Patent Description:
A printing system in which a printing apparatus for printing on an elongated strip-shaped base material and a post-processing apparatus for executing other processes including back surface printing, cutting, folding, and the like on the base material subsequently to the printing apparatus are arranged in succession has heretofore been known.

A conventional printing system is discussed in Patent Literature <NUM>, for example. The printing system discussed in Patent Literature <NUM> includes a front surface printing apparatus and a back surface printing apparatus which perform printing on an elongated strip-shaped paper web, and a post-processing apparatus which executes a post-process on the printed paper web (in paragraphs <NUM> and <NUM>). Thus, the multiple apparatuses execute multiple processes in succession on the paper web. <CIT> discloses the preamble of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

In such a printing system, it is necessary to adjust a position in which the post-process is to be executed on the base material in the post-processing apparatus to a position in which printing is performed on the base material by the printing apparatus. For precise alignment in the post-processing apparatus, it is preferable to use a base material printed by the printing apparatus so that the print position of the base material is identified.

Unfortunately, when the alignment in the post-processing apparatus is performed using a base material subjected to continuous printing, a recording agent such as ink adhering to part of the base material which has moved past the post-processing apparatus during the alignment is consumed uselessly.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of suppressing an increase in the amount of consumption of a recording agent in a printing apparatus used in conjunction with a post-processing apparatus and also precisely performing alignment in the post-processing apparatus.

To solve the aforementioned problem, a first aspect of the present invention is intended for a printing apparatus for recording a print image on a base material being transported in a transport direction according to claim <NUM> and a second aspect of the present invention is intended for a printing method according to claim <NUM>.

The first to twenty-fourth aspects of the present invention are capable of suppressing an increase in the amount of consumption of a recording agent in the printing apparatus used in conjunction with the post-processing apparatus and also precisely performing alignment in the post-processing apparatus.

Embodiments according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. A direction in which printing paper <NUM> is transported is referred to as a "transport direction", and a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport direction is referred to as a "width direction" hereinafter. The term "upstream" as used herein refers to being upstream as seen in the transport direction, and the term "downstream" as used herein refers to being downstream as seen in the transport direction.

<FIG> is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of a printing system <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a control system for the printing system <NUM>. This printing system <NUM> is a processing system which executes a process such as printing on printing paper <NUM> that is an elongated strip-shaped base material while transporting the printing paper <NUM>.

The printing system <NUM> includes a printing apparatus <NUM>, an unwinding mechanism <NUM>, a winding mechanism <NUM>, a buffer apparatus <NUM>, a cutting apparatus <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, and a manipulation part <NUM>. In this printing system <NUM>, the printing paper <NUM> is unwound from the unwinding mechanism <NUM>, and is processed sequentially in the printing apparatus <NUM>, the buffer apparatus <NUM>, and the cutting apparatus <NUM>. Thereafter, the printing paper <NUM> is wound and collected on the winding mechanism <NUM>.

The unwinding mechanism <NUM>, the winding mechanism <NUM>, and a plurality of transport rollers <NUM> constitute a transport mechanism <NUM> in this printing system <NUM>. The transport rollers <NUM> are included in the printing apparatus <NUM>, the buffer apparatus <NUM>, and the cutting apparatus <NUM>. Some of the transport rollers <NUM> may be disposed between the apparatuses. The transport mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism for transporting the printing paper <NUM> in the transport direction that is a longitudinal direction of the printing paper <NUM> while holding the printing paper <NUM>.

A motor (not shown) serving as a power source is coupled to each of the unwinding mechanism <NUM>, the winding mechanism <NUM>, and the plurality of transport rollers <NUM>. The unwinding mechanism <NUM>, the winding mechanism <NUM>, and the plurality of transport rollers <NUM> rotate when the controller <NUM> drives the respective motors. Thus, the printing paper <NUM> is transported in the transport direction. At least one or all of the transport rollers <NUM> may be follower rollers which are not coupled to the motors but rotate in accordance with the motion of the printing paper <NUM>.

The transport rollers <NUM> and various rollers <NUM> and <NUM> included in the buffer apparatus <NUM> constitute a transport path for the printing paper <NUM>. Each of the transport rollers <NUM> rotates about a horizontal axis to guide the printing paper <NUM> downstream along the transport path. Specifically, after being unwound from the unwinding mechanism <NUM>, the printing paper <NUM> is transported along the transport path, and wound and collected on the winding mechanism <NUM>.

The printing apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus that records images on an upper surface of the printing paper <NUM> in a position upstream of the buffer apparatus <NUM> and the cutting apparatus <NUM>. The printing apparatus <NUM> includes a recording part <NUM> disposed over the transport path of the printing paper <NUM>, and a printing controller <NUM> to be described later in the controller <NUM>. The recording part <NUM> ejects ink droplets toward the printing paper <NUM> being transported by the transport mechanism <NUM>. Thus, the recording part <NUM> causes ink that is a recording agent to adhere to the printing paper <NUM>, thereby recording a print image on the printing paper <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the recording part <NUM> includes four recording heads <NUM>. The four recording heads <NUM> sequentially eject the ink droplets of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), respectively, onto the upper surface of the printing paper <NUM>.

The printing apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment is what is called a one-pass type inkjet printer that records a desired print image on the printing paper <NUM> by ejecting the ink droplets from the recording heads <NUM> having a recording width greater than the width of the printing paper <NUM> while the printing paper <NUM> passes under the recording heads <NUM> only once.

The buffer apparatus <NUM> is an apparatus that adjusts the tension of the printing paper <NUM> in a position lying between the printing apparatus <NUM> and the cutting apparatus <NUM>. The buffer apparatus <NUM> includes a plurality of buffer rollers <NUM> and a dancer roller <NUM>. The buffer rollers <NUM> and the dancer roller <NUM> are staggered in alternate upper and lower positions along the transport direction.

As indicated by an arrow in <FIG>, the dancer roller <NUM> moves upwardly and downwardly to thereby adjust the tension of the printing paper <NUM>. The upward and downward movement of the dancer roller <NUM> also adjusts the length of the printing paper <NUM> held in the buffer apparatus <NUM>. This accommodates a temporary difference, if any, between the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> in a position upstream of the buffer apparatus <NUM> and the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> in a position downstream of the buffer apparatus <NUM> to hold the tension of the printing paper <NUM> constant.

The cutting apparatus <NUM> is a post-processing apparatus that executes a post-process on the printing paper <NUM> after the printing process. The cutting apparatus <NUM> is disposed downstream of the buffer apparatus <NUM>, and executes a cutting process on the printing paper <NUM>. In the present embodiment, a sticker base material having a sticker layer and a backing layer is used as the printing paper <NUM>. The cutting apparatus <NUM> executes what is called a half-cutting process for cutting only the sticker layer, not the backing layer.

In place of the cutting apparatus <NUM>, another cutting apparatus such as a die cutting apparatus for die cutting of the printing paper <NUM> or a cutting-off apparatus for cutting off the printing paper <NUM> may be provided as the post-processing apparatus. Alternatively, in place of the cutting apparatus <NUM>, another printing apparatus for printing on a surface opposite from the surface printed in the printing apparatus <NUM> or a folding machine for folding the printing paper <NUM> in predetermined lengths may be provided as the post-processing apparatus. When the cutting-off apparatus or the folding machine is provided in place of the cutting apparatus <NUM>, the printing system <NUM> does not include the winding mechanism <NUM> because there is no need to wind the processed printing paper <NUM>.

The cutting apparatus <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a rotary die cutter including a blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> and an anvil cylinder <NUM>. Each of the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> and the anvil cylinder <NUM> extends in a horizontal direction orthogonal to the transport path.

The blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> is disposed over the transport path of the printing paper <NUM>. The blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> includes a cylindrical cylinder <NUM> and a punching blade <NUM> mounted around the cylinder <NUM>. As indicated by an arrow in <FIG>, the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> is movable upwardly and downwardly between a standby position (shown in dashed lines in <FIG>) in which the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> is out of contact with the printing paper <NUM> and an actuation position (shown in solid lines in <FIG>) in which the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> is in contact with the printing paper <NUM>.

The anvil cylinder <NUM> is disposed under the transport path of the printing paper <NUM>. For cutting process, the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> and the anvil cylinder <NUM> rotate as indicated by dashed arrows in <FIG> while the printing paper <NUM> being transported on the transport path is inserted between the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> and the anvil cylinder <NUM> from above and below. Thus, the cutting process is executed on the printing paper <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> is a control means for controlling the operations of the parts in the printing system <NUM>. As conceptually shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> according to the present embodiment is formed by a computer including an arithmetic processor <NUM> such as a CPU, a memory <NUM> such as a RAM, and a storage part <NUM> such as a hard disk drive. As shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the printing apparatus <NUM>, the transport mechanism <NUM>, the buffer apparatus <NUM>, the cutting apparatus <NUM>, and the manipulation part <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> according to the present embodiment is configured by installing an operation control program Pi for the printing apparatus <NUM> onto the computer. A computer program P including the operation control program Pi and data D are stored in the storage part <NUM> of the controller <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> temporarily reads the computer program P and the data D which are stored in the storage part <NUM> onto the memory <NUM>. The arithmetic processor <NUM> performs arithmetic processing based on the computer program P and the data D, whereby the controller <NUM> controls the operations of the parts in the printing system <NUM>. Thus, the step of transporting the printing paper <NUM> by means of the unwinding mechanism <NUM>, the winding mechanism <NUM>, and the transport rollers <NUM>, the step of printing in the printing apparatus <NUM>, the step of adjusting tension by means of the buffer apparatus <NUM>, and the step of cutting by means of the cutting apparatus <NUM> proceed. The controller <NUM> may be formed by electronic circuitry.

As shown in <FIG>, the controller <NUM> includes the printing controller <NUM> for controlling the printing apparatus <NUM> and a cutting controller <NUM> for controlling the cutting apparatus <NUM> both of which are processing parts implemented in the form of software.

In the present embodiment, the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM>, the unwinding mechanism <NUM>, the winding mechanism <NUM>, the buffer apparatus <NUM>, and the cutting apparatus <NUM> are controlled by the single controller <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The apparatuses may be connected to respective different controllers. In that case, the printing apparatus <NUM> is at least connected to a controller including the printing controller <NUM>, and the cutting apparatus <NUM> is at least connected to a controller including the cutting controller <NUM>.

The arithmetic processor <NUM> comes in operation, based on the operation control program Pi, whereby the functions of the printing controller <NUM> are implemented. The printing controller <NUM> includes a job creation part <NUM>, a temporary printing processing part <NUM>, an actual printing processing part <NUM>, and a printing process switching part <NUM>.

The job creation part <NUM> creates a temporary printing job D2 and an actual printing job D3, based on submitted data D1 inputted from an input part <NUM>. The submitted data D1 includes image data representing a print image desired by a user.

The temporary printing job D2 is a job (printing instruction data) for causing the recording part <NUM> of the printing apparatus <NUM> to control an operation so as to form a temporary print image on the printing paper <NUM>. The temporary print image is a print image used for alignment in the cutting apparatus <NUM>.

The actual printing job D3 is a job (printing instruction data) for causing the recording part <NUM> of the printing apparatus <NUM> to control an operation so as to form an actual print image on the printing paper <NUM>. The actual print image is a reproduction of the print image desired by the user and included in the submitted data D1 through the use of the printing apparatus <NUM>.

The temporary printing processing part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> of the printing apparatus <NUM> to execute a temporary printing process, based on the temporary printing job D2. In the temporary printing process, the recording part <NUM> records single pages of the temporary print image on the printing paper <NUM>.

The actual printing processing part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> of the printing apparatus <NUM> to execute an actual printing process, based on the actual printing job D3. In the actual printing process, the recording part <NUM> records single pages of the actual print image on the printing paper <NUM>.

The printing process switching part <NUM> outputs a stop command signal S2 and an execution command signal S3 to the temporary printing processing part <NUM> and the actual printing processing part <NUM>, based on a switching command signal S1 inputted from the input part <NUM>.

Specifically, when the switching command signal S1 indicative of switching to the actual printing process is inputted from the input part <NUM> during the execution of the temporary printing process caused by the temporary printing processing part <NUM>, the printing process switching part <NUM> outputs the stop command signal S2 indicative of stopping the temporary printing process to the temporary printing processing part <NUM>, and outputs the execution command signal S3 indicative of starting the execution of the actual printing process to the actual printing processing part <NUM>. Thus, the printing process switching part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> of the printing apparatus <NUM> to execute the switching from the temporary printing process to the actual printing process.

The manipulation part <NUM> includes a display part <NUM> and the input part <NUM>. Information about the operating status and the like of the apparatuses which is inputted from the controller <NUM> is displayed on the display part <NUM>. An operator may manipulate the input part <NUM> to input commands to the controller <NUM> and to input submitted data to the controller <NUM>. A liquid crystal display, for example, is used for the display part <NUM>.

The input part <NUM> includes a command input part <NUM> and a data and suchlike input part <NUM>. A keyboard, a mouse, and a voice input device, for example, are used for the command input part <NUM>. In the manipulation part <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the display part <NUM> and the command input part <NUM> are independent separate devices. However, a touch panel type device in which the display part <NUM> and the command input part <NUM> are integrated together may be used for the manipulation part <NUM>.

The data and suchlike input part <NUM> according to the present embodiment is an optical drive that reads programs and data from an optical disc <NUM>. The operation control program Pi and the submitted data D1 for the printing apparatus <NUM> are stored, for example, in the optical disc <NUM> that is a tangible recording medium. The data and suchlike input part <NUM> reads the operation control program Pi and the submitted data D1 for the printing apparatus <NUM> from the optical disc <NUM> to store the operation control program Pi and the submitted data D1 for the printing apparatus <NUM> in the storage part <NUM> of the controller <NUM>. The data and suchlike input part <NUM> may be configured to input data by connection to a semiconductor memory in place of such an optical drive for reading the optical disc <NUM>.

Next, the operations of the recording part <NUM> and the printing controller <NUM> in the printing apparatus <NUM> during the actuation of the printing system <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a flow diagram showing a procedure for the operations of the parts in the printing system <NUM> during the actuation of the printing system <NUM>. <FIG> is a view of an example of the submitted data D1. <FIG> are examples of the temporary print image based on the temporary printing job D2 created from the example of the submitted data D1 shown in <FIG>.

During the actuation of the printing system <NUM>, the submitted data D1 is initially inputted through the data and suchlike input part <NUM> of the input part <NUM> to the controller <NUM> (Step ST101). The submitted data D1 includes image data D11 and cut position data D12. As shown in <FIG>, the image data D11 is data indicative of the print image desired by the user and to be formed on the printing paper <NUM> by the recording part <NUM>. The cut position data D12 is data indicative of cut positions at which the cutting process is to be executed in the cutting apparatus <NUM>. In <FIG>, the image data D11 that is a multi-color image is represented as a gray-scale image, and the cut positions are indicated by dashed lines.

Next, the controller <NUM> creates the temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3 (Step ST102). Specifically, the temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3 are created based on the submitted data D1 in the job creation part <NUM> of the printing controller <NUM>.

The job creation part <NUM> creates the actual printing job D3 so that the actual print image to be formed on the printing paper <NUM> by the recording part <NUM> closely resembles the image data D11 in the submitted data D1. On the other hand, the job creation part <NUM> creates the temporary printing job D2 so that the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the temporary print image by the recording part <NUM> is smaller than the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the actual print image by recording part <NUM>. The job creation part <NUM> also creates the temporary printing job D2 so that the alignment between the cutting apparatus <NUM> and the printing paper <NUM> is easily performed using the temporary print image.

The job creation part <NUM> according to the present embodiment creates the temporary printing job D2 so that the temporary print image is a print image obtained by decreasing the densities of respective colors of the actual print image, for example. The example of the temporary print image shown in <FIG> is a print image obtained by decreasing the densities of respective colors of the actual print image. This allows the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the temporary print image to be smaller than the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the actual print image. Also, a positional relationship in the actual print image is graspable from the temporary print image. This allows the precise alignment in the cutting apparatus <NUM>.

The job creation part <NUM> may use other methods to create the temporary printing job D2. For example, the job creation part <NUM> may create the temporary printing job D2 so that the temporary print image is a print image obtained by representing the actual print image as a gray-scale image. In this manner, when the actual print image is a print image to be printed in multiple colors, the temporary print image that is a print image printable in a single color of black achieves the reduction in the amounts of inks other than the black ink for use during the printing of the temporary print image. The color of the ink forming the temporary print image may be a color other than black.

Also, the job creation part <NUM> may create the temporary printing job D2 so that the temporary print image is a diagram obtained by representing only the outlines of the components of the actual print image in a single color as in the example shown in <FIG>, for example. This further reduces the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the temporary print image.

Also, the job creation part <NUM> may create the temporary printing job D2 so that the temporary print image is a print image obtained by representing the cut positions at which the cutting process is to be executed in the cutting apparatus <NUM> in a diagram of a single color, for example. This further reduces the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the temporary print image. In the example shown in <FIG>, cut positions P1 are indicated by solid lines, and mark positions P2 spaced outwardly and inwardly a predetermined distance apart from the cut positions P1 are indicated by dashed lines. When the temporary print image includes not only the cut positions P1 but also the mark positions P2, the alignment of the printing paper <NUM> in the cutting apparatus <NUM> is more easily performed.

When ejected ink droplets are constant in size, the amount of ink to be used during the printing of print images by the recording part <NUM> decreases as the sum (referred to hereinafter as the "total number of ejected pixels") of the numbers of ejected pixels obtained by ink ejection from the recording heads <NUM> responsible for the respective colors in an image to be formed on the printing paper <NUM> decreases. Thus, the job creation part <NUM> creates the temporary printing job D2 so that the total number of ejected pixels of the temporary printing job D2 is smaller than the total number of ejected pixels of the actual printing job D3, for example. This causes the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the temporary print image by the recording part <NUM> to be smaller than the amount of ink to be used during the printing of the actual print image by the recording part <NUM>. When the temporary print image is a single-color image as in the examples shown in <FIG>, the total number of ejected pixels of the temporary printing job D2 is smaller than the total number of ejected pixels of the actual printing job D3 because the number of ejected pixels of inks of other colors is zero.

After the creation of the jobs is completed, the controller <NUM> subsequently starts the actuation of the transport mechanism <NUM> (Step ST103). Thus, the transport of the printing paper <NUM> is started.

Then, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> of the controller <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to execute the printing process on one page of the temporary print image, based on the temporary printing job D2 (Step ST104). The term "one page" as used herein refers to a region as seen in the transport direction of the printing paper <NUM> and corresponding to an area to be cut in a single cutting process in the cutting apparatus <NUM>. In parallel with Step ST104, alignment between the parts in the cutting apparatus <NUM> and the printing paper <NUM> is performed in the cutting apparatus <NUM>. This alignment is performed, for example, by making fine adjustments to the position of the blade-equipped cylinder <NUM> as seen in the width direction and in the direction of rotation. This alignment may be performed manually by the user. Alternatively, this alignment may be performed by the cutting controller <NUM> automatically or by the user who inputs a command signal from the command input part <NUM> to control the operation of the cutting apparatus <NUM>.

After the alignment is completed, the user inputs the switching command signal S1 from the command input part <NUM> to the controller <NUM>. Thus, the switching command signal S1 is inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM>. The switching command signal S1 may be automatically inputted from the cutting controller <NUM> that has detected the completion of the alignment to the printing process switching part <NUM>.

During the execution of the temporary printing process in Step ST104, the printing process switching part <NUM> of the controller <NUM> monitors whether the switching command signal S1 is inputted from the command input part <NUM> of the input part <NUM> or not. Upon judging that the switching command signal S1 is inputted, the printing process switching part <NUM> outputs the stop command signal S2 indicative of stopping the temporary printing process to the temporary printing processing part <NUM>, and outputs the execution command signal S3 indicative of starting the execution of the actual printing process to the actual printing processing part <NUM>.

After Step ST104 is completed, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges whether the stop command signal S2 is inputted or not. In other words, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges whether the switching command signal S1 is inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM> during the execution of Step ST104 or not (Step ST105).

If the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges that the stop command signal S2 is not inputted in Step ST105, the procedure returns to Step ST104, and the temporary printing process is continued. In other words, if the switching command signal S1 is not inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM> during the execution of Step ST104, the temporary printing process is continued.

If the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges that the stop command signal S2 is inputted in Step ST105, the temporary printing process is stopped. In other words, if the switching command signal S1 is inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM> during the execution of Step ST104, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> stops the temporary printing process after printing the temporary print image being printed to the last of the page.

The actual printing processing part <NUM> to which the execution command signal S3 is inputted during the execution of Step ST104 starts the actual printing process (Step ST106) after the temporary printing processing part <NUM> completes the printing of the temporary print image being printed. In this manner, the printing process switching part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to switch from the temporary printing process to the actual printing process.

In Step ST106, the actual printing processing part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to execute the printing process on a determined number of pages of the actual print image, based on the actual printing job D3. After the actual printing process in Step ST106 is completed, the controller <NUM> completes the actuation of the transport mechanism <NUM> (Step ST107).

As described above, this printing system <NUM> performs alignment with the use of the temporary print image which uses a smaller amount of ink than the actual print image when alignment is performed in the post-processing apparatus (the cutting apparatus <NUM>) disposed downstream of the recording part <NUM> of the printing apparatus <NUM>. This suppresses an increase in the amount of consumption of ink and also achieves precise alignment in the post-processing apparatus.

For switching from the temporary printing to the actual printing independently of the switching command signal S1, it is necessary to estimate and previously determine the number of pages for the temporary printing required for the alignment. In this case, if the alignment is performed more speedily than the estimate, an unnecessary temporary printing process occurs to result in useless consumption of ink. On the other hand, if the alignment is later than the estimate, the alignment is continued using the base material subjected to the actual printing process. This results in more useless consumption of ink.

In the printing system <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the temporary printing process is ended in timed relation to the input of the switching command signal S1 without fixing the number of pages for the temporary printing. Thus, the temporary printing process is ended at the time that the alignment in the post-processing apparatus is judged to be completed. This further suppresses an increase in the amount of consumption of ink.

In the printing system <NUM> according to the present embodiment, the temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3 are created based on the same submitted data D1. This allows the temporary print image to be formed on the printing paper <NUM> at the same position as the printing position of the actual print image. Thus, the alignment in the post-processing apparatus is performed precisely on the printing position of the actual print image.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described. The second embodiment uses the same printing system <NUM> as the first embodiment to perform an operation different from that of the first embodiment. <FIG> is a flow diagram showing a procedure for operations of the parts of the printing system <NUM> during the actuation of the printing system <NUM> according to the second embodiment. The operations of the recording part <NUM> and the printing controller <NUM> in the printing apparatus <NUM> during the actuation of the printing system <NUM> will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

During the actuation of the printing system <NUM>, the submitted data D1 is initially inputted to the controller <NUM> in the second embodiment (Step ST201) as in the first embodiment. Then, the controller <NUM> creates the temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3, based on the submitted data D1 (Step ST202). Steps ST201 and ST202 in the second embodiment, which are similar to Steps ST101 and ST102 in the first embodiment, will not be described in detail.

After the creation of the jobs is completed, the controller <NUM> subsequently starts the actuation of the transport mechanism <NUM> (Step ST203). At this time, the controller <NUM> actuates the transport mechanism <NUM> so that the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> is equal to a first speed. The first speed is in the range of <NUM> [m/min] to <NUM> [m/min], for example.

Then, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> of the controller <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to execute the printing process on one page of the temporary print image, based on the temporary printing job D2 (Step ST204). In parallel with Step ST204, alignment between the parts in the cutting apparatus <NUM> and the printing paper <NUM> is performed in the cutting apparatus <NUM>. In the present embodiment, alignment is performed manually by the user. If the transport speed is high, it is difficult to perform the alignment manually. The transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> during the execution of the temporary printing process in Step ST204 is equal to the aforementioned first speed. The first speed is a speed lower than the transport speed (for example, a second speed to be described later) suitable for the printing process in the recording part <NUM> and the cutting process in the cutting apparatus <NUM>. The transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> equal to the first speed during the alignment in the cutting apparatus <NUM> facilitates the manual alignment.

During the execution of the temporary printing process in Step ST204, the printing process switching part <NUM> of the controller <NUM> monitors whether the switching command signal S1 is inputted from the command input part <NUM> of the input part <NUM> or not. Upon judging that the switching command signal S1 is inputted, the printing process switching part <NUM> outputs the stop command signal S2 indicative of stopping the temporary printing process to the temporary printing processing part <NUM>, and outputs the execution command signal S3 indicative of starting the execution of the actual printing process to the actual printing processing part <NUM>.

After Step ST204 is completed, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges whether the stop command signal S2 is inputted or not. In other words, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges whether the switching command signal S1 is inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM> during the execution of Step ST204 or not (Step ST205).

If the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges that the stop command signal S2 is not inputted in Step ST205, the procedure returns to Step ST204, and the temporary printing process is continued. In other words, if the switching command signal S1 is not inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM> during the execution of Step ST204, the temporary printing process is continued.

If the temporary printing processing part <NUM> judges that the stop command signal S2 is inputted in Step ST205, the temporary printing process is stopped. In other words, if the switching command signal S1 is inputted to the printing process switching part <NUM> during the execution of Step ST204, the temporary printing processing part <NUM> stops the temporary printing process after printing the temporary print image being printed to the last of the page. Then, the controller <NUM> causes the transport mechanism <NUM> to start increasing the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> (Step ST206). At this time, the controller <NUM> actuates the transport mechanism <NUM> so that the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> is equal to the second speed higher than the first speed. The second speed is in the range of <NUM> [m/min] to <NUM> [m/min], for example.

On the other hand, the actual printing processing part <NUM> to which the execution command signal S3 is inputted during the execution of Step ST204 causes the recording part <NUM> to execute the printing process on one page of the actual print image simultaneously with the start of the increase in transport speed (Step ST207) after the temporary printing processing part <NUM> completes the printing of the temporary print image being printed. In Step ST207, a switching printing process in which the actual print image is printed while the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> is increased from the first speed to the second speed is executed in this manner. During the execution of the switching printing process, the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> increases gradually from the first speed to the second speed. Thus, the actual printing processing part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to eject ink in accordance with the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM>.

During the execution of the switching printing process in Step ST207, the controller <NUM> monitors the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> in the transport mechanism <NUM>. After Step ST207 is completed, the controller <NUM> judges whether the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> has reached the second speed or not (Step ST208).

If the controller <NUM> judges that the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> has not reached the second speed in Step ST208, the procedure returns to Step ST207, and the controller <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to execute the printing process as the switching printing process on single pages of the actual print image.

If the controller <NUM> judges that the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> has reached the second speed in Step ST208, the procedure proceeds to Step ST209. In Step ST209, the actual printing processing part <NUM> initially causes the recording part <NUM> to record a constant-speed marker on a boundary between the last page printed in the switching printing process and the page to be printed next in the actual printing process.

In Step ST209, after the recording of the constant-speed marker, the actual printing processing part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to execute the printing process on a determined number of pages of the actual print image. That is, the actual printing processing part <NUM> executes the actual printing process. In this manner, the printing process switching part <NUM> causes the recording part <NUM> to switch from the temporary printing process to the actual printing process. The transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> during the execution of the actual printing process in Step ST209 is equal to the second speed. The second speed is a transport speed suitable for the printing process in the recording part <NUM> and the cutting process in the cutting apparatus <NUM>.

After the actual printing process in Step ST209 is completed, the controller <NUM> completes the actuation of the transport mechanism <NUM> (Step ST210).

In the present embodiment, the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> during the execution of the temporary printing process for the alignment in the post-processing apparatus (the cutting apparatus <NUM>) differs from the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> during the execution of the actual printing process in this manner. This suppresses the useless consumption of the printing paper <NUM> during the alignment.

In the present embodiment, the constant-speed marker is printed on the printing paper <NUM> after the transport speed of the printing paper <NUM> has reached the second speed. <FIG> is a schematic view showing an example of the printing paper <NUM> subjected to the printing process in the printing system <NUM> according to the second embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, temporary print pages <NUM> on which the temporary print image is printed by the temporary printing process in Step ST204, switching print pages <NUM> on which the actual print image is printed by the switching printing process in Step ST207, and actual print pages <NUM> on which the actual print image is printed by the actual printing process in Step ST209 are formed on the printing paper <NUM>. A constant-speed marker <NUM> is printed on a boundary between the switching print pages <NUM> and the actual print pages <NUM>.

Printing the constant-speed marker <NUM> in this manner makes it easy to distinguish between the switching print pages <NUM> and the actual print pages <NUM>.

While the embodiments according to the present invention have been described hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments.

In the printing system according to the aforementioned embodiments, the buffer apparatus is interposed between the printing apparatus and the cutting apparatus that is the post-processing apparatus. However, the printing system according to the present invention need not include the buffer apparatus.

In the printing system according to the aforementioned embodiments, the printing apparatus <NUM> includes the job creation part <NUM> provided therein. Thus, the temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3 are created in the printing apparatus <NUM>, based on the submitted data D1. The present invention, however, is not limited to this. The temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3 may be created in a data processing apparatus provided outside the printing apparatus <NUM>, based on the submitted data D1. In that case, the temporary printing job D2 and the actual printing job D3 created in the data processing apparatus may be configured to be inputted to the printing apparatus <NUM>.

The printing system according to the aforementioned embodiments is designed to process the printing paper that is an elongated strip-shaped base material. However, the printing system according to the present invention may be designed to print on a sheet-like base material other than general paper (for example, a film made of resin and the like).

Claim 1:
A printing apparatus (<NUM>)
for recording a print image on a base material being transported in a transport direction, comprising:
a recording part (<NUM>) for causing a recording agent to adhere to said base material, thereby recording a print image on said base material; and
a printing controller (<NUM>) for controlling said recording part, wherein said printing controller includes
a temporary printing processing part for causing said recording part to execute a temporary printing process that records single pages of a temporary print image on said base material,
an actual printing processing part for causing said recording part to execute an actual printing process that records single pages of an actual print image on said base material, and
a printing process switching part for causing said recording part to execute switching from said temporary printing process to said actual printing process during the execution of said temporary printing process,
characterised in that the printing controller is configured such that
said temporary print image is used for alignment in a post-processing apparatus disposed downstream of said printing apparatus and for executing a process on said base material,
wherein said temporary print image is one of following x), y) or z):
x) a print image obtained by decreasing densities of respective colors of said actual print image,;
y) a print image formed by ink of a single color when said actual print image is a print image printed in multiple colors; or
z) a print image including a diagram obtained by representing only outlines of components of said actual print image in a single color, and
wherein the amount of recording agent used during printing of said temporary print image is smaller than that used during printing of said actual print image.