The invention relates to a computer implemented method of job programming comprising the steps of using a processor to assemble a printable file based on more than two reference pages of an input file and a plurality of print instructions; including printer readable instructions in the printable file to print more than one copy of a reference page of the more than two reference pages.

The method further comprises grouping a first set of reference pages of the input file into a first group based on a first plurality of print instructions; using a processor to assemble a first part of the printable file based on the first group and the first plurality of print instructions; grouping a second set of reference pages of the input file into a second group based on a second plurality of print instructions; using a processor to assemble a second part of the printable file based on the second group and the second plurality of print instructions; including printer readable instructions in the printable file to direct printed pages corresponding to the printer readable instructions to print more than one copy of the reference page to a common stack, to direct printed pages corresponding to the first part of the printable file to the common stack and to direct printed pages corresponding the second part of the printable file to the common stack.

An automatic plasticizing equipment (17) for image sheets (26) comprises a first plasticizing device (27) and an electronic control unit (22) for the plasticizing device and in which the first plasticizing device employs a first plasticizer film (28) unwinding from a first film spool (29). The plasticizing equipment (17) processes image sheets (26) with associated enhanced sheet codes (ESC), readable by machine, having dimension and finishing information associated to said image sheets (26). The equipment (17) further comprises a second plasticizing device (41), downstream of the first plasticizing device (27) for a second plasticizer film (42) of different typologies unwinding from a second film spool (43) for pre-forming plasticized image sheets (31, 44) of different typologies; and the electronic control unit (22) responds to the dimension and finishing information from the enhanced sheet codes (ESC) for selectively activating the first plasticizing device (27) or the second plasticizing device (41) or to leave the plasticizing devices deactivated so as to obtain plasticized image sheets (31, 44) of different typologies of plasticization or non-plasticized image sheets (46).

An automatic plasticizing equipment (17) for image sheets (26) comprises a first plasticizing device (27) and an electronic control unit (22) for the plasticizing device and in which the first plasticizing device employs a first plasticizer film (28) unwinding from a first film spool (29). The plasticizing equipment (17) processes image sheets (26) with associated enhanced sheet codes (ESC), readable by machine, having dimension and finishing information associated to said image sheets (26). The equipment (17) further comprises a second plasticizing device (41), downstream of the first plasticizing device (27) for a second plasticizer film (42) of different typologies unwinding from a second film spool (43) for pre-forming plasticized image sheets (31, 44) of different typologies; and the electronic control unit (22) responds to the dimension and finishing information from the enhanced sheet codes (ESC) for selectively activating the first plasticizing device (27) or the second plasticizing device (41) or to leave the plasticizing devices deactivated so as to obtain plasticized image sheets (31, 44) of different typologies of plasticization or non-plasticized image sheets (46).

Book printing management computing system and method providing a platform for publishers. The platform allows the publishers to manage their prints, access the archives of all their books in real time and the production parameters of these in its library, its address book, and its production costs. In addition, the platform manages, with several modules not visible to the customer, the overall production schedule and management of orders by APIs.

Book printing management computing system and method providing a platform for publishers. The platform allows the publishers to manage their prints, access the archives of all their books in real time and the production parameters of these in its library, its address book, and its production costs. In addition, the platform manages, with several modules not visible to the customer, the overall production schedule and management of orders by APIs.

A printing system, including a printing apparatus that sends a print paper after printing to a post-processing machine and a web buffer that temporarily holds a print paper after printing, is provided with: a required print time calculation unit that calculates a required print time for each job; an increase and decrease amount calculation unit that calculates an increase and decrease amount of a consumption amount of the buffer per set for each job on the basis of a difference between a minimum processing time required for a process in a post-processing machine and the required print time; a predicted value calculation unit that obtains a predicted value of the consumption amount of the web buffer by accumulating increase and decrease amounts; and a conveyance control unit that controls a conveyance speed of print paper on the basis of the predicted value.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for print media buffering and sorting. An apparatus for performing at least one of buffering and sorting during an operation includes an enclosure, a storage section within the enclosure, an input section configured to receive at the enclosure at least a portion of a printed element, a gripper associated with the input section, the gripper configured to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the input section to the storage section and to selectively transport the at least a portion of the printed element from the storage section within the enclosure, and an output section configured to selectively transfer the at least a portion of the printed element from the enclosure.

A mechanism that makes it possible to output a saddle-stitched brochure in a correct page order when a post-processing apparatus that executes a saddle-stitching process by switching back a sheet is caused to execute the saddle-stitching process. Sheets discharged from a printing apparatus are switched back by reverse rotation of a conveying roller pair, and are conveyed into a conveying path for a saddle-stitch bookbinding process. The sheets are accumulated in an accumulation tray for the saddle-stitch bookbinding process. When the saddle-stitch bookbinding process is caused to be executed on the accumulated sheets by the post-processing apparatus, the order of image formation is decided such that the order of pages of images printed on the saddle-stitched sheets becomes correct. The images are printed on the sheets in the decided order of image formation.

A mechanism that makes it possible to output a saddle-stitched brochure in a correct page order when a post-processing apparatus that executes a saddle-stitching process by switching back a sheet is caused to execute the saddle-stitching process. Sheets discharged from a printing apparatus are switched back by reverse rotation of a conveying roller pair, and are conveyed into a conveying path for a saddle-stitch bookbinding process. The sheets are accumulated in an accumulation tray for the saddle-stitch bookbinding process. When the saddle-stitch bookbinding process is caused to be executed on the accumulated sheets by the post-processing apparatus, the order of image formation is decided such that the order of pages of images printed on the saddle-stitched sheets becomes correct. The images are printed on the sheets in the decided order of image formation.