprinting production process are incorporated so that they are not continuous with other printing processes that use the same paper as the preceding reprinting production. These processes allow the reprinting production to end in time for the deadline. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1...printing control system, 10...printing control device, 11...control unit, 11a...CPU, 21...job information acquisition unit, 22...image information acquisition unit, 23...control information acquisition unit, 24...paper information acquisition unit, 25...processing time prediction unit, 26...end time calculation unit, 27...start time calculation unit, 28...continuity determination unit, 30...printing device, 40...post-processing device, 50...inspection device, 60...external device

Claims

1. a processor for controlling a print production process including printing and post-processing in a plurality of print productions; The processor, In response to an occurrence of an event in which the printing process has been completed but reprint production is required, Acquire information regarding paper type from printing production information of printing production having a delivery date; Predicting the time required for each process of the printing production process in the printing production; Calculate the end time of the reprinting production when the reprinting production is incorporated so as to be continuous with other printing productions that use the same paper as the reprinting production that requires the reprinting production; Control is performed to determine whether or not the reprint production is to be incorporated so as to be continuous with the other print production depending on whether or not the end time is in time for the delivery date. A control device comprising:

2. The processor, 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit for controlling the reprint production to be continuous with the other print production when the end time falls within the delivery date.

3. The processor, 3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the reprint production is controlled so as to occur immediately before the other print production.

4. The processor, The control device described in claim 1, characterized in that if the end date does not meet the delivery date, the reprint production is not executed consecutively with the other printing productions that use the same paper as the reprint production, and the reprint production is controlled so that it precedes any printing productions that have not been processed.

5. The processor, 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the reprint production is to be continued to the other print production is determined depending on each process of the print production process.

6. The processor, The control device according to claim 5, characterized in that, in all processes of the printing production process, if the reprint production is made continuous with the other printing production, the end time will not be in time for the delivery date, the control device is controlled to determine whether or not to make the reprint production continuous with the other printing production.

7. The processor, The control device according to claim 6, characterized in that the printing process of the printing production process is controlled so that the reprint production is performed immediately before the other printing production, and the other processes other than the printing process are controlled so that the end time is in time for the delivery date.

8. The processor, The control device according to claim 6, characterized in that, among the printing production processes, the reprint production is not performed consecutively with the other printing production processes that use the same paper as the reprint production, but downstream processing is performed first so that the completion time is in time for the delivery date.

9. A control system for controlling a printing production process including printing processing and post-processing in a plurality of printing production processes, the control system including a printing device and a post-processing device, In response to an occurrence of an event in which the printing process has been completed but reprint production is required, An acquisition means for acquiring information regarding paper type from printing production information of a printing production having a delivery date; A prediction means for predicting a time required for each process of the printing production process in the printing production; A calculation means for calculating the end time of the reprinting production when the reprinting production that requires the reprinting production is incorporated so as to be continuous with another printing production that uses the same paper as the reprinting production that requires the reprinting production, using the time predicted by the prediction means; a determination means for determining whether or not to incorporate the reprint production into the other print production so as to be continuous with the other print production depending on whether or not the end time calculated by the calculation means is in time for the delivery date; A control system comprising:

10. On the computer, A control program for implementing various functions of a printing production process including printing processing and post-processing in a plurality of printing production processes, In response to an occurrence of an event in which the printing process has been completed but reprint production is required, A function of acquiring information regarding paper type from printing production information of printing production having a delivery date; A function of predicting the time required for each process of the printing production process in the printing production; A function for calculating the end time of the reprinting production when the reprinting production that requires the reprinting production is incorporated so as to be continuous with other printing productions that use the same paper as the reprinting production; a function of controlling to determine whether or not to incorporate the reprint production into the other print production so as to make it continuous depending on whether or not the end time is in time for the delivery date; A control program to achieve this.

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