JP2006067352A - Image forming apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a control method of the image forming apparatus capable of sorting printouts in the order of pages of originals in the case that a plurality of original images are aggregately printed on both sides of one print paper sheet. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a print section 13; and a control section 1 for calculating a required number of prints, dividing each of both sides of one print paper sheet into a plurality of print regions, and controlling the print section such that the print section sequentially and repetitively prints original images from the first page to the final page of a plurality of originals on one print region from the first page of a plurality of the print paper sheets wherein the front side and the rear side of each of a plurality of the print paper sheets by the calculated number of print paper sheets are respectively referred to as one page, when the print reaches the final page of a plurality of the print paper sheets, the printing returns to the first page of a plurality of the print paper sheets, the print section continues print operations to a print region being a succeeding print order, and prints the original image to each of a plurality of the print regions until a plurality of the original images are printed by the number of prints. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine of two or more of these devices, and a control method for the image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on the same side or both sides of one printing sheet. As a conventional image forming apparatus of this type, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, when three copies of three documents a, b, and c are copied, two pages of the document are on the same side of one printing sheet. In other words, there is a function capable of sorting five copies in the order of pages when the integrated printing is performed, the output is copied, cut with a broken line, and the blocks of the cut printing paper are overlapped (see Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6A shows a case where two pages of the same document are collectively printed on the same surface of one printing sheet when five copies of three documents a, b, and c are copied. ), The same surface of one printing paper is divided into two printing areas, and the originals a, b, c, a, b, c,. After printing and printing up to the printing paper of the last page, it returns to the first page and has a function of continuously printing in the other printing area.

  There has also been proposed an image forming apparatus having a function of collectively printing four original images on two sides, one on one side of a printing sheet. FIG. 7A shows a case where one copy of eight original documents a to h is printed. Original images a and b are printed on the surface of the first print sheet with respect to two print sheets. Then, the printing paper is reversed and the original images c and d are printed on the back side. On the second printing paper, the original images e and f are printed on the front side, and the printing paper is reversed and the original is placed on the back side. A printing operation for printing images g and h is shown.

FIG. 7B shows a case where original images printed when printing one copy of eight original documents a to h are folded by a broken line that divides a print area at the center of each print sheet, a, b, c, ... Shows a printing operation in which a document image is printed in a predetermined order on a printing area of each printing paper so as to form a booklet arranged in the order of h.
JP 2002-281278 A

  However, the conventional image forming apparatus described above has a problem that when a plurality of document images are collectively printed on both sides of a single sheet of printing paper, they cannot be sorted (sorted) in the page order of the document. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an image forming apparatus and an image that can sort a plurality of document images in the order of the pages of the document when collectively printing on both sides of a single sheet of printing paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a forming apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper, the document image obtained by reading the document is a document. The required number of copies is calculated from the printing means for printing according to the number of copies and the number of copies, the number of copies, the number of copies, and the number of original images to be collectively printed on one print sheet, and both sides of one print sheet are calculated. Are divided into a plurality of print areas so that the front and back surfaces are overlapped in advance, and a plurality of prints corresponding to the calculated number of print sheets are printed in a predetermined print order for the print areas of one print sheet. The document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents are repeatedly printed in order in the first to first print areas of the plurality of print sheets, with the front and back sides of the paper as one page each. Until reaching the last page of the plurality of printing sheets, the printing operation is continued for the printing area which is the next printing order until a plurality of document images are printed by the number of copies. And a control means for controlling the printing means so as to perform a printing operation for each of the plurality of printing areas.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of original images on both sides of a single sheet, setting of the number of copies of the original, the size of the print sheet, the print mode, etc. An input means for instructing the start of a printing operation, a counting means for counting the number of set originals, an original reading means for reading original images, and original image data read by the original reading means are stored. Image data storage means, a printing means for reading out original image data from the image data storage means and printing it on printing paper, and a print operation set by the input means when the print operation is instructed. In the case of the mode, the number of documents counted by the counting unit, the number of copies set by the input unit, and the number of document images collectively printed on one printing sheet The calculation means for calculating the number of print sheets and each side of both sides of one print sheet are divided into a plurality of print areas in advance so that the front and back sides overlap each other, and the print areas on one print sheet are determined in advance. One page of a plurality of originals in one print area from the first page of the plurality of print sheets, with the front and back surfaces of each of the plurality of print sheets as many as the calculated number of print sheets in the print order. The original image from the first page to the last page is repeatedly printed in order, and when the last page of the plurality of print sheets is reached, the page returns to one page of the plurality of print sheets, and the printing operation is performed on the print area which is the next print order And controlling means for controlling the printing means so as to perform a printing operation for each of the plurality of print areas until a plurality of original images are printed by the number of copies to be printed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the calculating means is configured such that the number of documents is M (an integer greater than or equal to 2), the number of copies is N (an integer greater than or equal to 2), one When the number of original images to be collectively printed on the same surface of one sheet of printing paper is K (an even number of 2 or more), the number of required printing papers is Q, and when the number of printing papers Q is M, Q = M * N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {quotient of M * N / 2K} +1, and when M is an odd number, Q = (M + 1) * N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {(M + 1) × N / K} quotient} +1, and when M is an odd number, the control means prints the original image of M pages on the printing paper for each original for the next page. The printing unit is controlled to perform blank printing for the printing area of the printing paper. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper, the number of documents, the number of copies, and printing of one sheet. The first step of calculating the required number of print sheets from the number of original images that are collectively printed on the sheet and the respective sides of one print sheet are divided into a plurality of print areas so that the front and back surfaces overlap each other in advance. Then, one page of the plurality of printing papers in a predetermined printing order with respect to the printing area on one printing paper, with the front and back surfaces of each of the plurality of printing papers as the calculated number of printing papers as one page respectively. A second step of sequentially printing document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents in one print area from the first, and when the last page of the plurality of print sheets is reached, the plurality of print sheets Returning to one page, the printing operation is continued for the printing area in the next printing order, and the printing operation is performed for each of the plurality of printing areas until a plurality of document images are printed by the number of copies. It is characterized by having.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on the same surface of a sheet of paper, the number of copies of the document, and the size of the print sheet. A first step in which an instruction such as setting of a print mode and the start of a printing operation is performed by the input unit, a second step of counting the set number of documents by the counting unit, and a document image by the document reading unit. A third step of reading, a fourth step of storing the original image data read by the original reading unit by the image data storage unit, and a print set when a printing operation is instructed by the input unit When the mode is the aggregate print mode, the number of originals counted by the counting unit, the number of copies set by the input unit, and the original to be aggregated and printed on one sheet of printing paper. A fifth step of calculating the number of print sheets from the number of images by the calculation means and each side of both sides of one print sheet are divided into a plurality of print areas in advance so as to overlap each other, and one print sheet In the printing order determined in advance, the front and back surfaces of each of the plurality of printing papers corresponding to the calculated number of printing papers are set as one page, respectively, from the first page to the one printing area of the plurality of printing papers. The document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents are repeatedly printed in order, and when the last page of the plurality of print sheets is reached, the page returns to the first page of the plurality of print sheets and is in the next print order. The printing unit is controlled by the control unit so as to perform the printing operation for each of the plurality of printing areas until the printing operation is continued for the printing area and a plurality of document images are printed by the number of copies. And having a sixth step of Gosuru.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus control method according to the fifth aspect, in the fifth step, the number of originals is M (an integer greater than or equal to 2), and the number of copies is N (greater than or equal to 2). ), The number of original images to be collectively printed on the same surface of one printing paper is K (an even number of 2 or more), the required number of printing papers is Q, and the number of printing papers Q is calculated by the calculating means as follows. If even, Q = M × N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {M × N / 2K quotient} +1, and if M is odd, Q = (M + 1) × N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {(M + 1) × N / K} quotient} +1, and in the sixth step, if M is an odd number, the original image is printed for each original. The print area of the next page printed on the paper for M pages is empty. By the control means so as to perform printing, wherein the controller controls the printing unit.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus and the control method for the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when a plurality of original images are collectively printed on both sides of a single printing sheet, the originals are sorted in page order. Can do.
The effect is obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 1 that controls each unit, an input unit 2, a display unit 3, a scanner 4, an image memory 5, an image processing unit 6, and a printing process. A unit 7, a paper size storage unit 8, a magnification calculation unit 9, a document determination unit 10, a cover opening / closing sensor 11, a document number counter 12, and a printing unit 13. The cover open / close sensor 11 is a sensor that detects the open / closed state of the cover in the housing of the image forming apparatus.

The input unit 2 designates function keys for selecting functions of FAX, copier, and printer, cursor keys for designating functions such as setting of various print modes including the aggregate print mode, the number of copies, the number of copies, and the like. A numeric keypad for inputting numerical data for power supply, a power key for turning on / off the power, and the like. The input unit 2 corresponds to input means of the present invention.
Various screens and messages such as guidance and various instructions are displayed on the display unit 3 by key operations of the input unit 2.

The scanner 4 reads a document placed on a document table (not shown), converts the image information into digital data (document image data), and outputs the digital data. The scanner 4 corresponds to a document reading unit of the present invention.
The image memory 5 stores document image data output from the scanner 4 or print data input from the outside.
Data once stored in the image memory 5 is read out under the control of the control unit 1, and after predetermined image processing such as data compression is performed by the image processing unit 6, the data is stored in the image memory 5 again. Is done. The image memory 5 corresponds to image data storage means of the present invention.

The document number counter 12 is a counter that counts the number of documents to be printed placed on a document table (not shown), and corresponds to the counting means of the present invention.
The printing unit 13 prints document image data read by the scanner 4 on printing paper. The printing unit 13 corresponds to the printing unit of the present invention.

Data indicating the size of the original read from the scanner 4 is input from the scanner 4 to the original determination unit 10.
In the magnification calculation unit 9, the magnification for printing on the irregular paper stored in the cassette from the paper size stored in the cassette read from the paper size storage unit 8 and the document size output from the document determination unit 10. Is calculated and output to the control unit 1.

The control unit 1 instructs the image memory 5 to output image data to the print processing unit 7, and also instructs the print processing unit 7 to print magnification output from the magnification calculation unit 9.
As a result, the print processing unit 7 takes in the image data output from the image memory 5, performs print processing at the print magnification specified by the control unit 1, and issues a print instruction to the print unit 13.

  Further, when the set print mode is the collective print mode, the control unit 1 sets the number of originals counted by the original number counter 12, the number of prints set by the input unit 2, and one print sheet. The number of print sheets is calculated from the number of document images to be collectively printed.

  The control unit 1 divides each side of both sides of one printing paper into a plurality of printing areas in advance so that the front and back surfaces overlap each other, and in the printing order predetermined for the printing areas on one printing paper, From the first page to the first print area of the plurality of document sheets, the front and back surfaces of each of the plurality of print sheets for the calculated number of print sheets are each regarded as one page, and the first page to the last page of the plurality of documents. The original image is repeatedly printed in order, and when the last page of the plurality of print sheets is reached, the page returns to one page of the plurality of print sheets, and the printing operation is continued with respect to the print area which is the next print order, It has a function of controlling the printing unit 13 via the print processing unit 7 so as to perform a printing operation for each of the plurality of printing areas until the original image is printed by the number of copies. The control unit 1 corresponds to the calculation means and control means of the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the configuration of FIG. 1, description of operations not directly related to the present invention is omitted. In these drawings, first, as an initial setting, when the input unit 2 gives instructions such as the number of copies to be printed, the designation of the size of the printing paper, the setting of the printing mode, and the start of the printing operation (step 100), FIG. The number of documents placed on the document table not shown is counted by the document number counter 12 (step 101).

Next, the original is read by the scanner 4 and converted into original image data which is digital data (step 102), and the original image data is stored in the image memory 5 (step 103). Next, it is determined whether or not a printing instruction has been made by operating the input unit 2 (step 104). If the determination in step 104 is negative, the same determination is repeated. If the determination in step 104 is affirmative, it is determined whether or not the designated print mode is the aggregate print mode (step 105).
If the determination in step 105 is negative, other processing (processing other than the aggregate printing processing) is performed (step 113), and the printing operation is terminated.

If the determination in step 105 is affirmative, the number of originals M counted by the original number counter 12, the number of prints N set by the input unit 2, and the number of original images K to be collectively printed on one print sheet are determined. The number Q of print sheets is calculated (step 106).
The number Q of print sheets is M (an integer greater than or equal to 2), the number of copies is N (an integer greater than or equal to 2), and the number of original images to be collectively printed on the same side of one print sheet is an even number greater than or equal to 2 ), Where Q is the required number of printing papers, and when Q is an even number, Q = M × N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {M × N / 2K quotient} +1 (when not divisible), and when M is an odd number, Q = (M + 1) × N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {(M + 1) × N / K} quotient} +1 (divisible) If not).

Here, in the present embodiment, the number K of original images to be collectively printed on the same surface of one printing paper is set to K = 2, and the printing area of the same surface of one printing paper is divided into two, It is assumed that the print area P1 includes a first print area P1 and a second print area P2.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that three copies of six originals a, b, c, d, e, and f are collectively printed on both sides of the printing paper. In this case, since M = 6, N = 3, and K = 2, the printing index Q is Q = M × N / 2K = 6 × 3/4 = 4 (quotient). In this case, Q = 4 + 1 = 5.

  If the number of originals is an odd number, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, three originals a, b, c, d, and e are collectively printed on both sides of the printing paper. In this case, since M = 5, N = 3, and K = 2, the printing index Q is Q = (M + 1) × N / 2K = 6 × 3/4 = 4 (quotient). Therefore, in this case, Q = 4 + 1 = 5.

After calculating the number Q of print sheets, as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the document images from the first page to the last page are sequentially printed in the first print area P1 on both sides of the print sheets 1 to 5. (Step 107).
Next, it is determined whether the last page of the document has been printed (step 108).
If the last page of the document has not been printed, the process returns to step 107 to perform the processing described above. When printing is completed up to the last page of the document, whether or not the number M of documents to be printed is an odd number is determined from the document count result in step 101 (step 109).

When the number of originals M is an odd number, for example, when printing original images of five originals a to e as shown in FIG. 5, the surface of the printing paper 3, that is, the fifth page of the printing paper (printing paper) The original image e is printed on the Mth page), and the sixth page (the (M + 1) th page of the printing paper) on the reverse side is printed blank (step 110), and the process proceeds to step 111. .
If the number of originals M is an even number, the process proceeds to step 111.
Next, in step 111, it is determined whether or not printing has been performed up to the last page of the printing paper. Here, the last page refers to a page corresponding to the back side of the Qth sheet of the number Q of print sheets calculated from the number M of originals to be printed and the number N of prints.

If the determination in step 111 is negative, the process returns to step 107 and the processes in steps 107 to 110 are repeated. If the determination in step 111 is affirmative, the process returns to the first page of the printing paper, and printing of the original image is continued in the second print area P2 (step 112). Next, it is determined whether or not the last page of the document has been printed (step 113). If the last page of the document has not been printed, the process returns to step 112 and the above-described processing is performed.
When printing is completed up to the last page of the document, whether or not the number M of documents to be printed is an odd number is determined from the document count result in step 101 (step 114).

If it is determined in step 114 that the number of originals M is an odd number, as described above, blank printing is performed on the (M + 1) th page of the printing paper (step 115), and the process proceeds to step 116.
If it is determined in step 114 that the number of originals M is an even number, the process proceeds to step 116.
Next, it is determined whether or not the original image has been printed by the total original image number M × N (step 116). If the original image has not been printed by the total number M × N of original images, the process returns to step 112 and the above-described processing is repeated. When the original image is printed by the total number M × N of the original images, the printing operation is terminated.

  After performing printing and printing as described above, as shown by arrows in FIGS. 4 and 5, the printed printing paper is printed along the broken line from the center of the printing paper P1 by the attached device of the image forming apparatus. The original image is printed by the number of copies in the original page order by cutting P2 so that it separates and overlaying the last page of the left print sheet on the top page of the cut right print sheet. The printed printing sheets can be automatically sorted, for example, (abcde) → (abcde) → (abcde) as shown in FIG. This cutting and the superposition of the cut printed materials may be performed by the user.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which consolidated printing is performed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a state where aggregate printing is performed by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which consolidated printing is performed by a conventional image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating another example of a state in which consolidated printing is performed by a conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control part, 2 ... Input part, 3 ... Display part, 4 ... Scanner, 5 ... Image memory, 6 ... Image processing part, 7 ... Print processing part, 8 ... Paper size memory | storage part, 9 ... Magnification calculation part, 10 ... Document discriminating unit, 11 ... Cover opening / closing sensor, 12 ... Image number counter, 13 ... Printing unit

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper,
Printing means for printing a document image obtained by reading a document according to the number of copies and the number of copies;
The required number of prints is calculated from the number of documents, the number of copies, and the number of document images that are collectively printed on one print sheet, and a plurality of print sheets are overlapped in advance so that both sides of the print sheet overlap each other in advance. The plurality of prints are divided into print areas, and the print areas on a single print sheet are printed in a predetermined printing order, with the front and back surfaces of each of the print sheets as many as the calculated number of print sheets as one page. The document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents are sequentially printed in order from the first page to the first print area of the sheet, and when the last page of the plurality of print sheets is reached, Returning to one page, the printing operation is continued for the printing area in the next printing order, and the printing operation is performed for each of the plurality of printing areas until a plurality of document images are printed by the number of copies. And control means for controlling the serial printing means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: In an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper,
An input means for instructing setting of the number of copies of the original, the size of the printing paper, the printing mode, and the start of the printing operation
Counting means for counting the set number of documents;
A document reading means for reading a document image;
Image data storage means for storing document image data read by the document reading means;
Printing means for reading out original image data from the image data storage means and printing it on printing paper;
When the print operation is instructed by the input means and the set print mode is the aggregate print mode, the number of documents counted by the count means, the number of print copies set by the input means, and 1 Computing means for calculating the number of print sheets from the number of document images collectively printed on one sheet of print paper;
Each side of both sides of one printing paper is divided into a plurality of printing areas so that the front and back surfaces overlap each other in advance, and the calculated printing paper is printed in a predetermined printing order for the printing areas of one printing paper. Repeating the document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents in order from the first page to the first print area of the plurality of print sheets, with the front and back surfaces of several minutes of each of the print sheets as one page respectively. When printing is completed and the last page of the plurality of printing sheets is reached, the page returns to one page of the plurality of printing sheets, and the printing operation is continued for the printing area that is the next printing order, and the plurality of document images are printed. Control means for controlling the printing means so as to perform a printing operation for each of the plurality of printing areas until printing is performed by
An image forming apparatus comprising: The calculating means sets the number of originals to M (an integer greater than or equal to 2), the number of copies to be N (an integer greater than or equal to 2), and the number of original images to be consolidated and printed on the same side of one print sheet to K (an even number greater than or equal to 2). , Q is the required number of printing papers, and Q is the number of printing papers
If M is an even number,
Q = M × N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {M × N / 2K quotient} +1,
If M is odd,
Q = (M + 1) × N / 2K (when divisible) or
Q = {(M + 1) × N / K} quotient} +1,
When M is an odd number, the control unit controls the printing unit to perform blank printing on the printing area of the printing paper of the next page after printing the original image for M pages on the printing paper for each original. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. A control method of an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on both sides of a sheet of paper,
A first step of calculating a necessary number of printing sheets from the number of documents, the number of copies, and the number of document images collectively printed on one printing sheet;
Each side of both sides of one printing paper is divided into a plurality of printing areas so that the front and back surfaces overlap each other in advance, and the calculated printing paper is printed in a predetermined printing order for the printing areas of one printing paper. Repeating the document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents in order from the first page to the first print area of the plurality of print sheets, with the front and back surfaces of several minutes of each of the print sheets as one page respectively. A second step of printing;
When the last page of the plurality of printing papers is reached, the page returns to one page of the plurality of printing papers, and the printing operation is continued with respect to the printing area which is the next printing order, and a plurality of document images are printed by the number of copies. A third step of performing a printing operation for each of the plurality of printing areas until
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: A control method for an image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing a plurality of document images on the same side of a sheet of paper,
A first step of performing an instruction such as setting the number of copies of a document, the size of a print sheet, a print mode, and the start of a print operation by an input unit;
A second step of counting the set number of documents by a counting means;
A third step of reading a document image by a document reading means;
A fourth step of storing the document image data read by the document reading unit by the image data storage unit;
When the print operation is instructed by the input means and the set print mode is the aggregate print mode, the number of documents counted by the count means, the number of print copies set by the input means, and 1 A fifth step of calculating the number of print sheets from the number of document images collectively printed on one sheet of print paper by a calculation means;
Each side of both sides of one printing paper is divided into a plurality of printing areas so that the front and back surfaces overlap each other in advance, and the calculated printing paper is printed in a predetermined printing order for the printing areas of one printing paper. Repeating the document images from the first page to the last page of a plurality of documents in order from the first page to the first print area of the plurality of print sheets, with the front and back surfaces of several minutes of each of the print sheets as one page respectively. When printing is completed and the last page of the plurality of printing sheets is reached, the page returns to one page of the plurality of printing sheets, and the printing operation is continued for the printing area that is the next printing order, and the plurality of document images are printed. A sixth step of controlling the printing means by the control means so as to perform a printing operation for each of the plurality of printing areas until printing is performed for the amount of printing;
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: In the fifth step, the number of originals is M (an integer greater than or equal to 2), the number of copies is N (an integer greater than or equal to 2), and the number of original images to be consolidated and printed on the same side of one print sheet is K (more than 2). Even number), the required number of printing papers is Q, and the number of printing papers Q is calculated by the calculation means,
If M is an even number,
Q = M × N / 2K (when divisible) or Q = {M × N / 2K quotient} +1,
When M is an odd number, Q = (M + 1) × N / 2K (when divisible) or
Q = {(M + 1) × N / K} quotient} +1,
In the sixth step, when M is an odd number, the control means performs the blank printing on the printing area of the printing paper of the next page after printing the original image for M pages on the printing paper for each original. 6. The method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing unit is controlled by the method.

Images