JP2000094803A - Printing control device, printing control method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the printing mechanism of a printing device to exhibit its maximum capacity so as to print efficiently in perfecting print in a printing control apparatus such as a host computer that permits a printing device for conducting print every page unit and capable of printing on both the obverse and reverse surfaces of a sheet-like printing medium to print. SOLUTION: Printing data is taken in a printing data buffer from a spooler in accordance with a printing command (S301). The number of pages of printing data within the buffer is calculated (S302), and if the number of pages calculated is one page, a printing guarantee mode is set (S303, 304), if two or three pages, a low speed mode is set (S305, S306), if four or five pages, a medium speed mode is set (S307, S308), and if six pages or more, a high speed mode is set. At each mode of low speed, medium speed, and high speed, perfecting print is conducted in order of respective different pages.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a computer-readable storage device for storing a program of a print control procedure for transferring image data to a printing apparatus for printing. It is about media.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As the above-described printing control device and printing device, there are, for example, a host computer and a printer connected thereto. A conventional printing system including a host computer and a printer will be described with reference to FIG.

The conventional printing system shown in FIG. 11 includes a host computer 901 for generating print data, and a printer 902 connected to the host computer 901 via a predetermined interface such as a Centronics interface. The printer 902 is configured as, for example, a laser beam printer that performs printing in page units, and a printer controller 903 that processes print data transmitted from the host computer 901;
A printer engine (printing mechanism) 90 that executes electrophotographic processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, fixing, and paper conveyance.
The printer engine 904 and the printer controller 903 can communicate with each other via a video interface. It is known that the printer 902 is configured to be capable of printing on both front and back sides of a recording sheet as a sheet-shaped print medium.

In the above printing system, the printer controller 903 analyzes print data including drawing codes and bitmap data received together with control commands from the host computer 901, and generates image data.
When the printer 902 is capable of performing double-sided printing, the mode of double-sided printing and single-sided printing can be designated by the print side information included in the print data. In the case of double-sided printing, the page order of double-sided printing is determined based on the printing surface information in the print data and the processing state in the printer controller 903. In other words, the printing process is performed by determining the optimal page order in consideration of the processing time for generating and transferring the image data from the print data in the printer controller 903 and the state of the internal buffer (not shown). Then, the printer controller 903 generates image data for each page in accordance with the determined page order, and sends information such as a paper feed port and a paper size and image data to the printer engine 904.

[0005] Upon receiving this, the printer engine 904:
An electrophotographic process is performed, and a printing process is performed based on the image data. Also, the printer controller 903
Is the printer engine 904 to the printer engine 90
4 is detected and sent to the host computer 901 as an engine status.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a problem that the printing cannot be performed to the fullest when the double-sided printing is designated, depending on the complexity and capacity of the print data, and the printing is performed. . this is,
It is considered that the printing speed has been reduced due to a processing speed of the printer controller 903 such as generation and transfer of image data and an insufficient capacity of the internal buffer. The only workaround is to use the internal buffer R in the printer controller 903.
AM was added. That is, the printer controller 9
However, it was difficult to maximize the performance of the printer engine 904 due to the performance of the printer engine 03, the capacity of the buffer, and the like.

On the other hand, in recent years, the performance of the host computer has been greatly improved, and the increase in the capacity of the hard disk and the RAM has made it possible to generate image data and control the printer engine on the host computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a print control apparatus, a print control method, and a program for the print control procedure for performing printing on a page basis and causing a printing apparatus capable of printing on both sides of a sheet-shaped print medium to perform printing. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to maximize the performance of a printing mechanism of a printing apparatus by performing double-sided printing on a storage medium that is readable by a computer and to perform double-sided printing efficiently.
It is another object of the present invention to reliably perform double-sided printing without increasing the cost of a printing apparatus.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, image data is printed by a printing apparatus capable of printing on a page basis and printing on both sides of a sheet-shaped print medium. A print control device, a print control method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the print control procedure for performing double-sided printing or single-sided printing by transferring the print data for a plurality of pages according to a print command. Print data is read from a large-capacity print data storage means capable of storing the print data, and at least one page of print data is stored in a print data buffer capable of storing the print data, and double-sided printing is designated for the print data stored in the print data buffer. If the number of pages of the stored print data is calculated, the number of pages differs according to the calculated number of pages. One of a plurality of double-sided printing modes for performing double-sided printing in order or a single-sided printing mode for performing single-sided printing of only one page is selected and stored in the print data buffer according to the set printing mode. The generated print data is converted to generate image data for each page and transferred to the printing apparatus.

In the setting of the print mode, for example, when the number of pages calculated is one, a print mode for performing one-sided printing of only one page is set.

If the calculated number of pages is two or three, a print mode for performing double-sided printing in the page order of the second page and the first page is set.

If the calculated number of pages is four or five, a print mode for performing double-sided printing in the page order of the second, fourth, first, and third pages is set.

When the calculated number of pages is six or more, the printing apparatus enables the three sheet-shaped print media to receive a printing process, a process of switching a printing surface, and a discharging process in parallel. A print mode in which double-sided printing is performed in a page order, and while generating and transferring image data of a plurality of pages according to the page order, deleting print data converted to image data in the print data buffer; If there is print data that has not been read out yet in the print data storage unit, the print data is read out from the print data storage unit and stored in the print data buffer, and the number of pages of the print data in the print data buffer after storage is two or more. Then, a print mode in which the page order is added and set, and two-sided printing is continuously performed on the fourth and subsequent sheet-like print media, A constant.

As described above, when double-sided printing is designated for the print data stored in the print data buffer, a plurality of double-sided prints for performing double-sided printing in a different page order according to the number of pages of the stored print data. One of the print modes or a single-sided print mode for performing single-sided printing of only one page is selected and set, and the print data stored in the print data buffer is converted in accordance with the print mode, and each page is printed. By generating and transferring the image data to the printing apparatus, it is possible to maximize the performance of the printing apparatus and perform printing efficiently in double-sided printing.

Further, the printing apparatus does not need to perform a process of generating image data from print data, and the configuration of the control unit of the printing apparatus can be simplified.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, an embodiment of a host computer that causes a laser beam printer capable of double-sided printing to perform printing will be described as a print control device.

First, the configuration of the laser beam printer before the host computer will be described with reference to FIG.

A laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as "printer") 100 shown in FIG. 10 prints an image on recording paper as a sheet-like print medium in accordance with image data and print commands supplied from an externally connected host computer. Is formed (printed). In image formation on recording paper, a single-sided printing mode for printing an image for each page on one side of the recording paper;
The two-sided printing mode in which an image for each page is printed on both the front and back sides of the recording paper is set so as to be selectable based on printing surface information of double-sided printing or single-sided printing included in print data described later.

The printer 100 includes a video controller 101 for controlling the entire apparatus and processing image data supplied from a host computer, and an operation panel 126 on which a liquid crystal display, an LED display, various switches and the like are arranged. .

The video controller 101 converts image data into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the laser driver 102.

The laser driver 102 includes the semiconductor laser 1
A circuit for driving the laser beam 03 is turned on / off with respect to a laser beam 104 emitted from the semiconductor laser 103 in accordance with an input video signal.

The laser beam 104 is scanned and exposed on an electrostatic drum 106 by being swung in the left and right direction by a rotary polygon mirror 105. By this scanning exposure, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 106. The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a developer image by a developing unit 107 disposed around the electrostatic drum 106, and the developer image is transferred to a recording sheet.

A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the recording paper is supplied to a paper feed cassette 10 mounted on the printer 100.
8 is housed. The recording paper in the paper supply cassette 108 is taken into the apparatus by a paper supply roller 109, and is conveyed to an electrostatic drum 106 along a paper supply path formed by conveyance rollers 110 and 111. The image of the developer image is transferred to the drum 106.

The recording paper on which the image has been transferred is transported by a transport roller 11.
The sheet is sent to the fixing unit 115 along the transport path formed by the fixing units 2, 113, and 114, and the fixing unit 115 fixes the image on the recording paper. The recording paper on which the image has been fixed
The recording paper is sent via a switch 116 to a surface switching path or a discharge path for switching the image forming side (printing side) of the recording paper.

In the two-sided printing mode, the surface switching path is used to transfer the recording sheet, which has been fixed on one side, to the transport rollers 117,
118, 119, 120, 121, and 111 are paths for leading the recording paper to the electrostatic drum 106.
After the recording paper is once guided to the conveyance roller 119 from the conveyance roller 119 and guided by the conveyance roller 120 from the conveyance roller 119, the surface of the recording sheet facing the electrostatic drum 106 is switched from one surface to the other surface.

The discharge path is the transport rollers 122, 123, 1
24 and 125 are paths for discharging the recording paper to the external discharge tray 127.

Next, the operation of the printer 100 in the simplex printing mode will be described.

First, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image for one page is formed on the electrostatic drum 106 and is visualized as a developer image. This developer image is transferred onto one surface of the recording paper conveyed from the paper supply cassette 108 along the paper supply path.

The recording paper on which the image has been transferred is fixed to the fixing unit 1.
The fixing unit 115 fixes the image on one side of the recording paper. The recording paper on which the image on this surface is fixed is sent to the paper output tray 127 along the paper output path by the switch 116, and one surface (image forming surface) is placed on the paper output tray 127 as a lower side. Is done.

In the following, in the single-sided printing mode, the one surface (image forming surface) of the recording paper is referred to as a front surface. Further, even when double-sided printing is designated as described later, single-sided printing may be executed. This case is hereinafter referred to as a print guarantee mode.

Next, the operation in the duplex printing mode will be described.

First, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to an image for one page is formed on the electrostatic drum 106 and is visualized as a developer image. This developer image is transferred onto one surface of the recording paper conveyed from the paper supply cassette 108 along the paper supply path.

The recording paper on which the image has been transferred is fixed to the fixing unit 1
The fixing unit 115 fixes the image on one side of the recording paper. The recording paper on which the image on this surface is fixed is sent to the surface switching path by the switch 116, and while being conveyed along the surface switching path, the other side faces the electrostatic drum 106 so that the other side faces the electrostatic drum 106. Is inverted and guided to the electrostatic drum 106.

Before the recording paper is again guided to the electrostatic drum 106 via the surface switching path, an electrostatic latent image of the next page is formed on the electrostatic drum 106 and is visualized as a developer image. The image is transferred to the other surface of the conveyed recording paper again. Then, the recording paper is sent to the fixing unit 115, and the fixing unit 115 fixes the image on the other surface of the recording paper. After this fixing, the recording paper is sent to the paper discharge tray 127 along the paper discharge path via the switching device 116, and is placed with the other surface below the paper discharge tray 127.

In the following, in the double-sided printing mode, the one surface (image forming surface) of the recording paper is called a back surface, and the other surface (image forming surface) of the recording paper is called a front surface.

By the way, in the double-sided printing mode, the above operation can be performed in parallel on up to three recording sheets. That is, this is a case where recording paper on which an image is being formed, recording paper being conveyed on the surface switching path, and recording paper being sent to the discharge tray along the discharge path are present in the printer 100 at the same time. In other words, in the printer 100, three recording papers can receive the printing processing, the processing for switching the printing surface, and the discharge processing in parallel, and supply one recording paper together with the discharge of one recording paper. Thus, the parallel processing of the three sheets can be continued on the recording sheet of the fourth sheet. When operating in this state, the printing speed is the highest. Hereinafter, the duplex printing mode in this state is referred to as a high-speed mode.

In the double-sided printing mode, the above operation can be performed on two recording sheets in parallel. That is, this is a case where recording paper on which an image is formed and recording paper being conveyed on the surface switching path are present in the printer 100 at the same time. Hereinafter, the duplex printing mode in this state is referred to as a medium speed mode.

In the two-sided printing mode, when only one recording sheet is processed in the printer 100, the printing speed is the slowest. Hereinafter, the duplex printing mode in this state is referred to as a low-speed mode.

As will be described later in detail, in the high-speed mode, the medium-speed mode, and the low-speed mode, the order of pages to be printed on both sides is set differently.

Next, a schematic configuration of a system including a host computer and peripheral devices will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the host computer 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a CPU 11 serving as a control main body, a ROM 12 for fixedly storing data such as programs, and a RAM 13 for rewritably storing data such as programs. The host computer 10 includes, as peripheral devices, a keyboard 14 as operation input means, a display 15 such as a CRT or liquid crystal display device for displaying, a hard disk device 16 as a large-capacity external storage device, and a floppy disk as an external storage device. The disk device 17 and the printer 100 described above are connected.

When the power supply of the host computer 10 is turned on, the CPU 11 executes the boot program stored in the ROM 12 and executes the OS (operating system) program stored in the hard disk device 16 into the RA.
Read in M13. Then, the program is transferred to the CPU 1
The execution of 1 starts the OS. The OS reads an application program (hereinafter, simply referred to as an application), such as a document creation program, stored in the hard disk device 16 or the floppy disk device 17 into the RAM 13 in response to an operation input from the keyboard 14 or a mouse (not shown). The application is executed according to the input, for example, a document creation process is performed.

Next, the configuration of a system relating to print control of the host computer 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the system of the host computer 10 shown in FIG. 2, when the user executes a printing process while using the application 201 such as a document creation program, the application 201 sends the printer driver 20 to the printer driver 20.
2, the print data is sent. The data exchange during this time is performed by the application 201 and the printer driver 20.
2 in a mutually recognizable form. The program of the printer driver 202 is read from the hard disk device 16 in FIG.
Executed when printing.

The printer driver 202 converts print data received from the application 201 into print data in a format that can be processed by the present system. The converted print data is stored in the spooler 203 secured in a predetermined storage area of the hard disk drive 16. The spooler 203 has a large capacity capable of storing print data for a large number of pages.

Here, the format of the print data generated by the printer driver 202 will be described with reference to FIG. In the print data configuration shown in FIG. 9, the print environment information 802, the page start 803, the page information 804, and the data of the page end 805 exist between the data of the print data start 801 and the print data end 806. Is arranged. The print environment information 802 is information for designating a paper feed port of a printer used for printing, a paper (recording paper) size, a print density, a print surface of double-sided printing or single-sided printing, the number of copies, a printing direction, and the like. The page information 804 is arranged between the start 803 of the page and the end 805 of the page, and includes drawing code and bitmap data for one page.

Again, in the configuration of FIG.
The following controllers indicated by 206, 207, 208, and 209 are configured by software of a program executed by the CPU 11 of the host computer 10.

The resource controller 204 reads out the print data existing in the spooler 203 and, upon confirming the start 801 of the print data, activates the page controller 206. Then, the print environment information 802 is sent to the page controller 206. Also, start of page 803,
The page information 804 and the end 805 of the page are stored in the print data buffer 205. Print data buffer 205
Is set in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 13 in FIG.
The print data has a capacity capable of storing at least one page of print data. For example, the print data has a capacity of about 4 MB or more as A4 data at 600 dpi.

The page controller 206 includes, among the printing environment information 802 received from the resource controller 204, a printer 100 such as a paper feed port, a paper size, and a print density.
The information that needs to be specified to the printer engine 212 is sent to the engine controller 208. Further, a page for executing printing is determined based on the print surface information and the state of the print data buffer 205. Then, a page to be printed is specified to the rendering controller 207, and after the image data generation processing by the rendering controller 207 is completed, a print start command and image data are sent to the engine controller 208.

The rendering controller 207 extracts information of the page specified by the page controller 206 from the print data in the print data buffer 205. In this case, the page information 804 to be extracted is searched by searching for the page start 803 and the page end 805. Then, the page information 804 is converted to generate image data.

The engine controller 208 sends the print environment information 802 and the image data received from the page controller 206 to the communication controller 209. Also,
The status of the printer 100 is detected via the communication controller 209. The start of printing and the transmission of image data are performed in synchronization with the state of the printer 100.

The communication controller 209 is connected to the printer 10
0, a parallel port that is a communication interface unit with
The input / output device interface unit such as a serial port is controlled, and communication with the printer 100 is controlled.

The printer 100 includes a video controller 1
01 and the printer engine 212 composed of the printing mechanism of FIG. The video controller 101 sends the print command received from the host computer 10 to the printer engine 212, and sends the status of the printer engine 212 to the host computer 10. Further, the image data received from the host computer 10 is sent to the printer engine 212 as a video signal in synchronization with the processing of the printer engine 212.

Next, the operation of double-sided printing control in the host computer 10 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In addition, FIG.
The double-sided printing control according to the present embodiment is realized by the CPU 11 executing a program of a double-sided printing control procedure corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. The program is stored and provided in a storage medium such as a floppy disk or a CDROM, is installed in the hard disk device 16 in FIG. 1 from the storage medium, is read from the hard disk device 16 into the RAM 13, and is executed. A floppy disk, a CDROM, a hard disk device, or the like storing the above-described program is an embodiment of a storage medium readable by a computer storing a program of a double-sided printing control procedure according to the present invention. In addition, “S” added to the front of the numeral in FIGS. 3 to 8 and the following description is, of course, abbreviation of “step”.

FIG. 3 shows a main routine of the duplex printing control. For example, it is assumed that the user instructs the application 201 to execute printing of a document of a plurality of pages by designating the printing side as both sides. In response, the control of FIG. 3 is started.

First, in response to the print command, the resource controller 204 extracts the print data existing in the spooler 203, and stores the start 803 of the page, the page information 804, and the end 805 of the page in the print data buffer 205 (S301). ). This process is performed until the print data of the spooler 203 runs out or the area of the print data buffer 205 is filled. Further, the resource controller 204 sends the print environment information 802 in the print data to the page controller 206.

Next, the page controller 206 prints the print environment information 80 received from the resource controller 204.
In step 2, it is determined whether the print side is double-sided or single-sided. In this case, since the print side is double-sided, the number of pages of the print data in the print data buffer 205 is set to the start of the page in order to perform double-sided printing control according to the present invention. It is calculated from 803 and the number of page ends 805 (S302).

Then, the page controller 206 determines whether the calculated number of pages is one (S30).
3) If the calculated number of pages is one, the mode shifts to the print guarantee mode (S304).

Next, if the calculated number of pages is 3 or less,
That is, it is determined whether the page is page 2 or page 3 (S
If the calculated number of pages is three or less, the mode shifts to the low-speed mode (S306).

Further, it is determined whether the calculated number of pages is 5 or less, that is, 4 pages or 5 pages (S307). If the calculated number of pages is 5 pages or less, the mode shifts to the medium speed mode (S308). .

If the calculated number of pages is not less than 5 pages, that is, if it is 6 pages or more, the mode shifts to the high-speed mode (S309).

The operation of each of the print modes will be described later. After executing each print mode, the resource controller 204 determines whether all the print data has been extracted from the spooler 203 and stored in the print data buffer 205 (S31).
0).

If all the print data has not been extracted from the spooler 203, the print data existing in the spooler 203 is extracted again (S301), and the above processing is repeated.

If all the print data has been extracted from the spooler 203, the page controller 206 determines whether or not there is print data of the remaining pages that have not been converted into image data in the print data buffer 205 (S).
311). This is because the print data of the remaining pages that have not been converted into image data at this time may exist in the print data buffer 205 at this point in time for reasons to be described later.

If there is no print data for the remaining pages in the print data buffer 205, the process ends.
If there is, the page controller 206 causes the rendering controller 207 to convert the print data of the remaining pages into image data and transfer the image data to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 (S312). Then, the process ends.

Next, S 304, S 306, S 308, and S are set alternatively according to the number of pages of the print data in the print data buffer 205 calculated in S 302.
The control operation of each print mode 309 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, the flowchart of FIG. 4 shows a control procedure of the print guarantee mode set when the calculated number of pages in the print data buffer 205 is one page.

In this case, since double-sided printing cannot be performed, the page controller 206 switches to single-sided printing in order to guarantee printing even if double-sided printing is specified by the print environment information 802 in the print data. Then, the print data buffer 20 is sent to the rendering controller 207.
5, the information 804 of one page of the print data is converted into image data. The rendering controller 207 performs the conversion to generate image data, and the image data is transmitted to the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209.
Is transferred to the printer 100 via the printer (S401).

When one-sided printing of one page of image data is performed by the printer 100 and the ejection of the printed recording paper is completed, the page controller 206 transfers the one-page print data in the print data buffer 205. The print guarantee mode is deleted (S402), and the processing in the print guarantee mode ends. Then, control goes to a step S310 in FIG.

Next, the flowchart of FIG.
A low-speed mode control procedure set when the number of pages in the print data buffer 205 calculated in 302 is three or less, ie, two or three pages, is shown.

In this case, the page controller 206
The print pages are sequentially specified so that double-sided printing is performed on one recording sheet in the order of the back side and the front side. First, the page controller 206 specifies the print start page as the second page (S
501).

In response to this, the rendering controller 207 extracts the second page information 804 from the print data buffer 205 and converts it to generate image data.
8. Transferred to the printer 100 via the communication controller 209 (S502).

Next, the page controller 206 designates a print page as the first page (S503).

In response, the rendering controller 207 extracts the page information 804 of the first page from the print data buffer 205 and converts it to generate image data.
08, and is transferred to the printer 100 via the communication controller 209. (S504).

Then, as described above, the second page, 1
In the printer 100 to which the image data of the page is transferred, 1
When two-sided printing of two pages of image data is performed on two sheets of recording paper, and the ejection of the printed recording paper is completed, the page controller 206
The print data of the page and the second page is deleted (S50
5) Terminate the processing in the low-speed mode. And S3 of FIG.
Move to 10.

It should be noted that the control in the low-speed mode described above is performed according to FIG.
This is performed when the number of pages of the print data in the print data buffer 205 calculated in S302 is two or three pages. When the number of pages is three pages, in S505 in FIG.
Print data buffer 2
The print data of the third page remains in 05. Here, S5
If the process moves from S05 to S310 and it is determined in S310 that all the print data has not been captured from the spooler 203, the process proceeds to S301 and captures the next print data from the spooler 203 into the print data buffer 205. Then, the print data of the remaining third page is shifted as print data of the next first page in the print data buffer 205, and thereafter, print data of a subsequent page is fetched.

Further, in the case where the print data of the third page remains after the print data is deleted in S505,
If the process proceeds from S505 to S310, and if it is determined in S310 that all the print data has been fetched from the spooler 203, the process proceeds to S311 and the print data buffer 20
It is determined that print data of the remaining page (print data of the third page) exists in 5, and the image data is generated and transferred in S 312. In this case, of course, the image data of the third page is printed on one side.

Next, the flowchart of FIG.
The middle speed mode control procedure is set when the number of pages in the print data buffer 205 calculated in 302 is 5 pages or less, that is, 4 pages or 5 pages.

In this case, the page controller 206
Print pages are sequentially specified so that double-sided printing is performed in the order of the back of the first recording paper, the back of the second recording paper, the front of the first recording paper, and the front of the second recording paper I do.

First, the page controller 206 specifies the print start page as the second page (S601). Then, the rendering controller 207 extracts the page information 804 of the second page from the print data buffer, converts this information to generate image data, and transfers the image data to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209. Is performed (S602).

Next, the page controller 206 designates a print page as the fourth page (S603). And
The rendering controller 207 converts the page information 804 of the fourth page in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data, and the image data is transferred to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209 (S604). ).

Next, the page controller 206 designates a print page as the first page (S605). And
The rendering controller 207 converts the first page information 804 in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data, and the image data is transferred to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209 (S606). .

Next, the page controller 206 specifies the third page of the print page (S607). And
The rendering controller 207 converts the information 804 of the third page in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data, and the image data is transferred to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209 (S608). .

The printer to which the image data of the second page, the fourth page, the first page, and the third page are sequentially transferred as described above, prints these image data on two recording papers on both sides. When the paper ejection is completed, the page controller 206 deletes the print data of the first to fourth pages in the print data buffer 205 (S609), and ends the processing in the medium speed mode. Then, control goes to a step S310 in FIG.

Note that the control in the medium speed mode described above is performed in accordance with FIG.
The processing is performed when the number of pages of the print data in the print data buffer 205 calculated in S302 is 4 or 5, but when the number is 5 pages, S609 in FIG.
Print data buffer 2
The print data of the fifth page remains in 05. The processing in this case is the same as the processing when the print data of the third page remains in the low-speed mode described above.

In such a medium speed mode, the printer 10
Two recording papers can be subjected to the printing process, the process of switching the printing surface, and the discharging process in parallel within 0, and the duplex printing can be performed faster and more efficiently than in the low-speed mode described above.

Next, the flowcharts of FIGS.
9 shows a control procedure of the high-speed mode set when the number of pages in the print data buffer 205 calculated in S302 is six or more. It is assumed that the flowcharts of FIGS.

In the high-speed mode, the page controller 2
Reference numeral 06 denotes the back of the first recording paper, the back of the second recording paper, the front of the first recording paper, the back of the third recording paper,
After performing double-sided printing in the order of the front surface of the third recording paper, if all the print data has already been acquired from the spooler 203 at this time, a print page is printed so as to perform printing on the front surface of the third recording paper. Are sequentially specified. If all the print data has not been taken in from the spooler 203 at the time,
If print data is fetched into the print data buffer 205 and the number of pages of print data in the print data buffer 205 after fetching is two or more, double-sided printing is performed continuously on the fourth and subsequent recording sheets. Add print pages and specify them sequentially.

First, the page controller 206 specifies a print start page as the second page (S701). Then, the rendering controller 207 converts the page information 804 of the second page in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data, and the image data is transferred to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209. (S702).

Next, the page controller 206 designates the fourth print page (S703). And
The rendering controller 207 converts the fourth page information 804 in the print data buffer 205 to generate print page image data, and the image data is transferred to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209. (S704).

Next, the page controller 206 designates a print page as the first page (S705). And
The rendering controller 207 converts the page information 804 of the first page in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data of the print page, and the image data is transferred to the printer 100 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209. (S706).

Next, the page controller 206 designates the print page as the current page + 5 pages, that is, the sixth page in the first case (the first case of the loop of S707 to S714) (S707). Then, the rendering controller 207 converts the information 804 of the current page + 5 pages in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data of the print page, and the image data is transmitted via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209 to the printer 100. (S708).

Next, in the printer 100, double-sided printing of the current page-5 and the current page-4, that is, the first and second pages in the first case is performed on one sheet of recording paper. Is completed, the page controller 2
06 is the current page in the print data buffer 205-
5. Delete the print data of the current page-4 (S70)
9).

Next, the page controller 206 designates the print page as the current page-3 page, that is, the third page in the first case (S710). Then, the rendering controller 207 sends the print data buffer 205
The information 804 of the third page of the current page is converted to generate image data of a print page, and the image data is transferred to the printer 210 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209 (S71).
1).

After that, the resource controller 204
It is determined whether all the print data has been extracted from the spooler 203 and stored in the print data buffer 205 (S71).
2). If all the print data has been extracted from the spooler 203, the page controller 206 specifies the print page as the current page + 2 pages, that is, the fifth page in the first case (S715). Then, the rendering controller 207 converts the current page + the second page information 804 in the print data buffer 205 to generate image data of the print page, and the image data is sent to the printer 210 via the engine controller 208 and the communication controller 209. (S716).

When the printing of the current page, that is, the fifth page in the first case, is performed on the recording paper and the discharge is completed, the page controller 206 sets the current page-2, The print data of the current page-1, the current page, and the current page + 1, that is, the print data of the third page, the fourth page, the fifth page, and the sixth page in the first case are deleted (S717). The mode processing ends, and the flow shifts to S310 in FIG.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in S 712 is that all print data has not been retrieved from the spooler 203, the resource controller 204 retrieves print data present in the spooler 203 and stores it in the print data buffer 205 (S 713).

Next, the page controller 206 determines whether or not the number of pages of the print data in the print data buffer 205 is two or more (S714). If not, the process from S715 is performed. If there are two or more pages, the processing from S707 onward is repeated.

In the high-speed mode control described above, after the print data is deleted in S717 of FIG. 8, the print data buffer 2 is deleted in the same manner as in the low-speed mode and the medium-speed mode.
05 may remain in the print data. The processing in this case is the same as the processing when print data remains in the low-speed mode and the medium-speed mode described above.

In such a high-speed mode, the printer 10
If the print data of the subsequent page is present in the spooler 203, the print data, the process of switching the print surface, and the discharge process are performed in parallel in the three pages. While reading the print data into the print data buffer 205, double-sided printing is continuously performed on the fourth and subsequent recording sheets, so that the three recording sheets can receive the above three processes in parallel in the printer 100 at all times. , To maximize the performance of the printer engine 212,
Double-sided printing can be performed at higher speed and more efficiently than in the case of the medium speed mode described above.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when double-sided printing is specified, the host computer 10 sets the print guarantee mode according to the number of pages of the print data read from the spooler 203 into the print data buffer 205. One of the low-speed mode, medium-speed mode, and high-speed mode is selected and set, and image data for each page is generated and transferred to the printer in accordance with the set mode. The performance of the engine 212 can be maximized, and double-sided printing can be performed efficiently. Further, by performing image data generation processing and the like on the host computer 10, the configuration of the video controller 101 of the printer 100 can be simplified, the cost of the printer 100 can be reduced, and double-sided printing can be reliably performed.

[0102]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, image data is transferred page by page to a printing apparatus capable of printing on both sides of a sheet-shaped print medium and printing on both sides. A print control device, a print control method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the print control procedure for performing double-sided printing or single-sided printing, and capable of storing print data for a plurality of pages according to a print command. Read out the print data from a large-capacity print data storage unit, store the print data in at least one page in a print data buffer capable of storing the print data, and specify double-sided printing for the print data stored in the print data buffer. The number of pages of the stored print data is calculated, and both pages are arranged in different page orders according to the calculated number of pages. One of a plurality of double-sided printing modes for printing or a single-sided printing mode for performing single-sided printing of only one page is selected and set, and the printing stored in the print data buffer is performed according to the set printing mode. Since the data is converted and the image data for each page is generated and transferred to the printing apparatus, the performance of the printing mechanism of the printing apparatus can be maximized in the duplex printing, and the duplex printing can be efficiently performed. It can be carried out. Also,
Performing the image data generation processing and the like on the print control device can provide an excellent effect that the configuration of the control unit of the print device can be simplified, the cost of the print device can be reduced, and double-sided printing can be reliably performed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a system including a host computer and peripheral devices according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a system related to print control of the host computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a main routine of double-sided printing control by the host computer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a print guarantee mode in the control.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in a low-speed mode in the control.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in a middle speed mode in the same control.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in a high-speed mode in the control.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the high-speed mode.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of print data generated by a printer driver of the host computer.

FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of the laser beam printer.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing a printing system including a conventional host computer and a printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 host computer 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 keyboard 15 display 16 hard disk drive 17 floppy disk drive 100 printer 101 video controller 201 application 202 printer driver 203 spooler 204 resource controller 205 print data buffer 206 page controller 207 rendering controller 208 engine controller 209 communication Controller 212 Printer engine

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 P 5B021

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A printing control apparatus for performing printing on a page basis and transferring image data on a page basis to a printing apparatus capable of printing on both front and back sides of a sheet-shaped print medium to perform double-sided printing or single-sided printing. A large-capacity print data storage means capable of storing a plurality of pages of print data; a print data buffer capable of storing at least one page of print data; and a print data storage means for storing print data from the print data storage means in response to a print command. A print data capturing unit for reading and storing the print data in the print data buffer; and when the print data capturing unit specifies double-sided printing for the print data stored in the print data buffer, the number of pages of the stored print data is determined. The number of pages to be calculated is different from the number of pages calculated by the number of pages calculated by the page number calculator. A print mode setting means for selecting and setting one of a plurality of double-sided print modes for performing double-sided printing in a page order or a single-sided print mode for performing single-sided printing of only one page; Image data generating and transferring means for converting print data stored in the print data buffer to generate image data for each page and transferring the image data to the printing apparatus according to the print mode. Printing control device. 2. The print mode setting unit according to claim 1, wherein when the number of pages calculated by the page number calculation unit is one, the print mode setting unit sets a print mode for performing one-sided printing of only one page. 3. The print control device according to claim 1. 3. When the number of pages calculated by the number-of-pages calculating means is two or three, the print mode setting means sets a print mode for performing double-sided printing in the page order of the second page and the first page. The print control device according to claim 1, wherein the print control device is set. 4. When the number of pages calculated by the page number calculating means is four or five, the print mode setting means sets the page order of the second page, the fourth page, the first page, and the third page. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a print mode for performing double-sided printing is set. 5. When the number of pages calculated by the number-of-pages calculating means is six or more, the print mode setting means performs a process of switching between a printing process and a printing surface of three sheet-shaped print media in the printing apparatus. And a print mode in which double-sided printing is performed in a page order that enables the discharge process to be received in parallel. The image data generation and transfer unit generates and transfers image data of a plurality of pages according to the page order. During the execution, the print data converted to the image data in the print data buffer is deleted, and if there is any print data that has not been read out yet in the print data storage means, the print data is read out from the print data storage means and the print data buffer is read out. And if the number of pages of print data in the print data buffer after the storage is two or more, the page order is changed. The print control according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a print mode for additionally setting and performing continuous printing on the fourth and subsequent sheet print media is set. apparatus. 6. A printing control method in which image data is transferred in page units to a printing apparatus capable of printing in page units and capable of printing on both front and back sides of a sheet-shaped print medium to perform double-sided printing or single-sided printing. Reading print data from a large-capacity print data storage means capable of storing a plurality of pages of print data in accordance with a print command, and storing the print data in a print data buffer capable of storing at least one page of print data; A step of calculating the number of pages of the stored print data when double-sided printing is designated for the print data stored in the print data buffer in the print data capturing step; Multiple duplex printing modes that perform duplex printing in different page orders according to the number of pages calculated in the process. A print mode setting step of selectively setting a single-sided print mode for performing one-sided printing of only one page, and a print mode buffer stored in the print data buffer according to the print mode set in the print mode setting step. And B. converting the print data to generate image data for each page, and transferring the generated image data to the printing apparatus. 7. The print mode in which, when the number of pages calculated in the page number calculation step is one, in the print mode setting step, a print mode for performing one-sided printing of only one page is set. 3. The printing control method according to 1. 8. When the number of pages calculated in the page number calculation step is two or three pages, the print mode setting step sets a print mode in which double-sided printing is performed in the page order of the second page and the first page. The printing control method according to claim 6, wherein the setting is performed. 9. When the number of pages calculated in the page number calculation step is four or five pages, in the print mode setting step, the page order of the second page, the fourth page, the first page, and the third page 9. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein a print mode for performing double-sided printing is set. 10. When the number of pages calculated in the number-of-pages calculating step is six or more, in the printing mode setting step, a process of switching between a printing process and a printing surface of three sheet-shaped print media in the printing apparatus. And a print mode in which double-sided printing is performed in a page order that enables the discharge process to be received in parallel, and while generating and transferring image data of a plurality of pages in accordance with the page order,
Delete the print data converted to image data in the print data buffer, if there is print data not yet read in the print data storage means, read the print data from the print data storage means and store it in the print data buffer, If the number of pages of print data in the print data buffer after the storage is two or more, the print mode in which the page order is added and set and double-sided printing is continuously performed on the fourth and subsequent sheet-shaped print media is performed. The print control method according to claim 6, wherein the print control is set. 11. A print data deleting step of deleting print data converted into image data in the print data buffer by the step after the image data generating and transferring step, and printing data from the print data storage means. A determination step of determining whether or not all of the print data has been read and stored in the print data buffer; and until the determination step determines that all of the print data has been read from the print data storage unit and stored in the print data buffer, The print control according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein a print data capturing step, a page number calculation step, a print mode setting step, image data generation, a transfer step, and a print data deletion step are repeated. Method. 12. In the determination step, when it is determined that all print data has been read from the print data storage unit and stored in the print data buffer, the remaining print data not converted to image data is stored in the print data buffer. Determining whether or not there is, and if the step determines that there is remaining print data, converting the remaining print data to generate image data and transferring the image data to the printing apparatus. The print control method according to claim 11, wherein: 13. A program for a print control procedure for transferring image data in page units to a printing apparatus capable of printing in page units and capable of printing on both front and back sides of a sheet-like print medium and performing double-sided printing or single-sided printing. A storage medium readable by a computer which reads print data from a large-capacity print data storage means capable of storing a plurality of pages of print data according to a print command, and stores at least one page of print data. A print data fetching procedure for storing the print data in the storable print data buffer; and, when double-sided printing is designated for the print data stored in the print data buffer by the print data fetching procedure, the number of pages of the stored print data is determined. According to the number-of-pages calculating procedure to be calculated, and the number of pages calculated by the number-of-pages calculating procedure, A print mode setting procedure in which one of a plurality of duplex printing modes for performing duplex printing in a different page order or a single-sided printing mode for performing single-side printing of only one page is set; and In accordance with the set print mode, a program for converting the print data stored in the print data buffer to generate image data for each page and transferring the image data to the printing apparatus is stored. A storage medium characterized by the following. 14. The printing mode setting step, wherein when the number of pages calculated by the page number calculating step is one, a print mode for performing one-sided printing of only one page is set in the print mode setting step. A storage medium according to claim 1. 15. When the number of pages calculated by the number-of-pages calculating step is two or three, the print mode setting step sets a print mode for performing double-sided printing in the page order of the second page and the first page. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein the storage medium is set. 16. When the number of pages calculated by the number-of-pages calculating step is four or five, the print mode setting step sets the page order of the second page, the fourth page, the first page, and the third page. 16. The storage medium according to claim 13, wherein a print mode for performing double-sided printing is set. 17. When the number of pages calculated by the number-of-pages calculating step is six or more, the print mode setting step includes a process of printing three print media in the printing apparatus, a process of switching a print surface, and A print mode in which double-sided printing is performed in a page order that enables the discharge process to be received in parallel, and while generating and transferring a plurality of pages of image data in accordance with the page order, the print data buffer The print data converted to the image data is deleted, and if there is print data that has not been read out yet in the print data storage means, the print data is read out from the print data storage means and stored in the print data buffer, and the print data after the storage is stored. Number of pages of print data in buffer is 2
17. A print mode in which the page order is additionally set if the number of pages is equal to or more than one, and a printing mode in which double-sided printing is continuously performed on the fourth and subsequent sheet printing media is set. 2. The storage medium according to claim 1.