JP2000158758A - Printer and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To invalidate white paper effectively by making a decision whether a white paper page will occur or not depending on the print mode for printing a white paper pattern and a print data and performing printing of a white paper pattern corresponding to the white paper page being generated. SOLUTION: A host unit 1 comprises a white paper pattern generating section 2 for generating a white paper pattern data according to designation from a user, a print data generating section 3 for printing a print matter, and a section 4 for transmitting data generated from the white paper pattern generating section 2 and the print data generating section 3 to a printer 5 as a command data. The print control section of the printer 5 comprises a section 6 for receiving various data from the host unit 1, a white paper pattern holding section 7, and a data control section 8 for developing the data received at the data receiving section 6 into a bit map and issuing a command for starting print section 9 or executing print processing. The print section 9 print a received data according to a command from the data control section 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for forming an image based on information such as image data, and more particularly to a printing system for printing a plurality of pages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when a printer is performing double-sided printing or multi-page printing in which a plurality of page data is printed on one sheet of paper, if a printer issues a forced paper ejection instruction or a paper size change instruction before completion of the paper. An unprinted portion is generated on the back side of double-sided printing or on some pages of multi-page printing.
A portion of a predetermined size where the print data is not printed is referred to as a blank page.

[0003] For example, the front page during duplex printing is completed,
If the forcible sheet ejection instruction is issued before receiving the back page data, the printer creates a blank page on the back side and ejects the sheet. Or, when printing in a two-page print mode for printing, for example, two pages of data on one sheet of paper,
If the first page is completed and the forced ejection is instructed before the data of the second page is received, the printer generates a blank page on the second page and ejects the sheet. Further, when the user instructs to change the paper size, the printing is completed and the printing is performed on the paper of the new paper size, and the paper is discharged without performing the printing, so that a blank page is created.

By the way, when a blank page as described above occurs when using a preprinted paper on which a predetermined format or the like is already printed, at least a part of the preprinted paper is output in an unprinted state. I will. For example, when printing important documents such as securities, stock certificates, or insurance policies as preprinted paper, there is a risk that new securities, stock certificates, or insurance policies will be output as blank paper from the printer, and will be misused due to unauthorized acquisition. there were.

On the other hand, as a prior art for a printer to generate a specific pattern on a blank page, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
There is a technique described in JP-A-92-92. This technology is
Whether the blank page output by the printer is a blank page intentionally generated by the user, such as a case where a chapter ends with a front page in double-sided printing, or a blank page caused by a layer of paper or a trouble in the apparatus. In order to identify a necessary blank page or an unnecessary blank page, a pattern or a character to that effect is printed on an intentionally generated blank page.

[0006]

However, according to the object of the prior art, a page on which a pattern or a character is printed is generated as a blank page for some purpose. Most of the page must be blank, and printing of patterns and characters is limited to a narrow area of a blank page. Conversely, since the purpose is to determine that the generated blank page is intentionally generated, the size of characters and patterns has not been considered. Therefore,
If the paper that uses blank pages is preprinted paper, simply printing a specific pattern on the edge of the paper may result in the abuse of the paper by cutting out the required part of the paper after removal. Was. Also, blank pages are treated as being generated for double-sided printing or single-sided printing, and multiple-page printing is not considered.

Further, according to the above-mentioned prior art, a pattern indicating that fact is always printed on an intentionally generated blank page, and therefore, the blank page cannot be output as a blank page for reuse. .

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for invalidating a blank page according to a printing form such as a required paper size or a size of one page.

[0009]

According to the present invention, print data is printed in accordance with the size of a recording medium serving as a predetermined unit and print mode information such as multi-page printing or double-sided printing for printing a plurality of pages per predetermined unit. In the printing apparatus, a predetermined pattern for printing on a blank page (hereinafter, referred to as a blank page pattern) and printing form information are stored in advance in storage means in the printing apparatus. The control unit of the printing apparatus refers to the stored print mode information to determine whether a blank page occurs during printing, and instructs printing of a blank page pattern in a print mode having a fixed relationship with printing of print data. Put out.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a blank page is to be generated in consideration of a printing form when printing print data, and a blank pattern corresponding to the blank page is printed. Accordingly, printing can be performed according to the size and design of the blank page, and the blank page can be effectively invalidated.

According to the present invention, the information processing apparatus is provided with means for extracting a place where a blank page of print data occurs from the print form information. Further, there are provided means for holding the blank pattern in the host device and means for associating the print data with the blank pattern, such as embedding blank pattern data in a place where a blank page of the print data occurs.

As described above, in the information processing apparatus, which is a host apparatus of the printing apparatus, by adding blank pattern data before outputting print data, a blank pattern corresponding to a blank page can be output regardless of the configuration of the printing apparatus. It becomes possible to print.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, first to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described.

First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, blank sheet pattern data is transmitted for each print job.

Here, the print job is composed of print data, which is data of actual print contents such as figures and characters, and print attribute data. The print attribute data includes various print mode instruction commands for defining a paper size, a print mode such as double-sided printing, and multi-page printing, and an ejection instruction command for instructing ejection of all printed sheets after a page is printed. And a command for instructing print control.
In the present invention, this print job further includes a command sequence for printing a blank paper pattern.

The blank paper pattern is printed so that an unprinted page does not occur on a print medium. For example, it is an X mark over the entire blank page that is a blank portion, a horizontal line that overlaps a printed portion of preprinted paper, or a pattern that fills an unprinted portion to prevent writing. . As the data format, bitmap data, character codes, graphic command strings for instructing various graphic drawing, and the like are used.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a printing system for realizing the present invention.

In the printing system of this embodiment, the host device 1
And the printing apparatus 5 are connected via a communication network such as a LAN.

In this embodiment, the host device 1 will be described using a large computer. The host device 1 includes a blank paper pattern data generation unit 2 that generates blank paper pattern data according to a user's specification, a print data generation unit 3 that generates print data for printing a printed matter, and a blank paper pattern data generation unit 2. A data transmission unit 4 for transmitting the data generated by the data generation unit 3 to the printing device 5 as command data
And

The printing device 5 is divided into a printing control unit and a printing unit. The print control unit includes a data receiving unit 6 for receiving various data from the host device 1, and a blank sheet pattern data holding unit for holding blank pattern data when printing the blank page data for printing on a blank page. 7
And a data control unit 8 that develops a bitmap of the received data received by the data receiving unit 6 and issues an instruction to start the printing unit 9 and an instruction to execute the printing process. The printing unit 9
According to the instruction of the data control unit 8, the reception data is printed.

The printing medium used in the printing unit 9 includes
Although there are continuous paper and cut paper, here, a printing unit for cut paper will be described as an example.

Each part of the host device 1 and the printing device 5
It is configured using a microprocessor, a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory), an LSI (large-scale integrated circuit), a logic IC (integrated circuit), and the like. An example of the hardware configuration of the host device 1 and the printing device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the hardware configuration of the host device 1 for realizing the present invention.

The host device includes a CPU (central processing unit) 21 on which a program for generating blank pattern data and a command to be sent to the printing device 5 operates, and an HD (hard disk) 28 and MT connected to the host device. (CHA) 22 for exchanging data with (magnetic tape) 29 and an I / O for controlling signals between a system console 23 which is an input device when an operator operates and also has a display device.
An ADP (input / output adapter) 24 is provided. Further, a floppy disk drive (FDD) 2 for incorporating a program operating in the host device 1
5 and a RAM 26 as a memory for temporarily storing data for a program operating on the host device 1 and a ROM 27 as a memory for storing device fixed information and the like.

The medium for storing the program for realizing the present invention is not limited to this embodiment but is described as an FD (floppy disk), but it is apparent that another medium such as an MO (magnetic disk) may be used. . In that case,
An FDD (floppy disk drive) 30 is a drive corresponding to another medium, for example, a magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

The printing device 5 controls signals of a CHA 32 for receiving data from the host device 1, a CPU 31 for executing various control programs, and a printing unit 9 and an operation panel 37 for actually performing a printing process. I / O ADP36
And an FDD 38 for incorporating a program for realizing the present invention into the printing apparatus 5.

Further, the CPU 31 has a ROM 34 which is a memory for storing data referred to by the control program, a control program, etc., a RAM 33 which is temporarily used when the control program is executed, a registered format, An HD 35 for holding a character font used at the time of printing in a nonvolatile manner is connected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a part of the RAM 33 according to the present invention.

In the RAM 33 of this embodiment, a receiving buffer 41 for temporarily storing various commands received by the CHA 32, a page buffer 42 for storing text data composed of character codes, and a format memory 43 for storing format data. A font memory 44 for storing font data such as registered external characters, and a blank pattern buffer 4 for storing print data received as a blank pattern from a host device.
5, a full dot memory 46 for storing dot-developed print data in page units, a print mode information storage unit 47 for storing print mode information, and a page number counter 48 for storing information about page buffers. Have been. In addition, a control program for performing processing of the printing apparatus of the present invention is also stored in the RAM 3 when the power of the printing apparatus 5 is turned on.
3 is loaded.

The full dot memory 46 has a size corresponding to a plurality of pages, and the number thereof is a number suitable for a parallel processing method of data dot development processing and transmission to the printing unit 9 in the printing processing. Further, when printing a plurality of pages on one sheet, data corresponding to the designated page is developed in the area of the full dot memory 46 of one sheet size.

The mode setting information storage unit 49 and the blank sheet pattern selection information storage unit 40 will be described later, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The processing on the printing apparatus 5 described below is performed in accordance with various processing programs such as a blank pattern data registration routine, a blank pattern printing routine, and a blank pattern selection routine of the control program.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a flow from when a print instruction is issued by the host device 1 to when data is transmitted to the printing device 5.

First, print data is created by the host device 1 (step 1101). The print data may be created by directly drawing and inputting a pattern using the display device and the input device of the system console 23, or by using the FDD 25, HD 28,
It is conceivable to input data from the MT 29.

When the print data is created, the user determines whether to create a blank paper pattern (step 110).
2) Then, the judgment result is input from the system console 23. If it is necessary to create a blank paper pattern, the process proceeds to step 1103. In step 1103, when the user creates an arbitrary pattern as a blank sheet pattern using bitmap data, a figure command sequence, or the like, the RA
A blank paper pattern creation flag (not shown) on M23 is set and added to the beginning of the print job as a blank paper pattern registration command and blank paper pattern data. Here, the blank paper pattern registration command is a command for instructing the printing apparatus 5 to start a blank paper pattern registration routine for performing processing for storing blank paper pattern data in the RAM 33.

If blank pattern data is created, or if it is not necessary to create a blank pattern in step 1102, the flow advances to step 1104 to send a print job transmission command to the printing apparatus 5 input from the system console 23. When a transmission command is input, transmission of a print job to the printing apparatus 5 is started.

As described above, in the host device 1, triggered by the issuance of the print instruction, a process of creating a blank sheet pattern and adding it to the print data is performed.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of data from when the printing device 5 receives various commands from the host device 1 until printing is performed.

Various command codes 51 transmitted from the host device 1 are received by the CHA 32 and stored in the reception buffer 41 via the CPU 31.

The CPU 31 includes, together with the command data 52 successively transmitted from the host device 1, a header 53 containing control information for buffer storage, such as the order of reception.
, And stored in the reception buffer 41. CPU31
Identifies the data type of the command data 52 by analyzing the command code 51, and stores the data in the page buffer 42, the format memory 43, the font memory 44, and the blank paper pattern buffer 45, which are dedicated areas for various types according to the data type. Store.

When a print job is received, a character code serving as text data is stored in the page buffer 42. When one page of page data is completed, the CPU 3
1 performs a drawing development process. In this rendering processing, if the page to be processed is a page using a format, the rendering processing of the format data stored in the format memory 43 is performed. If the page requires external character data, the font memory is processed. The rendering processing of the font data stored in 44 is also performed. The bitmap data created by drawing and developing is stored in a full dot memory 46 that holds one sheet of paper as one entry in association with each other. The bitmap data developed in the full dot memory 46 is sent to the printing unit 9 and a printing process is performed.

In addition, in the development to the full dot memory 46, in the case of the multi-page printing mode, for example, when information of two pages printing is set in the printing mode setting information storage 47, page data of two pages is stored. It is counted by the page number counter 48 until it is stored. When two pages of data are stored in the page buffer, as shown in FIG.
Bitmap data for two pages is drawn and developed, and the information of the page number counter 48 is cleared.

When printing blank page pattern data on a partial page of a plurality of pages, the blank page pattern data stored in the blank page pattern buffer 45 is drawn and developed in the corresponding entry of the full dot memory 46, and the number of pages is calculated. The information of the counter 48 is cleared.

Here, the data is stored in the page buffer 42. Although the number of pages that can be expanded is counted using the page number counter 48, a configuration is also possible in which a reception pointer and an expansion end pointer are provided in the page separation portion of the page buffer 42, and the difference is obtained.

FIG. 6 shows a command sequence of a print job between the host device 1 and the printing device 5. Here, description will be given focusing on registration of blank sheet pattern data. In this case, the operation of the printing apparatus 1 is executed according to a blank sheet pattern data registration routine of the control program.

When the start of communication with the printing apparatus 5 is instructed, the host apparatus 1 issues an initial start-up 61 for checking the communication state with the printing apparatus 5 before issuing various commands. In the printing apparatus 5, the initial activation 61 is received by the CHA 32, the CPU 31 determines whether the state of the printing apparatus 5 is communicable and a command can be received, and the normal response 62 is
Returned to the host device 1 via the HA 32.

Upon confirming that the normal response 62 has been returned, the host device 1 refers to the blank pattern creation flag on the RAM 26. If the flag is set, the host device 1 sends the command code 51 of the blank pattern registration command to the printing device 5. To send to. If the flag is not set, the print data is transmitted because there is no need to register the blank sheet pattern data.

In the printing apparatus 5, the blank page pattern registration command code 51 received by the CPU 31 is
1 is stored. At this time, it is identified from the command code 51 that the command is a blank sheet pattern registration command. Printing device 5
Returns the normal response 63 to the host device 1 after the data storage in the reception buffer 41 and the identification of various information are completed.

If the command code 51 from the host device 1 is the blank paper pattern registration command 21, the normal response 6
After confirming that 3 has been returned, the host device 1 transmits the command data 52 as blank sheet pattern data in the next sequence. The printing device 5 transmits the received command data 51 together with the header 53 to the reception buffer 41.
The command data 52 is further analyzed, and the blank pattern data is stored in the blank pattern buffer 45. After finishing storing the blank sheet pattern data in the blank sheet pattern buffer 45, the printing apparatus 5 returns a normal response 64 to the host apparatus 1.

The processing on the printing apparatus 51 side is performed by the CPU 3
1, the data transfer relating to the RAM 33 is
(Direct access memory) It is also possible to use a controller. In this case, if the DMA controller stores the data stored in the reception buffer in a dedicated area for each data,
31 makes it easy to refer to data, and can efficiently realize processing in the printing apparatus. In this case, the configuration is such that a DMA controller is added to the configuration of FIG.

In the above processing, since the description has been made on the assumption that a large computer is used, the command code and the command data are separately transmitted.
1 and the command data 52 may be transmitted simultaneously. Normally, when the host device is a personal computer, a printer server, or a UNIX server, the command code 51 and the command data 52 are controlled to be transmitted simultaneously.

FIG. 7 shows a specific example of a command sequence transmitted from the host device 1 in one print job. A blank paper pattern registration command 71, a printing form registration command 72, page data transmission commands 73 to 75,
The discharge instruction command 76 is a series of commands.

Here, the blank paper pattern registration command 71 is
This is for registering a blank paper pattern for printing the “x” mark on the entire surface of one page in the printing apparatus 5.

The print mode registration command 72 is 2 here.
A command for instructing page printing from the host device 1 is included. When the printing device 5 recognizes that the command received by the CPU 31 is the printing mode registration command 72, the printing mode setting information storage unit 47 in the RAM 33 stores
Information indicating two pages is stored. If the data stored in the information storage unit is 0, it indicates that normal one-page printing is performed. Further, the area of the full dot memory 46 of the RAM 33 is re-allocated according to the printing form, and the next command reception is waited.

Page data transmission commands 73, 74, 7
Reference numeral 5 denotes data for one page, and the contents of the page data are “say” for the first page, “draw” for the second page, and “say” for the third page. The printing device 5 analyzes the page data, divides it into text data and format data, stores them in the page buffer 42 and the format memory 43, respectively, and then waits for reception of the next command.

The paper ejection instruction command 76 is issued when one print job ends as shown here, or when the user gives an instruction from the higher-level device 1 for some reason such as a desire to perform forced paper ejection. Sent. Upon receiving the discharge instruction command 76, the printing device 5 determines whether it is necessary to print a blank paper pattern.

Next, the printing process of the blank paper pattern will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a blank sheet pattern printing routine of the control program of the printing apparatus 5 performed according to the above command sequence.

The control program is started (step 80)
1) Then, the printing apparatus 5 waits for receiving a command from the host apparatus 1 (step 802).

When the command is received, it is checked whether or not the command is a paper ejection instruction command (step 803). If the command is not the discharge instruction command, the process of another command is executed as described with reference to FIG. 6 (step 804).

If the command is a paper ejection instruction command, it is determined from the print mode setting information storage section 47 whether or not the current print mode is multi-page printing (step 805). If it is not a multiple page printing, the normal one page printing process is executed (step 806). If printing multiple pages, it is checked whether 2-page printing is set (step 8).
07). If not, another multi-page printing process is executed (step 808).

If two-page printing is set, it is checked with reference to the page number counter 48 whether or not page data for two pages is currently present in the page buffer 42 (step 809). If there are two pages, those pages are drawn and developed in the full dot memory 46, printed,
The paper is discharged (steps 814 and 815), and then the apparatus waits for a command to be received.

If data for two pages is not available,
It is checked whether blank pattern data is held in the blank pattern buffer 45 (step 810). If the blank paper pattern data is not stored in the blank paper pattern buffer 45, the blank paper pattern is not printed. Therefore, the held page data and the blank paper data are drawn and developed in the full dot memory 46, and the printing and discharging (813) are performed. , 81
Perform 5) and wait for command reception.

If blank pattern data is held in the blank pattern buffer 45, the blank pattern data is read from the blank pattern buffer 45 (step 811).
The blank pattern data is drawn and expanded and stored in the full dot memory 46, and the blank page pattern data is printed and discharged together with the held page data (step 812,
815). Thereafter, the printing device 5 waits for a command to be received.

Here, the discharge instruction command has been described as an example of the trigger of the blank sheet pattern printing routine, but another command such as a paper size change instruction command may be considered.

FIG. 9 shows the result of printing by the above-described blank paper pattern printing routine.

The first sheet contains page data 73 and 7
No. 4 is printed, and on the second sheet, page data 75 and “x” mark, which is blank paper pattern data, are printed on the entire surface of one page.

In this embodiment, the two-page printing mode has been described. However, when printing one page at a time on both sides of one sheet, such as double-sided printing, or printing the first page of printing data only in the four-page printing mode. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where blank page pattern data is printed on the remaining three pages.

When the printing of a plurality of pages is two or more pages, for example, in a four-page printing mode, a bitmap data area for four pages is secured in the work memory, and then page data of the first page is secured. Expand to the upper left of the bitmap data. Subsequently, on the second and subsequent pages, blank pattern data “x” marks are developed in the order of lower left, upper right, and lower right of the secured bitmap data. further,
The completed bitmap data area for four pages may be printed as a bitmap memory for one page. As described above, the blank page pattern data can be printed in multiple-page printing by effectively utilizing the printing logic of normal one-page printing.

According to the present invention, blank pattern data to be printed on a blank page generated in double-sided printing or multi-page printing is transmitted to the printing apparatus in association with print data for each print job. The size and design can be created according to the printing of a plurality of pages, and it is possible to flexibly cope with the security of the printing operation.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, whether or not to activate the blank paper pattern printing routine is set. In the first embodiment, whether or not the execution of the blank sheet pattern data is determined based on whether the blank sheet pattern data is stored in the blank sheet pattern buffer 45, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. RAM3
A mode setting information storage unit 49, which is setting means for setting permission / non-permission of blank sheet pattern data printing, is provided on the third unit.

ON / OFF of mode setting information storage section 49
The switching is performed, for example, by issuing a switching instruction as a print mode setting command from the higher-level device 1 or by a key input signal to a panel message on the operation panel 37.

Whether the blank pattern printing routine can be started or not is determined by
This is performed in step 810 of FIG. Step 81
At 0, the CPU 31 refers to the mode setting information storage unit 49, and if the mode setting information storage unit 49 is OFF, the process proceeds to step 813. Mode setting information storage 49 is ON
If it is, it is determined that blank sheet pattern data printing is set, and the process proceeds to step 812 to read blank sheet pattern data from the blank sheet pattern buffer 45.

As described above, when the blank pattern is registered from the host device 1 in the printing apparatus 5 and blank pattern data printing permission is set as information on the blank page printing mode, the blank pattern data is printed. If the rejection is set, printing of blank sheet pattern data is not performed. Therefore, even if blank paper pattern data is transmitted from the host device by mistake, the blank portion is output without being printed, so that the paper can be reused in a state where the printed matter is strictly managed, It is possible to respond more flexibly to printing operations.

Next, a third embodiment will be described.

In the third embodiment, blank pattern printing is performed by selecting from a plurality of blank sheet pattern data. In the present embodiment, necessary blank sheet pattern data is selected from the paper size set using the print mode instruction command of the print job and the appropriate information from a plurality of print pages. A plurality of blank pattern data is stored in the ROM 34 or H
D35 is stored in advance and blank sheet pattern data is selected from the host device 1. RAM3
3, a blank pattern selection information storage unit 40 is added as a new configuration.

FIG. 10 shows a blank paper pattern management table 101 for storing various information of blank paper pattern data held in the printing apparatus 5 in advance. This management table is stored in the ROM
When the control program is started, it is loaded into the RAM 33 together with blank sheet pattern data in order to shorten the processing time of the print job.

The blank paper pattern management table 101 is for associating each blank paper pattern data with various printing forms. For example, a blank paper pattern data pattern name 104 and a blank paper pattern data The head 105 of the storage address is stored. Here, in the case of continuous paper, the paper size is length of cut × width of continuous paper. When the size of the blank paper pattern is the same, for example, in the A3 size four-page print mode and the A4 size two-page print mode, the overlapping portion is omitted and the one having the same size is referred to. It can also be configured.

In the present embodiment, the blank page pattern registration command 71 in the command sequence shown in FIG.
Is omitted. A blank paper pattern selection command is transmitted instead of the blank paper pattern registration command, and a selection blank paper pattern setting command is transmitted after the print mode registration command 72.

The blank paper pattern selection command is a command for acquiring information required to select blank paper pattern data from the printing apparatus 5, and is transmitted only with a command code, like the paper ejection instruction command. Upon receiving this command, the printing apparatus 5 starts a blank sheet pattern selection routine in the control program.

The selected blank paper pattern setting command is a command for designating a blank paper pattern to be used when printing a blank paper pattern.

Higher-level device based on the above command sequence
1 and the operation of the printing apparatus 5 will be described.

When a normal response is returned from the printing apparatus 5 to the blank sheet pattern selection command transmitted from the upper apparatus 1, the upper apparatus 1 transmits a print mode registration command 72. When the printing apparatus 5 receives the print mode registration command 72, the CPU 31 stores information on the paper size designated as multi-page printing in the print mode setting information storage unit 47 in the case of multiple page printing. Further, by referring to the blank paper pattern management table 101, pattern information such as a pattern name registered according to the designated paper size and the mode of printing a plurality of pages is transmitted to the host device 1.

In the host device 1, the pattern information is output to the display device of the system console 23, and the user selects an appropriate blank paper pattern from the pattern information. The selected pattern information is transmitted to the printing device 5 as selected blank sheet pattern setting command data.

In the printing apparatus 5, the CPU 31 analyzes the pattern information selected from the selected blank paper pattern setting command, and stores the address of the selected pattern in the blank paper pattern selection information storage unit 40.

If blank pattern data is to be printed, in step 810 in FIG. 8, the CPU 31 determines whether blank pattern data has been selected by referring to the blank pattern selection information storage unit 40. ,
The blank sheet pattern printing routine is not started, and step 81
Proceed to 3. If the address has been acquired from the blank pattern selection information storage unit 40, the process proceeds to step 811 to read blank pattern data from the acquired address.

In the above description, blank sheet pattern data is selected by the host device 1, but it is also possible to designate from the input device such as the operation panel 37 in the printing device 5.

For example, a key for switching to the blank paper pattern data selection mode is provided from the operation panel 37, and when the key is inputted, the I / O ADP 36 controls the CPU 31.
Is converted to an interrupt signal recognized by The control program running on the CPU 31 recognizes the interrupt signal, activates the blank sheet pattern selection routine, and stores the key input information in the RAM 33.

After the storage is completed, the control program is executed by the CPU 37.
To obtain a pattern name registered according to the paper size and the multi-page print mode from the blank paper pattern management table 101 loaded on the RAM 39, and transmit an interrupt signal to the I / O ADP 36, for example, A process for displaying the name of the corresponding blank paper pattern is performed. The user selects a required pattern according to this display. When a specific pattern is selected, the CPU 31 stores the address of the selected blank pattern data in the blank pattern selection information storage section 40 on the RAM 39.

In the above description, the blank sheet pattern data and the blank sheet pattern management table 101 are stored in the ROM 34.
The new blank pattern data sent from the host
It may be registered as a new blank paper pattern.
When adding blank paper pattern data, the blank paper pattern data is stored in the HD 35 after a print job using the blank paper pattern data is completed. In addition, the name of the pattern
Along with the designated paper size and the print mode setting mode stored in the print mode setting information storage unit 47, the print mode is added to the blank sheet pattern management table 101.

In the present embodiment, an appropriate pattern is selected from blank patterns of various printing forms using the blank pattern management table, so that an appropriate pattern is added to a blank page without adding blank pattern data to a print job. Printing can be performed, and blank pages can be effectively invalidated.

When the operation panel 37 is used, since blank sheet pattern data is selected from the operation panel 37, command processing performed between the host device 1 and the printing device 5 is not required, and only the printing device is used. Is possible,
There is also an effect that the configuration of the system can be simplified. In the above-described first, second, and third embodiments, it is also possible to register a blank paper pattern in the printing apparatus 5 from a higher-level device without using a blank paper pattern registration command. In this case, a signal that triggers the activation of the blank paper pattern registration routine of the control program of the printing apparatus 5 is input from the operation panel 37.

When the blank sheet pattern registration routine is started in response to a signal input from the operation panel 37, the data sent from the host device is stored in the blank sheet buffer 1211 as a blank sheet pattern. With such a configuration, an FDD serving as an input / output device with an external device
Registration can be performed using a conventional configuration such as 39 or CHA32. In other words, if the blank sheet pattern registration routine is started, it becomes possible to acquire pattern data from, for example, the FDD 39, or to register print data transmitted from the higher-level device 1 as a blank pattern via the CHA 32. In this case, the process of generating the once created pattern data together with the blank paper pattern registration command as blank paper pattern data is omitted, and the blank paper pattern data can be registered only with the configuration of the printing apparatus 5.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the information of the blank sheet pattern data stored in the printing apparatus 5 is taken up by the upper apparatus 1 and the pattern is set on the upper apparatus 1 side. In the fourth embodiment, the pattern is set by the printing apparatus 5. Identify blank paper pattern data of the required size.

It is assumed that one pattern is registered in the blank sheet pattern management table 101 for each sheet size and each mode of printing a plurality of pages. When the printing apparatus 5 receives a normal print job (print data and print form data,
The blank paper pattern selection routine starts.

The CPU 31 analyzes the specified paper size and multi-page print mode from the print data. This analysis is performed in the same manner as the operation described with reference to FIG. Then, the blank paper pattern in the designated paper size and the multi-page print mode is stored in the blank paper pattern
1 and the corresponding blank paper pattern is stored in the blank paper pattern buffer 45.

The subsequent processing is the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. In this way, the printing apparatus 5 holds the blank sheet patterns of each size one by one, and analyzes the print data sent from the host apparatus 1 to obtain an appropriate blank sheet pattern according to the paper size and printing form to be printed. This makes it possible to perform blank paper pattern printing at a high processing speed.

Further, the blank pattern data for one type of pattern may be held in the printing apparatus 5 and the pattern may be enlarged or reduced as needed.
The CPU 31 performs identification of the designated paper size and the multi-page print mode, and performs enlargement or reduction processing so that the held blank paper pattern data has a required size. When the blank paper pattern data is used as a graphic command, the processing speed can be increased.

Further, if a correspondence table to be referred to in order to make a pattern of the paper size designated from the held information and the size of the multi-page print mode is prepared, the processing speed can be increased. For example, when the data to be held corresponds to the A4 size 4-page print mode, the data can be used as it is in the A3-size 8-page print mode or the A5-size 2-page print mode. Yes, it is necessary to double the size in the A3 size 4 page print mode or A4 size 2 page print mode. An A5 size four-page print mode is an example. If such information is made into a table and this table is referred to from the designated paper size and the multi-page print mode, the processing can be further simplified.

In the present embodiment and the third embodiment, the paper size and the print mode for multi-page printing are specified by the print mode setting command of the print job. However, it is needless to say that the print mode can be specified separately from the print job. Nor. In this case, the processing can be performed by transmitting the print mode information from the host device 1 independently of the print data, as in the case where the blank sheet pattern data is registered using FIG.

As described above, even if the types of patterns held by the printing apparatus 5 are small, a pattern matching the paper size or the size of printing a plurality of pages can be generated and printed on a blank page. This eliminates the need for a new configuration on the host device side, and the blank pages can be effectively invalidated with a simple configuration on the printing device side.

In the first to fourth embodiments, it is determined whether or not a blank page is generated in the printing apparatus 5 while printing the print data from the higher-level apparatus 1. It is also possible to make a configuration in which it is determined whether or not a print job occurs, and a print job including a blank paper pattern is transmitted to the printing apparatus 5. In this configuration, since the process related to the blank page is performed by the host device 5, it is not necessary to provide a new configuration in the printing device 5, and an appropriate pattern can be printed on the blank page. This example will be described below as a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Here, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those in FIG.

The host device 1 analyzes the print data generated by the print data generation unit 3, the blank paper pattern data generation unit 2, and the print data generation unit 3, and extracts the blank paper portion generated in the printed matter at the time of printing. An extraction unit 1201 and a print data processing unit 1202 that embeds information about a blank paper pattern generated and held by the blank paper pattern data generation unit 2 in the print data in the blank paper portion extracted by the blank paper extraction unit 1201.
And a data transmission unit 4 for transmitting data generated by the print data processing unit 1202 to the printing apparatus 5 as command data.
At least. Here, as described above, the print data transmitted to the printing apparatus 5 includes a print data command sequence and a print such as a two-sided print designation or a multi-page print designation for printing a plurality of pages on one sheet. The command includes a command for designating a form and a command for instructing print control such as an instruction for discharging all printed sheets after a page is printed.

Although not shown here, the printing device 5 processes data received by the data receiving unit for receiving various data from the host device 1 and the data receiving unit, and executes a print instruction to the printing unit. At least a printing unit that prints received data and discharges sheets according to instructions from the control unit and the data control unit is provided.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a hardware configuration of a host device for realizing this embodiment. In this embodiment, a personal computer will be described as an example of the host device 1.

Referring to FIG. 13, CPU 1301
Using the application program on the M1302 to generate print data or blank pattern data,
The OS (Operatin) loaded in the RAM 1302
g System) printer driver performs blank page extraction processing and print data processing.

Further, the host device 1 stores a ROM 1303 storing a boot program to be used when the device is started, an OS and an application program which the boot program maps to the RAM 1032 when the device is started, a control program and various data for realizing this embodiment. HD to store
1304, a printer interface (PRINTER I / F) 130 for transmitting and receiving data to and from a printer
5. a keyboard interface 1307 which is a keyboard or mouse interface; an FDD 1 for incorporating a control program for realizing the present embodiment into the host device 1
306 is provided.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the RAM 1302 according to this embodiment.

Reference numeral 1401 denotes an OS, 1402 and 1403, drawing application programs for creating print data and programs for creating documents, which are loaded on the RAM 1302. Reference numeral 1404 denotes a blank pattern buffer for storing blank pattern data registered as a blank pattern.

Reference numeral 1405 denotes a print data generation buffer for storing data to be printed generated by the application programs 1402 and 1403. Reference numeral 1406 denotes a print data transmission buffer used when print data is transmitted to the printer as a print job by the printer driver.

The print data head address storage unit 1407 to the mode setting information storage unit 1412 will be described later.

Next, generation of blank paper pattern data according to the present embodiment will be described.

In the high-order apparatus 1, blank sheet pattern data for printing on a blank section is generated. The blank paper pattern data uses an application program for drawing,
The blank paper pattern data is created in accordance with a printing form such as a paper size of a printed matter or a plurality of pages. When the blank paper pattern is printed on the entire blank paper print area in this manner, the blank paper portion can be effectively invalidated. Also,
The type of data used as blank paper pattern data, such as characters, graphics, and image data, may be any type that the printing device 5 can support.

The registration of a blank paper pattern is provided as a function of the printer driver, and the generated blank paper pattern data is stored in the blank paper pattern buffer 1404 as a blank paper pattern to be used when a blank paper is generated.

Next, the printing operation of this embodiment will be described. Here, as shown in FIG.
An example will be described in which a blank page is generated at the time of two-page printing for printing a page and a blank pattern is printed on the page. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the print data generation buffer 1405 stores print data from the print data start address 1501 to the print data end address 1502.

The print data is composed of a sequence of command data. The command data is provided with a command code 1503 for identifying the command type and a command length 1504 indicating the command length. In FIG. 15, a print mode command 1504, a page data command 1505 for page data A to C, and a discharge instruction command 1506 are stored as command data.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a process of extracting blank page data from print data.

First, in step 1601, the head address of the print data on the print data generation buffer 1405 is acquired as the print data start address 1501, and stored in the print data start address storage unit 1407 on the RAM.

In step 1602, the print data is checked from the print data start address 1501, and the print mode command 1504 is detected from the command code. Analyzes the print format command data for the command length and
It recognizes that page printing is to be performed, and stores information indicating that it is two-page printing in the print mode information storage unit 1409.
With this information, it can be recognized that two page data are paired to generate one sheet.

In step 1603, the page data command 1505 is obtained from the command code of the next print data.
, And skips the next command length of command data, thereby determining whether there is one page data. Further, each time one page is printed, the page number counter 48 is incremented by one.

In step 1604, it is determined whether or not the next command is a discharge instruction command. If the next command is not a discharge instruction command, the page number counter 1411 counts up by the number of pages in the set print mode. Cleared.

These processes are performed by the discharge instruction command 150
6 is detected. Here, blank page printing is performed in response to the discharge instruction command, but it is needless to say that a change in paper size may be triggered.

If a discharge command instruction command is detected in step 1604, it is detected in step 1607 whether a blank page is generated. Here, 1409
Is determined based on the information stored in the page number and the count number of the page number counter 1411 based on whether or not one sheet has been completed. In this example, a discharge instruction command 1506 is detected after the page data C, and it is detected that only one page of page data has been processed.

When it is extracted that a blank sheet is to be generated in this portion, at step 1607, the discharge command 1
The address at which the head of 506 is stored is stored as a blank page generation address 1507 in the blank page generation address storage unit.
The print data end address 1502 is stored in the print data end address storage.

When the processing of the print data is completed, the processing of the print data is performed next.

FIG. 17 shows (a) print data generation buffer 1
405 and (b) a print data transmission buffer 1406 which is an area where print data transmitted to the printing apparatus 5 is stored.
This shows the relationship. Before the print data is transmitted as one print job, the print data stored in the print data generation buffer is transferred to the print data transmission buffer 1406 with blank page pattern data added as a page data D command 1701.

At the time of transfer, first, the print data start address storage unit 1407 and the print data end address storage unit 1
408, information is extracted from the blank page generation address storage unit 1410, respectively. If a blank portion occurs in a plurality of places, since there are a plurality of blank page generation addresses corresponding to the occurrences, the blank page generation addresses are sequentially taken out. Next, the print data start address is set as the transfer start address, and the address immediately before the blank page generation address is set as the transfer end address (here, the address immediately before the address where the discharge instruction command is stored). After that, the blank pattern data stored in the blank pattern buffer 1404 is transferred as a page data D command 41 to a subsequent portion of the print data transmission buffer 1406.

Next, data is transferred after the blank pattern data in the print data transmission buffer 1406, using the blank page generation address as the transfer start address and the page data end address as the transfer end address. When there are a plurality of blank page generation portions, a process of transferring the blank page generation address as a transfer start address and the address immediately before the next blank page generation address as a transfer end address is performed.

In this way, blank pattern data can be inserted as page data D41 in the form of page data into the blank blank portion extracted from the data stored in the print data transmission buffer 1406.

The printer interface 1305 transmits the print data into which the page data D41 has been inserted to the printing apparatus 5 as one print job. In the printing device 5,
The page data D41 is processed as general page data, and an operation of simply printing two pages of data of four pages and discharging the paper is performed.

In the present embodiment, the above operation enables the printing apparatus 5 to print a blank pattern on a blank portion without recognizing the blank portion, thereby making the preprinted paper invalid. In this way, for example, blank pattern data is printed on a blank page generated on the last paper, so that the preprint paper cannot be used for its intended purpose, the preprint paper is invalidated, and the abuse can be prevented. is there.

Further, according to the present invention, since the printing device 5 does not need to recognize that a blank paper pattern is printed on a blank portion, there is an advantage that the above effects can be realized by using a known printing device.

In the fifth embodiment, a mode setting information storage section 1412 is provided as shown in FIG. 14, and information relating to a blank page printing mode can be preset in the host device 1 and printed. The setting of the blank page printing mode is performed by a user using a mouse or a keyboard (not shown) provided in a higher-level device.

Next, when the data is transferred from the print data generation buffer 1405 to the print data transmission buffer 1406,
FIG. 18 shows a process for confirming the mode setting.

At the time of processing the print data, when the address of the part where a blank page is generated is obtained (1801), the information stored in the mode setting information storage unit 1409 determines whether to print a blank page pattern on the blank section. It is checked whether it is or not (1802). If the information is "print a blank pattern on a blank portion", page data D41 is inserted as blank page pattern data as a normal page data format as described with reference to FIG. 17 (180).
4).

If it is recognized that a blank paper pattern is not to be printed on a blank paper portion, the print data is directly transferred to the printer interface 1305 without processing (1803). The printer interface 1305 transmits the raw print data to the printing device 5 as a print job. Printing device 5
Then, the page data is processed in order, and the blank portion is printed as a blank as a normal operation.

In this description, the mode setting is confirmed when the print data is transferred to the print data transmission buffer. However, the mode setting is confirmed at another timing, for example, when a blank page generation address is set. You may do it. In this case, when data is transmitted to the print data transmission buffer, it is not necessary to check whether a blank portion has occurred, so that the processing time can be shortened accordingly.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a pattern generated by the application programs 1402, 1403, etc. is registered as blank sheet pattern data. However, as in the above-described embodiment, a pattern previously stored in the HD 1304 is stored in the RAM. May be loaded into the blank paper pattern buffer 1404, or may be loaded from the FDD. In this case, it is not necessary to generate a blank paper pattern every time a blank paper pattern is required.
A plurality of patterns are stored in 304, and an appropriate pattern can be selected from the stored patterns.

As described above, it is possible to select whether or not to print a blank paper pattern by setting the blank paper generation mode preset in the host device 1. If blank pattern data printing non-permission is preset as information on the blank page printing mode of the host device 1, blank pattern data is not printed, the preprinted paper is output as new, and the printed matter can be strictly managed. In this state, it is possible to use the paper so that it can be reused.

[0142]

According to the present invention, a printing form for printing a blank paper pattern and print data is stored in a printing apparatus. It is determined whether or not a blank page is generated in accordance with the printing form, and a blank page pattern corresponding to the generated blank page is printed, whereby the blank page can be effectively invalidated. Also, a blank page pattern is held by the host device, and whether a blank page occurs is identified. If a blank page is generated, the data to be printed is processed, a blank page pattern is added to the blank page portion, and the blank page portion is transmitted to the printing device, thereby disabling the blank page portion without changing the configuration of the conventional printing device. It is possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a functional block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a hardware configuration of a host device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a hardware configuration of a printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a RAM configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of data in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a command response between a higher-level device and a printing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a command sequence for transmitting a blank page when printing two pages from a host device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a blank sheet pattern printing routine process when printing two pages.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print result of printing a blank mark during two-page printing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a blank sheet pattern management table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of generating a blank sheet pattern in the host device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of a host device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a host device according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a configuration of a RAM of a higher-level device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a configuration of a print data generation buffer according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of blank page extraction processing according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example of a print data generation buffer and a print data transmission buffer according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of a blank page print setting confirmation process according to the fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... upper device, 2 ... blank paper pattern data generation unit, 3 ...
A print data generation unit, 4 ... a data transmission unit, 5 ... a printing device, 6 ... a data reception unit, 7 ... a blank paper pattern data holding unit, 8 ... a data control unit, 9 ...・ Printing unit, 21, 31, 1
301 ... CPU, 22, 32 ... channel adapter, 2
3 ... System console, 24, 36 ... Input /
Output adapter, 25, 38, 1306 ... Floppy disk drive, 26, 33, 1302 ... R
AM, 27, 34, 1303 ... ROM, 28, 35,
1304 HD, 29 magnetic tape, 37 operation panel, 40 blank sheet pattern selection information storage unit, 41 reception buffer, 42 page buffer, 43 format Memory, 44: Font memory, 45: Blank paper pattern buffer, 46: Full dot memory, 47: Print mode setting information storage unit, 48: Page number counter, 49: Mode setting Information storage unit, 51: Command code, 52: Command data, 53: Header, 61: Initial start command, 62, 63, 64: Normal response, 71: Blank pattern registration Command, 72 ... print mode registration command, 7
3, 74, 75 ... page data transmission command, 76 ...
Discharge instruction command, 101: blank paper pattern management table, 102: paper size information storage unit, 103: multiple page print information storage unit, 104: pattern name storage unit, 1
05 storage destination address storage unit, 1201 blank page extraction unit, 1202 print data processing unit, 1305 printer interface, 1307 keyboard interface, 1401 OS 1402, 1403 ... Application program, 1404, blank pattern buffer, 1405, print data generation buffer, 140
6 ... print data transmission buffer, 1407 ... print data start address storage, 1408 ... print data end address storage, 1409 ... print form information storage, 141
0: blank page generation address storage unit, 1411: page number counter, 1412: mode setting information storage unit, 1501
..Print data start address, 1502 ... Print data end address, 1503 ... Command code, 1504 ...
Command length, 1505 ... print mode command, 1
506: page data command, 1507: discharge instruction command, 1508: blank page generation address, 1701 ...
Page data D command

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AR03 AS02 AS05 HJ04 HJ06 HK11 HK23 HL01 HN19 HN23 2C087 AB05 BA01 BA02 BA03 BA04 BA05 BA06 BA09 BB02 BC01 BC02 BD06 BD10 BD42 CB02 CB12 CB13 5B021 AA03 CC01 BD02 KK02 LE06 9A001 JJ35

Claims (16)

[Claims] In a printing apparatus for printing print data on a print medium in accordance with print form information, said printing means comprises a first storage means for storing a predetermined pattern and a second storage means for storing print form information. Control means for deciding to print the predetermined pattern on a blank page portion where the print data is not printed on a medium, and issuing an instruction to print the predetermined pattern on the blank page portion based on the print form information. A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information input / output unit with an external device, wherein said predetermined pattern is input from said external device via said information input / output unit and said first storage. A printing device characterized by being stored in a means. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising print designation means for setting whether or not to print said predetermined pattern, wherein said control means instructs said print designation means to print on a blank page portion. A printing apparatus characterized in that the printing apparatus is determined according to the following. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means stores a plurality of said predetermined patterns,
The printing apparatus further comprises: third storage means for storing management information for associating the predetermined pattern with the print form information; and attribute designating means for designating a print form to be printed on the print medium by the printing means. The means refers to the management information, selects the predetermined pattern suitable for the printing mode specified by the attribute specifying means, and the control means issues an instruction to print the selected predetermined pattern on the blank page portion. A printing device characterized by the following. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus prints the print medium using a third storage unit that stores management information that associates the predetermined pattern with the print mode information. A printing apparatus, further comprising: an attribute designating unit that designates a printing mode to be performed; and an attribute converting unit that converts the printing mode of the predetermined pattern into the printing mode designated by the attribute designating unit. 6. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first storage means, said second storage means are random access memories, said control means is a central processing unit, and said printing means is a printing apparatus. A printing device characterized by being an engine. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print mode information includes information for specifying a size of the print medium and a plurality of pages for specifying a number of pages for multi-page printing. A printing apparatus, which is page print information. 8. An information processing apparatus for outputting print form information for designating a print form on a print medium and print data to be printed, a first storage means for storing a predetermined pattern, and Means for extracting a blank page portion of a predetermined size that becomes a blank when the print data is printed with reference to, a control unit for associating the blank page portion of the predetermined size with the predetermined pattern, An information processing apparatus comprising an output unit that outputs the print data and a predetermined pattern associated with the print data. 9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
An information processing apparatus, further comprising setting means for specifying whether or not to output the predetermined pattern, wherein the control means determines an association between the print data and the predetermined pattern in accordance with the specification of the setting means. . 10. An information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a second storage unit for storing print data; and a third storage unit for storing output data, wherein said control unit is configured to store said print data. An information processing apparatus, comprising: extracting print data from a second storage unit; inserting the predetermined pattern into a blank page portion of the print data; and storing the predetermined pattern in the third storage unit. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first, second and third storage means are random access memories, said control means is a central processing unit, and said output means is a printer. An information processing device characterized by being an interface. 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the print mode information specifies information for specifying the size of the print medium and the number of pages for printing a plurality of pages. An information processing apparatus characterized by being multi-page print information. 13. A printing method for printing on a print medium having a plurality of pages in a predetermined unit according to print mode information, wherein a step of designating printing on a page having print data in accordance with first print mode information; Determining a certain page as a blank page on which data is not printed, and a specific page predetermined according to the second print mode information having a fixed relationship with the first print mode information on the page determined as the blank page A printing method, comprising printing a pattern. 14. The printing method according to claim 13, wherein the first print mode information and the second print mode information are the same. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the specific pattern is a pattern for invalidating information already printed on the blank page of the print medium.
Printing method described in. 16. A recording medium storing a program for realizing the method according to claim 13.