Apparatus and method are disclosed for making ready a multi-unit, multi-web printing press. Data is entered into a computer memory representing the number of sections of a publication to be printed, the number of pages for each section and which pages of each section are to be printed in one or more colored inks. An acceptable web layout pattern and acceptable page printing plate locations on the various plate cylinders of the press are determined from the inputted and previously stored data. A readout is presented providing information as to the acceptable web layout pattern and the correct page printing plate positions.
An object of the present invention is to improve an efficiency in using bins in a sorter of an image forming system, to which a plurality of personal computers are connected. If the number of the receptacles appointed in accordance with the receptacle appointment command or the number of sets of sheets to be sorted is larger than the number of empty receptacles, offset sorting is performed in which the position, at which the recording sheets are received, is shifted in the same receptacle. If the appointed number of the receptacles or the number of sets of sheets to be sorted is smaller than the number of empty receptacles, a normal sorting process is performed in such a manner that the bins are allotted in accordance with the position of the bins appointed with the command for appointing receptacles or the number of sets of sheets to be sorted.
The system, method, and program of this invention allows a user to specify one of a plurality of print layout combinations. Upon specifying a specific combination, an animation, embedded in the graphical user interface and within the dialog for making the selection, shows the page layout and rotates the sheet, about the applicable axis of the sheet, from front to back to show how the selected page layout would appear. Numbers on the animated sheet are used to show the layout of sequential pages. Numbers are used instead of displaying specific page content. The animation gives a clear practical way of visually conveying to a user how a specified page layout combination would appear when printed.
A method for simulating one of a plurality of web-up configurations for a press line in order to provide web length information associated with the selected web-up configuration (32) to a product tracking system (16). The method includes providing a drawing of a press line on a touch screen (24) and pulling a virtual web through the drawing to illustrate a selected web-up configuration (32). Web length information is calculated based on the selected web-up configuration (32) and is communicated to the product tracking system (16).
Deletion of a particular message in a file unit is accomplished for those messages with deletion set code in a file directory displayed on a screen. Operation of the deletion of a message includes (a) depression of a "deletion" key for indicating a file directory on a screen, (b) designating messages to be deleted by depression of a deletion set/reset key to change a deletion set/reset code to a set code, and (c) execution of deletion by the depression of a "deletion execution" key to delete a message with said deletion set code. A file directory indicated on a screen includes a deletion set/reset code, a message number, nature of a message, length of a message, and first 60 characters of a message, which simplifies identification of a message to be deleted.
A computer type setting device (CTI) performs layout of letters and graphic information of a manuscript on printing plates, based on the data transmitted from a keyboard. During such an operation, plate layout data LD such as the font, size, word spacing and line spacing, are determined. Raster image processor (RIP) converts this plate data PD into digitized bitmaps/characters BD, and inputs the results into a layout scanner. The layout scanner converts the digitized pictorial and figure data into 8-bit contrast image data IM, per page of the manuscript, and determines the layout of the images and the contrast data on the printing plates. The dot generator 13 scans the finished plates data PD in a given direction, digitizes the images in terms of [0]s and [1]s into film exposure data ED, and supplies the results to an output scanner and a memory device. The output scanner optically produces positive film nettings, based on the successive film exposure data ED. The exposure data ED is read out at certain intervals by a control device, and is supplied to a plate area ratio accumulating device 16, which computes area ratios SD, according to input from an external source FLD and according to the ink key spacing of the press, to provide a signal to efficiently and effectively control the amount of ink to be supplied to the printing plates so as to permit a high quality printing operation.
