JP4868009B2 - Image forming method, image forming apparatus, print instruction apparatus, booklet, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, a print instruction apparatus, a booklet, and a program.

  Conventionally, characters are divided and printed at the edge on the fore edge of each page so that characters such as headings appear on the edge on the edge opposite to the binding side of the booklet formed by binding a plurality of sheets. Technology is used. Such an example is a technique found in books such as a dictionary.

  If the booklet is not thick enough, the booklet is bent into a form in which multiple sheets are rolled, and when the entire booklet is bent, each letter appears in the overlapping part of the paper edge on the fore side of the booklet. There is known a technique in which characters are divided and printed at the edge of the edge of the page (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 19 shows a print example of a conventional headline character. As shown in FIG. 19, since an image obtained by dividing an additional image made up of heading characters is printed at the ends of a plurality of sheets constituting the booklet 100, the booklet 100 is curved in a form in which a plurality of sheets are repeated. In this case, the heading character “Chapter 1” appears in the overlapping portion of the paper edge on the fore edge side 102 opposite to the binding side 101 of the booklet 100.

US Pat. No. 7,349,651

  However, when an image obtained by dividing the additional image is printed at the end of each sheet as in the above-described conventional technique, the booklet 100 is not curved as shown in FIG. Some images were visible on the side, and it looked bad.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to improve the appearance of a booklet.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the image forming method according to claim 1, the control unit sequentially slices the additional images, and each of the sliced additional images is formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A step of generating an image arranged inward by a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge side of the booklet, and a printing unit to generate the plurality of images Printing on paper.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the first aspect, the end portion on the fore edge side of the booklet is a paper end on the fore edge side of the plurality of sheets.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the first aspect, the edge portion on the fore edge side of the booklet is a position where the edge of the fore edge side of the plurality of sheets after cutting is expected. .

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an acquisition unit that acquires an additional image and the acquired additional image are sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is formed by binding a plurality of sheets. An image arranged inside a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge side of the booklet is generated, and a plurality of the generated images are controlled by controlling a printing unit. And a control unit for printing on the paper.

  The print instruction apparatus according to claim 5, wherein an operation unit for setting an additional image and the set additional image are sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A print instruction for generating an image arranged inside a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be printed, and instructing the printing of the generated image A control unit that generates information; and a transmission unit that transmits the generated print instruction information to the image forming apparatus.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a booklet formed by binding a plurality of sheets in advance in a direction perpendicular to a fore edge side of the booklet from the end of the booklet on the fore edge side of the booklet. This is a booklet in which images obtained by sequentially slicing additional images are printed in the binding width of the plurality of sheets inside a predetermined width.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the computer is formed by sequentially acquiring the additional image to be acquired, slicing the acquired additional image, and binding each of the sliced additional images to a plurality of sheets. An image arranged inside a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge side of the booklet is generated, and a plurality of the generated images are controlled by controlling a printing unit. This is a program for causing a printer to function as a control unit that prints on a sheet of paper.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a computer has an operation unit for setting an additional image, the set additional image is sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A print instruction for generating an image arranged inside a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be printed, and instructing the printing of the generated image A program for functioning as a control unit that generates information and a transmission unit that transmits the generated print instruction information to the image forming apparatus.

  According to the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth aspects of the invention, each of the sliced additional images is preliminarily formed in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet. Since it is arranged inward by a predetermined width, the appearance of the booklet can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sliced additional image can be arranged on the inner side by a predetermined width from the edge of the plurality of sheets on the edge side.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to arrange the sliced additional image on the inner side by a predetermined width from the position where the edge of the fore edge after cutting is viewed in a plurality of sheets.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an image forming system according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of client PC. It is an example of a print setting screen displayed on the display unit of the client PC. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of print data generated by a client PC according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st printing instruction | indication process performed in client PC. 3 is a flowchart illustrating first print processing executed in the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows a synthesized image generation process. It is an example of a heading image. It is an example of the slice image which sliced the header image. It is an example of the synthesized image which synthesize | combined the slice image with the text image. It is an example of a created booklet. It is the elements on larger scale of the heading part of "Chapter 1" at the time of curving a booklet. It is an example of the booklet of the state which is not curved. It is a figure which shows the structure of the print data produced | generated by client PC of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd printing instruction | indication process performed in client PC. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print data generation processing. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a second printing process executed in the image forming apparatus. It is the example of the printing of the conventional headline character. It is an example of the state which is not curving the conventional booklet.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an image forming system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes a client PC (Personal Computer) 10 and an image forming apparatus 20, and each apparatus is connected via a communication network N so that data communication is possible. Yes.

  The client PC 10 is composed of a general PC and is a print instruction apparatus that instructs printing in the image forming apparatus 20. The client PC 10 is installed with an OS (Operating System) and a document creation program for creating a document to be printed. The client PC 10 is installed with a printer driver program for specifying a print instruction for a created document and a print method for a document to be printed. Using this printer driver function, the client PC 10 receives print data 60 (see FIG. 4) including various setting information 62 (see FIG. 4) and text image data 61 (see FIG. 4) applied at the time of printing. It is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 20.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is a so-called MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) having a copy function, an image reading function, and a printer function, and forms an image on a sheet based on image data. The image forming apparatus 20 is installed with a printer controller program for receiving the print data 60 transmitted from the client PC 10 and developing it into raster data.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the client PC 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the client PC 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an operation unit 12, a display unit 13, a communication unit 14, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 15, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 16, and a storage unit 17. Each part is configured by being connected by a bus 18.

  The CPU 11 comprehensively controls the processing operation of each unit of the client PC 10. Specifically, the CPU 11 reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM 15 or the storage unit 17 in accordance with an operation signal input from the operation unit 12 or an instruction signal received by the communication unit 14, and expands it in the RAM 16. Various processes are performed in cooperation with the program.

  The CPU 11 reads out a printer driver program from the storage unit 17 and develops it in the RAM 16, generates print data 60 in cooperation with the program, and instructs printing in the image forming apparatus 20.

  The operation unit 12 includes a keyboard having cursor keys, character input keys, various function keys, and the like, and a pointing device such as a mouse. The operation signal is input to the CPU 11 through key operations on the keyboard and mouse operations. Output.

  The display unit 13 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various display screens according to instructions of display signals input from the CPU 11.

  The communication unit 14 is a functional unit for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device such as the image forming apparatus 20 connected via the communication network N.

  The ROM 15 is configured by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various processing programs executed by the CPU 11, various data, and the like.

  The RAM 16 forms a work area that temporarily stores various processing programs executed by the CPU 11 and data related to these programs.

  The storage unit 17 includes a hard disk and the like, and is a storage device that stores various programs such as a printer driver program and various data such as image data.

  In the client PC 10, settings for printing an additional image are performed in the image forming apparatus 20. The additional image is divided into a plurality of sheets so that when the booklet is bent into a form in which a plurality of sheets of a booklet formed by binding a plurality of sheets is rolled up, the additional image appears at the overlapping portion of the paper edges on the edge side of the booklet. And printed. In the present embodiment, a case where a heading image is used as an additional image will be described as an example. A heading image is an image set as a heading corresponding to each section when a plurality of pages constituting the booklet are divided into a plurality of sections. Note that the additional image is not limited to the heading image, and may be an image showing the title or creator of the booklet, or may be a character, a number, a symbol, a code, a figure, or the like.

  Here, the setting for bending headline printing in the client PC 10 will be described. Bending headline printing means that when a booklet is bent into a form in which a plurality of papers of a booklet formed by binding a plurality of papers are curled, a heading image appears at the overlapping portion of the paper edge on the fore edge side of the booklet. Printing on a plurality of sheets. Bending headline printing is set when the printer driver function of the client PC 10 instructs printing of a document to be printed.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the print setting screen 40 displayed on the display unit 13 in cooperation with the CPU 11 of the client PC 10 and the printer driver program. The print setting screen 40 includes a paper size designation area 41, a discharge tray designation area 42, a duplex setting area 43, a bending heading function check box 44, page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d, and heading designation areas 46a and 46b. , 46c, 46d, a print position designation area 47 from the paper edge, a unit designation area 48, a font name designation area 49, a font size designation area 50, a character background designation area 51, an OK button 52, and the like.

  The paper size designation area 41 is an area for designating the paper size. The user designates the paper size to be printed from A4, A3, etc. in the pull-down menu of the paper size designation area 41 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The paper discharge tray designation area 42 is an area for designating a paper discharge tray for discharging the printed paper. The user designates a paper discharge tray from the main tray, sub-tray, and the like in the pull-down menu of the paper discharge tray designation area 42 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The double-side setting area 43 is an area for designating whether single-sided printing or double-sided printing is to be performed. The user designates single side or double side in the pull-down menu of the double side setting area 43 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The bending heading function check box 44 is for setting whether or not to perform bending heading printing. When performing bending headline printing, the user sets the bending heading function check box 44 to ON by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d are areas for designating page ranges corresponding to the respective sections obtained by dividing a plurality of pages constituting the booklet into a plurality of sections. The page range indicates from how many pages to how many pages in each document. The user designates a page range (start page and end page) corresponding to each section in each of the page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The headline designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d are areas for designating headlines corresponding to the respective sections. The user designates a headline corresponding to each section in each of the headline designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  FIG. 3 shows the range from page 1 to page 20 as “Chapter 1”, the range from page 21 to page 40 as “Chapter 2”, and the range from page 41 to page 60 as “Chapter 3”. It is an example when it is specified in the category of “chapter”.

  The print position designation area 47 from the paper edge designates the print position of the heading image by a distance (hereinafter referred to as a shift width) from the edge of the booklet in the direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet. It is an area for. The user designates the shift width in the print position designation area 47 from the paper edge by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The unit designation area 48 is an area for designating a unit of shift width. The user designates a unit of the shift width from among dots, mm, and the like in the pull-down menu of the unit designation area 48 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  Although the shift width depends on the paper size, paper type, and binding method, for example, in the case of A4 size plain paper, a value larger than 0 and about several millimeters can be designated. When the shift width is designated in units of dots, it is set to 1 dot or more. In addition, a lower limit value and an upper limit value of the specifiable shift width may be determined in advance so that values outside the range cannot be specified, or a warning is issued when a value outside the range is specified. It may be.

  The font name designation area 49 is an area for designating a font name used for a heading. The user designates a font name in the pull-down menu of the font name designation area 49 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The font size designation area 50 is an area for designating the font size of the heading. The user designates the font size in the pull-down menu of the font size designation area 50 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  The character background designation area 51 is an area for designating the presence or absence of a headline background. The user designates whether or not to add a background to the heading in the pull-down menu of the character background designation area 51 by an operation from the operation unit 12.

  Note that page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, headline designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, print position designation area 47 from the edge of the paper, unit designation area 48, font name designation area 49, font size designation area 50, the setting contents in the character background designation area 51 are valid only when the bending heading function check box 44 is set to ON.

  The OK button 52 is a button for confirming the contents set on the print setting screen 40.

  In the printer driver function of the client PC 10, when printing is instructed by an operation from the operation unit 12, the CPU 11 generates print data (PDL data) 60 and transmits it to the image forming apparatus 20.

  FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the print data 60 generated by the client PC 10. The print data 60 includes body image data 61 indicating various print contents of a plurality of pages and various setting information 62, and further includes headline image data 63 when bending headline printing is set.

The body image data 61 includes body image data of each page.
The various setting information 62 includes a paper size setting, a paper discharge tray setting, a duplex setting, and the like, and further includes a bending heading setting when the bending heading printing is set. The bending heading setting includes the page range and shift width (including units) of each section.
The heading image data 63 includes heading image data for each section. The CPU 11 designates the heading designated in the heading designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, the font name designated in the font name designation area 49, the font size designated in the font size designation area 50, and the character background designation area 51. Based on the presence / absence of the background, the heading image data of each section is generated.

  FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 20. As shown in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 20 includes a CPU 21, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, an image reading unit 24, a communication unit 25, a ROM 26, a RAM 27, a printing unit 28, a storage unit 29, and a post-processing unit 30. Each unit is configured to be connected by a bus 31.

  The CPU 21 comprehensively controls the processing operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 20. Specifically, the CPU 21 reads out various processing programs stored in the ROM 26 or the storage unit 29 in accordance with an operation signal input from the operation unit 22 or an instruction signal received by the communication unit 25, and expands it in the RAM 27. Various processes are performed in cooperation with the program.

  The CPU 21 reads out the printer controller program from the storage unit 29 and develops it in the RAM 27, and controls the printing unit 28 in cooperation with the program to perform printing according to the print data 60 received from the client PC 10.

  The operation unit 22 has various keys such as a numeric key, a start key, and a reset key, and outputs a pressed signal of the pressed key to the CPU 21. The operation unit 22 includes a touch panel formed integrally with the display unit 23, detects the position on the touch panel that is in contact with the user's fingertip, touch pen, or the like, and outputs a position signal to the CPU 21. .

  The display unit 23 is configured by an LCD or the like, and displays an input instruction, data, and the like from the operation unit 22 in accordance with an instruction of a display signal input from the CPU 21.

  The image reading unit 24 is a so-called scanner that reads an original image and generates image data. The image reading unit 24 scans a platen glass on which the original is placed and the original image on the platen glass, and then scans the image on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor. Is provided with a scanning optical system for imaging. The image reading unit 24 A / D converts an image signal generated based on a document image read by a CCD image sensor to generate image data.

  The communication unit 25 is a functional unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device such as the client PC 10 connected via the communication network N. For example, the communication unit 25 acquires the print data 60 including the heading image data 63.

  The ROM 26 includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and stores various processing programs executed by the CPU 21 and various data.

  The RAM 27 forms a work area for temporarily storing various processing programs executed by the CPU 21 and data related to these programs.

  The printing unit 28 prints an image on a sheet using an image forming process such as an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, or a thermal transfer method. For example, the printing unit 28 includes a photoconductor, a transfer belt, a fixing device, various conveyance belts, and the like. The printing unit 28 prints an image on a sheet based on the image data in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 21.

  The storage unit 29 is a storage device such as a hard disk, and stores various programs such as a printer controller program, print data 60 received from the client PC 10 by the communication unit 25, image data read by the image reading unit 24, and the like.

  The post-processing unit 30 includes a sorting unit that performs sorting processing of printed paper, a punch unit that performs punch processing, a staple unit that performs staple processing at a set binding position, a folding unit that performs folding processing, and a cutting unit that performs cutting processing. Units are provided.

  The CPU 21 rasterizes the heading image data of each section included in the heading image data 63 of the print data 60 acquired by the communication unit 25, and generates a heading image corresponding to each section. The CPU 21 slices the header images corresponding to the respective sections sequentially. The CPU 21 rasterizes the body image data of each page included in the body image data 61 of the print data 60 acquired by the communication unit 25, and generates a body image corresponding to each page.

  The CPU 21 sets each sliced heading image in a predetermined width (print data) in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets. An image arranged inward by the shift width included in the bending heading setting of the various setting information 62 of 60 is generated. Note that the longitudinal direction of the sliced heading image coincides with the direction of the edge of the booklet. Specifically, the CPU 21 shifts each of the sliced headline images by a shift width in the direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet of the body image corresponding to each page. To generate a composite image. Here, the edge of the booklet on the edge side is the edge of the plurality of sheets on the edge side.

  The CPU 21 controls the printing unit 28 to print the generated composite image on a plurality of sheets.

Next, the operation in the client PC 10 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the first print instruction process executed in the client PC 10. This processing is realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the printer driver program stored in the storage unit 17.

  First, the CPU 11 displays the print setting screen 40 on the display unit 13 and performs various settings based on the user's operation from the operation unit 12 (step S1). When an instruction for bending headline printing is given, bending headline setting is performed.

  Specifically, the user designates the paper size in the paper size designation area 41, designates the paper discharge tray in the paper discharge tray designation area 42, and selects one or both sides in the double-side setting area 43 by operating from the operation unit 12. Is specified. The setting contents of the paper size designation area 41, the paper discharge tray designation area 42, and the duplex setting area 43 are stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  In addition, when performing bending headline printing, the user sets the bending heading function check box 44 to ON by an operation from the operation unit 12. When the bending heading function check box 44 is set to ON, the user designates a page range corresponding to each section in the page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d by an operation from the operation unit 12. In the heading designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, headings corresponding to the respective sections are designated, the shift width is designated in the print position designation area 47 from the end of the paper, the shift width unit is designated in the unit designation area 48, The font name is designated in the font name designation area 49, the font size is designated in the font size designation area 50, and the presence / absence of the headline background is designated in the character background designation area 51. These setting contents are stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  Next, when printing is instructed by an operation from the operation unit 12, print data as print instruction information including body image data 61 and various setting information 62 based on the information set by the CPU 11 in step S 1. (PDL data) 60 is generated (step S2). In the case of bending headline printing, the CPU 11 designates the headline designated in the headline designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, the font name designated in the font name designation area 49, and the font designated in the font size designation area 50. Based on the size and the presence / absence of the background designated in the character background designation area 51, the heading image data of each section is generated. In this case, the print data 60 further includes heading image data 63 including heading image data of each section, and the various setting information 62 includes bending heading settings.

Next, the CPU 11 transmits the print data 60 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication unit 14 (step S3).
This completes the first print instruction process.

Next, the operation in the image forming apparatus 20 will be described.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a first printing process executed in the image forming apparatus 20. This process is realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 21 and the printer controller program stored in the storage unit 29.

  First, in the image forming apparatus 20, the print data 60 transmitted from the client PC 10 is received by the communication unit 25 (step S11).

  Next, the received print data 60 is analyzed by the CPU 21 (step S12).

Next, a composite image generation process is performed by the CPU 21 (step S13).
Here, the composite image generation processing will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the bending heading setting is included in the various setting information 62 of the print data 60 (step S21). When it is determined that the bending setting is included in the various setting information 62 of the print data 60 (step S21; YES), the CPU 21 rasterizes the heading image data of each section included in the heading image data 63, so A headline image corresponding to each section is generated (step S22). The raster data of the header image is stored in the RAM 27 by the CPU 21. FIG. 9 shows an example of the heading image 70.

  Next, the rasterized headline image is sequentially sliced in a predetermined direction by the CPU 21 (step S23). At this time, the CPU 21 divides each heading image into the number of sheets belonging to the section corresponding to the heading image based on the page range of each section included in the bending heading setting of the various setting information 62. Raster data of the sliced heading image is stored in the RAM 27 by the CPU 21. FIG. 10 shows slice images 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d obtained by slicing the heading image 70 shown in FIG. 9 in the vertical direction.

  Next, the CPU 21 rasterizes the body image data of each page included in the body image data 61 and generates a plurality of body images (step S24). The raster data of the text image is stored in the RAM 27 by the CPU 21.

  Next, based on the page range and shift width of each section included in the bending heading setting of the various setting information 62 of the print data 60, the CPU 21 sets each body image belonging to the page range of each section for each of a plurality of sections. Each of the sliced headline images is arranged inward by a shift width in the direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet, and a combined image is generated (step S25). At this time, each of the sliced headline images is arranged by the CPU 21 so that the longitudinal direction of the sliced headline image coincides with the direction along the edge of the booklet. In addition, the position in the vertical direction (the direction along the edge of the booklet on the side of the booklet) where the sliced headline image is combined with the body image is, for example, equally divided the vertical width of the paper by the number of sections, The position is shifted sequentially according to the order of the sections. The raster data of the composite image is stored in the RAM 27 by the CPU 21.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a combined image obtained by combining slice images 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d with text images 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d. As shown in FIG. 11, the slice images 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d are in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet of the text images 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d (see FIG. 11). In the X direction shown in FIG. In addition, the longitudinal direction of the slice images 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d coincides with the direction along the edge of the booklet (the Y direction shown in FIG. 11). Further, the slice images 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d obtained by dividing the heading image 70 of the same section are arranged at the same position in the direction along the fore edge side of the booklet (Y direction shown in FIG. 11).

  If it is determined in step S21 that the various setting information 62 of the print data 60 does not include the bending heading setting (step S21; NO), the CPU 21 causes the body image data of each page included in the body image data 61 to be included. Are rasterized, and a plurality of body images are generated (step S26). The raster data of the text image is stored in the RAM 27 by the CPU 21.

  After step S25 or step S26, the composite image generation process ends, and the process proceeds to step S14 in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the printing unit 28 is controlled by the CPU 21, and the text image is printed on the paper based on the raster data corresponding to each page (step S14). For a page in which the sliced headline image is combined with the body image, the body image in which the sliced headline image is combined is printed.

Next, the post-processing unit 30 is controlled by the CPU 21, and post-processing is performed on a plurality of sheets after printing (step S15). Specifically, the post-processing unit 30 binds a plurality of sheets and creates a booklet.
Thus, the first printing process is completed.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the created booklet 80. The booklet 80 has a plurality of sheets constituting the booklet 80 on the inner side by a shift width in the direction perpendicular to the edge side of the booklet 80 from the end of the booklet 80 opposite to the binding side 81 of the booklet 80. Images obtained by sequentially slicing the header images are printed in the binding order of a plurality of sheets. When the booklet 80 is curved along the Z direction shown in FIG. 12 so that a plurality of sheets constituting the booklet 80 are rolled, the first and second chapters are formed at the overlapping portion of the paper edges on the fore edge side 82 of the booklet 80. The headline image of Chapter 3 appears.

  FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view of the heading portion of “Chapter 1” when the booklet 80 is curved. Each of the images obtained by slicing the heading image “Chapter 1” is printed inward by the shift width W from the paper edge of the paper 83a, 83b, 83c, 83d. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 14, when the booklet 80 is not curved, an image does not appear on the side surface of the booklet 80 on the fore edge side 82.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, each sliced heading image is arranged inward by a shift width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet. Therefore, when the booklet is not curved, an image does not appear on the side of the booklet on the fore edge side, and the appearance of the booklet can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
Since the image forming system in the second embodiment has the same configuration as the image forming system 1 shown in the first embodiment, FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. The description is omitted. Further, the print setting screen 40 shown in FIG. 3 is the same in the second embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Also in the second embodiment, a case where a heading image is used as an additional image will be described as an example. Hereinafter, a configuration and processing characteristic of the second embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus 20 slices the header image and combines the sliced header image with the text image has been described. However, in the second embodiment, the header image is displayed on the client PC 10. This is an example of slicing and synthesizing the sliced headline image with the body image.

  In the printer driver function of the client PC 10, when printing is instructed by an operation from the operation unit 12, the CPU 11 sequentially slices the header images set on the print setting screen 40 (see FIG. 3) Each heading image has a predetermined width in a direction perpendicular to the edge side of the booklet from the edge side of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets (print position designation area from the edge of the paper) An image arranged inward by the shift width specified in 47) is generated, and print data (PDL data) 90 (see FIG. 15) is generated as print instruction information for instructing printing of the generated image. Note that the longitudinal direction of the sliced heading image coincides with the direction of the edge of the booklet. Specifically, the CPU 11 shifts each sliced heading image by a shift width in the direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet on the edge of the booklet corresponding to each page. The image arranged in is described by the PDL command. Here, the edge of the booklet on the edge side is the edge of the plurality of sheets on the edge side.

  Then, the CPU 11 transmits the print data 90 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication unit 14.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration of print data 90 generated by the client PC 10. The print data 90 includes text image data 91 indicating various print contents of a plurality of pages and various setting information 92. The print data 90 is described by a PDL command, and when a sliced headline image is combined with a body image, a command for combining the sliced headline image is also included in the body image data 91 of the print data 90. included.

The body image data 91 includes body image data of each page.
The various setting information 92 includes paper size settings, paper discharge tray settings, duplex settings, and the like.

Next, the operation in the client PC 10 will be described.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the second print instruction process executed in the client PC 10. This processing is realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 11 and the printer driver program stored in the storage unit 17.

  First, the CPU 11 displays the print setting screen 40 (see FIG. 3) on the display unit 13, and various settings are performed based on the user's operation from the operation unit 12 (step T1). When an instruction for bending headline printing is given, bending headline setting is performed.

  Specifically, the user designates the paper size in the paper size designation area 41, designates the paper discharge tray in the paper discharge tray designation area 42, and selects one or both sides in the double-side setting area 43 by operating from the operation unit 12. Is specified. The setting contents of the paper size designation area 41, the paper discharge tray designation area 42, and the duplex setting area 43 are stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  In addition, when performing bending headline printing, the user sets the bending heading function check box 44 to ON by an operation from the operation unit 12. When the bending heading function check box 44 is set to ON, the user designates a page range corresponding to each section in the page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d by an operation from the operation unit 12. In the heading designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, headings corresponding to the respective sections are designated, the shift width is designated in the print position designation area 47 from the end of the paper, the shift width unit is designated in the unit designation area 48, The font name is designated in the font name designation area 49, the font size is designated in the font size designation area 50, and the presence / absence of the headline background is designated in the character background designation area 51. These setting contents are stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  Next, when printing is instructed by an operation from the operation unit 12, the CPU 11 performs print data generation processing based on the information set in step T1 (step T2).

Here, the print data generation processing will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the bending heading setting is included in the setting contents set on the print setting screen 40 (step T11). Specifically, the CPU 11 determines whether or not the bending heading function check box 44 of the print setting screen 40 is set to ON. When it is determined that the setting content set on the print setting screen 40 includes the bending heading setting (step T11; YES), the CPU 11 performs the heading designation areas 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d on the print setting screen 40. Based on the headings of each designated section, the font name designated in the font name designation area 49, the font size designated in the font size designation area 50, and the presence / absence of the background designated in the character background designation area 51 A plurality of headline images corresponding to are developed (step T12). The developed headline image data is stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  Next, the developed headline image is sequentially sliced by the CPU 11 in a predetermined direction (step T13). At this time, based on the page range of each section designated by the CPU 11 in the page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d of the print setting screen 40, each heading image is a sheet belonging to the section corresponding to the heading image. It is divided into the number of sheets. The sliced header image data is stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  Next, the CPU 11 describes the text image of each page by the PDL command and generates print data 90 (step T14). The generated print data 90 is stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  Next, based on the page range of each section designated in the page range designation areas 45a, 45b, 45c, and 45d of the print setting screen 40 by the CPU 11, and the shift width designated in the print position designation area 47 from the paper edge. For each of the plurality of sections, each of the main body images that belong to the page range of each section has a slice width of the header image that is sliced inward by a shift width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet. A command for arranging and composing each of them is added to the print data 90 (step T15). At this time, the CPU 11 arranges and synthesizes each sliced heading image in each body image so that the longitudinal direction of the sliced heading image and the direction along the edge of the booklet coincide with each other. A command to be added is added to the print data 90. In addition, the position in the vertical direction (the direction along the edge of the booklet on the side of the booklet) where the sliced headline image is combined with the body image is, for example, equally divided the vertical width of the paper by the number of sections, The position is shifted sequentially according to the order of the sections. The print data 90 to which a command for synthesizing each sliced headline image is added is stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

  If it is determined in step T11 that the setting content set on the print setting screen 40 does not include the bending heading setting (step T11; NO), the CPU 11 describes the body image of each page by the PDL command. The print data 90 is generated (step T16). The generated print data 90 is stored in the RAM 16 by the CPU 11.

After step T15 or step T16, the print data generation process ends. Returning to FIG. 16, the CPU 11 transmits the print data 90 to the image forming apparatus 20 via the communication unit 14 (step T3).
The second print instruction process is thus completed.

Next, the operation in the image forming apparatus 20 will be described.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the second printing process executed in the image forming apparatus 20. This process is realized by software processing in cooperation with the CPU 21 and the printer controller program stored in the storage unit 29.

  First, in the image forming apparatus 20, the print data 90 transmitted from the client PC 10 is received by the communication unit 25 (step T21).

  Next, the received print data 90 is analyzed by the CPU 21 (step T22).

  Next, a print image generation process is performed by the CPU 21 (step T23). Specifically, the CPU 21 rasterizes the body image data of each page included in the body image data 91 according to various setting information 92 based on the analysis result of the print data 90, and generates a plurality of body images. When the sliced headline image is synthesized with the body image, the command for synthesizing the sliced headline image is included in the body image data 91 of the print data 90. A normal rasterization process may be performed. The raster data of the text image is stored in the RAM 27 by the CPU 21.

  Next, the printing unit 28 is controlled by the CPU 21, and a text image is printed on a sheet based on raster data corresponding to each page (step T24).

Next, the post-processing unit 30 is controlled by the CPU 21, and post-processing is performed on a plurality of printed sheets (step T25). Specifically, the post-processing unit 30 binds a plurality of sheets and creates a booklet.
The second printing process is thus completed.

  The finished state of the booklet is the same as that of the booklet 80 described with reference to FIGS.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, each sliced heading image is arranged inward by a shift width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet. Therefore, when the booklet is not curved, an image does not appear on the side of the booklet on the fore edge side, and the appearance of the booklet can be improved.

  Note that the descriptions in the above embodiments are examples of the image forming apparatus, the print instruction apparatus, and the booklet according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part constituting the apparatus can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, the sliced heading image is shifted by a shift width in a direction perpendicular to the edge of the edge from the position where the edge of the edge after cutting is viewed on a plurality of sheets, that is, from the position where the edge is finally reached. It is good also as printing in the position shifted inside. In that case, in the image forming apparatus 20, the sliced headline image is printed further inside by the width of the paper to be cut, and after the printing, the post-processing unit 30 performs a cutting process.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the user designates the shift width in the print position designation area 47 from the paper edge of the print setting screen 40. However, the image forming apparatus 20 prints to the paper edge. If the image cannot be printed, the shift width may be a fixed value such as the distance from the border position on the edge side where printing can be performed in the image forming apparatus 20 to the paper edge.

  In the above description, an example in which a ROM or a hard disk is used as a computer-readable medium storing a program for executing each process is disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As other computer-readable media, a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. A carrier wave may be applied as a medium for providing program data via a communication line.

1 Image forming system 10 Client PC
11 CPU
12 Operation unit 13 Display unit 14 Communication unit 15 ROM
16 RAM
17 Storage Unit 18 Bus 20 Image Forming Device 21 CPU
22 Operation unit 23 Display unit 24 Image reading unit 25 Communication unit 26 ROM
27 RAM
28 Printing section 29 Storage section 30 Post-processing section 31 Bus 40 Print setting screen 41 Paper size designation area 42 Paper discharge tray designation area 43 Duplex setting area 44 Bending index function check boxes 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d Page range designation area 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d Heading designation area 47 Print position designation area 48 from paper edge Unit designation area 49 Font name designation area 50 Font size designation area 51 Character background designation area 52 OK button 60 Print data 61 Body image data 62 Various setting information 63 Headline image data 70 Headline images 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d Slice images 71a, 71b, 71c, 71d Text image 80 Booklet 81 Binding side 82 Fore edge 90 Print data 91 Text image data 92 Various setting information N Communication network

Claims (8)

The control unit sequentially slices the additional images, and each of the sliced additional images is perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets. Generating an image arranged inward by a predetermined width;
Printing the generated image on the plurality of sheets by a printing unit;
An image forming method comprising: The edge part on the edge side of the booklet is a paper edge on the edge side of the plurality of sheets.
The image forming method according to claim 1. The edge portion on the fore edge side of the booklet is a position that looks at the edge of the paper on the fore edge side after cutting processing in the plurality of sheets.
The image forming method according to claim 1. An acquisition unit for acquiring an additional image;
The acquired additional images are sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A control unit that generates an image arranged inside by a predetermined width and controls a printing unit to print the generated image on the plurality of sheets;
An image forming apparatus comprising: An operation unit for setting additional images;
The set additional images are sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A control unit that generates an image arranged inside by a predetermined width and generates print instruction information for instructing printing of the generated image;
A transmission unit that transmits the generated print instruction information to the image forming apparatus;
A printing instruction apparatus comprising: A booklet formed by binding multiple sheets of paper,
The images obtained by sequentially slicing the additional images from the edge of the booklet on the edge side of the booklet to the inside of the booklet in the direction perpendicular to the edge of the booklet on the edge side are in the binding order of the plurality of sheets. A printed booklet. Computer
An acquisition unit for acquiring additional images;
The acquired additional images are sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A control unit that generates an image arranged inside by a predetermined width and controls the printing unit to print the generated image on the plurality of sheets,
Program to function as. Computer
Operation unit for setting additional images,
The set additional images are sequentially sliced, and each of the sliced additional images is perpendicular to the edge of the booklet from the edge of the booklet to be formed by binding a plurality of sheets. A control unit for generating an image arranged inside by a predetermined width and generating print instruction information for instructing printing of the generated image;
A transmission unit for transmitting the generated print instruction information to the image forming apparatus;
Program to function as.

Images