JP2009274244A - Image forming apparatus, image formation control method, image formation control program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which inexpensively and appropriately carries out both-surfaced printing, and to provide an image formation control method, an image formation control program and a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: The laser printer 1 stores printing data or drawing data inputted from a host computer Pc in a RAM 26 by making the data correspond to page information capable of specifying pages of the data. When at least either of pages of one surface and the other surface printed to paper of a predetermined sheet number in manual both-surface printing processing is designated at an operation panel 11, the laser printer 1 reads out printing object data or drawing data of the designated page from the RAM 26 and makes a printer engine 4 print the data to one surface and/or both surfaces of the paper. A recovery performance at the occurrence time of an abnormality such as paper jamming can be improved while manual both-surfaced printing is appropriately carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium that perform duplex printing at low cost and appropriately. About.

  In recent years, in image forming apparatuses such as printers, double-sided printing for printing on both sides of paper has been performed in order to save paper resources.

  An image forming apparatus that performs such double-sided printing includes a double-sided printing unit that automatically performs paper reversal processing within the image forming apparatus, and automatically performs double-sided printing in page order on both sides of the paper. Only the odd number page image of the print data and the forming device are sequentially printed on one side of the paper and discharged to the paper discharge tray. When printing of the odd number page of the print data is completed, it is manually discharged onto the paper discharge tray. When the paper is set to the paper feed tray or manual feed tray with the opposite side as the print side and a print instruction is issued, manual duplex printing is performed to print even pages of print data sequentially on the opposite side of the one side printed. There is an image forming apparatus.

  However, as an image forming apparatus, if a double-sided printing unit is provided, the price increases. Therefore, an image forming apparatus that performs manual double-sided printing is desired. The image information input from the host device is developed into visible image data, the visible image data is recorded on a recording medium such as paper by a recording means, and the developed visible image data is stored in the storage means. When the recording medium that has been recorded is set in a paper feed unit and the output of the visible image data in the storage unit is specified in a state where manual duplex printing is specified, There has been proposed a technique for performing manual duplex printing by recording visible image data of the storage means on the back surface of a recorded recording medium (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-199104 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, in manual duplex printing, visible image data that has been input and expanded is alternately recorded on a sheet and stored on a storage unit for each page, and the sheet is reversed and set. When the recording instruction is issued, the process of recording the visible image data of the storage unit onto the paper is alternately repeated, so that only the visible image data on the back side can be stored in the storage unit. For example, if a paper jam or the like occurs during printing on the back side after recording the front side (hereinafter referred to as printing), the image on the front side cannot be reprinted. As a result, when a printing trouble such as paper jam occurs, it is necessary to re-send the image of the page where the trouble has occurred from the host computer and reprint it. There was a problem of being bad.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium that are capable of performing manual duplex printing that is inexpensive and has excellent recoverability and good usability. Yes.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention converts the input print target data into drawing data for each page, and on one side of the printing member conveyed one by one from the sending means based on the drawing data. When printing is performed by the printing unit in a predetermined page order and discharged to the discharge mounting unit, and the discharged single-side printed printing member is returned to the sending unit, a predetermined page is provided on the other side of the single-side printed printing member. When printing is sequentially performed by the printing unit in order, the input data to be printed or the drawing data is stored in a predetermined data storage unit in association with page information that can specify the page of the data, and manual duplex printing is performed. When at least one of the one-sided page and the other-sided page to be printed on the predetermined number of printing members in the process is designated, the print target data of the designated page is designated. The data or image drawing data is read from said data storage means is characterized by to be printed on one side or / and both sides of the printing member to the print means.

  Further, the present invention provides a print data or drawing data within a range of the print target data or drawing data that can be stored in the data storage means when the data amount of the print target data or the drawing data exceeds the storage capacity of the data storage means. The printing target data or the drawing data may be divided and stored, and the double-sided printing control process may be sequentially executed for each of the divided printing target data or the drawing data.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the manual duplex printing process is abnormally stopped during the manual duplex printing process, at least page information of the abnormally stopped printing member is notified from a predetermined notification unit, and reprinting is performed according to the notification. Is specified, the print target data or the drawing data of one or both sides of the abnormally stopped printing member is read from the data storage means and converted into necessary drawing data. The printing unit may print the page on the printing member based on the drawing data.

  According to the present invention, print target data such as print data and intermediate data, or rendering data obtained by converting these data is stored in a data storage unit in correspondence with page information that can specify a page of the data, and the page information Can read out printing target data or drawing data of any page and print it on any side of the printing member, so that the usability in manual double-sided printing can be improved at a low cost, and printing member jam etc. It is possible to improve the recoverability when an abnormality occurs.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 15 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus, an image forming control method, an image forming control program, and a recording medium of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an image forming apparatus and image forming control of the present invention. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a laser printer 1 to which an embodiment of a method, an image formation control program, and a recording medium are applied. FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a laser printer 1 includes a controller 10, an operation panel 11, a printer engine 12, and the like, and performs printing by electrophotography.

  The operation panel (page specifying means) 11 has various operation keys for performing various operations such as a mode of the laser printer 1 (manual double-sided printing mode, single-sided printing mode, printer mode, copying mode, etc.) and setting operations for fonts. And a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) for displaying the state of the laser printer 1. In particular, the operation panel 11 is used to perform various setting operations and the like in an image formation control process for executing an image formation control method by manual double-sided printing described later.

  Although not shown, the printer engine 12 forms an image on a sheet (printing member) by a predetermined printing method (image forming method), for example, an ink ejection method, an electrophotographic method, or the like. In the case of the electrophotographic system, the printer engine 12 is a part required to print out an image on a sheet by the electrophotographic system, for example, a plurality of sheets, and feeds the sheets one by one to the image forming unit. Section (feeding means), a paper discharge section (discharge placing means) on which sheets on which images are formed by the image forming unit are sequentially discharged and placed, and the like. The image forming unit includes a photoconductor, an optical writing section, and a developer. Part, charging part, cleaning part and the like. The image forming unit of the printer engine 12 operates the optical writing unit according to the drawing data and the control signal sent from the controller 10 to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, and the developing unit supplies toner onto the photosensitive member. Supply and develop to form a toner image. The printer engine 12 feeds a sheet from the sheet feeding unit between the photosensitive member and the transfer unit, transfers the toner image on the photosensitive member to the sheet, and conveys the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred to the fixing unit. Then, the toner image on the paper is fixed by heating and pressurizing in the fixing unit, so that the image is printed and discharged to the paper discharge unit.

  The controller 10 is a generic term for control mechanisms that convert print data from the host computer Pc into video data and output it to the printer engine 12 in accordance with the control mode and the control code from the host computer Pc set at that time. Host I / F 21, program ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, font ROM 23, panel I / F 24, CPU (Central Processing Unit) 25, RAM (Random Access Memory) 26, NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) 27, engine An I / F 28, an option RAM 29, and the like are provided, and the above-described units are connected by a bus 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of host computers Pc are connected to the host I / F 21 via a network NW such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and the host I / F 21 is transmitted from the host computer Pc. An interface that receives incoming control signals and data (print data, etc.) and sends out status signals and the like transmitted from the laser printer 1 to the host computer Pc. The host computer Pc is a personal computer having a normal hardware and software configuration, and transmits print data, control signals, and the like to the laser printer 1.

  The program ROM 22 is a program for processing and managing data in the controller 10 and controlling peripheral modules, specifically, a basic processing program as the laser printer 1 and an image formation control method for performing manual duplex printing described later. Various programs such as an image formation control program to be executed are stored, and various data necessary for executing these programs are stored.

  The font ROM 23 stores various fonts used for printing by the laser printer 1 in advance, and is read out by the CPU 25 and used for printing processing.

  The operation panel 11 is connected to the panel I / F 24, and the panel I / F 24 exchanges signals between the controller 10 and the operation panel 11.

  The CPU (control means) 25 controls each part of the laser printer 1 while using the RAM 26 as a work memory based on a program stored in the program ROM 22 and performs printing processing, and manual duplex printing described later. An image formation control process is performed.

  A RAM (data storage means) 26 is used as a work memory for the CPU 25, manages print data from the host computer Pc in units of pages, temporarily stores the data, and stores the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern. The converted drawing data is used as a bitmap memory or the like on which the drawing data is developed. The RAM 26 has a capacity for storing a plurality of pages of this print data or drawing data converted from the print data, or intermediate data, and when the print data sent from the host computer Pc covers a plurality of pages, In addition to storing these image data, in order to access the stored data by page number, an image data search table in which the page number is associated with the address of the image data of the corresponding page of the data is also held. That is, the data is stored together with an image data search table that is page information corresponding to page information that can identify the page. The image data search table is not limited to being stored in the RAM 26, and may be stored in another memory (storage means) such as the NVRAM 27, the option RAM 29, or the like. In the following description, in this embodiment, drawing data of each page is sequentially accumulated in the RAM 26, and a data search table that is page information for specifying the page is also stored in the RAM 26. For example, it may be stored in the NVRAM 27, the option RAM 29, or the like.

  The NVRAM 27 is a memory that retains stored contents even when the power of the laser printer 1 is turned off. Data that needs to be retained even when the power of the laser printer 1 is turned off, particularly system setting values, printing Various setting information such as the sheet count value and print settings, and especially various data and setting information used in manual double-sided printing processing described later are stored under the control of the CPU 25.

  A printer engine 12 is connected to the engine I / F 28, and exchanges control signals and drawing data from the controller 10 to the printer engine 12 and status signals from the laser printer 1 to the controller 10.

  The option RAM 29 is a so-called detachable auxiliary memory, and is used as an auxiliary when the capacity of the RAM 26 is insufficient.

  The laser printer 1 includes ROM, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), EPROM, flash memory, flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), DVD ( An image forming control program for executing the image forming control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a digital video disk (SD), a secure digital (SD) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read. By being installed in the program ROM 22 or the like, it is constructed as a laser printer 1 that executes an image formation control method for appropriately controlling manual double-sided printing described later. This image formation control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like, and is stored in the recording medium. And can be distributed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The laser printer 1 according to this embodiment executes double-sided printing appropriately and inexpensively without requesting re-transmission of print data from the host computer Pc even when trouble such as paper jam occurs during manual double-sided printing. .

  First, basic image formation control processing of manual duplex printing by the laser printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the laser printer 1 roughly divides image processing / odd page printing processing (step S110), guidance processing (step S120), and even page printing processing (step S130) is executed sequentially. In FIGS. 3 and 4, N and M are variables for storing the page number currently being processed, and Nmax is a variable for storing the page number of the last page.

  That is, when print data is transmitted from the host computer Pc, the CPU 25 first prints the print data based on a command from the host computer Pc or an operation from the operation panel 11, as shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not manual double-sided printing is performed (step S101). When single-sided printing is performed, normal single-sided printing is executed and the process is terminated (step S102). That is, the CPU 25 generates a command for the print data received from the host computer Pc in accordance with the print setting contents for the print data, performs necessary image processing, and then develops the data as drawing data for each page in the RAM 26. The drawing data developed in the RAM 26 is sequentially transferred to the printer engine 12 via the engine I / F 28 together with the control signal for each page. The printer engine 12 prints an image sequentially on one side of the paper for each page based on the drawing data and control signal sent, and sequentially discharges and places the printed paper on the paper discharge unit.

  If manual duplex printing is designated in step S101, the CPU 25 performs initialization to store “1” in the variable N that stores the page currently being processed, that is, the first page number of the odd page. Initialization for setting a certain “1” is performed (step S103), and image processing / odd page printing processing (step S110) is executed. In this image processing / odd page printing process, the CPU 25 first checks whether there is print data for the Nth page (step S111), and if there is print data for the Nth page, interprets the print data and prints the Nth page. After drawing the eye drawing data (step S112) and storing it in the RAM 26 (step S113), it is checked whether the variable N is an odd number, that is, whether the N page is an odd page (step S114).

  When the variable N is an odd number in step S114, the CPU 25 sends the Nth page drawing data (odd page drawing data) to the printer engine 4, and the printer engine 4 causes the Nth page to be printed on one side of the paper. Printing processing is performed (step S115), "1" is added to the variable N (step S116), the process returns to step S111, and the same processing is performed (steps S111 to S116).

  When the variable N is not an odd number in step S114, that is, when the Nth page is an even page, the CPU 25 adds “1” to the variable N without performing the printing process for the page (step S116). Returning to step S111, the same processing as described above is performed (steps S111 to S116).

  The above processes are sequentially repeated. When there is no print data for the Nth page in step S111, that is, when the process is completed to the end, the CPU 25 ends the image process / odd page print process, and performs the guidance process ( The process proceeds to step S120). At this stage, when the processing is completed up to the last page of the print data, all pages of the print data are stored in the RAM 26 as drawing data obtained by image processing.

  Then, in the guidance process (step S120), the CPU 25 first stops the printing process (step S121), and displays a guidance screen G1 as shown in FIG. 5 on the display of the operation panel 11 that is a user interface, for example. (Step S122). As shown in FIG. 5, the guidance screen G1 prompts the user to set a sheet of paper on which one side (odd page) has been printed to the paper feed tray, and prompts the user to operate the print continuation button B1 when the setting is completed. And other information related to manual duplex printing are displayed, and a print continuation button B1 is displayed.

  When the CPU 25 receives a command indicating that the print continuation button B1 has been pressed from the operation panel 11 (step S123), the CPU 25 resumes the printing process (step S124), and proceeds to the even page printing process (step S130) shown in FIG. To do. In this embodiment, when the print continuation button B1 is pressed, confirmation of setting of single-sided printed paper in the paper feed tray is performed. However, confirmation of setting of single-sided printed paper in the paper supply tray is confirmed. In other methods, for example, a detection result of a paper set state by a paper sensor provided in a paper feed tray may be used.

  When the CPU 25 starts the even-numbered page printing process (step S130), first, a value (number of pages) obtained by subtracting “1” from the variable N storing the page currently being processed is used as the page number of the last page. Substituting into the variable Nmax to be stored (step S131), substituting the value of the variable Nmax into the variable M for storing the page number currently being processed (step S132), whether the variable M is an even number, That is, it is checked whether the page to be printed is an even number (step S133).

  In step S133, when the variable M is an even number, the CPU 25 checks whether the variable M is “0”, that is, whether the printing process is completed until the end of the even page printing (step S134). When it is not “0”, that is, when the printing of the even page has not been completed to the end, the drawing data for the M page (the drawing data for the even page) is sent from the RAM 26 to the printer engine 4. The Mth page printing process for printing on one side of the paper is performed (step S135). When the CPU 25 prints the Mth page, it subtracts “2” from the variable M (step S136), and returns to step S134 to determine whether the variable M is “0”, that is, print the even page last. In the same manner as described above, the even-numbered pages are repeatedly printed (steps S134 to S136), and when the variable M becomes “0” in step S134, the process ends. For example, if the total number of pages is 11, “12” is stored in the variable N in step S110, and “11” obtained by subtracting “1” from “12” is substituted for the variable M. That is, when the variable M is not an even number in step S133, that is, when the last of the print data (drawing data) is an odd page, the total number of pages is an odd page, and single-sided printing set in the paper feed tray has been completed. Since the first sheet to be printed has only data on one side (odd page), the first sheet to be printed is discharged (step S137), and the variable M is used. “1” is decremented (step S138), and even-numbered page printing processing is performed in the same manner as described above from the process of checking whether the variable M is an even number (steps S133 to S136). In step S134, the variable M is “0”. Then, the process is terminated.

  In the beginning of the season, it is assumed that single-sided printed paper that has been printed from the odd-numbered pages in ascending order of the page numbers and is discharged with the print side down is set in the paper feed unit with the print side down. Although the case of performing printing is described, the order of pages to be printed is not limited to the above-described order, but depending on the order in which print data is sent, the difference between the front and back sides of the paper discharged to the paper discharge unit, and the like Change as appropriate and print.

  As described above, the laser printer 1 according to the present embodiment converts print data, which is print target data input from the host computer Pc, into drawing data for each page, and one sheet at a time from the paper feed tray based on the drawing data. When one side of the conveyed paper is printed by the printer engine 4 in a predetermined page order and discharged to the paper discharge tray, and the discharged single-side printed paper is returned to the paper feed tray, the single-side printed paper When printing is sequentially performed by the printer engine 4 on the other side in a predetermined page order, the input print data or drawing data is stored in the RAM 26 in correspondence with page information that can specify the page of the data, and manual duplex printing is performed. At least one of the pages on one side and the other side to be printed on the predetermined number of sheets in the process is designated on the operation panel 11. If, and to print on one side or / and both sides of the paper into the printer engine 4 reads the printed data or image drawing data of the page is the specified from RAM 26.

  Therefore, print target data such as print data and intermediate data, or rendering data obtained by converting these data is stored in the RAM 26 in association with page information that can specify the page of the data, and an arbitrary page is determined based on the page information. Can be printed on any side of the paper by reading the data to be printed or drawing data, thus improving the usability in manual double-sided printing at a low cost and improving the recoverability when an abnormality such as paper jam occurs. Can be improved.

  Further, in the laser printer 1 of this embodiment, when the data size of the drawing data of the total pages in which the print data is expanded exceeds the storage capacity of the RAM 26, the storage capacity of the RAM 26 is increased as shown in FIGS. The paper is divided into data corresponding to a plurality of corresponding sheets, and double-sided printing is performed for each divided portion. 6 and 7, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processing steps as the processing steps of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the description thereof is simplified.

  That is, in the divided manual duplex printing, the laser printer 1 is roughly divided into image processing / partial odd page printing processing (step S210), guidance processing (step S120), and partial evenness as shown in FIGS. The page printing process (step S230) is sequentially executed. 6 and 7, Nfin is a variable for storing the page number of the last printed page.

  That is, when print data is transmitted from the host computer Pc, the CPU 25 first prints the print data based on a command from the host computer Pc or an operation from the operation panel 11, as shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not manual double-sided printing is performed (step S101). When single-sided printing is performed, normal single-sided printing is executed and the process is terminated (step S102).

  If manual duplex printing is specified in step S101, the CPU 25 performs initialization by setting “0” to a variable Nfin that stores the page number of the last printed page (step S201), and then A value obtained by adding “1” to the variable Nfin is substituted for the variable N for storing the page currently being processed (step S202), and image processing / partial odd page printing processing (step S210) is executed.

  In this image processing / partial odd page printing process, the CPU 25 first checks whether there is print data for the Nth page (step S111).

  If there is print data for the Nth page in step S111, the CPU 25 interprets the print data for the Nth page to generate drawing data for the Nth page (step S112), and the drawing data for the Nth page. Is smaller than the remaining capacity of the RAM 26, that is, whether the data amount of the total drawing data up to the Nth page is smaller than the capacity of the RAM 26 (step S211). When the data size is smaller than the remaining capacity of the RAM 26, it is determined that the Nth page drawing data can be stored in the RAM 26, and the Nth page drawing data is accumulated in the RAM 26 (step S113). When the CPU 25 accumulates the drawing data in the RAM 26, it checks whether the variable N is an odd number (step S114).

  When the variable N is an odd number in step S114, the CPU 25 sends the Nth page drawing data (odd page drawing data) to the printer engine 4, and the printer engine 4 causes the Nth page to be printed on one side of the paper. Print processing is performed (step S115), "1" is added to the variable N (step S116), the process returns to step S111, and the same processing is performed (steps S111, S112, S211, and S113 to S116).

  When the variable N is not an odd number in step S114, that is, when the Nth page is an even page, the CPU 25 adds “1” to the variable N without performing the printing process for the page (step S116). Returning to step S111, the same processing as described above is performed (steps S111, S112, S211, and S113 to S116).

  The above processing is sequentially repeated, and in step S111, the print data of the Nth page is lost, that is, printing is performed up to the last odd page, or in step S211, the data size of the drawing data of the Nth page is the remaining of the RAM 26. If the size is larger than the capacity, the CPU 25 ends the image processing / partial odd page printing processing and proceeds to guidance processing (step S120). At this stage, when the processing is completed up to the last page of the print data, the drawing data of all the front and back pages obtained by image processing of all the pages of the print data is stored in the RAM 26. When the drawing data cannot be stored in the RAM 26 in the middle of the print data, the partial drawing data of the front and back pages up to the middle of the print data is stored in the RAM 26.

  In the guidance process (step S120), the CPU 25 first pauses the printing process (step S121), and displays, for example, a guidance screen G1 as shown in FIG. 5 on the display of the operation panel 11 that is a user interface. It is displayed (step S122).

  When the CPU 25 receives a command indicating that the print continuation button B1 has been pressed from the operation panel 11 (step S123), the CPU 25 resumes the printing process (step S124), and proceeds to the partial even page printing process (step S230) shown in FIG. Transition.

  When the CPU 25 starts the partial even page printing process (step S230), first, a value (number of pages) obtained by subtracting “1” from the variable N for storing the currently processed page is used as the page number of the last page. Is substituted into the variable Nmax for storing (step S131), and the value of the variable Nmax is substituted for the variable M for storing the page number currently being processed (step S132), and whether the variable M is an even number. A check is made (step S133).

  When the variable M is an even number in step S133, the CPU 25 determines whether the variable M is the value of the variable Nfin for storing the page number of the last printed page, that is, the partial even page printing process of the divided drawing data. Whether or not the printing process has been completed up to the end (step S231), and when the variable M is not Nfin, that is, when the printing of partial even pages has not been completed to the end of the divided drawing data, the M page The drawing data for the eyes (drawing data for even-numbered pages) is sent from the RAM 26 to the printer engine 4, and the printer engine 4 performs M-th page printing processing for printing on one side of the paper (step S 135). When printing the Mth page, the CPU 25 subtracts “2” from the variable M (step S136), returns to step S231, and checks whether the variable M is the variable Nfin. Even-numbered page printing processing is repeatedly performed (steps S231, S135, and S136). When the variable M becomes the variable Nfin in step S134, it is checked whether there is subsequent print data (drawing data) (step S232). That is, it is checked whether double-sided printing of all print data (drawing data) has been completed in the partial even page printing process processed this time.

  When there is subsequent print data (drawing data) in step S232, that is, when the print data is divided, the value of the variable Nmax is substituted for the variable Nfin (step S233), and the process proceeds to step S202 in FIG. Then, after substituting the value N into the variable Nfin (step S202), the image processing / partial odd page printing process (step S210) and the guidance process (step S120) are executed in the same manner as described above, and the part of FIG. The process returns to step S131 of the even page printing process 230. In the partial even page printing process 230, when there is no subsequent print data in step S232, the CPU 25 determines that the manual double-sided printing process has been completed for all the print data, and ends the process.

  In the partial even page printing process 230, when the variable M is not an even number in step S133, that is, when the last of the print data (drawing data) is an odd page, the one side set in the paper feed tray is the same as described above. Of the printed sheets, the first sheet to be printed has only data on one side (odd page), so one sheet of the first sheet to be printed is discharged (step S137), and the variable “1” is subtracted from M (step S138), and even-numbered page printing processing is performed in the same manner as described above from the processing for checking whether the variable M is even (steps S133, S231, S135, S136, S232, and S233).

  As described above, when the amount of print data or drawing data exceeds the storage capacity of the RAM 26, the laser printer 1 of the present embodiment performs the drawing within the range of the printing data or drawing data that can be stored in the RAM 26. Data (or print data) is divided and stored, and double-sided print control processing is sequentially executed for each of the divided print data or drawing data.

  Therefore, even when the RAM 26 does not have a large capacity, double-sided printing of print data with a large amount of data can be performed appropriately and inexpensively with good recoverability, further improving the usability. be able to.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the laser printer 1 of the present embodiment can perform trial manual duplex printing of an arbitrary number (page) of an arbitrary number of sheets. 8 and 9 are applied to perform the same processing as in FIGS. 6 and 7 in order to cope with the case where the amount of print data in FIGS. 6 and 7 is large. is there. Therefore, in the description of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processing steps as in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, and the description is simplified.

  In this trial manual duplex printing, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the image processing / partial odd page printing process (step S210), the guidance process (step S120), and the partial even page printing process (step S330) are roughly divided. Are executed sequentially.

  That is, when print data is transmitted from the host computer Pc, the CPU 25 first prints the print data based on a command from the host computer Pc or an operation from the operation panel 11, as shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not manual double-sided printing is performed (step S101). When single-sided printing is performed, normal single-sided printing is executed and the process is terminated (step S102).

  If manual duplex printing is specified in step S101, the CPU 25 sets “0” to a variable Nfin for storing the page number of the last printed page, and performs initialization by substituting the variable Nfin + 1 for the variable N. After the execution (step S301), the image processing / partial odd page printing process is executed (step S210), the guidance process is executed (step S120), and the trial partial page printing process (step S330) is executed. To do. This guidance process (step S120) is basically the same as the guidance process of FIGS. 3 and 6, but the guidance screen displayed on the display of the operation panel 11 performs a paper reset as shown in FIG. A prompt screen G2 is displayed, and a print continuation button B1 and a document confirmation button B2 are displayed. After printing one page, the document (here, the document refers to a printed sheet) is confirmed. When the document confirmation button B2 is pressed, and even pages are printed without document confirmation, a display requesting that the print continuation button B1 be pressed is displayed.

  When the CPU 25 starts the trial part even-numbered page printing process (step S330), first, a value (number of pages) obtained by subtracting “1” from the variable N storing the page currently being processed is used as the page of the last page. Substituting the variable Nmax for storing the number and substituting the value of the variable Nmax for the variable M for storing the page number currently being processed (steps S131 and S132), and checking whether the variable M is an even number (Step S133).

  In step S133, when the variable M is not an even number, that is, when the last of the print data (drawing data) is an odd page, the first one of the single-side printed sheets set in the paper feed tray is the printing target. Since the sheet has only data on one side (odd page), the first sheet to be printed is ejected (step S137), and "1" is subtracted from the variable M (step S138). It is checked whether M is an even number (step S133).

  When the variable M is an even number in step S133, the CPU 25 checks whether or not the test printing is only one sheet (step S331), and determines whether or not the variable M storing the page number to be processed is the variable Nfin, It is checked whether it is a page (step S332). When the variable M is not the variable Nfin, the CPU 25 sends the drawing data of the Mth page from the RAM 26 to the printer engine 12 for printing (step S333), and performs guidance processing (step S334). In this guidance process, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the CPU 25 displays a guidance screen G3 for prompting confirmation of the print result on the display of the operation panel 11, and the guidance screen G3 displays a completion report of one duplex printing. When a request to confirm the original (printed paper) is displayed, and when the print continuation button B1 and the recovery button B3 are displayed and continuous printing is permitted, the print continuation button B1 is pressed and corrected. If necessary, a message is displayed to request resetting of paper, addition of blank paper (one sheet), and pressing of the recovery button B3.

  When the guidance screen G3 is displayed, the CPU 25 determines whether or not there is a problem with the first double-side printed paper (original). The buttons pressed on the guidance screen G3 (the print continuation button B1 and the recovery button B3 Any one) is checked (step S335), and when there is a problem, that is, when the recovery button B3 is pressed, the page (M-1) of the page obtained by subtracting the “1” page from the variable M page The drawing data is sent from the RAM 26 to the printer engine 12 and printed (step S336).

  When the CPU 25 completes printing of the (M−1) th page, the CPU 25 performs guidance processing (step S337). In this guidance process, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 25 completes the printing of the odd-numbered pages to be recovered and prompts the user to reset the single-sided (odd-numbered) printed paper to the paper feed tray. A screen G4 is displayed on the display of the operation panel 11. In the guidance screen G4, a print continuation button B1 is displayed, and when the paper is reset, a message to request the press of the print continuation button B1 is displayed.

  When the CPU 25 displays the guidance screen G4, the CPU 25 returns to step S332 and checks whether the variable M is the variable Nfin (steps S332 to S337). If the variable M is the variable Nfin, the CPU 25 continues. It is checked whether there is print data (drawing data) (step S232). That is, it is checked whether double-sided printing of all print data (drawing data) has been completed in the partial even page printing process processed this time.

  If there is subsequent print data (drawing data) in step S232, that is, if the print data is divided, the value of variable Nmax is substituted into variable Nfin (step S339), and the process proceeds to step S210 in FIG. As described above, the image processing / partial odd page printing process (step S210) and the guidance process (step S120) are executed, and the process returns again to step S131 of the partial even page printing process 230 in FIG. When the process proceeds to the trial page printing process 330 and the variable M is an even number in step S133 and double-sided printing has been completed for only one sheet in step S331, when the printed paper is confirmed, similarly to the above, in step S332 of FIG. From the check of whether the variable M is the variable Nfin, the same process as described above is performed (steps S133 to S337).

  If the printed paper is not confirmed even if duplex printing is completed for only one sheet in step S331, the CPU 25 proceeds to step S340 and checks whether the variable M is the variable Nfin (step S340). Is not the variable Nfin, the M-th page is printed (step S341), "2" is subtracted from the variable M (step S342), and the process of checking whether the variable M becomes the variable Nfin is performed. Repeat until Nfin (steps S340 to S342).

  If the variable M becomes the variable Nfin in step S340, it is checked whether there is continued print data (step S338). If there is continuous print data, the value of the variable Nmax is substituted into the variable Nfin (step S339). The same processing is performed from the image processing / partial odd page printing processing of FIG. 8 (steps S210, S120, S330).

  Then, in step S335 of the test page printing process 330, when there is no problem with the first double-sided printed sheet, that is, when the print continuation button B1 is pressed on the guidance screen G3, the CPU 25 determines from the variable M to “ 2 ”is subtracted (step S342, the same processing as above is performed from the check of whether the variable M becomes the variable Nfin (steps S340 to S342).

  If the variable M is the variable fin in step S332, the process proceeds to step S338 to check whether there is continuous print data (step S338). If there is continuous print data, the value of the variable Nmax is set to Nfin. (Step S339) and the same processing as above (step S210, step S120, step S330). When there is no more print data in step S338 of step S330, the process ends.

  As described above, when an arbitrary page is designated from the operation panel 11 and trial printing is designated, the laser printer 1 of the present embodiment can perform double-sided printing of the designated page, and further use. Can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the laser printer 1 according to the present embodiment, when an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs during the manual double-sided printing, to the paper on which the abnormality has occurred. Perform recovery-ready printing that enables reprinting. In FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, for the sake of explanation, the same step numbers are assigned to the same processing steps as those in FIG. 8 and FIG.

  In this recovery-compatible printing process, the CPU 25 roughly executes image processing / partial odd page printing process (step S210), guidance process (step S120), and recovery / partial even page printing process (step S340).

  That is, when print data is transmitted from the host computer Pc, the CPU 25 first prints the print data based on a command from the host computer Pc or an operation from the operation panel 11, as shown in FIG. It is checked whether or not manual double-sided printing is performed (step S101). When single-sided printing is performed, normal single-sided printing is executed and the process is terminated (step S102).

  If manual duplex printing is specified in step S101, the CPU 25 sets “0” to a variable Nfin for storing the page number of the last printed page, and performs initialization by substituting the variable Nfin + 1 for the variable N. After performing (step S301), the image processing / partial odd page printing process is executed (step S210), and then the guidance process is executed (step S120), and the recovery / partial even page printing process (step S350) is performed. Execute. This guidance process (step S120) is basically the same as the guidance process of FIGS. 3 and 6, but displays a guidance screen G1 on the display of the operation panel 11.

  When starting the recovery / partial even page printing process (step S350), the CPU 25 first calculates a value (number of pages) obtained by subtracting “1” from the variable N storing the page currently being processed. Substituting into the variable Nmax for storing the page number, the value of the variable Nmax is substituted into the variable M for storing the page number currently being processed (steps S131 and S132), and whether the variable M is an even number. A check is made (step S133).

  In step S133, when the variable M is not an even number, that is, when the last of the print data (drawing data) is an odd page, the CPU 25 selects the first one of the one-side printed paper set in the paper feed tray as the print target. Since the sheet that has been printed has only data on one side (odd page), the first sheet to be printed is ejected (step S137), and "1" is subtracted from the variable M (step S138). ), It is checked whether the variable M is an even number (step S133).

  If the variable M is an even number in step S133, the CPU 25 checks whether the variable M for storing the page number to be processed is the variable Nfin, that is, the last page, as shown in FIG. 14 (step S332). ). When the variable M is not the variable Nfin, the CPU 25 sends the drawing data of the Mth page from the RAM 26 to the printer engine 12 for printing (step S333), and checks whether an abnormality such as paper jam (JAM) has occurred ( In step S351), when no abnormality has occurred, a value obtained by subtracting “2” is substituted for the variable M (step S352), and it is checked whether the variable M is the variable Nfin (step S332). If it is not the variable Nfin, the process of printing the Mth page and confirming the occurrence of an abnormality is sequentially repeated (steps S332, S333, S351, and S352).

  In step S332, when the variable M is the variable Nfin, that is, when printing is completed up to the end of the drawing data that can be stored in the RAM 26, the CPU 25 checks whether there is subsequent print data (step S338), and continues printing. When there is data, the value of the variable Nmax is substituted into the variable Nfin (step S339), and the process returns to step S210 in FIG. 13 to perform the same processing from the image processing / partial odd page printing processing (step S210), In the recovery / even page printing process S350, the recovery / even page printing process S350 is performed in the same manner as described above. When an abnormality such as a paper jam occurs in step S351, for example, when a paper jam occurs, FIG. As shown in the message that a paper jam has occurred, request to remove the paper, add blank paper ( Print request), print continuation button B1 and recovery button B4 are displayed, and when reprinting a failed page, press the recovery button B4 and ignore the failed page. Is displayed, a request to press the print continuation button B1 is displayed.

  After performing the guidance process (step S353), the CPU 25 determines whether or not to print the jammed page again based on whether the print continuation button B1 is pressed or the recovery button B4 is pressed (step S354). ). When ignoring the page where the paper jam has occurred (when the continuation button B1 is pressed), the CPU 25 substitutes a value obtained by subtracting “2” for the variable M (step S352), and the variable M is set to the variable Nfin. (Step S332). If the variable M is not the variable Nfin, the process of printing the Mth page and confirming the occurrence of abnormality is sequentially repeated (Steps S332, S333, S351 to S354).

  When printing an abnormal page such as paper jam again in step S354, the CPU 25 prints the page (M-1 page) obtained by subtracting "1" from the variable M (M-1 page) from the RAM 26. Then, the printer engine 44 prints on the paper, that is, prints the odd-numbered odd-numbered page (step S355). When the printing of the (M-1) th page is completed, the guidance process (step S356) is performed. Do. In this guidance process, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 25 urges the user to reset the odd-numbered pages to be printed in the recovery printing, and to reset the single-sided (odd-sided) printed paper to the paper feed tray. A guidance screen G4 is displayed on the display of the operation panel 11.

  When the CPU 25 performs the guidance process (step S356), the CPU 25 returns to step S333, and continues printing the even pages in the same manner as described above from the printing of the even pages of the abnormal paper (steps S333, S332, S351 to S356). .

  When the variable M becomes the variable Nfin in step S332, it is checked whether there is subsequent print data (drawing data) (step S232). That is, it is checked whether double-sided printing of all print data (drawing data) has been completed in the partial even page printing process processed this time.

  When there is subsequent print data (drawing data) in step S232, that is, when the print data is divided, the value of variable Nmax is substituted into variable Nfin (step S339), and the process proceeds to step S210 in FIG. Similarly, the image processing / partial odd page printing process (step S210) and the guidance process (step S120) are executed, and the recovery / even page printing process S350 of FIGS. 13 and 14 is executed again.

  Then, in the recovery / even page printing process S350, when there is no more print data in step S338, the process ends.

  As described above, when the manual duplex printing process is abnormally stopped during the manual duplex printing process, the laser printer 1 of the present embodiment displays at least the fact that the abnormal stop has occurred on the display of the operation panel 11 on the guidance screen G5. When the information is notified and the recovery button B4 on the guidance screen G5 is pressed to designate reprinting, the print data or drawing data of one or both sides of the abnormally stopped paper is read from the RAM 26 and necessary. The printer engine 4 prints the page on the paper based on the drawing data that has been converted into the correct drawing data.

  Accordingly, it is possible to reprint a page of paper that has not been printed properly due to paper jam or the like, and to improve usability at low cost.

  In addition, the laser printer 1 of this embodiment displays a print continuation button B1 for designating continuation of printing on the guidance screen G5. When the print continuation button B1 is pressed and printing continuation is designated, the laser printer 1 has stopped abnormally. The manual duplex printing process is resumed from the printing on the next sheet of the sheet.

  Therefore, even if the printer stops abnormally, it is possible to omit unnecessary reprinting when the print contents are available, and it is possible to improve usability while effectively utilizing resources.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus, an image formation control method, an image formation control program, and a recording medium that perform duplex printing manually and inexpensively.

1 is a block diagram of a laser printer to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The figure which shows an example of the network system to which the laser printer of FIG. 1 is connected. 3 is a flowchart showing image formation control processing during manual duplex printing by the laser printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the image formation control processing of FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a guidance screen displayed in the guidance process of the image formation control process in FIG. 3. 6 is a flowchart illustrating image formation control processing when large-scale print data is divided and manual duplex printing is performed. 7 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the image formation control processing in FIG. Flowchart showing image formation control processing during trial manual duplex printing 9 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the image formation control processing in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the guidance screen displayed by the guidance process of the image formation control process of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a position of a guidance screen displayed in the guidance process of the image formation control process in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a position of a guidance screen displayed in another guidance process of the image formation control process of FIG. 9. 3 is a flowchart showing an image formation control process accompanied by an abnormality occurrence countermeasure process in manual duplex printing by the laser printer of FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing processing subsequent to the image formation control processing in FIG. 13. The figure which shows an example of the guidance screen displayed by the guidance process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Laser Printer 10 Controller 11 Operation Panel 12 Printer Engine 21 Host I / F
22 Program ROM
23 Font ROM 24 Panel I / F
25 CPU
26 RAM
27 NVRAM
28 Engine I / F
29 Option RAM
30 Bus G1-G4 Guidance screen B1 Print continuation button B2 Document confirmation button B3 Recovery button B4 Recovery button

Claims (9)

  The input print target data is converted into drawing data for each page, printed on one side of the printing member conveyed one by one from the sending means based on the drawing data, and printed by the printing means in a predetermined page order and discharged. Manual double-sided printing in which the printing unit sequentially prints in a predetermined page order on the other side of the single-side printed member when the discharged single-sided printed member is returned to the sending unit. In the image forming apparatus having a processing function, a data storage unit that stores the input print target data or the drawing data in association with page information that can specify a page of the data, and a predetermined value in the manual duplex printing process A page designating unit for designating at least one of the one-sided page and the other-sided page to be printed on the number of the printing members; Control means for reading the printing target data or the drawing data of the page designated by the setting means from the data storage means and causing the printing means to print on one side or / and both sides of the printing member. An image forming apparatus.   When the data amount of the print target data or the drawing data exceeds the storage capacity of the data storage unit, the data storage unit is within the range of the print target data or the drawing data that can be stored in the data storage unit. The printing target data or the drawing data is divided and stored, and the control means sequentially executes the double-sided printing control process for each of the divided printing target data or the drawing data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus includes: a notification unit that notifies at least that the abnormal stop has occurred and the reprint designation unit that designates reprinting when the manual duplex printing process is abnormally stopped during the manual duplex printing process. When the reprint is designated by the reprint designation unit in response to the notification from the notification unit, the control unit is configured to print the data to be printed on one or both sides of the abnormally stopped printing member or The print unit is caused to print the page on the printing member based on the drawing data obtained by reading the drawing data from the data storage unit and converting the drawing data into necessary drawing data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The image forming apparatus includes a print continuation designation unit that designates continuation of printing. When the print continuation designation unit is designated by the print continuation designation unit in response to the notification from the notification unit, the image forming apparatus follows the abnormally stopped printing member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the manual duplex printing process is resumed from printing on the printing member.   The input print target data is converted into drawing data for each page, printed on one side of the printing member conveyed one by one from the sending means based on the drawing data, and printed by the printing means in a predetermined page order and discharged. Manual double-sided printing in which the printing unit sequentially prints in a predetermined page order on the other side of the single-side printed member when the discharged single-sided printed member is returned to the sending unit. An image formation control method in an image forming apparatus having a processing function, wherein the input print target data or the drawing data is stored in a predetermined data storage unit in association with page information that can specify a page of the data A data storage processing step to be performed, and a smaller number of pages on the one side and the other side to be printed on the predetermined number of print members in the manual duplex printing process. Also, a page designation processing step in which any one of the pages is designated, and the print target data or the drawing data of the page designated in the page designation processing step is read from the data storage means, and the printing member And a control processing step of printing on one side or / and both sides.   In the storage processing step, when the data amount of the print target data or the drawing data exceeds the storage capacity of the data storage unit, the print target data or the drawing data within a range that can be stored in the data storage unit The printing target data or the drawing data is divided and stored, and the control processing step sequentially executes the double-sided printing control process for each of the divided printing target data or the drawing data. The image formation control method according to claim 5.   The image forming control method includes a notification processing step of notifying that the abnormal stop has occurred at least from a predetermined notification means when the manual duplex printing processing is abnormally stopped during the manual double-side printing processing, and the control processing step includes: When the reprinting is designated by a predetermined reprint designation unit in response to the notification in the notification processing step, the print target data or the drawing of one or both sides of the abnormally stopped printing member 6. The printing unit according to claim 5, wherein the printing unit is configured to print the page on the printing member based on the drawing data obtained by reading data from the data storage unit and converting the data into necessary drawing data. The image formation control method according to claim 6.   The input print target data is converted into drawing data for each page, printed on one side of the printing member conveyed one by one from the sending means based on the drawing data, and printed by the printing means in a predetermined page order and discharged. Manual double-sided printing in which the printing unit sequentially prints in a predetermined page order on the other side of the single-side printed member when the discharged single-sided printed member is returned to the sending unit. An image formation control program installed in an image forming apparatus having a processing function, wherein the print target data or the drawing data input to a computer is associated with page information that can identify a page of the data. Data storage processing to be stored in the data storage means, and the one side and the other side to be printed on the predetermined number of printing members in the manual duplex printing processing A page designating process in which at least one of the pages is designated, and the print target data or the drawing data of the page designated in the page designating process is read from the data storage unit and the print unit prints And a control process for printing on one side or / and both sides of the member.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the image formation control program according to claim 8 is recorded.

Images