JP2001063151A - Printer and print system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize high speed perfecting in a printer where a plurality of sheets can be printed simultaneously. SOLUTION: Two print recording media PM are handled as a set in perfecting. At first, a specified number (e.g. 2) of print recording media are fed set by set and printed on one side (PM1-PM4). A set of print recording media (PM1, PM2) refed on an inverting passage is then perfected and a set of new print recording media (PM5, PM6) are printed on one side. Subsequently, one and the other sides of the media are printed alternately thus realizing high speed perfecting. Upon occurrence of a run out of sheet error, previously printed print recording media are printed in units of set and new print recording media are printed in units of sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a printing system, and more particularly, to a printer and a printing system capable of printing on a plurality of print recording media substantially simultaneously.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When realizing double-sided printing with a printer,
After printing the first side of the print recording medium, the print recording medium is turned over and fed again to the print engine to print the second side of the print recording medium. When print engines are provided on both sides of the print recording medium, it is possible to print on both sides simultaneously with one paper feed. However, this increases the manufacturing cost and increases the size of the machine. Normally, the sheet is fed to the print engine twice, with the sheet turned over. In this method, the time until the print recording medium is fed to the print engine again becomes idle time, so that the printing throughput decreases.

[0003]

Incidentally, some printers can print on a plurality of print recording media substantially simultaneously. For example, in the case of a printer that transfers a print image formed on a photosensitive drum to a print recording medium via an intermediate transfer member, a plurality of pages of the print image are transferred to the intermediate transfer member, thereby forming a plurality of print recording media. The first side can be printed at the same time.

[0004] Even in the case of performing double-sided printing using such a printer capable of simultaneously printing a plurality of sheets, it takes time until the print recording medium on which the first side is printed is fed to the print engine again. Therefore, the throughput of double-sided printing decreases. In other words, there is a problem that the characteristics of the print engine capable of simultaneously printing a plurality of sheets are lost during double-sided printing.

Also, unlike a printer that feeds and prints one sheet at a time as in the prior art, printing is performed by simultaneously transporting a plurality of print recording media. It is necessary to consider the time response.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned various problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of realizing high-speed double-sided printing by a printer capable of printing a plurality of print recording media substantially simultaneously. And a printing system.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, a printer according to the present invention has the following arrangement. A print request issuing means for generating print image data based on received print data and issuing a print request in a printer capable of printing different contents substantially simultaneously on each of a set of print recording media; Storage means for storing a request, printing means for performing printing on a print recording medium based on the print request stored in the storage means, and a first means for feeding the set of print recording media to the printing means. Paper feeding means,
A second sheet feeding unit for reversing the set of print recording media, one surface of which is printed by the printing unit, and re-feeding the print recording medium to the printing unit; and a printing request stored in the storage unit. By rearranging in order, a new print recording medium is continuously fed from the first paper feeding unit by a predetermined number one by one to print one side, and then the second paper feeding unit is printed. The other side of a set of print recording media, one side of which has been printed, is alternately arranged with the other side of a new set of print recording media, which has been fed from the first paper supply means. Control means for printing and printing the other side by continuously feeding a set of print recording media, the one side of which has been printed, from the second paper supply means by the predetermined number. It is characterized by.

[0008] Here, as the "print recording medium", printing paper typically corresponds. “One set of print recording media” refers to the number of print recording media that are printed substantially simultaneously.
The number of print recording media that can be printed substantially simultaneously is determined by the paper size of the print recording medium, the structure of the printing means (for example, the size of the intermediate transfer member, and the like). Therefore, the actual number of sheets indicated by a set of print recording media may be different for each print job. “Simultaneously printing” is, strictly speaking, an expression that takes into account that a time difference occurs in printing on a plurality of print recording media. The “print request” means information for requesting a printing unit to perform printing, and can also be referred to as a print request structure. More specifically, a print request is generated for each page to be printed, and each print request includes, for example, paper size, number of copies of the page, designation of front / back side, print data of the page, and the like. And information necessary for printing the page. The print data included in the print request can be configured as an intermediate code indicating a storage location of data necessary for developing an image of the print data input from the host computer, or bit image data. It can also be configured as

For example, when print data is received from a host computer such as a personal computer, a print request issuing unit issues a print request for each page. The issued print request is stored in the storage unit. The control means first causes the printing means to continuously feed a new print recording medium by a predetermined number one by one from the first paper feeding means. As a result, a predetermined image is printed on one surface of a set of print recording media. Here, the “predetermined number” means, for example, that the print recording medium on which one side has been printed first is stored in the paper feeding path within a period until it is fed to the printing means by the second paper feeding means. It can also be expressed as the maximum number of print recording media (the number of sets). However, it is not necessary to accumulate the maximum number of print recording media in the paper feed path. With at least two or more sets, double-sided printing can be speeded up. Next, the controller alternately prints a set of print recording media fed from the second paper feeder and a new set of print media fed from the first paper feeder. . This allows
Printing is performed alternately on one side of the different print recording medium → the other side → the one side. Finally, the control means continuously feeds a set of print recording media from the second paper supply means by a predetermined number and prints the other side, thereby completing double-sided printing. The control unit performs the above-described print control by rearranging the processing order of the print requests stored in the storage unit. As a result, it is possible to prevent unnecessary idle time from occurring in the printing unit, and it is possible to realize high-speed double-sided printing.

[0010] When a failure occurs in feeding of a new set of print recording media from the first paper feeder, the control means continues printing on the already fed print print media. Therefore, the print requests are rearranged.

The present invention, unlike the prior art, treats a plurality of print recording media as a set of media. Therefore, there is a possibility that a failure may occur in the sheet feeding from the first sheet feeding unit.
A typical obstacle is a piece of paper. If the number of print recording media remaining in the first paper supply means is less than the number of one set of print recording media, the paper is exhausted. Therefore, as the number of print recording media constituting one set increases, the possibility of occurrence of paper breakage increases. If a new set of print recording media cannot be fed, printing can be stopped in that state. However, if printing is stopped every time the paper runs out, the throughput of double-sided printing decreases. Further, a set of print recording media on which one surface is already printed is wasted. It is conceivable that a set of print recording media that has already been printed stays in the printer until a new print recording medium is replenished. However, if it stays for a long time, the print quality may be degraded. Accordingly, the control unit rearranges the print requests so as to continue printing of the already fed print recording medium and discharge the print recording medium.

For example, when the failure occurs, the control means causes the set of print recording media on which one surface is already printed to continue printing in units of a set, The print recording medium can rearrange the print requests stored in the storage means so as to perform double-sided printing one by one.

That is, for a set of print recording media on which one surface is printed, the other surface is printed in units of a set. In addition, for an unprinted print recording medium that has already been fed, that is, for a print recording medium that is not enough to constitute one set, 1
Perform double-sided printing for each sheet. Thus, the printing of the preceding set of print recording media can be completed and discharged early, and the print recording media accumulated by the first paper feeding unit can be used without waste.

Here, for example, when the failure occurs before the feeding of the new set of print recording media, the control means sets the set of print recording media on which one surface has already been printed. Causes printing to continue in pairs, and in the event that the failure occurs during the feeding of the new set of print recording media, the set of print recording media on which one side has already been printed is It is also possible to rearrange the printing requests stored in the storage means so that printing is continued and the unprinted print recording medium that has already been fed is subjected to double-sided printing in units of one sheet.

Further, for example, when the failure occurs, the control unit may store one set of the print recording medium on which one surface has been printed and one unprinted print recording medium which has already been fed. It is also possible to rearrange the print requests stored in the storage means so as to perform double-sided printing in sheet units.

That is, when a failure occurs in paper feeding, the print mode for each set is released, and the set of print recording media on which one surface is printed can be printed one by one.

The storage means includes a first print queue for storing print requests issued by the print request issuing means;
A second storage unit that stores the print requests sorted by the control unit;
Print queue.

The present invention can be understood as a recording medium on which a printing method, a printing system, and a print control program are recorded. As a recording medium, for example, a floppy disk (FD), a compact disk (CD-ROM, CD-R
AM, digital video disk (DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM)
Etc.), a hard disk (HD), a memory, an IC card, and the like. Further, a transmission medium can be used such as downloading a program via a wired or wireless communication line.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1. First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a printing system according to the present invention.

For example, a host computer 1 that can be realized as a personal computer, a workstation, a portable information terminal, a digital camera, or the like includes a communication unit 2, a print data generation unit 3, and a print mode designation unit 4.

The communication unit 2 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Neighbor).
The communication is performed with the printer 11 via a communication line CN such as twork). The print data generation unit 3 generates print data based on data passed from an application program such as document creation software. The print mode designating section 4 is for designating a printing method of the printer 11. As described later, the print mode designating unit 4 can roughly designate three types of print modes: a single-sided print mode, a double-sided print mode, and a high-speed double-sided print mode. In the single-sided printing mode, the double-sided printing mode, and the high-speed printing mode, a mode for printing one sheet at a time (also referred to as a 1-up mode) and a mode for printing n print recording media simultaneously (also referred to as an n-up mode).
Is a natural number of 2 or more).

The printer 11 includes a communication unit 12, an image generation unit 13, a print queue management unit (denoted as a queue management unit) 14, an engine control unit 15,
The printing system includes a print engine 16, an operation panel 17, a control unit 18, and a storage unit 19.

The communication section 12 communicates with the host computer 1 via the communication line CN. The image generation unit 13 as a “print request issuing unit” generates print image data based on the print data, and issues a print request in page units. The issued print request is managed by the print queue management unit 14. The engine control unit 15 and the print engine 16 as “printing units” perform printing based on the print request passed from the print queue management unit 14.

The operation panel 17 includes, for example, the printer 11
And a print mode or the like can be designated. The print mode can be designated from either the operation panel 17 or the host computer 1. In the present embodiment, the print mode designation unit 4
Shall be given priority.

The control unit 18 as a “control unit” issues a command to the print queue management unit 14 to realize the print mode designated by the print mode designation unit 4, and transmits the print request stored in the storage unit 19. Let me sort. The storage unit 19 as a “storage unit” is realized in a storage device such as a memory or a hard disk device, for example.
A print queue 20A as a “print queue” and a double-sided print queue 21 as a “second print queue”.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of the print engine 16. The print recording medium PM stored in the paper feed tray 21 is taken out of the paper feed tray 21 by the paper feed roller 22. Printed recording medium PM taken out
Is transported toward the transfer drum 23 by the transport belt.

A latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 24 by a laser light unit (not shown). The formed latent image is visualized by the developing device 25. The visualized image is transferred to the transfer drum 23 and the transfer drum 2
3 is printed on one side of the print recording medium PM. The print recording medium PM printed by the transfer drum 23 is further transported to the fixing device 26. The fixing device 26 heats and melts a color developing agent such as toner attached to the surface of the print recording medium PM to fix the color developing agent to the paper surface. And the print recording medium PM
Is discharged to a discharge tray 28 by a discharge roller 27. From the paper feed tray 21 to the transfer drum 23, the fixing device 26,
The normal path 29 leading to the paper discharge roller 27 forms a part of the “first paper supply unit”.

On the other hand, when performing double-sided printing, the print recording medium PM on which one side has been printed is conveyed to the re-feed roller 31 by the reversing path 30. The re-feed roller 31 sends the print recording medium PM toward the transfer roller 23 again. At this time, the print recording medium PM is turned upside down, and the unprinted surface is on the front side. The reversing path 30 and the re-feed roller 31 constitute a part of the “second sheet feeding unit”.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of simultaneous printing of a plurality of pages (n-up mode). As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, when the print recording media PM1 and PM2 are each A4 size and the transfer drum 23 can print up to A3 size, the print recording media PM1 and PM2 are arranged side by side. , The horizontal dimension W is equal to the vertical dimension of the A4 size, and the vertical dimension H is the vertical dimension of the A3 size. Therefore, the transfer drum 2
By forming two images on the peripheral surface of No. 3, a plurality of pages can be printed simultaneously. Therefore, in this case, the n-up mode can be called a two-up mode.

Next, a case where double-sided printing is performed in the two-up mode will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, first, one side (also referred to as one side) of each of the print recording media PM1 and PM2 is printed. Next, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, each of the print recording media PM1 and PM
2 is transferred from the normal path 29 to the reversing path 30 and transported again to the transfer drum 23. And FIG.
As shown in (e), the other surface of each of the print recording media PM1 and PM2 is printed.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are explanatory diagrams schematically showing the management status of print requests for each print mode. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a case where single-sided printing is performed, and FIGS. 4C, 5 and 6 show a case where double-sided printing is performed.

When performing single-sided printing, furthermore, when printing one sheet at a time (one-up mode), for example, for n sheets such as two sheets
It can be divided into a case where printing is performed simultaneously for each sheet (2-up mode). When one-sided printing is performed in the one-up mode, as shown in FIG. 4A, the print requests for each page are sequentially connected to a print queue, and each print request is sent to the print engine 16 one by one in a so-called first-in first-out method. Just pass it. Thus, single-sided printing is performed one by one.
On the other hand, when performing one-sided printing in the 2-up mode, FIG.
As shown in (b), two print requests from the print queue are passed to the print engine 16 at a time. Thereby, printing can be performed simultaneously on one side of two print recording media.

Also in the case of double-sided printing, there is a 1-up mode for printing one sheet at a time and a 2-up mode for printing two sheets at a time.
When two-sided printing is performed in the one-up mode, as shown in FIG. 4C, the print request is transferred from the print queue to the two-sided print queue, but the order is not changed. Then, the print requests are taken out one by one from the double-sided printing queue and passed to the print engine 16 to perform printing one by one. More specifically, first, one side of the print recording medium is printed by transporting the print recording medium through the normal path 29, and then the print recording medium on which one side is printed is moved to the reverse path 30.
, And the other side can be printed.

When performing double-sided printing in the 2-up mode,
As shown in FIG. 5, the order of the print requests stored in the print queue is rearranged and transferred to the double-sided print queue. The print engine 1 receives two print requests from the two-sided print queue at a time.
By inputting the data into 6, double-sided printing can be performed while simultaneously printing two sheets. For example, when printing from the back side (one side), print requests P2 and P4 to be printed on each back side of the first print recording medium PM1 and the second print recording medium PM2 are arranged at the head of the double-sided print queue. Then, the print requests P1 and P3 to be printed on the surfaces of the print recording media PM1 and PM2 are connected to a double-sided print queue. Therefore, for example, when there are eight print requests P1 to P8, the two-sided print queue has P2-P4-P1-P3-P6-P8.
The data is rearranged and stored like -P5-P7. As a result, double-sided printing is performed in pairs.

In the case of high-speed double-sided printing, the 1-up mode and n
There is an up mode. First, an n up mode in high-speed double-sided printing will be described. In the high-speed double-sided printing in the n-up mode, as shown in FIG. 6, the order of the print requests arranged in the print queue is changed and transferred to the double-sided print queue. In high-speed double-sided printing, first, a predetermined number (FIG. 6)
The print recording medium is fed via the normal path 29 only in “2”. Thereby, the print recording media PM1 to PM
4, the print requests of P2, P4, P6, and P8 are printed. Here, PM1 and PM2 and PM3 and PM4 each constitute a set of print recording media. Each of the print recording media PM1 to PM4 on which the back surface is printed is placed on the reverse path 30 from the normal path 29 and transported.

The first set of print recording media PM1, PM2
Is transferred to the normal path 29 again by the re-feed roller 31 and reaches the printing position, and the print recording medium PM1,
Print requests P1 and P2 are printed on the surface of PM2. Utilizing the time until the print recording media PM3 and PM4 are fed again, new print recording media PM5 and PM6 are used.
Is supplied, and the print requests of P10 and P11 are printed.
Thereafter, printing on the back surface and the front surface is performed alternately in the same manner. Finally, the surfaces of the print recording media PM5 to PM8 on the reversing path 30 are printed, and the high-speed double-sided printing ends.

In the high-speed double-sided printing shown in FIG. 6, a case in which n sheets (two sheets) are simultaneously printed has been described as an example, but high-speed double-sided printing can be performed in the 1-up mode. For the method of high-speed double-sided printing in 1-up mode, for example,
It is described in Japanese Patent No. 2,522,799. However,
It should be noted that the features of the present invention are that high-speed double-sided printing is realized by simultaneous printing of a plurality of sheets, and that the present invention is in a method for coping with an error such as running out of paper.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the following description, steps are abbreviated as “S”. First, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the overall processing executed on the printer 11 side.

The communication unit 12 monitors the arrival of data from the host computer 1 (S 1). When print data is received from the host computer 1, the image generation unit 1
3 generates a print request (S2). The generated print request is connected to the print queue 20A of the storage unit 19 (S
3). Next, it is checked whether or not double-sided printing has been instructed from the host computer 1 (S4). If double-sided printing is not instructed, that is, in the case of single-sided printing, S
The processing skips steps S5 to S7 and proceeds to the printing process.

If double-sided printing is instructed, it is further checked whether or not high-speed double-sided printing is performed (S5). If high-speed double-sided printing is instructed, as shown in FIG. The print requests are rearranged (S6). When normal double-sided printing is instructed, the print requests are rearranged as shown in FIG. 5, for example (S7). After the processing order of the print request is determined, the print processing is started (S8).

Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an outline of the printing process shown in S8 in FIG. First, the engine control unit 15 sets the print engine 16 according to the print mode (S11). Next, the print queue 20
A or a predetermined number of print requests are extracted from the double-sided print queue 20B (S12). Then, paper is fed from a predetermined paper feeding path (S13).

After the sheet is fed, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred (S14). If an error has occurred, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred while feeding a new set of print recording media. A determination is made (S15). For example, if one set is composed of two print recording media and the paper breaks immediately after feeding the first one, an error occurs while the new set of print recording media is paused. That is, "YES" is determined in S15. On the other hand, if no new set of print recording media can be fed, "NO" is determined in S15.

If "YES" is determined in S15,
The other side of the print recording medium on which one side has already been printed is printed as a set as it is, and an unprinted print recording medium which is fed with less than one set is printed as a single sheet. Then, the print requests are rearranged (S16). On the other hand, if “NO” is determined in S15, it means that one new sheet cannot be fed, and it is not necessary to consider an unprinted print recording medium. Therefore, the print requests are rearranged so that the other side of the print recording medium on which one side has already been printed is printed in sets (S17).

As described above, when an error such as out of paper occurs, the print requests are rearranged according to the error content, and printing is continued. Then, the processing of S12 to S18 is repeated until there is no print request to be processed (S1).
9).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the printing method is changed according to the situation when an error occurs. FIG. 9 (a)
As shown in (2), when an error such as a paper break occurs in the middle of a new set (for example, an error immediately after feeding the fourth set of PM7), the newly fed print recording medium PM
7, one surface (P14) is printed, and then the other surface (P9, P11) of the pair (third set PM5, PM6) on which one surface has been printed is printed in pairs. Then, the other surface (P13) of the print recording medium PM7 is printed, and the process ends. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9B, when an error occurs at the head of the fourth set, the preceding set (PM5,
The other surface (P9, P11) of PM6) is printed for each set, and the process is terminated.

According to the present embodiment configured as described above, when an error occurs in feeding a new set of print recording media, the printing order is changed according to the error occurrence state. It is possible to quickly print and discharge a set of preceding print recording media without staying for a long time, and to perform double-sided printing using the print recording media in the paper feed tray 21 as efficiently as possible. it can.

In particular, in the high-speed double-sided printing of the present invention, since double-sided printing is performed in units of a plurality of sheets, there is a possibility that one set of print recording media cannot be fed. If paper cannot be fed in units of a set, printing can be stopped until a print recording medium is supplied into the paper feed tray 21. However, in this case, a set of print recording media that has already been printed on one side and is on standby will stay in the machine for a long time, which may adversely affect print quality. Further, if the double-sided printing is interrupted until a new print recording medium is set, the printing throughput is reduced as a result, and the features of high-speed double-sided printing may be lost. This problem becomes more serious as the number n of print recording media constituting a set increases. For example, if it is assumed that n = 10 and nine print recording media remain in the paper feed tray 21, according to the present invention,
Since the remaining nine print recording media can be printed one by one, a decrease in printing throughput can be prevented.

2. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described above, and description thereof will be omitted. The feature of the present embodiment is that the printing order when an error occurs is determined according to the error occurrence state and the print mode setting state.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a printing process according to this embodiment. This flowchart includes S11 to S14, S18, and S19 described above with reference to FIG. In addition, in the present embodiment, when an error such as paper out occurs (S14: YES), the order of print requests is changed according to a preset error occurrence pattern (S21).

The error occurrence pattern is determined by the combination of the timing at which a paper feed error occurs (before or during a new paper feed) and the print mode setting (1 up mode priority or 2 up mode priority). Can be divided into types.

If the print mode at the time of error occurrence is set to the 2-up mode priority, and if an error occurs during the feeding of a new set, as described in S16 in FIG.
The other side of the preceding set is printed in the two-up mode, and the print requests are rearranged so that an unprinted print recording medium is printed in the one-up mode (EP1). If an error occurs before feeding a new set, as described in S17 in FIG. 8, the print requests are rearranged to print the other side of the preceding set in the two-up mode (EP2). .

On the other hand, when the print mode at the time of occurrence of an error is set to 1-up mode priority, two types of patterns are set in the same manner. If an error occurs during the feeding of a new set, the print requests are rearranged to print the other surface of the preceding set and the newly fed print recording medium in the one-up mode (EP3). . If an error occurs before feeding a new set, the other side of the preceding set is printed in the one-up mode (EP4).

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a printing situation when an error occurs when the 1-up mode priority is set. As shown in FIG. 11A, when an error occurs during feeding of a new set (PM7 of the fourth set), one side of the newly fed print recording medium PM7 is set to 1 In addition to printing in the up mode, the pair of print recording media (PM5, PM6) on which one surface is printed in the two-up mode and the other surface of the last fed print recording medium (PM7) are each in the one-up mode. To print. FIG.
As shown in (b), if an error occurs before feeding a new set, the other side of the print recording medium set (PM5, PM6) on which one side is printed in the 2-up mode is set to 1 Print in up mode.

In the present embodiment configured as described above, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, in the present embodiment, the printing order is changed based on the error occurrence state and the printing mode.
Usability can be further improved.

It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various additions and changes within the scope of the present invention described in each embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when an error such as a paper shortage occurs during the feeding of the fourth set, the other surface (P9, P11) of the preceding set is printed in the 2-up mode and then printed. Is interrupted, and after the print cassette is replenished to the paper cassette 21, printing can be resumed in the one-up mode. Of course, printing can be restarted in the 2-up mode.

Further, for example, a double-sided printing mechanism may be realized by providing a double-sided printing cassette for temporarily storing a print recording medium on which single-side printing has been performed in the paper path.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, two sets are exemplified as the predetermined number. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one side of three or more sets of print recording media is continuously printed. May be printed alternately on the other side of the print recording medium on which the is printed and on one side of the new set of print recording media. Similarly, the number of print recording media constituting one set is:
It is not limited to “2”. Depending on the paper size or the like, a value of 3 or more is possible.

[0059]

As described above, according to the printer and the printing system according to the present invention, high-speed double-sided printing can be performed in a unit composed of a plurality of print recording media. Further, even when an error such as a paper shortage occurs, double-sided printing can be continued, and a reduction in printing throughput can be prevented, and printing resources can be used effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic structure of a print engine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a plurality of print recording media are printed on both sides.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of print requests and the status of printing in each print mode.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of print requests and the status of printing when performing double-sided printing on a plurality of print recording media.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of print requests for high-speed double-sided printing and the state of printing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the entire processing on the printer side.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which a printing order is changed when an error such as a paper shortage occurs.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the printing order is changed when an error such as a paper shortage occurs.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example at the time of resuming printing according to a modification of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 Host computer 3 Print data generation unit 4 Print mode designation unit 11 Printer 13 Image generation unit 14 Print queue management unit 15 Engine control unit 16 Print engine 18 Control unit 19 Storage unit 20A Print queue 20B Double-sided print queue 29 Normal path 30 Reverse path PM Print recording medium

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 15/00 106 G03G 15/00 106 3F100 G06F 3/12 G06F 3/12 P 5B021 F term (Reference) 2C055 EE00 2C061 HV09 HV37 2C062 RA06 2C087 CA05 CB12 2H028 BB02 3F100 AA01 CA02 CA12 CA14 DA03 EA02 EA03 5B021 AA01 FF03 KK07

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A print request issuing means for generating print image data based on received print data and issuing a print request in a printer capable of printing different contents substantially simultaneously on a set of print recording media. Storage means for storing the print request; printing means for performing printing on a print recording medium based on the print request stored in the storage means; and feeding the set of print recording media to the printing means. First
Paper feeding means, a second paper feeding means for reversing the set of print recording media, one surface of which has been printed by the printing means, and feeding the printing medium again to the printing means, By rearranging the print requests in a predetermined order, a new print recording medium is continuously fed from the first paper feeder by a predetermined number of sets one by one, and one side is printed. One side of a set of print recording media, one surface of which has been printed from the second paper supply unit, and one of a new set of print recording media, which has been supplied from the first paper supply unit And alternately printing a set of print recording media, one of which has been printed, from the second paper supply means by the predetermined number and printing the other side. And a printer. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein when a failure occurs in feeding of a new set of print recording media from the first paper feed unit, the control unit prints the print media already fed. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the print requests stored in the storage unit are rearranged so as to continue. 3. The control unit, when the failure occurs, causes a set of print recording media on which one surface has already been printed to continue printing in units of a set, and prints unprinted unprinted sheets already fed. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the print requests stored in the storage unit are rearranged so that double-sided printing is performed for each print recording medium. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, if the failure occurs before feeding the new set of print recording media, the set of print recording media on which one surface is already printed is set in units of a set. In the case where the trouble occurs during the feeding of the new set of print recording media, the set of print recording media on which one surface is already printed is printed in pairs. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the print requests stored in the storage unit are rearranged so that the unprinted print recording medium that has already been fed is subjected to double-sided printing one by one. 5. The control unit, when the failure occurs, sets one set of a print recording medium on which one surface has been printed and one unprinted print recording medium which has already been fed in units of one sheet. 3. The printer according to claim 2, wherein the print requests stored in the storage unit are rearranged so as to perform double-sided printing. 6. A storage device comprising: a first print queue for storing print requests issued by the print request issuing unit; and a second print queue for storing print requests rearranged by the control unit. The printer according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising: 7. A printing method capable of printing different contents on a set of print recording media substantially simultaneously, generating print image data based on the received print data, and issuing a print request; Storing a print request; rearranging the stored print requests in a predetermined order; and continuously feeding a new print recording medium by a predetermined number one set at a time to print one side. And alternately printing the other side of a set of print recording media with one side printed and one side of a new set of print recording media alternately; Continuously feeding the print recording medium by the predetermined number and printing the other side; detecting whether a failure has occurred in the feeding of a new set of print recording media; and New obstacles If detected, a set of print recording media on which one side has already been printed is continued to be printed in pairs, and an unprinted print recording medium that has already been fed is subjected to double-sided printing in units of one sheet. And a step of rearranging the stored print requests. 8. A printing system comprising: a host computer that generates print data; and a printer that can print different contents substantially simultaneously on a set of print recording media based on the print data from the host computer. The host computer includes: a print data generating unit that generates print data; a print mode specifying unit that specifies a print mode of the print data; and a transmitting unit that transmits the print data and the print mode to a printer. The printer comprises: a receiving unit that receives print data and a print mode from the host computer; a print request issuing unit that generates print image data based on the received print data and issues a print request; A storage unit for storing the print request; and a print request stored in the storage unit. Printing means for printing on a print recording medium based on the request, and a first means for feeding the set of print recording media to the printing means.
Paper feeding means, a second paper feeding means for reversing the set of print recording media, one side of which is printed by the printing means, and feeding the printing medium again to the printing means, By rearranging the print requests stored in the storage means in a predetermined order, a new print recording medium is continuously fed one set at a time from the first paper supply means, and one side is printed. Then, one surface fed from the second paper supply unit is printed on the other surface of a set of printed printing media and a new set of paper supplied from the first paper supply unit. Print one side of the print recording medium alternately,
And control means for continuously feeding a set of print recording media having one surface printed from the second paper supply means by the predetermined number and printing the other surface, The control unit is configured to, when a failure occurs in feeding a new set of print recording media from the first paper supply unit, cause the storage unit to continue printing on the already fed print recording media. A printing system, wherein the printing requests stored in the means are rearranged. 9. When a failure occurs in feeding of a new set of print recording media from the first paper feeding means, the control means sets the one set of print media already printed on one side. 9. The print request stored in the storage unit is rearranged so that printing of the print recording medium is continued in a unit of a set, and the unprinted print recording medium that has already been fed is subjected to double-sided printing in a unit of one sheet. The printing system as described. 10. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the failure occurs before feeding the new set of print recording media, the set of print recording media on which one surface is already printed is set in units of sets. In the case where the trouble occurs during the feeding of the new set of print recording media, the set of print recording media on which one surface is already printed is printed in pairs. 9. The printing system according to claim 8, wherein the print requests stored in the storage unit are rearranged so that the unprinted print recording medium that has already been fed is printed on both sides one by one. 11. A recording medium storing a computer program for printing different contents substantially simultaneously on each of a set of print recording media, wherein print image data is generated based on the received print data, and a print request is issued. A function to issue, a function to store the print request, a function to print to a print recording medium based on the stored print request, and a rearrangement of the stored print requests in a predetermined order, A new print recording medium is continuously fed from the first paper feed unit by a predetermined number one by one, and one side is printed,
Next, the other side of the set of print recording media on which one side reversely fed from the second paper supply unit has been printed and a new set of papers fed from the first paper supply unit. One side of the print recording medium is alternately printed, and a set of print recording media, one side of which has been printed from the second paper supply means, is continuously supplied by the predetermined number. And a function to feed the other side of the print recording medium, and when a failure occurs in feeding a new set of print recording media from the first paper supply unit, the print recording medium already fed is A recording medium in which a computer program for realizing on a computer a function of rearranging print requests stored in the storage means to continue printing is recorded in a form readable and understandable by the computer.