JP2007229962A - Imaging device/method and program of imaging method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print a page image by minimizing a blank part, when printing page images of independent jobs, each covering a different number of sheets from each other, arranged side by side on the sheet. <P>SOLUTION: When a first job and a second job are printed in parallel according to the setting by a parallel printing mode setting part 170, the minimum number of sheets necessary for printing is calculated by a part 171 for calculating the number of printing sheets after acquiring the number of copy pages of the respective jobs. Further, page images of the first job are arranged in the order of copy pages, starting with the first column (left side) of the first sheet at a printing image data generation part 14. After that, the page images are arranged on the first columns of all the sheets, and then arranged in the second column (right side) of the first sheet. Following this procedure, the page images of the second job are arranged in the order of the copy pages successively after the first job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for acquiring a page image for each of at least a first job and a second job independent of each other and printing them side by side on a sheet.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image forming apparatus having an aggregation function for printing a plurality of document images on the same surface of a single printing sheet. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a conventional technique has been proposed in which a plurality of pages of a document of a plurality of pages can be printed with a paper size of a fraction, for example, half. This means that if the number of documents = D and the number of copies = N,
T = Round Up (D × N / 2)
Round Up: Prints aggregated images due to rounding up. For example, when the document D = 4 sheets and the number of copies N = 3, the number T of sheets is 6. Then, after printing, when the paper is cut into two at the center and overlapped, the respective parts are arranged in the order of pages, and the three parts are overlapped. In this way, it is possible to obtain a sorted copy that is half the size of the copy paper by simply stacking it up and down after cutting. It also saves copy count.

It is also conceivable to print page images of a plurality of jobs processed independently of each other on a sheet in a page unit. As the prior art, there is one shown in Patent Document 2 below. As for JOB1 and JOB2, which are independent from each other, when JOB1 is a document in a foreign language, while JOB2 is a document in which a foreign language is translated into Japanese, May be the answer document.
When the two jobs are related to each other as described above, a related identifier is added to control printing. On the other hand, if the two jobs are not related to each other, printing is performed without using the related identifier, and the image data of JOB1 and JOB2 are printed side by side.

  In general, jobs that are completely unrelated to each other are often processed independently of each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, when JOB1 is a job A consisting of a 6-page original and JOB2 is a job B consisting of a 9-page original, job A is printed on the left side of the sheet 20, and the right side is printed. Print job B. That is, the pages A1 to A6 of the job A are printed on the left side of the sheets 201 to 206, and the pages B1 to B9 of the job B are printed on the right side of the sheets 201 to 209. Then, by cutting this at the central portion 30, it is possible to obtain a document on which the jobs A and B are printed.

JP 2002-281278 (paragraphs [0058] to [0059], [0068], FIG. 9) JP-A-10-97396 (paragraphs [0027], [0083] to [0085], FIG. 8)

  However, in the prior art shown in FIG. 1, job A and job B are not related at all, so there are many differences in the number of documents. Therefore, a blank surface is generated on the printing paper by the difference. In particular, if the difference in the number of documents is large, the number of printing sheets having blank portions increases. Therefore, there has conventionally been a problem that paper is consumed wastefully.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and reduces the blank portion generated on the paper when the jobs independent from each other are printed, thereby eliminating the waste of the paper and minimizing the print count. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, an image data processing apparatus, an image forming method, and a program that are suppressed to the above.

In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention provides:
Storage means for acquiring and storing page images for at least two jobs independent of each other, and parallel print mode setting means for setting a parallel print mode for printing the page images of the plurality of jobs side by side on a sheet. For example, when parallel printing is performed by the parallel printing mode setting unit 170 and the double-sided parallel printing mode setting unit 174) and the parallel printing setting unit, the number of document pages of the plurality of jobs is acquired, and printing in the parallel printing mode is performed. Printed sheet number calculating means (for example, a printed sheet number calculating part 171 and a double-sided printed sheet number calculating part 175) for calculating the number of sheets required for printing, and page images of the plurality of jobs stored in the storage means by the printed sheet number calculating means. Print image data that generates print image data by arranging them in order on a calculated number of sheets. Image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit (for example, print image data generation unit 14, double-sided print data generation unit 50); and a printing unit that prints the print image data generated by the print image data generation unit on the paper. In the device
The print number calculating means calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing when printing the plurality of jobs in parallel,
The print image data generation unit arranges a page image of a first page of another job under a sheet on which a final page of one of the plurality of jobs is arranged.

The invention according to claim 2 of the present application is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
In the case where the plurality of jobs are two, ie, a first job having a document page number MA and a second job having a document page number MB.
The printed sheet number calculating means calculates the number Q of sheets necessary for printing by Q = [(MA + MB) +1] / 2,
The print image data generation means is configured so that if the original page PL output in the first row (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... The page image is arranged so as to be a page of = 1, and the original page PR output in the second column (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, 3,. Then, when MA <MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = Q−MA + 1, and when MA> MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = Q + 1. .

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
When the plurality of jobs are two of a first job and a second job,
The parallel print mode setting means has a setting of a double-sided parallel print mode in which page images of the plurality of jobs are arranged on a paper in page units and printed on both sides of the paper.
When the duplex printing mode is set by the parallel printing mode setting unit,
The printed sheet number calculating means calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing in the duplex parallel printing mode,
The print image data generation unit sequentially arranges the page images of the first job on the front and back of the first row (left side) of the paper, and when the arrangement is completed in all of the first row, the second row (right side) continues. The page images of the second job are arranged on the front and back sides of the paper in the order of the original pages following the first job.

The invention according to claim 4 of the present application is the image forming apparatus according to claim 3,
If the number of document pages of the first job is MA and the number of document pages of the second job is MB,
The number-of-print-sheet calculating means sets MA ′ = MA + 1 when the original page number MA of the first job is odd, sets MA ′ = MA when the original page number MA is odd, and sets the odd number of original page MB of the second job. MB ′ = MB + 1 in the case, MB ′ = MB in the case of an even number, and the number Q of sheets necessary for the duplex parallel printing is calculated by Q = [(MA ′ + MB ′) + 2] / 4.
The print image data generation means is configured so that if the original page PL output in the first row (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... The page image is arranged so as to be a page of = 1, and the original page PR output in the second column (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, 3,. Then, when MA <MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q-MA ′ + 1, and when MA> MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q + 1. And

An image forming method according to claim 5 of the present application is
Acquiring and storing page images for each of at least two jobs independent of each other; setting a parallel print mode in which page images of the plurality of jobs are arranged and printed in units of pages; and the parallel print setting Acquiring the number of original pages of the plurality of jobs and calculating the number of sheets required for printing in the parallel printing mode, and pages of the plurality of jobs stored in the storage unit Generating a print image data by arranging images in order on a paper sheet of the number of sheets calculated by the print number calculation means, and printing the print image data generated by the print image data generation means on the paper; And an image forming method comprising:
The step of calculating the number of prints calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing when printing the plurality of jobs in parallel.
The step of generating the print image data includes arranging a page image of the first page of another job under a sheet on which a final page of one of the plurality of jobs is arranged. .

An image forming program according to claim 6 of the present application is
Acquiring and storing page images for at least two jobs independent of each other in a computer; setting a parallel print mode for printing page images of the plurality of jobs side by side on a sheet; and When parallel printing is performed by a parallel print setting unit, the number of document pages of the plurality of jobs is acquired, and the number of sheets required for printing in the parallel printing mode is calculated; and the plurality of sheets stored in the storage unit Generating a print image data by sequentially arranging a page image of a job on the number of sheets of paper calculated by the number-of-prints-calculating means in page units; and printing image data generated by the print image data generating means An image forming program that executes a step of printing on paper,
The step of calculating the number of prints calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing when printing the plurality of jobs in parallel.
The step of generating the print image data includes arranging a page image of the first page of another job under a sheet on which a final page of one of the plurality of jobs is arranged. .

The invention according to claim 7 of the present application is the image forming program according to claim 6,
The step of calculating the number of printed sheets includes the number of sheets necessary for printing when the plurality of jobs are a first job having a document page number MA and a second job having a document page number MB. Q is calculated by Q = [(MA + MB) +1] / 2,
In the step of generating the print image data, if the document page PL output to the first column (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... , The page image is arranged so that it becomes a page of PA = 1, and the original page PR output to the second row (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, If 3 ..., the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = Q-MA + 1 when MA <MB, and the page is PB = Q + 1 when MA> MB. And

The invention according to claim 8 of the present application is the image forming program according to claim 6,
The step of setting the parallel printing mode includes arranging page images of the plurality of jobs on a sheet in units of pages when the plurality of jobs are two of a first job and a second job. Having a step of setting a double-sided parallel printing mode for printing on both sides
When the duplex printing mode is set by the step of setting the parallel printing mode,
The step of calculating the number of printed sheets calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing in the duplex parallel printing mode,
In the step of generating the print image data, the page images of the first job are sequentially arranged on the front and back of the first row (left side) of the paper, and when the arrangement is completed in all of the first row, the second row ( And the page images of the second job are arranged on the front and back sides of the paper in the order of the original pages.

An invention according to claim 9 of the present application is the image forming program according to claim 8,
In the step of calculating the number of printed sheets, if the number of document pages of the first job is MA and the number of document pages of the second job is MB, the number of document pages MA of the first job is When the odd number is MA ′ = MA + 1, when the even number is MA ′ = MA, when the number of original pages MB of the second job is odd, MB ′ = MB + 1, when even the number is MB ′ = MB. The number of sheets Q required for parallel printing is calculated by Q = [(MA ′ + MB ′) + 2] / 4,
The print image data generation means is configured so that if the original page PL output in the first row (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... The page image is arranged so as to be a page of = 1, and the original page PR output in the second column (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, 3,. Then, when MA <MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q-MA ′ + 1, and when MA> MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q + 1. And

The present invention has the following excellent effects by the above-described solution.
That is, according to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when parallel jobs are printed in parallel, the calculated minimum number of print sheets is printed on the sheet on which the final page of one job is arranged. Subsequently, by arranging the page image of the first page of another job, the following effects can be obtained.
First, even if there is a difference in the number of original pages of a job, printing from the first job to the second job is performed continuously, and the blank portion can be minimized. Accordingly, it is possible to save paper and reduce the print count.
Secondly, after printing, the first job and the second job are printed as separate documents by cutting between the first row (left side) and the second row (right side) of the paper and overlapping them. Can be easily obtained.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, the number of print sheets is calculated from the number of original pages MA of the first job and the number of original pages MB of the second job, and the number of print sheets is calculated. Since the print image data is generated so as to fit, these processes can be easily performed by arithmetic processing, and the image forming apparatus can be configured simply.

According to the image forming apparatus of the invention of claim 3 of the present application, since the parallel print mode setting means has the setting of the double-sided parallel print mode, the first job and the second job are printed on both sides of the sheet. Will be able to. Further, even if there is a difference in the number of original pages of the job, since the printing from the first job to the second job is continuously performed, the blank portion can be minimized. Accordingly, it is possible to save paper and reduce the print count.
Furthermore, after printing, the first job and the second job are printed as separate documents by cutting between the first row (left side) and the second row (right side) of the paper and overlapping them. Can be easily done.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention of claim 4 of the present application, the number of print sheets is calculated from the number of original pages MA of the first job and the number of original pages MB of the second job, and the number of print sheets is calculated. Since the print image data is generated so as to fit, these processes can be easily performed by arithmetic processing, and the image forming apparatus can be configured simply.

  According to the image forming method of the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, an image can be formed by a method having the same effect as that of the invention according to claim 1. Further, according to the image forming program of the inventions according to claims 6 to 9, the image forming apparatus or the like can be caused to function by a program having the same effects as the effects of the inventions according to claims 1 to 4.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a generation state of image data for parallel printing formed by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 illustrates an image according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a formation apparatus.

  FIG. 1 shows a network image forming apparatus using an image forming apparatus 1, and the image forming apparatus 1 is connected to an external input device 3 via a network 2. As the external input device 3, a personal computer that generates a print job, a scanner device that reads image data from a document and generates a print job, and the like are applied.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a job receiving unit 10 that receives a print job, a scanner 11 that reads image data from a document, a job processing unit 12 that processes a print job as a page image for each job, and a storage that stores a page image. Operation input is performed by the unit 13, the print image data generation unit 14 that generates print image data, the print processing unit 15, the print unit 16 that prints predetermined paper print image data, the control unit 17, and the user. Input unit 18 and display unit 19.

  The job processing unit 12 and the storage unit 13 form a storage unit that acquires the first job and the second job that are supplied from the job receiving unit 10 or the scanner 11 as page images and stores them independently. is doing.

  The control unit 17 controls the start and stop of printing, the setting of the number of prints, the setting of the magnification, and the like. Furthermore, the page images of the first job and the second job are sequentially placed on the sheet in units of pages. A parallel print mode setting unit 170 that prints side by side. Further, the control unit 17 acquires the number of document pages of the first job and the number of document pages of the second job stored in the storage unit 13, and calculates the number of sheets required for printing from the number of document pages. A print number calculation unit 171 to be printed. The print number calculation unit 171 calculates the minimum number of sheets necessary for printing two jobs by the following calculation method.

  When the number of original pages of the first job is MA and the number of original pages of the second job (job B) is MB, the number-of-print-sheets calculation unit 171 has Q = [(MA + MB ) +1] / 2, and an arithmetic processing circuit that executes arithmetic processing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the print image data generation unit 14 starts from the first row (left side) of the first sheet to the first row (left side) of the second sheet, the first column (left side) of the third sheet,. Thus, when the page images of the first job (job A) are arranged in order and the page images are arranged in the first column (left side) for all the sheets, this time, the second column ( Page images are arranged on the right side, and are arranged in order in the second row (right side) of the second and third sheets. At the same time, print image data is generated so that the page images of the second job (job B) are sequentially arranged after the first job (job A).

  If the page of the first job (job A) is PA = 1, 2, 3,... And the page of the second job (job B) is PB = 1, 2, 3,. The page PL of the print image data arranged in the column (left side) is PA = 1, and the page image of the first page of the first job (job A) is arranged there. The page PR of the print image data arranged in the second column (right side) of the first sheet is as follows. When the original page number MA of the first job (job A) is smaller than the original page number MB of the second job (job B), that is, when MA <MB, the second column (right side) of the sheet. The page PR of the print image data arranged at is PB = Q−MA + 1. On the other hand, if the original page number MA of the first job (job A) is larger than the original page number MB of the second job (job B), that is, if MA> MB, the second column (right side) of the sheet. The page PR of the print image data arranged at is PA = Q + 1.

  The input unit 18 includes a power switch, printing start and stop, selection of a printer function, selection of a parallel printing mode, designation of the number of prints, designation of the number of copies, switches, and the like.

  The display unit 19 displays contents such as various screens and various instructions by an operation input of the input unit 18.

  The print processing unit 15 adjusts the print image data to a predetermined magnification based on the control of the control unit 17 and supplies the print image data to the printing unit 16.

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG.

  First, the user operates the input unit 18 to perform initial settings such as whether to read an image from a document with the scanner 11 to obtain page data, and whether to set the parallel printing mode (step S1). After this setting, the data of the first job (job A) and the second job (job B) is obtained from the job receiving unit 10 or the scanner 11, and the page images thereof are stored in the storage unit 13 (steps). S2).

  Next, in the control unit 17, it is determined whether or not the parallel printing mode setting unit 170 is in the setting state of the parallel printing mode by operating the input unit 18 (step S3).

  When the parallel print mode is set, the print number calculation unit 171 calculates the number of sheets Q from the number of original pages MA of the first job (job A) and the number of original pages MB of the second job (job B). Is done. For example, when the document page number MA of job A is 6 and the document page number MB of job B is 9, the number of sheets Q is 8 from Q = [(6 + 9) +1] / 2.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the image print data generation unit 14 generates print image data arranged in the first column (left side) and the second column (right side) for the print paper 20 (step S5). In the first column (left side) of the first printing paper 201, PA = 1 image data A1 is generated. In the second row (right side) of the first printing paper 201, since MA <MB, image data B3 is generated from PB = 8-6 + 1. The same processing is performed for the second and subsequent printing sheets 202, 203,..., PA = 2 image data A2, and the second column (right side) in the first column (left side) of the second printing sheet 202. The image data B4 with PB = 4 is generated.

  Next, if there is an instruction to start parallel printing, the control unit 17 starts printing by the printing unit 16 (step S6). In response to this print start instruction, the print processing unit 15 reads the image data from the image print data generation unit 14 in the order shown in FIG. 2 and supplies the image data to the printing unit 16 at a predetermined magnification. The printing unit 16 executes parallel printing using the supplied print image data.

  The control unit 17 controls the printing unit 16 to execute printing from the first printing paper 201 to the eighth printing paper 208 (step S7). As a result of this printing, the image data A1 is printed on the first column (left side) of the first printing paper 201, and the image data B3 is printed on the second column (right side). On the second printing paper 202, image data A2 is printed in the first column (left side), and image data B4 is printed in the second column (right side). Subsequently, printing is performed in the same manner on the third printing paper 203, the fourth printing paper 204, the fifth printing paper 205, and the sixth printing paper 206, respectively. On the seventh print sheet 207, the image data B1 is printed in the first column (left side), and the image data B9 is printed in the second column (right side). On the last eighth printing sheet 208, the image data B2 is printed in the first column (left side), but blank is generated because there is no image data to be printed in the second column (right side).

  When the above parallel printing is completed, the control unit 17 stops printing (step S8).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the mode is not the parallel printing mode, it is regarded as a normal printing mode (step S9). If there is an instruction to start normal printing (step S10), the control unit 17 causes the printing unit 16 to perform normal printing (step S11). The control unit 17 stops printing when normal printing is completed (step S12).

  Here, the normal print mode is typically to print the image data of the first job (job A) and the second job (job B) in order on the printing paper. In this printing, the magnification may be changed or a plurality of copies may be printed.

  Such a function can be achieved by installing a program from a personal computer as the external input device 3 in the image forming apparatus 1 in the form of a so-called printer driver.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the minimum number of sheets necessary for performing parallel printing for the first job (job A) and the second job (job B) independent of each other. The page images of job A and job B are arranged on the paper 20 in order and printed. Therefore, when the print image data generation unit 14 arranges the page images of jobs A and B in order from the first column to the second column, the print image data generation unit 14 performs the job under the paper on which the last page of job A is arranged. The first page of B is arranged. According to this arrangement method, even if there is a difference in the number of original pages MA and MB between the first job (job A) and the second job (job B), the first column (right side of the last original page) ) In the second column (right side) of the last document page, and at most only one page of blank space is generated at most.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, even if there is a difference between the number of original pages MA and MB for the first job (job A) and the second B, the blank portion is minimized, and the number of sheets 20 used for printing. Can be minimized. For example, as compared with the conventional example shown in FIG. The smaller the number of sheets, the larger the larger the difference between the document page number MA and the document page number MB.

  After printing, if the first job (job A) and the second job (job B) are separated at the boundary portion and cut at the central portion 30 of the paper 20, the first job is obtained. Documents on which (Job A) and the second job (Job B) are printed can be obtained separately.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 illustrates parallel printing when both the first and second job document pages formed by the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment are odd numbers. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus in the second embodiment. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The control unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 1 determines whether or not the document page number MA of the first job (job A) and the document page number MB of the second job (job B) are odd numbers. 172. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a two-type print image data generation unit 40.

  The two-type print image data generation unit 40 generates print image data of the first form when the odd number determination unit 172 has both the original page numbers MA and MB are odd, and when the original page numbers MA and MB are not odd. Print image data of the second form is generated.

  FIG. 5 shows a print example of the print image data of the first form. In this example, it is assumed that the number of original pages MA of the first job (job A) is 7, and the number of original pages MB of the second job (job B) is nine. First, the image data A1 is arranged in the first column (left side) of the first sheet 201, and the image data A2 is arranged in the second column (right side). Next, the image data A3 is arranged in the first column (left side) of the second sheet 202, and the image data A4 is arranged in the second column (right side). Similarly, image data A5 and A6 are arranged on the third sheet 203. In the fourth sheet 204, the image data A7 is arranged in the first row (left side) of the sheet 204. In the second column (right side), image data B1 of the second job (job B) is arranged. Then, the image data B2 is arranged in the first column (left side) of the fifth sheet 205, and the image data B3 is arranged in the second column (right side). Similarly, on the sixth to eighth sheets 206 to 208, the image data B4 to B9 are arranged in the order of the first column (left side) and the second column (right side).

  In the second mode, the two-type print image data generation unit 40 controls the allocation of image data so as to have the mode shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. 5 and the flowchart of FIG.

  First, initial setting is performed to determine whether or not to set the parallel printing mode (steps S1 and S2). In the parallel printing mode (step 3), the odd number determination unit 172 determines whether or not both the original page number MA of the first job (job A) and the original page number MB of the second job (job B) are odd. It discriminate | determines (step S20). If it is determined that both are odd numbers, the control unit 17 converts the image data of the first job (job A) and the second job (job B) stored in the storage unit 13 into two types of print image data. The generator 40 is arranged in the first form shown in FIG. 5 (step S21).

  Next, if there is an instruction to start parallel printing, the control unit 17 starts printing in the printing unit 16 (step S22). With this printing start, the print processing unit 15 reads the image data from the image print data generation unit 14 in the order shown in FIG. 5 and supplies the image data to the printing unit 16 at a predetermined magnification.

  The control unit 17 controls the printing unit 16 to execute printing in the first form from the first printing paper 201 to the eighth printing paper 208 (step S23). And the control part 17 will stop printing, if the above parallel printing is completed (step S24).

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S20 that the odd number determination unit 172 determines that the document page number MA of the first job (job A) and the document page number MB of the second job (job B) are not odd numbers, it is described above. Similar to steps S4 to S8 in the first embodiment, the second form of parallel printing is executed.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the mode is not the parallel printing mode, printing in the normal printing mode is executed in the same manner as in steps S9 to S12 in the first embodiment.

  Such a function can be achieved by installing the image forming apparatus 1 in the form of a so-called printer driver from a personal computer as the external input device 3 as a program.

According to the above-described image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, both the original page number MA of the first job (job A) and the original page number MB of the second job (job B) are odd numbers. In this case, the odd number determination unit 174 detects this, and in the two-type print image data generation unit 40, the first row (left side) of the first sheet 201 in order from the image data A1 of the first job (job A). ) In the second row (right side), image data A2, in the first row (left side) of the second sheet 202, image data A3 in the second row (right side), and so on. As a result, the image data B1 to B9 of the second job (job B) following the last image data A7 of the first job (job A) are displayed in the first column (left side) and second on the respective sheets. Arrange in the order of columns (right side).
However, if neither the original page number MA of the first job (job A) nor the original page number MB of the second job (job B) is an odd number, the odd number discrimination unit 172 discriminates this and determines the two kinds of data. The print image data generation unit 40 generates image data as in the first embodiment.

  In this manner, the blank portion caused by the difference in the number of documents of job A and job B is minimized, and the number of sheets 20 used for printing can be minimized. For example, as apparent from comparison with the conventional example shown in FIG. 11, when printing is performed by the method of this embodiment, the number of print sheets 20 is reduced by one. The smaller the number of sheets, the larger the larger the difference between the document page number MA and the document page number MB.

  Moreover, when both the original page numbers MA and MB are odd numbers, it is not necessary to calculate the number of printed sheets, so that the processing can be performed easily and quickly.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention related to double-sided parallel printing will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image forming state of double-sided parallel printing formed by the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the image forming state of double-sided parallel printing formed by the image forming apparatus. In addition, the same part as Example 1 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits the description.

  The control unit 17 includes a double-sided parallel printing mode setting unit 174, which sequentially converts the page images of the first job (job A) and the second job (job B) to the left and right in page units on both sides of the paper 20. Print side by side. In addition, the control unit 17 includes a double-sided printed sheet number calculation unit 175, which acquires the number of document pages of the first job and the number of document pages of the second job stored in the storage unit 13. The minimum number of sheets Q required for double-sided parallel printing is calculated from the number of document pages.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a double-sided print image data generation unit 50, a double-sided printing processing unit 60, and a double-sided printing unit 70, and prints image data on both sides of the paper 20.

  When the number of original pages of the first job (job A) is set to MA and the number of original pages of the second job (job B) is set to MB, the duplex printing number calculation unit 175 sets the number of sheets Q required for printing as follows. Thus, the calculation is performed.

  When the page number MA is odd, MA ′ = MA + 1, and when the document page number MA is even, MA ′ = MA. On the other hand, if the document page number MB is an odd number, MB ′ = MB + 1, and if the document page number MB is an even number, MB ′ = MB. The number Q of sheets is determined by Q = [(MA ′ + MB ′) + 2] / 4.

  The double-sided print image data generation unit 50 determines the page arrangement of the print image data shown in FIG. 8 as an example and in FIG. 9 as another example. In the present embodiment, the first page image A1 of the first job (job A) is arranged on the front surface of the first row (left side) of the first sheet 201, and the second page image A2 is arranged on the back surface. Arrange the third page image A3 on the front side of the first row (left side) of the second sheet 202, the fourth page image A4 on the back side, and so on. Place the page images on the front and back of the (left side). When the page images are arranged on the front and back of the first row (left side) of all the sheets, this time, the front, back and back of the second row (right side) of the first sheet 201 Page images are arranged in the order of front and back in the second row (right side). At this time, when all the page images of the first job A have been arranged, the page images of the second job B are arranged in the order described above.

  The page PL of the print image data arranged in the first row (left side) of the paper is such that the page of job A is PA = 1, 2, 3,..., The page of job B is PB = 1, 2, 3,. The page image PL of the first sheet is PA = 1, and image data A1 is arranged. The page image PL on the back side of the first sheet is PA = 2, and image data A2 is arranged.

  If the original page MA of job A is an even number, as shown in FIG. 8, the image data A 6 is output on the back side of the sheet 203 and the next image data B 1 is arranged on the table of the next sheet 204. .

  On the other hand, when the original page MA of job A is an odd number, the back side of the sheet 203 is blank, and the first page image PB = B1 of job B is arranged on the table of the last sheet 204.

  Further, the page PR of the print image data arranged in the second row (right side) of the first sheet is as follows. If the original page number MA of the first job (job A) is smaller than the original page number MB of the second job (job B), that is, if MA <MB, PR is PB = 2Q-MA. '+1'. On the other hand, when the number of original pages MA of the first job (job A) is larger than the number of original pages MB of the second job (job B), that is, when MA> MB, PR becomes PA = 2Q + 1. .

  The operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 8 and 9 and the flowchart of FIG.

  First, initial setting is performed to determine whether to set the parallel printing mode (steps S1 and S2).

  Next, the control unit 17 determines whether or not the double-sided parallel printing mode setting unit 174 is set to double-sided parallel printing by operating the input unit 18 (step S30). When the duplex parallel printing mode is set, the duplex printing number calculation unit 175 determines the number of sheets Q from the document page number MA of the first job (Job A) and the document page number MB of the second job (Job B). Is calculated (step S31).

  For example, when the document page number MA of job A is 6 and the document page number MB of job B is 9, the number of sheets Q is 4 from Q = [(6 + 9) +2] / 4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, in the first column (left side) of the first printing paper 201, the image data A1 is arranged on the front and the image data A2 is arranged on the back. In the second column (right side) of the first printing paper 201, since MA <MB, PR = 2Q−MA ′ + 1 and image data B3 are arranged in the table. The image data B4 is arranged on the back side. (Step S32).

  Image data is arranged on both sides up to the printing paper 204 in the following order. If there is a start instruction, the control unit 17 starts the printing process in the printing unit 16 (step S33). When this printing is started, the double-sided printing processing unit 60 reads the image data from the image print data generating unit 14 in the order shown in FIG. 8 and supplies the image data to the double-sided printing unit 70 at a predetermined magnification. The duplex printing unit 70 performs duplex parallel printing using the supplied print image data (step S34).

  On the other hand, at the stage of double-sided print data creation in step S32, for example, if the original page number MA is 7 and the original page number MB is both odd, the printing paper Q is Q = [(7 + 9) +2]. / 4 to 5 sheets. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, in the first row (left side) of the first printing paper 201, the image data A1 is arranged on the front and the image data A2 is arranged on the back. In the second column (right side) of the first printing paper 201, since MA <MB, the image data B3 is arranged in the table from PR = 2Q−MA ′ + 1. Then, image data B4 is arranged on the back surface. The back side of the fourth printing paper 204 is blank in both the first row (left side) and the second row (right side). The image data B1 and B2 are arranged on the front and back of the first row of the fifth sheet, but the second row (right side) is blank on both sides.

  The control unit 17 stops printing when the above double-sided parallel printing is completed (step S35).

  Such a function can be achieved by installing the image forming apparatus 1 in the form of a so-called printer driver from a personal computer as the external input device 3 as a program.

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 of Embodiment 3 of the present invention described above, the print image data generation unit 14 arranges page images of jobs A and B that are independent from each other on both sides from the first row (left side) of the paper 20, Next, they are arranged in order on both sides of the second row (right side).

  For example, when the number of original pages MA for job A is 6 and the number of original pages MB for job B is 9, the conventional method requires 5 printing sheets 20 as shown in FIG. However, in the image forming apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment, there are four print sheets 20 as shown in FIG.

  When the number of original pages MA for job A is 7 and the number of original pages MB for job B is 9, the number of print sheets 20 is 5, as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, even if there is a difference in the number of original pages MA and MB for jobs A and B, the blank portion is minimized and the number of sheets 20 required for printing can be minimized. Therefore, it is possible to save paper and reduce the print count.

Further, after printing, the first portion 30 is cut at the central portion 30 of the paper 20 and separated at the boundary portion between the first job (job A) and the second job (job B). Print documents for the job (job A) and the second job (job B) can be obtained separately.

  In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, two jobs A and B have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be three or more jobs. In addition, although the image formation is performed in two ups in which the first row (left side) and the second row (right side) are arranged on one sheet of paper, the present invention is not limited to this, and the four up, Image formation may be performed by up.

  In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the job processing unit 12, the print image data generation unit 14, the two-type print image data generation unit 40, the double-sided print image data generation unit 50, the control unit 17, and the like are independently provided. Although formed, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be an integrated configuration by an integrated circuit in which these are appropriately combined.

  Furthermore, in Embodiment 3 of the present invention, it is needless to say that the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured not only to perform duplex printing but also to selectively perform single-sided printing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an arrangement state of image data printed in parallel by the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in Example 2 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the image data printed in parallel by the image forming apparatus in Example 2 of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in Example 3 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the state printed by the image forming apparatus in Example 3 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other example of the state printed by the image forming apparatus in Example 3 of this invention. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state printed by the conventional image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the image data printed by the conventional image formation in the case of contrast with Example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 External input device 10 Job receiving part 11 Scanner 12 Job processing part 13 Storage part 14 Print image data generation part 15 Print processing part 16 Printing part 17 Control part 18 Input part 19 Display part 170 Parallel printing mode setting part 171 Print number calculation section

Claims (9)

Storage means for acquiring and storing page images for at least two jobs independent of each other; parallel print mode setting means for setting a parallel print mode in which page images of the plurality of jobs are printed side by side on a sheet; and , When performing parallel printing by the parallel print setting unit, the number of original pages of the plurality of jobs is acquired, and the number of printed sheets is calculated to calculate the number of sheets required for printing in the parallel print mode, and stored in the storage unit Print image data generation means for generating print image data by arranging the page images of the plurality of jobs arranged in order in page units on the number of sheets of paper calculated by the print number calculation means; and the print image data generation means An image forming apparatus comprising: a printing unit that prints the print image data generated in step 1 on the paper; Stomach,
The print number calculating means calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing when printing the plurality of jobs in parallel,
The print image data generation unit arranges a page image of a first page of another job under a sheet on which a last page of one of the plurality of jobs is arranged. apparatus. In the case where the plurality of jobs are two, ie, a first job having a document page number MA and a second job having a document page number MB.
The printed sheet number calculating means calculates the number Q of sheets necessary for printing by Q = [(MA + MB) +1] / 2,
The print image data generation means is configured so that if the original page PL output in the first row (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... The page image is arranged so as to be a page of = 1, and the original page PR output in the second column (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, 3,. Then, when MA <MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = Q−MA + 1, and when MA> MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = Q + 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. When the plurality of jobs are two of a first job and a second job,
The parallel print mode setting means has a setting of a double-sided parallel print mode in which page images of the plurality of jobs are arranged on a paper in page units and printed on both sides of the paper.
When the duplex printing mode is set by the parallel printing mode setting unit,
The printed sheet number calculating means calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing in the duplex parallel printing mode,
The print image data generation unit sequentially arranges the page images of the first job on the front and back of the first row (left side) of the paper, and when the arrangement is completed in all of the first row, the second row (right side) continues. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a page image of a second job is arranged on the front and back of the sheet in order of a document page following the first job. If the number of document pages of the first job is MA and the number of document pages of the second job is MB,
The number-of-print-sheet calculating means sets MA ′ = MA + 1 when the original page number MA of the first job is odd, sets MA ′ = MA when the original page number MA is odd, and sets the odd number of original page MB of the second job. MB ′ = MB + 1 in the case, MB ′ = MB in the case of an even number, and the number Q of sheets necessary for the duplex parallel printing is calculated by Q = [(MA ′ + MB ′) + 2] / 4.
The print image data generation means is configured so that if the original page PL output in the first row (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... The page image is arranged so as to be a page of = 1, and the original page PR output in the second column (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, 3,. Then, when MA <MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q-MA ′ + 1, and when MA> MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q + 1. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3. Acquiring and storing page images for each of at least two jobs independent of each other; setting a parallel print mode in which page images of the plurality of jobs are arranged and printed in units of pages; and the parallel print setting Acquiring the number of original pages of the plurality of jobs and calculating the number of sheets required for printing in the parallel printing mode, and pages of the plurality of jobs stored in the storage unit Generating a print image data by arranging images in order on a paper sheet of the number of sheets calculated by the print number calculation means, and printing the print image data generated by the print image data generation means on the paper; And an image forming method comprising:
The step of calculating the number of prints calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing when printing the plurality of jobs in parallel.
The step of generating the print image data includes arranging a page image of the first page of another job under a sheet on which a final page of one of the plurality of jobs is arranged. Image forming method. Acquiring and storing page images for at least two jobs independent of each other in a computer; setting a parallel print mode for printing page images of the plurality of jobs side by side on a sheet; and When parallel printing is performed by a parallel print setting unit, the number of document pages of the plurality of jobs is acquired, and the number of sheets required for printing in the parallel printing mode is calculated; and the plurality of sheets stored in the storage unit Generating a print image data by sequentially arranging a page image of a job on the number of sheets of paper calculated by the number-of-prints-calculating means in page units; and printing image data generated by the print image data generating means An image forming program that executes a step of printing on paper,
The step of calculating the number of prints calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing when printing the plurality of jobs in parallel.
The step of generating the print image data includes arranging a page image of the first page of another job under a sheet on which a final page of one of the plurality of jobs is arranged. Image forming program. The step of calculating the number of printed sheets includes the number of sheets necessary for printing when the plurality of jobs are a first job having a document page number MA and a second job having a document page number MB. Q is calculated by Q = [(MA + MB) +1] / 2,
In the step of generating the print image data, if the document page PL output to the first column (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... , The page image is arranged so that it becomes a page of PA = 1, and the original page PR output to the second row (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, If 3 ..., the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = Q-MA + 1 when MA <MB, and the page is PB = Q + 1 when MA> MB. The image forming program according to claim 6. The step of setting the parallel printing mode includes arranging page images of the plurality of jobs on a sheet in units of pages when the plurality of jobs are two of a first job and a second job. Having a step of setting a double-sided parallel printing mode for printing on both sides
When the duplex printing mode is set by the step of setting the parallel printing mode,
The step of calculating the number of printed sheets calculates a minimum number of sheets required for printing in the duplex parallel printing mode,
In the step of generating the print image data, the page images of the first job are sequentially arranged on the front and back of the first row (left side) of the paper, and when the arrangement is completed in all of the first row, the second row ( 7. The image forming program according to claim 6, wherein the page image of the second job is arranged on the front and back of the sheet in the order of the original page after the first job. In the step of calculating the number of printed sheets, if the number of document pages of the first job is MA and the number of document pages of the second job is MB, the number of document pages MA of the first job is When the odd number is MA ′ = MA + 1, when the even number is MA ′ = MA, when the number of original pages MB of the second job is odd, MB ′ = MB + 1, when even the number is MB ′ = MB. The number of sheets Q required for parallel printing is calculated by Q = [(MA ′ + MB ′) + 2] / 4,
The print image data generation means is configured so that if the original page PL output in the first row (left side) of the first sheet of paper is PA = 1, 3, 3,... The page image is arranged so as to be a page of = 1, and the original page PR output in the second column (right side) of the first sheet of paper is the second original page PB = 1, 2, 3,. Then, when MA <MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q-MA ′ + 1, and when MA> MB, the page image is arranged so that the page is PB = 2Q + 1. The image forming program according to claim 8.

Images