JP2001022134A - Image forming device, image forming method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select an optimum book-type saddle stitching form in accordance with a page information by folding recording media, in which the page information is recorded and outputted on both its sides, into two in the book-type saddle sticking form, and arranging and outputting the page information in the order of bookbinding. SOLUTION: An MPU 2-1 scans documents from an SCU 1 according to instructions from an OPU 2-4. As document-print-output recording media, A3-size sheets, for example, are selected and the number of printing sheets is calculated. Since the A-3 size documents are in existence, an even-numbered page and an odd-numbered page are allotted on each of the print-output recording media in order to have the A-3 size consisting of two consecutive facing A4-size pages. Therefore, the calculation is performed so that two A3-size sheets and one A4-size sheet are required for printing sheets as the recording media. Page layout is made so that the last page of the inputted documents comes to the last page on the print-output recording media. Thus, images to be outputted on the print recording media and the order in which the images are allotted to the pages on the recording media are determined and, in this order, each image output instruction and image data are transferred from the MPU 2-1 to a PRU 3 via a DKU 2-5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and a printing machine, and an image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, with respect to paper printed by a printer, this print output paper is also folded in two, and bound in a book shape with a saddle stitch.

The bookbinding method using book-type saddle stitching is widely used in weekly magazines, catalogs, in-house magazines, and the like. This is a method of copying the minutes, superimposing the respective sheets, binding the central portion thereof, and folding it in half along the bound central portion, which has an advantage that the bookbinding method is simple and has no image chipping. . However, in order to perform this saddle stitching, all the page information is stored, the page order is rearranged and aligned, and then two pages are arranged on one side of the front or back side of the paper, and four pages are arranged on both sides. There is a need to print.

[0004] The operation of rearranging and arranging the pages is complicated.

In recent years, in particular, image information is divided into page information for each page and held as electronic information, or image information is held as electronic information which can be divided into page information for each page.
With the advent of a book-type saddle-stitch bi-fold printing digital device capable of rearranging and aligning the desired page order and outputting the same, the operation of rearranging and aligning the pages for saddle stitching has become easier.

[0006]

However, in any of the above-described methods, in order to perform book-type saddle stitching in half-fold printing, four pages are printed on one sheet, so that each page is divided. If the number of page information (the number of pages) is not a multiple of 4, blank paper pages that are not necessarily copied on the paper will be generated. When the remainder is two or three, blank pages for two pages or one page are generated, respectively, which wastes paper resources.

Further, when the page information is equivalent to two pages of the half-size recording medium, if it is simply arranged, it is not necessarily arranged on the full-size recording medium of two facing pages.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables selection of an optimal book-type saddle stitching mode in accordance with page information such as various page image information. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing the use of paper resources for forming a recording medium and effectively using the paper resources.

[0009]

The present invention can solve the above-mentioned problems by providing the following constitution.

(1) storage means for storing image information, calculation means for dividing the information into page information based on the image information stored in the storage means, and calculating the number of page information to be output; A double-sided image recording means for allocating and recording page information on both sides of a recording medium; and a book-type saddle stitching fold-folding method for binding a recording medium on which page information is recorded and output on both sides by the double-sided image recording means. An image forming apparatus, wherein page information is arranged and output.

(2) When the number of remainders obtained by dividing the number of pages by 4 is 1 or 2, the page information is arranged on a half-size recording medium to form an image. The image forming apparatus according to 1).

(3) When arranging the page information on a half-size recording medium, the page information is arranged so that the half-size recording medium is located at the head of the bookbinding order, is arranged at the center, or The image forming apparatus according to the above (1), further comprising a selection unit that allows the user to select whether to arrange the image forming apparatus at the last position.

(4) When the size of the page information is larger than the half-size recording medium and smaller than the full-size recording medium, the page information is arranged so as to extend over even-numbered pages and odd-numbered pages. (1) The image forming apparatus according to (1), further including a calculating unit that is arranged so as to form an image on a full-size recording medium as a two-page spread, and calculates the number of page information necessary for the layout. .

(5) If the position where the page information is arranged corresponds to the last page of the image information, the page information is arranged on the last page regardless of the arrangement structure up to the last page of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to the above (1), wherein:

(6) An image input apparatus having a storage means for storing image information and a means for dividing the image information into page information based on the image information stored in the storage means. The image forming apparatus according to (1).

(7) When empty page information is arranged on a recording medium when the page information is arranged on a recording medium and an image is formed, default image page information arranged on the empty page information is used. The image forming apparatus according to (1), further comprising a storage unit for storing the default image page information instead of the empty page information on a recording medium to form an image.

(8) a step of storing image information; a step of dividing the page information into pieces of information based on the stored image information and calculating the number of page information to be output; The step of allocating and recording on both sides, the step of laying out the recording medium on which the page information is recorded and output on both sides, folding the book-type saddle stitch in half, arranging the page information in the bookbinding order, and outputting the page information, When the remaining number obtained by dividing the number by 4 is 1 or 2, the step of arranging the page information on a half-size recording medium to form an image, and the step of arranging the page information on a half-size recording medium, A step of freely selecting whether the size recording medium is arranged at the beginning of the binding order, arranged at the center, or arranged at the end, and the page information is the information. The size of If it is larger than the half-size recording medium and smaller than the full-size recording medium, it is arranged so as to straddle even-numbered pages and odd-numbered pages, and is arranged so as to form an image on the full-size recording medium as a two-page spread of half-size recording medium. The step of calculating the number of page information required for this arrangement, and the page information, if the arrangement position corresponds to the last page of the image information, is determined by the arrangement configuration up to the last page of the recording medium. Regardless, the step of arranging the last page and the page information, when arranging this on the recording medium and forming an image, when empty page information is arranged on the recording medium,
Storing a default image page information to be arranged in the empty page information, and arranging the default image page information on a recording medium in place of the empty page information to form an image. Image forming method.

(9) A storage medium storing a program for realizing the image forming method described in (8) above.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware main part showing an embodiment of a digital device as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a plurality of A4 size and A3 size sizes. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an input document having page information, and FIG. 3 illustrates a case in which a half-size page information recording medium is arranged so as to be positioned at the center of a bookbinding order, and book-type left saddle stitching is folded in half to perform bookbinding. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming example of arranging and outputting page information in an order, and FIG. 4 arranges a half-size page information recording medium so as to come to the head of the bookbinding order, and folds the book-type left saddle stitch in two. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an image forming example in which page information is arranged and output in a bookbinding order. FIG. 5 shows a half-size page information recording medium arranged so as to be at the end of the bookbinding order, and book-type left saddle stitching folded in half. And arrange the page information in the binding order. Illustration of an image formation example for force, FIG. 6
Is an explanatory diagram of page information of a margin page, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an input document,
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the input original document shown in FIG. 8 and the bookbinding order arrangement correspondence table shown in FIG.

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a digital device as an example of an image forming apparatus is an image input device (hereinafter referred to as an SCU) 1
And an image processing control device (hereinafter referred to as MCU) 2 and an image output device (hereinafter referred to as PRU) 3.

On the SCU 1, an automatic double-sided document feeder (RDF: not shown) is incorporated.

The MCU 2 includes a microprocessing unit (hereinafter referred to as MPU) 2-1, a read-only memory (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 2-2, a readable and writable random access memory (hereinafter referred to as RAM) 2-3, and an operation. Desk (hereinafter referred to as OPU) 2-4, external storage device (hereinafter referred to as DK)
U) 2-5).

The PRU 3 incorporates an automatic output paper double-sided conveyance device (RPF: not shown).

FIG. 2 shows, as an example, an input document having two types of page information, that is, six pages of A4 size and seven pages including one page of A3 size. The top cover page of A4 size, <2> is the second page of A4 size document, and <3> is the third page, fourth page, <4 size of A3 size document. > Indicates the fifth page of the A4 size document, and <5> indicates that the document size is A
The 6th page of the 4th edition, <6> is the 7th page of the A4 size document, and the <7> is the 8th page of the A4 size document with the final back cover page. It is configured.

In FIG. 3, for example, a half-size page information recording medium is arranged so as to be located at the center, a book-type left saddle stitch is folded in half, and page information is arranged and output in the bookbinding order. The first half of the print recording medium M3-1 is laid out on the front cover page <1>, the second page <2> is laid out on the back, and the left half of the front surface is The final back cover page <7> is laid out, and blank page information is laid out on the back side.

The folding method for saddle stitching is a mountain-folding style in which the <1> and <7> faces face outward.

Blank page information is laid out on the right half surface of the print recording medium M3-2 located next to the print recording medium M3-1, and the left half surface portion of the third page is <3 on the back surface.
> -1 is laid out, the sixth page <6> is laid out on the left half of the front surface, and the fifth page <5> is laid out on the back.

In the print recording medium M3-3 located next to the print recording medium M3-2, the print recording medium M3-3 is
This is a half-size print recording medium of the print recording media M3-1 and M3-2.

The surface is the right half of the third page <3>-
2 is laid out, and the fourth page is <4
> Is laid out.

In FIG. 4, as an example, a half-size page information recording medium is arranged so as to be located at the top, book-type left saddle stitching is folded in two, and page information is arranged and output in the bookbinding order. The size of the print recording medium M4-1 is shown in FIG.
-2 and M4-3 half-size print recording media.

The front cover page <1> is laid out on the front side of the print recording medium M4-1, and the second page <2> is laid out on the back side.

Blank page information is laid out on the right half surface of the print recording medium M4-2, and the left half surface portion <3> -1 of the third page is laid out on the back surface.

On the left half of the front surface, the final back cover page <7> is laid out, and on the back surface, blank page information is laid out.

The folding methods for saddle stitching are <3> -1, <
7> The mountain fold is such that the surface is on the outside.

In the print recording medium M4-3 located next to the print recording medium M4-2, the right half surface of the front surface is laid out with the right half surface portion <3> -2 of the third page, and the right half surface of the third page is laid out on the rear surface. The fourth page <4> is laid out.

A sixth page <6> is laid out on the left half of the front surface of the print recording medium M4-3, and a fifth page <5> is laid out on the back.

In FIG. 5, as an example, a half-size page information recording medium is arranged so as to be located at the rear end, book-type left saddle stitching is folded in half, and page information is arranged and output in the order of bookbinding. This shows a case where image formation is performed. In the print recording medium M5-1, the right half surface of the third page is laid out with the right half surface portion <3> -2 of the third page, and the back surface thereof has:
The fourth page <4> is laid out.

On the left half surface of the print recording medium M5-1, a left half surface portion <3> -1 of the third page is laid out, and on the rear surface, blank page information is laid out.

The folding methods for saddle stitching are <3> -1, <
The valley fold is such that the 3> -2 face is on the inside.

In the print recording medium M5-2 located next to the print recording medium M5-1, a fifth page <5> is laid out on the right half of the front surface, and a sixth page <6> is laid on the back. Is laid out.

A second page <2> is laid out on the left half surface of the print recording medium M5-2, and a top cover page <1> is laid out on the back surface.

The print recording medium M5-3 is the print recording medium M
5-1 and M5-2 half-size print recording media, on whose surface blank page information is laid out. On the back surface, a final back cover page <7> is laid out.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of page information of a margin page.
As shown in the figure, a comment such as "This page is a blank page" suggests that the page is not a regular print page.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation of a digital device as an example of the image forming apparatus.

The control shown in this flowchart is programmed in advance, stored in the ROM 2-2, and executed by the MPU 2-1.

The operator inputs the input document shown in FIG.
And the control operation is started by an instruction from the console (OPU) 2-4.

In step S01, the MPU 2-1 scans a document from the SCU 1 in accordance with an instruction from the OPU 2-4. As shown in FIG. 2, the document to be scanned can be scanned as a document having two types of page information, that is, seven pages including six A4 pages and one A3 page.

Document information scanned by the SCU 1 uses the RAM 2-3 as a buffer,
5 is stored.

In step S02, A3 size paper is selected as a recording medium for printing out the original shown in FIG.

In step S03, the number of print sheets of the recording medium is calculated. In the case of the original shown in FIG. 2, since an A3-size original exists, even-numbered pages and odd-numbered pages are allocated on a print-output recording medium in order to form an A3-size with two-page A4 double-page spread.

For this purpose, 3 on the recording medium for print output
For the page, a blank page must be placed. Therefore, the calculation is performed assuming that two A3 size sheets and one A4 size sheet are required for the printing paper as a recording medium.

In step S04, it is checked whether a half-size recording medium is generated. A as shown in FIG.
In the case of two types of originals of the 4th and A3 sizes, the half-size page information recording medium is arranged at the center of the bookbinding order as shown in FIG. 3, or the half-size page information is recorded as shown in FIG. There is a case where the medium is arranged at the head of the bookbinding order, or a case where the half-size page information recording medium is arranged at the tail as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the flowchart will be described as the case of FIG.

In step S06, the pages are laid out such that the last page of the input document is located on the last page on the print output recording medium.

In the case shown in FIG. 3, in order to lay out the page so that the last page of the input document is located on the last page on the print output recording medium, a blank page corresponding to the information amount is arranged immediately before. There must be.

In step S07, it is checked whether a blank page exists and whether a default image as print information for the blank page has been registered. If there is no default image, the process skips step S08 and proceeds to step S09.

If there is a page information image of a blank page as shown in FIG. 6, in step S08,
This image is selected as a default image instead of a blank page.

From the above control results, in step S09, the image output to the print recording medium and the page allocation order of the image on the recording medium can be determined.

In step S10, MPU2-1 to PRU3 transmit DKU2- to MPU2-1 in the order determined in step S09.
5, an image output instruction and image data are transmitted.

The control operation when the half-size page information recording medium shown in FIG. 3 is arranged at the center of the bookbinding order will be described in detail below.

First, on the back of M3-3, A4
The fifth page <4> of the plate is printed on the back side. Next, M3
-3 Return to the front side, and print the fourth page <3> -2 on the front side as the A4 size portion of the A3 size. When printing on both sides of the M3-3 is completed, the sheet is discharged with the <3> -2 side facing up.

Second, on the back of M3-3, A4
The back of the A3 plate is printed on the sixth page <5> of the plate, the A4 plate portion of the A3 plate, and the third page <3> -1.

Next, returning to the M3-2 surface, the seventh page <6> of the A4 size and the default information of the blank page are used to execute A3.
Print the plate surface. When the printing on both the front and back sides of M3-2 is completed, the printed side of <6> is discharged with the front side printed.

Third, on the M3-1 back side, the back side of the A3 size is printed with the default information of the blank page and the second page <2> of the A4 size.

Next, returning to the M3-1 surface, the A3 size surface is printed on the eighth back page of the A4 size with the final back cover page and the top cover page of the A4 size. When the printing on both the front and back sides of M3-1 is completed, the printed surface of <7> and <1> is discharged with the printed side up.

The discharged double-sided printed A3 paper is <1
The fold is completed when the faces> and <7> face up.

According to the same control method, even in the case of FIG. 4, the half-size page information recording medium can be arranged so as to be at the head of the bookbinding order. Also, in the case of FIG. 5, the half-size page information recording medium can be arranged so as to be located at the rear end.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an input document corresponding to the print output shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, as an original printed with the half-size page information recording medium shown in FIG. 4 arranged so as to be positioned at the top of the bookbinding order, one A4 size sheet shown in FIG.
The control operation when the ACU two-sided original is read by the SCU 1 will be described.

When the operator places the document shown in FIG. 8 on the automatic document double-sided conveyance device (RDF: not shown) in the SCU 1 and performs the document scanning operation shown in step S01 (see FIG. 7) from the OPU 2-4. First, M8-1 is input, and the document size is determined to be A4 size. The top cover page is read, and then this M4-1 document is turned over by an automatic document duplexing device (RDF: not shown), and the A4 size image information of the second page is read.

Second, the M8-1 original is ejected, and the M8-2 original is input. And the original size is A3
The version is determined. That is, it is determined that the document is for two left and right A4-size originals, and the third page <3> and the tenth page <10> are respectively used.
> Are input separately.

Next, the M8-2 original is turned over by an automatic original duplex conveying device (RDF: not shown),
Judged as 2 pages of manuscript, 4th page <
4> and the ninth page <9>.

In the same manner as the second, the third and the fifth
Page <5>, Page 8 <8>, Page 6 <6
>, 7th page <7>.

FIG. 9 is a correspondence table between the print output page on the recording medium shown in FIG. 4 and the input document shown in FIG. FIG.
It is necessary to perform a page conversion operation so that the input document indicated by the mark can be handled in the same manner as the printed document shown in FIG. This conversion is as shown in the correspondence table of FIG. 9, and the operation can be realized based on the control function of the MPU 2-1 via the OPU 2-4.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG.
01, the input manuscript was stored in DKU2-5,
Without using this external storage device DKU2-5, the SCU
A mechanism for returning the document to an automatic document double-sided conveyance device (RDF: not shown) in 1 may be used. In this case, step S
09 can be realized by controlling the document input order on the SCU 1.

The manuscript handled in step S01 is stored in the DKU 2-5 in advance, and may be a group of coded data such as a Japanese word processor.

Although the above embodiment has been described using an example of a digital device, storage means for dividing image information into page information for each page and storing the image information is provided. By providing a function capable of performing book-type image formation instead, it is of course applicable to other image forming apparatuses such as facsimile machines, printers, and printing machines.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to page information such as various page image information, for example, the number of page information stored in the storage means or the number of page information The remainder when dividing the number of page information of the manuscript by 4 (0 to 0)
Select the required recording medium size according to 3),
Further, the page content of the full-size recording medium is arranged in two facing pages of the half-size recording medium, and if blank pages occur, blank page information registered in advance can be output as necessary. The final page can be arranged on the print output medium as the back cover, which is always the last page of the bookbinding order, regardless of the occurrence of blank pages. That is, it is possible to select the most suitable book-type saddle stitching mode, to reduce the number of blank pages as much as possible, and to effectively utilize the paper resources forming the recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration showing an embodiment of a digital device as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram exemplifying an input manuscript having a plurality of page information of two sizes of A4 size and A3 size;

FIG. 3 illustrates an image forming example in which a half-size page information recording medium is arranged so as to be positioned at the center of the bookbinding order, book-type left saddle stitching is folded in two, and page information is arranged and output in the bookbinding order. Illustration

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an image forming example in which a half-size page information recording medium is arranged at the beginning of a bookbinding order, book-type left saddle stitching is folded in half, and page information is arranged and output in the bookbinding order. Figure

FIG. 5 illustrates an image forming example in which a half-size page information recording medium is arranged at the end of a bookbinding order, book-type left saddle stitching is folded in two, and page information is arranged and output in the bookbinding order. Illustration

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of page information of a margin page.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control operation.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an input document.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an input document of FIG. 8 and a binding order arrangement correspondence table of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image input device (SCU) 2 image processing control device (MCU) 2-1 microprocessing unit (MPU) 2-2 ROM 2-3 RAM 2-4 OPU 2-5 external storage device (DKU) 3 image output device (PRU)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP03 AP04 AP07 AR03 CK06 JJ03 2C087 AA03 BC06 CA03 CA05 CA13 CB03 CB12 DA16 2H027 FA13 2H028 BB04 9A001 BB03 HH24 JJ35 KK42

Claims (9)

[Claims] A storage unit configured to store image information; a calculation unit configured to divide the information into page information based on the image information stored in the storage unit and calculate the number of page information to be output;
A double-sided image recording means for allocating and recording page information on both sides of a recording medium; and a book-type saddle stitching fold-folding method for binding a recording medium on which page information is recorded and output on both sides by the double-sided image recording means. An image forming apparatus, wherein page information is arranged and output. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of remainders obtained by dividing the number of page information by 1 is 1 or 2, image formation is performed by arranging the page information on a half-size recording medium.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 3. When arranging the page information on a half-size recording medium, the page information is arranged so that the half-size recording medium is located at the top of the bookbinding order, located at the center, or located at the end. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection unit that allows the user to select whether to arrange the camera so as to come to the tail. 4. When page information is larger than a half-size recording medium and smaller than a full-size recording medium, the page information is arranged so as to extend over even-numbered pages and odd-numbered pages. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a calculating unit arranged to form an image on a full-size recording medium as a two-page spread, and calculating the number of page information necessary for the layout. 5. The page information is arranged on the last page irrespective of the arrangement structure up to the last page of the recording medium when the position where the page information is arranged corresponds to the last page of the image information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 6. An image input apparatus comprising: a storage unit for storing image information; and a unit for dividing the image into information for each page based on the image information stored in the storage unit. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 7. When the page information is arranged on a recording medium to form an image, if empty page information is arranged on the recording medium, the default image page information to be arranged in the empty page information is set as the page information. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store the default image page information on a recording medium in place of the empty page information to form an image. 8. A step of storing image information, a step of dividing the page information into information for each page based on the stored image information, and calculating the number of page information to be output; Allocating and recording the page information, fold the recording medium on which the page information is recorded and output on both sides into book-type saddle stitching in half, arrange and output the page information in the order of bookbinding, and output the page information. Arranging the page information on a half-size recording medium to form an image when the remainder obtained by dividing the number by 4 is 1 or 2; A step of freely selecting whether the recording medium is arranged at the beginning of the bookbinding order, arranged at the center, or arranged at the end, and the page information is the information of the information. Her size is When larger than the full-size recording medium and smaller than the full-size recording medium, they are arranged so as to straddle the even-numbered pages and the odd-numbered pages, and are arranged so as to form an image on the full-size recording medium as a two-page spread of the half-size recording medium. Calculating the number of page information necessary for this arrangement; and, if the arrangement position corresponds to the last page of the image information, the page information may be arranged in a manner similar to the arrangement configuration up to the last page of the recording medium. Regardless, the step of arranging the last page, and the page information, when arranging this on a recording medium and forming an image, if empty page information is arranged on the recording medium, this empty page Storing default image page information to be arranged in the information, and arranging the default image page information on a recording medium in place of the empty page information to form an image. Method. 9. A storage medium storing a program for realizing the image forming method according to claim 8.