Printing device and method for producing printed matter

Abstract

To provide a printing device configured to eliminate the necessity of a step of making a user confirm consistency of print settings voluntarily.SOLUTION: When first printing data and second printing data are selected as collective printing targets to be collectively printed, and first print settings to be applied to printing of the first printing data and second print settings to be applied to printing of the second printing data do not match with each other, a printing device guides to a user a first procedure to match the first print settings and the second print settings with each other, and when the first printing data and the second printing data are selected as the collective printing targets and the first print settings and the second print settings match with each other, executes collective printing of the first printing data and the second printing data on the basis of the first procedure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a method for producing printed matter. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an image forming device that executes a print process based on a print job, stores setting values ​​that were used in the print process but are not included in the print job, and executes a reprint process using the setting values. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-262340 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, for example, in a situation where double-sided printing or layout printing is performed based on two print jobs, the user may need to actively pay attention to whether the settings of the print jobs are consistent with each other. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One embodiment is a printing device including: a storage medium that stores first print data, first print settings applied to printing the first print data, second print data, and second print settings applied to printing the second print data; a guidance unit that guides the user through a first procedure for making the first print settings and the second print settings consistent with each other when the first print data and the second print data are selected as targets for bulk printing in which the first print data and the second print data are printed together and the first print settings and the second print settings are inconsistent with each other; and a printing unit that performs bulk printing of the first print data and the second print data when the first print data and the second print data are selected as targets for bulk printing in which the first print settings and the second print settings are consistent with each other.

[0006] Another aspect is a method for producing a printed material that includes receiving an instruction from a user to specify first print data and second print data as targets for bundled printing in which the first print data and the second print data are printed together; if first print settings applied to printing the first print data and second print settings applied to printing the second print data are inconsistent with each other, guiding the user through a first procedure for making the first print settings and the second print settings consistent with each other; and, if the first print settings and the second print settings are consistent with each other, performing bundled printing of the first print data and the second print data to produce a printed material. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a print job. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a selection screen. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output setting screen. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guide screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of the guide screen. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining still another example of the guide screen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and duplicated explanations may be omitted.

[0009] As shown in Fig. 1, a printing device 10 according to an embodiment includes a storage medium 11, an input device 12, a display device 13, a communication interface (I / F) 14, a printing unit 15, and a processing circuit 20. The printing device 10 prints an image based on manuscript data on a sheet-like printing substrate. For example, the printing substrate includes at least one type selected from the group consisting of paper, resin, metal, ceramics, woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, etc. The printing device 10 has a so-called box function that stores manuscript data in the storage medium 11 and can be read and used when necessary.

[0010] The printing device 10 may be a multifunction device having a scanner function, a fax function, a copy function, etc. in addition to a printing function. That is, the printing device 10 may further include at least one other unit 16 selected from the group consisting of a scanner unit, a finisher, a speaker, a fax unit, etc.

[0011] The storage medium 11 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores various data and a program indicating a series of processes required for the operation of the processing circuit 20. Various media such as semiconductor memory and disk media can be used as the storage medium 11. The storage medium 11 may be composed of an integrated piece of hardware, or may be composed of multiple separate pieces of hardware.

[0012] It is assumed that storage medium 11 stores a plurality of print jobs J1 to Jn. Each of the plurality of print jobs J1 to Jn is information defining a job related to printing executed by printing device 10. The plurality of print jobs J1 to Jn is made up of a first print job J1, a second print job J2, ..., an n-th print job Jn, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the kth print job Jk includes the kth print data Dk and the kth print setting Tk. The kth print job Jk is any one of the multiple print jobs J1 to Jn. That is, k is an integer between 1 and n. Below, the kth print job Jk will be described as a representative of the multiple print jobs J1 to Jn. Descriptions of the other print jobs, such as the first print job J1 and the second print job J2, are equivalent to the description of the kth print job Jk with the ordinal number k replaced by an integer between 1 and n. The same applies to each of the kth print data Dk and the kth print setting Tk.

[0014] The k-th print data Dk is manuscript data. For example, the k-th print data Dk can be acquired from another electronic device via the communication I / F 14. The k-th print data Dk may be data representing a manuscript scanned by a scanner unit, or may be data representing a fax received by a fax unit.

[0015] The k-th print setting Tk is a setting that is required to be consistent among the setting data applied to the printing of the k-th print data Dk. The k-th print setting Tk may be obtained from another electronic device via the communication I / F 14, for example, or may be determined in the printing device 10. It may be stored in the header of the print job Jk, or may be stored as part of a data table that is a list of settings corresponding to all print data. For example, in the case of double-sided printing, the k-th print setting Tk is a "paper size" that means the size of the substrate, and a "paper type" that means the type of substrate. If the "paper type" is limited to 1 as a device, the k-th print setting Tk may be only a "paper size" that means the size of the substrate. In the following, for simplification, it is assumed that the "paper type" is limited to 1 as a device. Note that the data of the settings applied to the printing of the k-th print data Dk other than this print setting may include various settings such as "color" that means the print color, "print direction" that means the direction of the substrate, and "print quality" that means the quality of the print. Other settings of these print settings are printed using those stored with the print settings, but may not be mentioned below for brevity.

[0016] The input device 12 detects various operations by the user and outputs a signal corresponding to the user's operation to the processing circuit 20. As the input device 12, various input devices such as a push button, a touch sensor, a pointing device, etc. may be adopted. A microphone may be adopted as the input device 12 so that the processing circuit 20 detects the user's voice as the user's operation using a voice recognition technology.

[0017] The display device 13 displays various images on a screen according to the control by the processing circuit 20. As the display device 13, various display devices such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an organic electroluminescence display, etc. can be adopted. The input device 12 and the display device 13 may be a touch panel display integrally configured with each other. The display device 13 may be a projection type display device that displays an image on a screen by projecting light on the screen.

[0018] The communication I / F 14 is communicatively connected to an electronic device other than the printing device 10 by establishing a communication link with the electronic device, for example, in response to control by the processing circuit 20. The communication link may be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless. That is, the communication I / F 14 may be directly connected to the electronic device, or indirectly connected to the electronic device via another communication device. The communication I / F 14 may include, for example, an antenna for transmitting and receiving signals, a circuit for processing signals transmitted in the communication link, a receptacle into which a communication plug is inserted, and the like.

[0019] An electronic device connected to the communication I / F 14 can supply the k-th print job Jk to the printing device 10. Examples of electronic devices include communication terminals such as personal computers, tablet terminals, smartphones, and fax machines, as well as storage devices such as semiconductor memory devices and disk drives.

[0020] The printing unit 15 prints an image based on the manuscript data of the kth print job Jk on a sheet-shaped print medium in accordance with the control of the processing circuit 20. When the printing method of the printing unit 15 is an inkjet method, the printing unit 15 includes an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets onto the print medium, a transport mechanism that transports the print medium, and the like. The printing method of the printing unit 15 may be other methods such as an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic method, a dot impact method, a thermal method, or a thermal transfer method. Also, various fluids having other functions may be employed instead of ink.

[0021] The processing circuit 20 has a computer processing device that processes calculations necessary for the operation of the printing device 10. The processing circuit 20 realizes various functions of the processing circuit 20 described in the embodiment, for example, by executing a program stored in the storage medium 11. As a processing device constituting at least a part of the processing circuit 20, various logic operation circuits such as a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable logic device (PLD), and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) can be adopted. The processing circuit 20 may be composed of an integrated hardware, or may be composed of multiple separate hardware.

[0022] The processing circuit 20 has a logical structure including a display control unit 21, a guide unit 22, and a print control unit 23. The display control unit 21 generates various image data according to a program stored in the storage medium 11, for example. The display control unit 21 outputs the image data to the display device 13, thereby causing the display device 13 to display various images as a graphical user interface (GUI). Some of the functions of the display control unit 21 can be realized by, for example, a display control circuit including a rendering engine and a graphics memory.

[0023] For example, the display control unit 21 controls the display device 13 to display a home screen including various functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, a fax function, a box function, etc. as options to be selected by the user. The processing circuit 20 executes the box function in response to an operation on the input device 12 to select an option indicating the box function, for example.

[0024] 3, for example, in response to starting execution of the box function, the display control unit 21 causes the display device 13 to display a selection screen 31 including multiple print job buttons P1 to P6, a setting button Q1, and a print button Q2 as a GUI. The multiple print job buttons P1 to P6 include a first print job button P1 indicating a first print job J1, a second print job button P2 indicating a second print job J2, ..., a sixth print job button P6 indicating a sixth print job J6.

[0025] 3, each of the multiple print job buttons P1-P6 displays a phrase that identifies the corresponding print job, such as "Job 1" for the first print job button P1 and "Job 2" for the second print job button P2. In the example of FIG. 3, only six print job buttons P1-P6 are shown, but additional print job buttons are sequentially displayed on the selection screen 31 in response to a scroll operation on the input device 12. The number of print job buttons that can be displayed on the selection screen 31 may correspond to the number of multiple print jobs J1-Jn stored in the storage medium 11.

[0026] The display control unit 21 causes the display device 13 to display a selection screen 31 including a plurality of print job buttons corresponding to a plurality of print jobs J1 to Jn. This allows the user to switch between selection and non-selection of each print job button by operating the input device 12. The user can simultaneously select any number of print job buttons. Since the kth print job Jk has its own kth print data Dk, the display control unit 21 causing the display device 13 to display the selection screen 31 including a plurality of print job buttons means that the display device 13 displays a plurality of print data D1 to Dn as options to be selected by the user. As parts for selecting from the plurality of print jobs J1 to Jn, various other widgets can be adopted, not limited to buttons.

[0027] 3, the first print job button P1 and the second print job button P2 are each highlighted. This means that the first print job button P1 and the second print job button P2 are selected in response to an operation on the input device 12, and the first print job J1 and the second print job J2 are selected as jobs to be executed by the printing device 10. In other words, the first print data D1 and the second print data D2 are selected as data to be printed by the printing unit 15. Below, a case in which the first print job J1 and the second print job J2 are selected on the selection screen 31 will be described as an example.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, in response to the selection of a setting button Q1 by an operation on the input device 12, the display control unit 21 switches the screen displayed on the display device 13 as a GUI from a selection screen 31 to an output setting screen 32. The output setting screen 32 is a screen for setting the output form of a printed matter based on the print data selected on the selection screen 31. The output setting screen 32 includes, for example, a check box R1 for selecting double-sided printing, a check box R2 for selecting stapling, and a check box R3 for selecting bookbinding printing. The parts for selecting the output form are not limited to check boxes, and various other widgets such as buttons, drop-down lists, and context menus can be used. Furthermore, the output setting screen 32 includes a back button Q3 for returning to the selection screen 31.

[0029] The output setting screen 32 includes a drop-down list R4 for selecting detailed settings for at least one of the output formats, for example, double-sided printing, stapling, and bookbinding. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a binding method of "two places on the left" is selected as a detailed setting for stapling. The parts for selecting detailed settings are not limited to drop-down lists, and various other widgets such as buttons, check boxes, and context menus can be used. The output setting screen 32 may further include various widgets for selecting detailed settings for each output format, such as the binding direction for double-sided printing and bookbinding.

[0030] When batch printing is set, if the print settings corresponding to the print jobs selected from print jobs J1 to Jn on selection screen 31 are inconsistent with each other, guidance unit 22 guides the user through a first procedure for matching the print settings with each other. For example, when batch printing is set, if a first print job J1 and a second print job J2 are selected as the print jobs from print jobs J1 to Jn, guidance unit 22 determines whether the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 are consistent with each other.

[0031] Bulk printing is printing multiple print jobs together, and is an output format that requires that at least one setting item in the multiple print jobs match each other or satisfy a certain condition. For example, double-sided printing is bulk printing because it requires that the paper sizes of the multiple print settings match each other. Bulk printing is performed by a printing section that includes the printing unit 15 and the print control section 23.

[0032] In this embodiment, the setting items are "matched" means that the setting items satisfy a predetermined condition in the batch printing. For example, if "double-sided printing" is selected in the output settings, "A4" is set as the paper size of the first print setting T1, and "A3" is set as the paper size of the second print setting T2, these print settings are not matched. In this case, the paper sizes of the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 do not match each other, so at least one of the settings cannot be accurately reflected. Conversely, if "double-sided printing" is selected in the output settings, "A4" is set as the paper size of the first print setting T1, and "A4" is set as the paper size of the second print setting T2, the print settings are matched. Alternatively, if "double-sided printing" is selected in the output settings, "A4 plain paper" is set as the paper setting of the first print setting T1, and "A4 automatic" is set as the paper size of the second print setting T2, both can be printed on "A4 plain paper", so the print settings are matched. In the case of double-sided printing, even if the paper settings do not match in this way, the print settings are consistent if the condition that printing can be done on the same paper is satisfied.

[0033] 5, when the selected first print setting T1 and second print setting T2 are not consistent with each other, the guide unit 22 displays a guide screen 33 on the display device 13 as a GUI to guide the user through a first procedure for making the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 consistent with each other. The guide screen 33 includes an explanatory message such as, for example, "A4 is set for job 1, and A3 is set for job 2. Please unify the job settings to print on both sides." The explanatory message describes an explanation of the first procedure, such as setting items and setting values ​​that need to be changed to make the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 consistent with each other.

[0034] The guide screen 33 includes, for example, a first setting button X1 for selecting the first print setting T1 and a second setting button X2 for selecting the second print setting T2. In response to the selection of the first setting button X1 by an operation on the input device 12, the guide unit 22 changes the second print setting T2 to match the first print setting T1 as a first procedure. For example, the guide unit 22 changes the paper size of the second print setting T2 from A3 to A4, which is the paper size of the first print setting T1. As a result, the second print setting T2 is changed to a setting for reducing and printing the second print data D2 to fit A4. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a phrase indicating that the settings of the first print job J1 are adopted is displayed on the first setting button X1, such as "Print in accordance with the settings of job 1."

[0035] On the other hand, in response to the second setting button X2 being selected by an operation on the input device 12, the guide unit 22 changes the first print setting T1 to match the second print setting T2 as a first procedure. For example, the guide unit 22 changes the paper size of the first print setting T1 from A4 to A3, which is the paper size of the second print setting T2. As a result, the first print setting T1 is changed to a setting for enlarging and printing the first print data D1 to fit A3. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a phrase indicating that the settings of the second print job J2 are adopted is displayed on the second setting button X2, such as "Print in unified with the settings of job 2". By executing the first procedure, the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 are made consistent with each other.

[0036] Furthermore, the guidance screen 33 includes a back button Q3 for returning to the selection screen 31, and a print as is button Q4 for executing a print job without executing the first procedure. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a phrase such as "print as is" that means to maintain the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 in an inconsistent state is displayed on the print as is button Q4. When the print as is button Q4 is selected, the guidance unit 22 executes a second procedure that maintains the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 without changing them. In this way, the guidance unit 22 presents the guidance screen 33 via the display device 13 to guide the user through the first procedure and the second procedure.

[0037] 6, the guide unit 22 may display, as a GUI, on the display device 13 a guide screen 34 including a first setting button Y1, a second setting button Y2, and a third setting button Y3, each of which displays a phrase meaning a specific change to the print settings. The first setting button Y1 displays a phrase meaning to change the paper size of the second print data D2 from A3 to A4, such as "reduced print of job 2 to A4". The second setting button Y2 displays a phrase meaning to change the paper size of the first print data D1 from A4 to A3, such as "enlarged print of job 1 to A3".

[0038] Furthermore, the third setting button Y3 displays a phrase such as "Print job 1 on A3 at the same size", which means that the paper sizes, i.e., the scales, in the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 are not changed and the printing is performed uniformly on an A3 substrate. The third setting button Y3 is a button for selecting an exceptional process such as performing printing together using the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 that are incompatible with each other.

[0039] The print control unit 23 causes the printing unit 15 to execute a combined printing in which the first print data D1 and the second print data D2 are combined and printed using the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 that are matched to each other based on the first procedure. For example, when double-sided printing is selected in the output setting, one page of the first print data D1 is printed on one side of one print substrate, and one page of the second print data D2 is printed on the other side of the same print substrate. In addition, when a binding mark or staple is selected in the output setting, the printout of the first print data D1 and the printout of the second print data D2 may be bound together.

[0040] On the other hand, the print control unit 23 causes the print unit 15 to print the first print data D1 and the second print data D2 without combining them based on the second procedure. When the current print button Q4 is selected to execute the second procedure, the first print settings T1 and the second print settings T2, which are inconsistent with each other, are maintained. Therefore, since the print control unit 23 cannot execute combined printing, for example, the first print job J1 and the second print job J2 are executed sequentially as jobs independent of each other. As a result, for example, when double-sided printing is selected in the output settings, two independent printed products are created: one in which only the first print job J1 is printed on both sides, and one in which only the second print job J2 is printed on both sides.

[0041] An example of the operation of the printing device 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 7. The series of processes shown in Fig. 7 can be started, for example, when the processing circuit 20 starts executing the box function.

[0042] First, in step S1, the display control unit 21 causes the display device 13 to display a selection screen 31 including a plurality of print job buttons corresponding to a plurality of print jobs J1 to Jn. As a result, the display control unit 21 causes the display device 13 to display a plurality of print data D1 to Dn as options to be selected by the user. Furthermore, in response to selection of a setting button Q1 on the selection screen 31, the display control unit 21 causes the display device 13 to display an output setting screen 32 for setting the output form of a printed matter based on the selected print data.

[0043] In step S2, in response to the selection of the print button Q2 after one or more print data have been selected, the guide unit 22 determines whether or not multiple print data have been selected by the multiple print job buttons displayed in step S1. If multiple print data have been selected, the process proceeds to step S3, and if multiple print data have not been selected, i.e., if only one print data has been selected, the process proceeds to step S8.

[0044] In step S3, the guide unit 22 determines whether or not the settings selected on the output setting screen 32 displayed in step S1 request batch printing. If batch printing is requested, the guide unit 22 proceeds to step S4, and if batch printing is not requested, the guide unit 22 proceeds to step S8.

[0045] In step S4, the guide unit 22 determines whether the print settings corresponding to the multiple print data selected in step S2 are consistent with each other. If the multiple print settings are consistent with each other, the guide unit 22 proceeds to step S8, and if the print settings are not consistent with each other, the guide unit 22 proceeds to step S5.

[0046] In step S5, the guiding unit 22 causes the display device 13 to display a guidance screen 33 that provides guidance for matching. The guiding unit 22 guides the user through a first procedure for matching multiple print settings with each other, for example, by including a first setting button X1 and a second setting button X2 on the guidance screen 33. In addition, the guiding unit 22 guides the user through a second procedure for maintaining the multiple print settings without changing them, by including a current print button Q4 on the guidance screen 33.

[0047] In step S6, the guiding unit 22 determines whether or not to execute a matching process for multiple print settings, i.e., the first procedure, depending on the button selected on the guiding screen 33 displayed in step S5. If, for example, the first setting button X1 or the second setting button X2 is selected, i.e., the first procedure is to be executed, the guiding unit 22 advances the process to step S7. If, for example, the current print button Q4 is selected, i.e., the first procedure is not to be executed but the second procedure is to be executed, the guiding unit 22 advances the process to step S8.

[0048] In step S7, the guide unit 22 executes a first procedure for matching the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 with each other, for example, in response to the first setting button X1 or the second setting button X2. When the first setting button X1 is selected, the guide unit 22 changes the second print setting T2 to match the first print setting T1, and when the second setting button X2 is selected, the guide unit 22 changes the first print setting T1 to match the second print setting T2.

[0049] In step S8, the print control unit 23 produces a printed matter by executing printing of a print job on a print substrate based on the print data selected on the selection screen 31 and the procedures followed up to step S8. If bulk printing is requested and the settings are consistent from the beginning, bulk printing is performed. If bulk printing is requested and the settings are not consistent initially but are made consistent by the first procedure, bulk printing is performed. If bulk printing is not requested or the settings are not consistent by the second procedure, the print control unit 23 simply executes the selected print job. If only one print job is selected, that print job is printed as is.

[0050] As described above, the printing device 10 does not require a process in which the user voluntarily checks the consistency of the print settings, even if multiple print settings that are different from each other are selected, by guiding the user through the first procedure using the guidance unit 22. Furthermore, even if print settings that are inconsistent with each other are selected, the printing device 10 can execute batch printing after changing the print settings to be consistent with each other based on the first procedure. This makes it possible to easily execute batch printing in which multiple print data are printed continuously, even if print settings that are inconsistent with each other are selected.

[0051] Alternatively, the printing device 10 can print multiple print data individually without consolidating them, without changing inconsistent print settings based on the second procedure, by guiding the user through the guiding unit 22. This allows the printing device 10 to easily execute multiple print jobs in sequence, without changing the original print jobs J1 to Jn.

[0052] 8, the guide unit 22 may display a guide screen 35 as a GUI on the display device 13, which allows the user to select to perform batch printing only for print jobs having print settings that are consistent among the selected multiple print settings. Below, as a second embodiment, a case will be described in which the first print data D1, the second print data D2, and the third print data D3 are selected by the selection screen 31. Here, it is assumed that the first print setting T1 and the second print setting T2 are inconsistent with each other, and the first print setting T1 and the third print setting T3 are consistent with each other.

[0053] The guide screen 35 includes an explanatory message such as "A4 is set for job 1 and job 3. A3 is set for job 2. Please unify the job settings to perform bookbinding printing." The guide screen 35 includes, for example, a first setting button Z1 for selecting the first print setting T1 and the third print setting T3, and a second setting button Z2 for selecting the second print setting T2. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a phrase meaning to change the setting of job 2, such as "unify the settings of job 1 and job 3 and print", is displayed on the first setting button Z1. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 8, a phrase meaning to change the settings of job 1 and job 3, such as "unify the settings of job 2 and print", is displayed on the second setting button Z2. In response to the selection of the first setting button Z1, the guide unit 22 changes the second print setting T2 to match the first print setting T1 and the third print setting T3 as the first procedure. On the other hand, in response to the second setting button Z2 being selected, the guide unit 22 changes the first print setting T1 and the third print setting T3 to match the second print setting T2 as a first procedure.

[0054] The guidance screen 35 includes a back button Q3, a partial consolidation button Q5 for executing consolidation printing for some of the selected print jobs, and an individual print button Q6 for executing the selected print jobs individually. When the partial consolidation button Q5 is selected, the guidance unit 22 maintains the first print setting T1, the second print setting T2, and the third print setting T3 without changing them, and executes the third procedure for planning partial consolidation printing. On the other hand, when the individual print button Q6 is selected, the guidance unit 22 maintains the first print setting T1, the second print setting T2, and the third print setting T3 without changing them, and executes the second procedure for planning individual printing.

[0055] Based on the third procedure, the print control unit 23 causes the print unit 15 to print the first print data D1 and the third print data D3 together, and causes the print unit 15 to print the second print data D2 without combining the first print data D1 and the third print data D3. That is, the print control unit 23 executes combined printing for the first print job J1 and the third print job J3, and executes the second print job J2 individually as an independent job. On the other hand, based on the second procedure, the print control unit 23 causes the print unit 15 to print the first print data D1, the second print data D2, and the third print data D3 without combining them. That is, the print control unit 23 executes the first print job J1, the second print job J2, and the third print job J3 as jobs independent of each other.

[0056] In this way, even if only some of the multiple print settings are consistent with each other, the printing device 10 can execute collective printing for only the mutually consistent print settings based on the third procedure, by guiding the user through the third procedure using the guidance unit 22. This allows the printing device 10 to execute collective printing for multiple print data within a range in which each print setting and output setting is accurately reflected.

[0057] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these disclosures. The configuration of each part may be replaced with any configuration having a similar function, and the configuration of each part may be realized by one part or a combination of multiple parts. For example, when a user inputs data into the user's computer, the input device 12 may detect the user's operation by communicating with the computer, and the display device 13 may display data on the screen of the computer by communicating with the user's computer. Furthermore, any configuration in each embodiment may be omitted or added within the technical scope of the present invention. Various alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from these disclosures.

[0058] The manner in which the guidance unit 22 provides guidance is not limited to the above, and many other methods can be adopted. For example, the first procedure guided by the guidance unit 22 may be such that the settings are automatically changed and aligned when the user operates one button, or a setting screen provided for changing settings including the setting may be displayed when the user operates one button, and the user may change the settings on the setting screen by himself / herself. Furthermore, printing may be performed automatically when the print settings are aligned, or printing may be started when the user instructs to execute printing again. Even when the print settings are aligned and the print settings that were not aligned at first become aligned with each other, the guidance unit 22 may continue to display the current print button Q4 that displays "Print as is," and when the current print button Q4 is selected, printing may be performed according to the print settings and other settings at that time. That is, if the print settings are aligned by the first means when the current print button Q4 is selected, the collective printing is performed. Furthermore, the guidance unit 22 may guide the user by voice via a speaker, and may receive the user's voice response via a microphone.

[0059] Many types of combined printing can be adopted, such as double-sided printing, bookbinding printing, and layout printing. The settings to be aligned for combined printing are determined depending on the type of combined printing, and may be one type or multiple types. Various settings such as paper size, paper type, and paper orientation can be considered. Furthermore, various items such as print speed, rendering method, and watermark type can be adopted as other settings.

[0060] Furthermore, the printing device 10 may be provided with the k-th print job Jk from a storage device connected via a network such as the Internet. In this manner, for example, at least some of the functions of the storage medium 11 and the processing circuit 20 may be provided from a server connected via a network. Also, the input device 12 and the display device 13 may be separate from the printing device 10. For example, a smartphone capable of communicating with the printing device 10 may serve as the input device 12 and the display device 13.

[0061] In addition, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments not described above, such as configurations in which the above-mentioned configurations are mutually applied, etc. The technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention-specifying matters related to the scope of the claims that are appropriate from the above explanation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10...printing device, 11...storage medium, 12...input device, 13...display device, 14...communication I / F, 15...printing unit, 20...processing circuit, 21...display control unit, 22...guidance unit, 23...printing control unit, 31...selection screen, 32...output setting screen, 33, 34, 35...guidance screen, D1 to Dn, Dk...print data, J1 to Jn, Jk...print job, P1 to P6...print job button, Q1...setting button, Q2...print button, Q3...back button, Q4...print current button, Q5...partial merge button, Q6...individual print button, T1 to Tn, Tk...print settings, X1, Y1, Z1...first setting button, X2, Y2, Z2...second setting button, Y3...third setting button.

Claims

1. First print data, first print settings to be applied to printing the first print data, and second print data a storage medium for storing a second print setting to be applied to printing the second print data; The first print data and the second print data are to be printed together. and if the first print setting and the second print setting are inconsistent with each other, a guide section for guiding a user through a first procedure for matching the print setting and the second print setting with each other; and, The first print data and the second print data are printed together as a batch print target. and if the first print setting and the second print setting are consistent with each other, a printing unit for performing collective printing of the first print data and the second print data; Equipped with The guide unit guides the user to the first procedure and the first and second print settings. Further instructing the user on a second procedure for maintaining each of the above without modification; In response to the second procedure being performed, the printing unit prints the first print data and the A printing device that prints two pieces of print data without combining them.

2. First print data, first print settings applied to printing the first print data, and second print data a storage medium for storing a second print setting to be applied to printing the second print data; The first print data and the second print data are to be printed together. and if the first print setting and the second print setting are inconsistent with each other, a guide section for guiding a user through a first procedure for matching the print setting and the second print setting with each other; and, The first print data and the second print data are printed together as a batch print target. and if the first print setting and the second print setting are consistent with each other, a printing unit for performing collective printing of the first print data and the second print data; Equipped with The storage medium stores third print data and a third print instruction applied to printing the third print data. Save your settings The guide unit is configured to select the first print data, the second print data, and the third print data. the first print setting and the second print setting are inconsistent with each other, and the third print setting are consistent with each other, The user is further guided through a third procedure for maintaining each of the three print settings without changing them. 、 The print control unit, in response to the third procedure being performed, 3 print data is printed together, and the second print data is printed together with the first print data and the 3. A printing device that prints without combining print data.

3. The batch printing includes printing the first print data on one side of a sheet of printing material, and 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising printing the printing data on the other side of the one of the printing substrates. Printing equipment.

4. The collective printing includes printing the first print data and printing the second print data.

3. The printing apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a stapling function.

5. The first procedure changes the second print settings to match the first print settings.

5. The printing device of claim 1 , further comprising:

6. Each of the first print setting and the second print setting includes a size of a substrate. Item 6. A printing device according to item 5.

7. A target of the combined printing for printing the first print data and the second print data together from the user and accepting an instruction to A first print setting applied to printing the first print data and a second print setting applied to printing the second print data If the applied second print settings are inconsistent with each other, the first print settings and the second print settings are guiding the user through a first procedure for aligning settings with one another; When the first print setting and the second print setting are consistent with each other, the first print data and and producing a printed product by collating and printing the second print data. In the first procedure, the first print setting and the second print setting are changed. further instructing the user on a second procedure for maintaining the registration without In response to the second procedure being performed, Print them separately, A method for producing printed matter comprising:

8. A target for batch printing in which first print data and second print data are printed together from a user. and accepting an instruction to A first print setting applied to printing the first print data and a second print setting applied to printing the second print data If the applied second print settings are inconsistent with each other, the first print settings and the second print settings are guiding the user through a first procedure for aligning settings with one another; When the first print setting and the second print setting are consistent with each other, the first print data and and producing a printed product by collating and printing the second print data. and further storing third print data and third print settings to be applied to printing the third print data. And, The guide unit is configured to select the first print data, the second print data, and the third print data. the first print setting and the second print setting are inconsistent with each other, and the third print setting are consistent with each other, The user is further guided through a third procedure for maintaining each of the three print settings without changing them. And, The print control unit, in response to the third procedure being performed, 3 print data is printed together, and the second print data is printed together with the first print data and the 3. Printing without combining with print data A method for producing printed matter comprising:

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