Abstract:
By executing an ordering program which causes a computer to work as process sequence storage unit  15   c , display item setting unit  15   d , order-screen creating unit  15   f , order history information storing unit  15   i , and display mode changing unit  15   j , an ordering screen displays only items that were selected in previous steps and items that are set according to the result of previous selections and selectable in the current step. Further, the screen shows preset options or options recommended in reference to order history information. Therefore, the operator can place orders just by selecting options on the screen even the operator is unaccustomed to the terminal.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     This invention relates to print-production method and print-production system which produce photo prints according to order information, photo-print order form, photo envelope, and print products.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A conventional print-production system which produces prints of photos, postcards, and seals to orders has returned print products and negative films together in a specific envelope (or bag) to a customer who placed the order. (For example, see Patent Document 1.)  
         [0003]     This envelope contains a photo-print order form to be filled in a customer (or a person who places a print order here) or shop clerk. This form contains ordering items such as customer name, phone number, order date, frame numbers to be printed out, print sizes, number of prints, and so on. When re-ordering, the customer writes-a new order in this form and hands to a clerk in the print shop. To this order, the shop clerk produces prints using a print-producing apparatus.  
         [0004]     Patent Document 1:Japanese Patent Publication Open to Public Inspection No. H10-20408  
         [0005]     However, the conventional print-production method has required shop clerks to check the content (or print products) of photo envelopes to the order information written on the envelopes. This checking work is very time consuming and complicated. For print shops that handle lots of print orders, this is one of problems to be solved.  
         [0006]     Recently, various packing devices have been developed to automatically sort and pack print products. When using this kind of packing device in the print-production system, the shop clerk must unpack the envelop, take out print products from the envelop, check them according to the order information, and put the checked print products again into the envelope. In other words, the print products must be packed twice. This reduces the working efficiency.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     An object of this invention is to solve the above problem, that is, to facilitate checking of print products to order information and increase the efficiency in print production works.  
         [0008]     (1) This invention provides a print-production method for producing photo prints by a print-producing apparatus according to order information written on a photo-print order form, wherein the print-production method contains  
         [0009]     a first recording process of recording the order information in an information recording field of the photo-print order form whose electronic information can be read and written without touching it,  
         [0010]     a print-producing process of producing photo prints by a print-producing apparatus according to the order information,,  
         [0011]     a second recording process of-writing print-production information in the information recording field (in which electronic information can be written and read without touching the field) provided on each print product,  
         [0012]     a reading process of reading order information from the information recording field of the photo-print order form and the information recording field of each print product,  
         [0013]     a discriminating process of comparing the order information by the print-production information and checking whether they match each other, and  
         [0014]     an alarming process of outputting an alert message telling “The print product does not satisfy the order” when the discriminating means finds the print-production information does not match the order information.  
         [0015]     (2) This invention provides a print-production system comprising an ordering terminal which receives print orders from order information written on photo-print order forms and a print-producing apparatus which produces photo prints, wherein each order form and each print product contains an information recording field in which electronic information is written and read without touching the field,  
         [0016]     the print-producing apparatus is composed of a first recording device of printing print-production information in the information recording field of the print product, and  
         [0017]     the ordering terminal or print-producing apparatus further composes  
         [0018]     a second recording device of recording order information in the information recording field of the photo-print order form,  
         [0019]     a reading device of reading order information from the information recording field of the photo-print order form and print-production information from the information recording field of each print product which is produced by the print-producing apparatus,  
         [0020]     a discriminating device of comparing the order information by the print-production information and checking whether they match each other, and  
         [0021]     an alarming device of outputting an alert message telling “The print product does not satisfy the order” when the discriminating device finds the print-production information does not match the order information.  
         [0022]     In accordance with structures (1) and (2) of this invention, the print-production information read from the information recording field of each print product is compared by the order information read from the information recording field of each photo-print order form and an alert message is output when the print-production information does not match the order information. This can go without operator&#39;s checking works and increase the print production efficiency.  
         [0023]     (3) The print-production method of structure (1) of this invention further contains a third recording process of writing the print-production information which was read from the information recording field of the print product in the reading process in the information recording field of the photo-print order form when the discriminating process founds that the print-production information matches the order information.  
         [0024]     (4) The second recording device in the print-production method of structure (2) of this invention writes the print-production information which was read from the information recording field of the print product by the reading device in the information recording field of the photo-print order form when the discriminating means founds that the print-production information matches the order information.  
         [0025]     In accordance with structures (3) and (4) of this invention, the print-production information is written in the information recording field of the photo-print order form when the print-production information matches the order information. Histories of orders and print-productions can easily be managed.  
         [0026]     (5) The print-producing apparatus in the print-production method of structure (3) of this invention uses the print-production information, or order and print-production information which is recorded in the information recording field of the print product to produce re-ordered prints.  
         [0027]     (6) The print-producing system in the print-production method of structure (4) of this invention uses the print-production information, or order and print-production information which is recorded in the information recording field of the print product to produce re-ordered prints.  
         [0028]     In accordance with structures (5) and (6) of this invention, re-ordered prints can be produced in the same ordering and printing conditions as the previous conditions since reordering is processed using the print-production information and/or order information which is recorded in the information recording field of the print product.  
         [0029]     (7) In the print-production method of any one of structures (1), (3), and (5) of this invention, the second recording process writes the print-production information in the information recording field of every print product belonging to a single print order.  
         [0030]     (8) In the print-production system of any one of structures (2), (4), and (6) of this invention, the first recording device writes the print-production information in the information recording field of every print product belonging to a single print order.  
         [0031]     In accordance with structures (7) and (8) of this invention, the print-production information is written in the information recording field of every print product belonging to a single print order. The relationship between the order and the print products can easily be checked.  
         [0032]     ( 9 ) In the print-production method of any one of structures (1), (3), and (5) of this invention, the second recording process writes the print-production information in the information recording field of each of some print products belonging to a single print order.  
         [0033]     (10) In the print-production system of any one of structures (2), (4), and (6) of this invention, the first recording device writes the print-production information in the information recording field of each of some print products belonging to a single print order.  
         [0034]     In accordance with structures (9) and (10) of this invention, the print-production information is written in the information recording field of each of some print products belonging to a single print order. This can write only information required to check the relationship between order information and print-production information and increase the print-production efficiency.  
         [0035]     (11) in the print-production method of any one of structures (1), (3), (5), (7), and (9) of this invention, the photo-print order form is attached to a photo envelope which can store print products. The reading process reads order information from the information recording field of the photo-print order form and print-production information of the information recording field of each print product before the print products were put into the envelope.  
         [0036]     (12) In the print-production system of any one of structures (2), (4), (6), (8), and (10) of this invention, the photo-print order form is attached to a photo envelope which can store print products. The reading device reads order information from the information recording field of the photo-print order form and print-production information of the information recording field of each print product before the print products were put into the envelope.  
         [0037]     In accordance with structures (11) and (12) of this invention, order information and print-production information are read before the print products are put into the envelope. Therefore, it is possible to check the relationship between the order information and the print-production information before print products are put into the envelope.  
         [0038]     (13) In the print-production method of any one of structures (1), (3), (5), (7), and (9) of this invention, the photo-print order form is attached to a photo envelope which can store print products. The reading process reads order information from the information recording field of the photo-print order form and print-production information of the information recording field of each print product after the print products were put into the envelope.  
         [0039]     (14) In the print-production system of any one of structures (2), (4), (6), (8), and (10) of this invention, the photo-print order form is attached to a photo envelope which can store print products. The reading device reads order information from the information recording field of the photo-print order form and print-production information of the information recording field of each print product after the print products were put into the envelope.  
         [0040]     In accordance with structures (13) and (14) of this invention, order information and print-production information are read after the print products are put into the envelope. Therefore, it is possible to check the relationship between the order information and the print-production information after print products are put into the envelope.  
         [0041]     (15) The photo-print order form of this invention on which print order information is written contains an information recording field in which electronic information is written or read without touching the field. Print order information is written in this field.  
         [0042]     In accordance with structure (15) of this invention, order information can be written as electronic information, on the photo-print order form.  
         [0043]     (16) A photo envelope of this invention contains a photo-print order form to record print order information in the information recording field in which electronic information can be read and written without touching the field.  
         [0044]     In accordance with structure (16) of this invention, a photo envelope can provide a photo-print order form on which order information can be recorded as electronic information.  
         [0045]     (17) In this invention, an information recording field is provided in which electronic information can be read and written without touching the field. Print-production information on production of photo prints is recorded in this information recording field.  
         [0046]     In accordance with structure (17) of this invention, print-production information can be recorded, as electronic information, on print products. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0047]      FIG. 1  shows a configuration of print-production system  1  which is a preferred embodiment of this invention.  
         [0048]      FIG. 2  shows photo-print order form F which is printed on the surface of photo envelope B.  
         [0049]      FIG. 3  shows a functional configuration of RFID tag  10  in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 4  shows an example of data record which is written in RFID tag  10 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 5  shows a functional configuration of reader/writer  50 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 6  shows the internal configuration of print-producing apparatus  100  which is viewed from the front side.  
         [0053]      FIG. 7  shows how RFID tags  20  are embedded in print paper P.  
         [0054]      FIG. 8 ( a ) shows a schematic top view of exposing device  200 .  FIG. 8 ( b ) shows a schematic front view of exposing device  200 .  
         [0055]      FIG. 9  shows an example of provision of readers  241 a on the surface of transfer roller  241 .  FIG. 9 ( a ) shows an example of provision of a plurality of loop antennae (r) connected in series on transfer roller  241 .  FIG. 9 ( a ) shows an example of provision of a single loop antenna (r) on the entire surface of transfer roller  241 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 10  shows an example of print product S.  
         [0057]      FIG. 11  shows an example of print-production information to be recorded in RFID tag  20  which is embedded in print product S.  
         [0058]      FIG. 12  shows an explanatory flow chart of print production in print-production system  1 .  
         [0059]      FIG. 13 ( a ) shows photo envelope B and print products S before print products S are put into the envelope.  FIG. 13 ( b ) shows photo envelope B which contains print products S.  
         [0060]      FIG. 14  shows an example of an alert message displayed on the display means of ordering terminal  40 .  
         [0061]      FIG. 15  shows an example of configuration of print-production system  2  comprising exposing device  200 , developing device  300 , and cutting device  800  which are separately provided.  
         [0062]      FIG. 16  shows the internal configuration of exposing device  200  in the system of  FIG. 15  which is viewed from the front side. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0063]     Below will be explained the preferred embodiments of this invention with reference to accompanying drawings.  
         [0064]     The preferred embodiment uses an example of a print-production system. This system uses an automatic wireless identification technology called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In this system, a wireless IC (Integrated Circuit) tag whose electronic information can be read and write without touching to each of photo-print order forms and print products. The RFID tag attached to the photo-print order form records order information and the RFID tag attached to the print product records print-production information. When print products are put into a photo envelope which contains a photo-print order form, the print-production information recorded in the RFID tag of the print product is compared by order information recorded in the RFID tag of the photo-print order form to check whether they match with each other.  
         [0065]     First will be explained the configuration of the system.  
         [0066]      FIG. 1  shows a configuration of print-production system  1  which is a preferred embodiment of this invention.  
         [0067]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , print-production system  1  is composed of ordering terminal  40  which accepts and manages print orders by photo envelopes B on which photo-print order form F is printed and print-producing apparatus  100  which produces print products S to the print orders. Ordering terminal  40  is connected to print-producing apparatus  100  with cable C to transfer information to and from each other.  
         [0068]     Next will be explained photo envelope B.  
         [0069]     Photo envelope B is so designed to hold print products (such as photos, postcards, and recording medium) S that are produced by print-producing apparatus  100 . Photo envelope B has a photo-print order form F printed on the surface to record order information.  
         [0070]      FIG. 2  shows photo-print order form F which is printed on the surface of photo envelope B.  
         [0071]     As seen from  FIG. 2 , photo-print order form F has entry field F 1  to record the name, phone number, and e-mail address of a person who places a print order in the upper left part of the form. An order ID and its barcode F 2  are printer in the upper right part of the order form to identify a print order. Below the barcode field is printed a print shop information field F 3  to record the name, phone number, and address of a print shop.  
         [0072]     In the central part of the order form is provided a field F 4  to enter print order information such as date of ordering, scheduled print-finish date, number of prints, print size, print orientation, print type (such as Photo, Postcard, Print, and Recording medium like CD-R), print charge, process method (such as Close-up and Trimming), payment type (such as payment at the shop and payment through a bank transfer), print-product handing method (such as Receive at the ordering shop and Receive through a parcel delivery service), and information on dispatching the print products.  
         [0073]     Photo-print order form F has RFID IC tag  10  bonded or embedded in the lower right corner of the form. IC tag  10  records order information as electronic information and a reader/writer is used to read data from and write data in the IC tag.  
         [0074]      FIG. 3  shows a functional configuration of IC tag  10  (short for RFID IC tag).  
         [0075]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , IC tag  10  has antenna  11 , transmission/reception circuit  12 , power supply circuit  13 , control circuit  14 , and memory  15 . This embodiment uses an electromagnetic induction system to communicate with IC tag  10 . However, any communication system can be used such as electromagnetic coupling system, microwave communication system, and optical communication system.  
         [0076]     Antenna  11  is a loop antenna which receives a electric wave signal from a reader/writer and sends the signal to transmission/reception circuit  12 . Further, antenna  11  receives a signal from transmission/reception circuit  12  and transmits it to the reader/writer.  
         [0077]     Transmission/reception circuit  12  receives a signal from antenna  11 , demodulates it, and sends the result to control circuit  14 . Further, transmission/reception circuit  12  receives a signal from control circuit  14 , modulates and amplifies the signal, and sends the result to antenna  11 .  
         [0078]     Power supply circuit  13  receives an electric wave from print-producing apparatus  100  via antenna  11 , converts it into a voltage, and supplies power to respective components in the IC tag  10 .  
         [0079]     Control circuit  14  receives a signal from transmission/reception circuit  12  and writes (or records) information in memory  15 . Further, control circuit  14  reads information from memory  15  and sends a signal to transmission/reception circuit  12  to modulate and multiply the read information (signal).  
         [0080]     As  FIG. 4  shows an example of recording data in memory, memory  15  stores various kinds of print order information (such as order ID, date of ordering, number of prints ordered, frame number or file name to be printed, print size, print type, print orientation, process condition, print charge, and payment type) and customer information (such as name, phone number, and mail address of a person who placed the order).  
         [0081]     Next will be explained ordering terminal  40 .  
         [0082]     Ordering terminal  40  has a display device, an input unit, and reader/writer  50  which reads information from and writes information in IC tag  10 . Ordering terminal  40  can be an information processing unit such as a personal computer and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).  
         [0083]     When receiving a print order, the operator enters order information in the ordering terminal  40 , records the order information in IC tag  10  embedded in photo-print order form F via reader/writer  50  and sends the order information to print-producing apparatus  100 . When the ordered prints are produced, the operator enters order information which is read from IC tag  10  on photo-print order form F (via reader/writer  50 ) and print-production information which is read from IC tag  10  of print products S into ordering terminal  40 . Ordering terminal  40  compares print-production information by order information and discriminates whether they match with each other. When these kinds of information match with each other, the ordering terminal  40  writes the print-production information in IC tag  10  of the photo-print order form F by means of the reader/writer  50 . If they do not match, the ordering terminal  40  outputs an alert message to a display device.  
         [0084]     Below will be explained reader/writer  50 .  
         [0085]     Reader/writer  50  works as a reading device and a second recording device. Reader/writer  50  writes information in IC tag  10  of photo-print order form F and IC tag  20  of print product S and reads information from IC tags  10  and  10 .  
         [0086]      FIG. 5  shows a functional configuration of reader/writer  50 .  
         [0087]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , reader/writer  50  has antenna  51 , transmission/reception circuit  52 , control circuit  53 , and interface (I/F)  54 .  
         [0088]     Antenna  51  receives an electric wave signal from an IC tag and outputs the signal to transmission/reception circuit  162 . Further, antenna  51  receives a signal transmission/reception circuit  52  and transmits the signal to IC tag  10 .  
         [0089]     Transmission/reception circuit  52  receives a signal from antenna  51 , demodulates it, and outputs the resulting signal to control circuit  53 . Further, transmission/reception circuit  52  received a signal from control circuit  53 , modulates and multiplies it, and outputs the resulting signal to antenna  51 .  
         [0090]     Control circuit  53  receives a signal from transmission/reception circuit  52  and outputs this signal to interface circuit (I/F)  54  together with a signal to instruct the interface circuit to transmit the signal to the ordering terminal  40 . Interface circuit (I/F) transfers information to and from the ordering terminal  40 . The control circuit  53  receives a signal (to be written in IC tag  10 ) from the ordering terminal  40  via I/F  54  and outputs the signal to transmission/reception circuit  52  together with a signal to modulate and multiply the signal.  
         [0091]     Next will be explained print-producing apparatus  100 .  
         [0092]     Print-producing apparatus  100  receives order information from the ordering terminal  40 , produces prints according to image information instructed by the operator according to the order information, and output print products S. A print-production example below assumes that sensitive materials are exposed and developed to produce print products S. However, it is apparent that print production can contain non-photo productions such as negative film printing, postcard printing, and recording image information on recording media.  
         [0093]      FIG. 6  shows the internal configuration of print-producing apparatus  100  which is viewed from the front side.  
         [0094]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , print-producing apparatus  100  has host computer  110  which collectively controls components of the print-producing apparatus  100 , exposing device  200  which exposes photographic paper P to light according to exposure image information output from the host computer  100 , developing device  300  which develops the exposed paper P, sorter  400  which sorts the developed print products, and film scanner  600 . The dotted transfer route R in  FIG. 6  indicates a route on which photographic paper is delivered.  
         [0095]     Photographic paper P for print-production will be explained below with reference to  FIG. 8 .  
         [0096]      FIG. 8  shows an external view of paper P. As shown in  FIG. 8 , paper P is a roll of paper sheet which includes a base layer and a photosensitive layer made of a photosensitive material such as silver halide.  
         [0097]     Paper P provides IC tags  20  at a preset interval in the center of line perpendicular to the movement of the paper. IC tags can be attached to the paper in any manner unless it spoils the picture quality. For example, they can be bonded to the base layer or embedded between the photosensitive layer and the base layer of paper.  
         [0098]     IC tag  20  is an information recording field which records print-production information as electronic information and the same as IC tag  10  in function and structure. (For details. see the above description and drawing of IC tag  10 .)  
         [0099]     IC tag  20  has antenna, transmission/reception circuit, power supply circuit, control circuit, and memory and can be read and written by a reader/writer.  
         [0100]     Here, IC tag  20  records information on paper P when paper P is produced. The paper information contains a lot number, paper dimensions (such as width, length, and thickness), paper finishing (such as glossy finish and matt finish), paper developing type (such as type of chemical), and paper property which are determined when the paper is produced.  
         [0101]     Next will be explained how each component works in print-producing apparatus  100 .  
         [0102]     First will be explained host computer  110 .  
         [0103]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , host computer  110  is composed of keyboard  120 , media reader  140 , CD (Compact Disk) drive unit  150 , flat-bed scanner  170 , touch-sensitive panel  180 , and all-in-one monitor  190 .  
         [0104]     Host computer  110  receives order information from ordering terminal  40 , processes image information this is read from printed photos by flat-bed scanner  170 , from films by film scanner  600  or from media reader  140  or a record medium mounted on CD drive unit  150  according to the order information, creates image information for exposure, and sends it to exposing device  200 .  
         [0105]     Next will be explained exposing device  200 .  
         [0106]      FIG. 8 ( a ) shows a schematic top view of exposing device  200 .  FIG. 8 ( b ) shows a schematic front view of exposing device  200 .  
         [0107]     As shown in these drawings, exposing device  200  has paper transfer section  240  which delivers paper P from paper magazine  210  to exposure field  250 , cutting device  800  which cuts paper P coming from magazine  210  at a timing instructed by host computer  110 , and exposing section  250  which exposes the paper pieces (P) into which the paper was cut by the cutting device  800 .  
         [0108]     Paper transfer section  240  has transfer roller pairs  241  which deliver paper P coming from magazine  210 , transfer roller pairs  242  and  244  which delivers paper pieces which were cut by cutting device  800 , transfer guide  243 , and transfer roller pairs  245  to  248  which deliver paper pieces through exposing section  250 .  
         [0109]     Transfer roller pairs  241 ,  242 , and  244  are cylindrical roller and transfer roller pairs  244  to  248  are grooved rollers.  
         [0110]     Transfer roller pair  241  contains reader  241 a which detects each IC tag  20  embedded in paper P. This detection is performed to prevent IC tags  20  on paper P from being cut by the cutting device  800  and control cutting timing so that each paper piece may always contain at least one IC tag  20 .  
         [0111]     As shown in  FIG. 9 ( a ), reader  241   a  has loop antenna r and a transmission/reception circuit (not shown in the drawing). Two or more loop antennae r are connected in series along the width of transfer roller pair  241 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 9 ( b ), it is possible to provide a single loop antenna r on the entire surface of transfer roller pair  241 .  
         [0112]     Reader  241   a  receives paper information from IC tag  20  via loop antenna r and sends the paper information to host computer  110  together with information (signal) indicating the detection of IC tag  20 . From detection information sent from IC tag  20  via reader  241   a  and a printout condition specified by the order information, host computer  110  determines a paper cutting position or a timing at which the cutting device  800  cuts paper P and sends the timing information to the cutting device  800 .  
         [0113]     The cutting device  800  has two cutters  810 ,  820  which independently cut two paper sheet supplied from two magazines  210  at individual specified timings. The cutting device  800  cuts paper P at a specified timing sent from host computer  110 . The cut paper pieces P are delivered to exposing section  250 .  
         [0114]     The exposing section  250  is equipped with blue-light emitting head  251 , green-light emitting head  252 , and red-light emitting head  253 . These heads are provided so that their main scanning directions may be perpendicular to the movement of paper P. Each of the blue and green-light emitting heads  251 ,  252  is a VFPH (Vacuum Fluorescent Print Head) having two lines of light-emitting dots which are disposed perpendicularly to the movement of paper transfer section  240 . The red-light emitting head  253  is an LED array (Light Emitting Diode array) having one line of light-emitting dots which is disposed perpendicularly to the movement of paper transfer section  240 .  
         [0115]     Blue, green and red lights from the light emitting heads  251 ,  252 ,  253  are respectively focused to the cut paper piece P through the self-focusing lens (Selfocus lens) for exposure. After the paper piece P is exposed, writer  260  writes print-production information in IC tag of the paper piece P. Then the paper piece is sent to the developing device  300 .  
         [0116]     Writer  260  is a first recording device. The writer  260  is provided for each paper sheet P sent out from respective magazines. The writer  260  is functionally the same as the reader/writer  50  and its drawing and details are omitted here. In short, the writer  260  has an antenna and a transmission/reception circuit, receives print-production information from host computer  110  via the antenna and transmits the print-production information to IC tag  20  to record it. The print-production information includes, printout conditions and image processing conditions. The printout conditions contains, for example, order ID, frame number or file name, print size, print type, print orientation, and process condition of each printed image. The image processing condition contains, for example, color correction value, contrast adjustment, sharpness adjustment, and white balance adjustment.  
         [0117]     Below will be explained developing device  300 .  
         [0118]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the developing device  300  has color-developing tank  310  which receives paper P from the exposing device  200  and color-develops it, bleaching and fixing processing tank  320  which bleaches and fixes the color-developed paper, stabilizing section  330  which stabilizes the fixed paper, and drying section  340  which dries the stabilized paper. The dries paper P is sent as print product S to sorter  400 .  
         [0119]     Sorter  400  is equipped with two or more trays, receives print products S from the developing device  300 , sorts them to the trays according to instructions from the host computer  110 .  
         [0120]      FIG. 10  shows-an example of print product S.  
         [0121]     As shown in  FIG. 10 , print product S has an image printed on the surface and contains IC tag  20 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , this IC tag  20  stores paper information and print-production information such as printout condition and image processing condition.  
         [0122]     Next will be explained the operation of this preferred embodiment.  
         [0123]      FIG. 12  shows an explanatory flow chart of print production in print-production system  1 . This print-production system involves steps of producing print products S according to the order information written in photo-print order form F, comparing print-production information read from IC tag  20  of print products S by order information read from IC tag  10  of photo-print order form F, and checking whether the print products S are what photo envelope B requested.  
         [0124]     In step  1  of  FIG. 12 , a person who wants to place a print order fills in the photo-print order form F printed on photo envelope B and brings the photo envelope to the print shop to order. The clerk in the print shop enters the content (order information) of the photo-print order form F into the ordering terminal  40 .  
         [0125]     In step S 2 , the order information entered in the ordering terminal  40  is written in IC tag  10  of the photo-print order form F by the reader/writer  50 . Further, the order information is output from the ordering terminal  40  to the print-producing apparatus  100 .  
         [0126]     In step S 3 , the print-producing apparatus. 100  produces prints according to the order information by reading information of images to be printed from films or recording media which contain the image information by a reading device such as film scanner  600  and media reader  140 , and sends the information to the host computer  110 . The host computer  110  processes images to be printed according to the information, creates image information for exposure, and outputs the information to the exposing device  200 . Next, the magazine  210  starts to feed paper sheets P. Reader  241   a  detects IC tag  20  embedded in the running paper and sends the detection information and paper information to the host computer  110 . The host computer  110  determines cutting timing of the cutting device  800  according to printout condition of the detection information and order information and sends the timing information to the cutting device  800 .  
         [0127]     The cutting device  800  receives the timing information from the host computer  110 , cuts the running paper P and sends the cut paper pieces (of the specified sizes) to the exposing device  200 . The exposing device  200  receives the cut paper pieces P, exposes them according to the image information, and sends the exposed paper pieces to the developing device  300  by the conveying mechanism  240 .  
         [0128]     In step S 4 , the writer  260  writes print-production information (about the paper piece P) in IC tag  20  which is embedded in each exposed paper piece while the paper piece is transferred to the developing device  300 . It is possible to write the print-production information in all IC tags  20  of the whole paper belonging to a single order or in IC tags  20  of only the first and last ones of the paper pieces belonging to a single order.  
         [0129]     After receiving the print-production information, each paper piece P is delivered to the developing device  300  and developed there. The developed paper pieces are sent to the sorter  400 , sorted into ejection trays by orders.  
         [0130]     Before putting the sorted print products S from each ejection tray into photo envelope B, the operator causes the reader/writer  50  to read order information from IC tag  10  on the photo-print order form F and print-production information from IC tags  20  of the print products S into the ordering terminal  40 . It is possible to read IC tags  20  of the print products S respectively by the reader/writer  50  before putting the print products S into the photo envelope B as shown in  FIG. 13 ( a ) or to read them-collectively after putting the print products S into the photo envelope B as shown in  FIG. 13 ( b ). When reading IC tags  20  of the print products S into the photo envelope B, the reader/writer  50  reads first from IC tag closest to the reader/writer and then sequentially to the further IC tags.  
         [0131]     In step S 5 , the reader/writer  50  reads order information from the IC tag  10  on the photo-print order form F sends the information to the ordering terminal  40 . Similarly the reader/writer  50  reads print-production information from IC tags  20  of the print products S to be put into the photo envelope B and sends the information to the ordering terminal  40 .  
         [0132]     In step S 6 , the ordering terminal  40  compares the order information and the print-production information which are entered from the reader/writer  50  to check whether they match with each other. They are checked, for example, in terms of order ID, number of prints, frame number or image file name of printed images, print type, and print size.  
         [0133]     When the order information and the print-production information match with each other in compare (“Matched” in step S 6 ), the ordering terminal  40  judges that the print products S are put into a right photo envelope B and that the print products S are just what are required by the order information. In step S 7 , the print-production information read from the print products S (by the reader/writer  50 ) is written in the IC tag  10  on the photo-print order form F. At the same time, the ordering terminal  40  outputs a message indicating “the order has been processed correctly” on the display.  
         [0134]     In response to the message on the display of the ordering terminal  40 , the operator puts the print products S into the photo envelope B and returns the photo envelope B together with the print products S to-the customer (who placed the order).  
         [0135]     Meanwhile, if the print-production information is found to be different from the order information (“Not matched” in step S 6 ), the ordering terminal  40  outputs an alert message telling “The print product does not satisfy the order” to the display assuming that the photo envelope B is not for the print products S or that the print products S does not satisfy the order information. In this case, it is possible to output a list of the order information items and a list of print-production information items to facilitate the operator to see where the difference lies at a glance or to directly output a message indicating a mismatching such as “The number of printouts is wrong” or other necessary information only.  
         [0136]     Seeing the alert message on the display of the ordering terminal  40 , the operator can search a photo envelope B which is right for the print products S or process the order once more.  
         [0137]     In this way, this invention uses IC tag  10  on the photo-print order form F to record order information and IC tag  20  to record print-production information on the print products S. The contents of information from those IC tags  10  and  20  are checked for identity when the print products S are put into a right photo envelope B having the photo-print order form F. Therefore, the operator need not implement this identity checking. This can increase the photo production efficiency. Further, right photo envelopes B can be selected for print products S.  
         [0138]     Further, the IC tags are re-writable. Therefore, the print order forms F or photo envelopes B having the photo-print order forms F can be used repeatedly.  
         [0139]     Furthermore, the IC tag can store a lot of data in memory. The IC tag  10  of the photo-print order form F can store a history of orders and a history of print productions. Therefore, operators can easily check the order and print-production histories.  
         [0140]     For re-ordering, it is possible to use-the print-production information which was recorded in IC tag  20  of print products P to produce prints under the same printout condition and to use the order information and print-production information which were recoded in IC tag  10  of the print order form F under the same order and printout conditions.  
         [0141]     Since the IC tags can be read and written without being touched, the order information and print-production information can be easily read even after the print products S were put into the photo envelope B. Further, even when a packing device is provided in print-production system  1  to automatically put print products S into photo envelope B, the relationship between order information and print-production information can be checked after the print products are put into the envelope.  
         [0142]     The first preferred embodiment is one of preferred examples of print-production system  1  to which this invention is applied. However, it is to be understood that this invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment.  
         [0143]     For example, in the above description, the ordering terminal  40  is equipped with a reader/writer  50 . However, it is possible to provide the reader/writer  50  in the print-producing apparatus  100  and check the relationship between order information and print-production information by the host computer  110  of the print-producing apparatus  100 . In this case, when the order information matches the print-production information, the reader/writer  50  writes the print-production information in IC tag  10  on the photo-print order form F. If the order information does not match the print-production information, an alert message is output to the display.  
         [0144]     Further, the print-production system can have a packing device connected to the print-producing apparatus  100  to automatically put print products S into photo envelopes B. In this case, order information and production information are compared and discriminated after print products S are put into the photo envelopes B.  
         [0145]     In the above description, the exposing device  200  and the developing device  300  are assembled in a body and the print-producing apparatus  100  cuts paper P into pieces of specified sizes by the cutting device  800  before exposure. However, this invention is not limited to this. As shown in  FIG. 15 , for example, the print-production system  2  can be composed of exposing device  200 , developing device  300 , and cutting device  800  which are separated from each other.  
         [0146]      FIG. 16  shows the internal configuration of exposing device  200  in the print-production system  2  whose components are separate from each other.  
         [0147]     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the separate exposing device  200  is equipped with host computer  110  and monitor  190 . This exposing device  200  does not cut the paper sheet P coming from the paper roll magazine before exposure. The exposed paper sheet is taken up into a roll by a take-up magazine  220  and mounted on the magazine in the developing device  300 . Also in the developing device  300 , the developed paper sheet is taken up into a roll and mounted on the magazine in the cutting device  800 . The cutting device  800  cuts the paper sheet into paper pieces of specified sizes according to the image information.  
         [0148]     In the exposing device  200 , reader  241   a  is provided before exposing section  250  to locate IC tags  20  on the paper sheet. The exposing device  200  controls exposure so that each image may contain at least one IC tag  20 .  
         [0149]     The cutting device  800  locates each image on the paper sheet according to the print-production information read from IC tags  20  on the paper sheet by the reader  241   a  and determines the cutting positions of the paper P.  
         [0150]     In print-production system  2 , the exposed and developed paper sheet P is cut into paper pieces by the cutting device  800  and ejected as print products S. Similarly to the print-production system  1 , ordering terminal  40  compares the print-production information of the print products S by the order information and discriminates whether they match.  
         [0151]     Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications are made in configuration and operation of the print-production system  1  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY  
       [0152]     Since this invention reads order information from the information recording field of a photo-print order form and print-production information from the information recording field of print products, checks whether they match with each other, and makes an alert when they do not match. Therefore, the operator need not check whether the print products satisfy the order. This can increase the print production efficiency.  
         [0153]     When the print-production information matches the order information, this invention writes the print-production information in the information recording field of the photo-print order form. In other words, histories of orders and print-productions can be recorded in the information recording field of the photo-print order form. This facilitates checking of the history.  
         [0154]     For re-ordering, this invention produces prints repeatedly-according to the print-production information and/or order information which are recorded in the information recording fields. Therefore, re-printing can be made under the same order and printout conditions as the previous ones.  
         [0155]     Further, in accordance with this invention, the print-production information is recorded in the information recording fields of all print products belonging to a single order. This can make checking of print products by orders more correctly.  
         [0156]     Furthermore, the print-production information is recorded in the information recording field of each of some print products belonging to a single print order. This can write only information required to check the relationship between order information and print-production information and increase the print-production efficiency.  
         [0157]     Order information and print-production information are read before print products are put into photo envelopes. Therefore, it is possible to check the relationship between the order information and the print-production information before print products are put into the envelope.  
         [0158]     Order information and print-production information are read after print products are put into envelopes. Therefore, it is possible to check the relationship between the order information and the print-production information after print products are put into the envelope.  
         [0159]     Order information can be recorded as electronic information in photo-print order forms.  
         [0160]     A photo envelope can contain a photo-print order forming which order information can be recorded as electronic information.  
         [0161]     Further, print-production information can be recorded as electronic information in print products.