JP2010030079A - Image forming apparatus and printer driver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that in conventional intensive printing, the order of pages and upper and lower directions of the pages are not correctly printed when paper is folded to make a booklet, in an image forming apparatus capable of performing intensive printing which arranges and prints a plurality of pages on a sheet of paper and in a printer driver. <P>SOLUTION: The problem that in the conventional intensive printing, when the paper is folded to utilize it as the booklet, the upper and lower directions of the pages and the order of the pages become incorrect, is solved by providing a layout for arranging the upper and lower directions of the pages and the order of the pages so as to conform to a folded booklet, and in addition, providing a boundary line forming part for forming the boundary lines in accordance with ridge-folding lines, valley-folding lines and notches, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In an image forming apparatus and printer driver capable of aggregate printing that prints a plurality of pages on one sheet, when the aggregated sheets are folded and used as a booklet, the pages of each section on the folded booklet This is related to a technique that enables printing by arranging the order and top and bottom correctly.

  There is a method called aggregate printing that prints multiple pages on a single sheet of paper, but if you try to fold this aggregated sheet and use it as a booklet, the vertical position of the page varies from page to page, or the page order is correct. There was no problem.

  As a conventional technique, there is a method of controlling the order of pages to be printed by making it possible to read out data to be printed in bookbinding printing in a desired order (see Patent Document 1).

However, with this method, it is possible to match the order of the pages, but the problem that the pages are turned upside down when folded and used is not solved.
Japanese Patent No. 3745086

  The page layout in aggregate printing in the image forming apparatus and the printer driver is not suitable for folding paper and using it as a booklet, and when the aggregated paper is folded, the top and bottom of the page were not printed correctly, This is a point where the position of the folding line and the folding direction when folding are not understood.

  A first image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of collective printing, in which four pages in two upper and lower rows and two horizontal rows are arranged and printed on a rectangular paper, and the paper is half of the paper. In order to make a booklet that is folded at a first fold line that is divided into rectangular shapes and then folded into a half size again at a second fold line in a direction perpendicular to the first fold line, It has a layout arrangement part which arranges a page so that the up-and-down direction of a page may oppose the 1st crease, and arranges a page order in the page turning direction as a 2nd crease binding part.

  The first image forming apparatus of the present invention may further include a boundary line generation unit that generates and prints the mountain fold line and the valley fold line of the first fold line and the second fold line.

  A second image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of collective printing in which eight pages are arranged on a rectangular sheet and arranged in two upper and lower rows and four rows in a horizontal direction. In order to make a booklet that is folded at a first fold line divided into upper and lower rectangles and further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first fold line, the eight pages are divided into the first fold lines. And a layout arrangement unit that arranges the page order of the eight pages in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

  The second image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a boundary line generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. There may be.

  In this case, the boundary line generation unit of the second image forming apparatus according to the present invention folds the boundary line that divides the upper and lower two rows at the left and right ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. Line, the boundary line that separates the upper and lower rows of the two central rows is a cut line, the boundary between the upper and lower rows of the middle that divides the left two rows and the two right rows is a mountain fold line, the left first column and the left Of the two upper and lower boundary lines that divide the second column and the two upper and lower boundary lines that divide the right first column and the right second column, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain fold line, The other three boundary lines may be valley fold lines.

  A third image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of collective printing in which eight pages in four rows and two rows are arranged and printed on a rectangular sheet of paper, and the sheet is half of the sheet. In order to make a booklet that is folded by a first crease divided into right and left rectangles and further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first crease, the eight pages are divided into the first crease. The layout is arranged so that the vertical direction of the pages is reversed on the left and right sides, and has the layout arrangement part that arranges the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise.

  The third image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a boundary line generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary of the eight pages in the upper and lower four rows and the two horizontal rows. There may be.

  In this case, the boundary line generation unit of the third image forming apparatus of the present invention generates a boundary line that divides the left column and the right column in the upper and lower ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower four columns and the two horizontal columns. It is a mountain fold line, the boundary line that separates the left and right columns in the middle two stages is a cut line, the boundary line of the center left and right columns that divide the upper two stages and the lower two stages is a mountain fold line, Among the two boundary lines in the left and right columns that divide the first stage and the upper second stage, and the two boundary lines in the left and right columns that divide the lower first stage and the lower second stage, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain. A fold line may be used, and the other three boundary lines may be a valley fold line.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention may further include a margin setting unit that allows a margin page to be set at a free position of the section.

  A first printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that causes a computer to realize a print job generation function capable of performing aggregate printing that arranges and prints four pages in two vertical rows and two horizontal rows on a rectangular sheet. A booklet in which the sheet is folded at a first fold that divides the rectangle into half-sized rectangles, and is further folded at a second size by a second fold in a direction perpendicular to the first fold; In order to achieve this, a layout arrangement function is provided in which the four pages are arranged so that the vertical direction of the page faces the first fold, and the page order is arranged in the page turning direction as the binding portion of the second fold. It is characterized by being realized by a computer.

  The first printer driver according to the present invention may cause a computer to realize a boundary line generation function for generating and printing a mountain fold line and a valley fold line of the first fold line and the second fold line.

  A second printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that causes a computer to realize a print job generation function capable of performing collective printing, in which eight pages are arranged on a rectangular sheet and arranged in two vertical rows and four horizontal rows. In order to form a booklet in which the paper is folded by a first fold that divides the paper into half rectangles, and further divided into four equal parts in a direction perpendicular to the first fold. The page is arranged so that the vertical direction of the page is opposed to the first fold, and the layout arrangement function for arranging the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise is realized by a computer. It is characterized by.

  The second printer driver of the present invention further causes a computer to realize a boundary line generation function for generating a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. It may be a thing.

  In this case, the boundary line generation function realized by the second printer driver of the present invention on the computer is the boundary line that separates the upper and lower rows of the two columns on the left and right ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and four horizontal rows. Is the mountain fold line, the boundary line that separates the upper and lower rows of the center two rows is the cut line, the boundary line of the upper and lower middle rows that divide the left row and the right row is the mountain fold line, Of the two upper and lower boundary lines that separate the row and the second left column and the two upper and lower boundary lines that separate the right first column and the right second column, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is mountain-folded A line may be used, and the other three boundary lines may be a valley fold line.

  A third printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that causes a computer to realize a print job generation function capable of performing collective printing in which eight pages in four vertical rows and two horizontal rows are arranged and printed on rectangular paper. In order to obtain a booklet that is folded at a first fold that divides the sheet into left and right rectangles of half size and is further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first fold. Are arranged so that the vertical direction of the pages is reversed on the left and right of the first fold, and the layout arrangement function of arranging the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise is realized by the computer. It is characterized by that.

  The third printer driver of the present invention further causes a computer to realize a boundary line generation function for generating a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower four rows and two horizontal rows. It may be a thing.

  In this case, the boundary line generation function that the third printer driver of the present invention realizes in the computer divides the left column and the right column in the two upper and lower ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower four columns and the two horizontal columns. The boundary line is a mountain fold line, the boundary line that separates the left and right columns in the middle two stages is a cut line, and the boundary line of the center left and right column that divides the upper two stages and the lower two stages is a mountain fold line Boundary in the binding direction of the first page among the two boundary lines of the left and right columns that divide the upper first stage and the upper second stage and the two boundary lines of the left and right columns that divide the lower first stage and the lower second stage The line may be a mountain fold line, and the other three boundary lines may be valley fold lines.

  The printer driver of the present invention may further cause a computer to implement a margin setting function that allows a margin page to be set at a free position in the section.

  A first image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of collective printing, in which four pages in two upper and lower rows and two horizontal rows are arranged and printed on a rectangular paper, and the paper is half of the paper. In order to make a booklet that is folded at a first fold line that is divided into rectangular shapes and then folded into a half size again at a second fold line in a direction perpendicular to the first fold line, In order to arrange the page so that the vertical direction of the page is opposed to the first fold, and to arrange the page order in the page turning direction as the binding portion of the second fold, characterized in that, It is possible to correctly print the page order of the booklet and the vertical direction of the page, which are used by folding one page into four sections of two rows on the top and bottom and two columns on the left and right.

  When the first image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a boundary line generation unit that generates and prints the first and second fold fold lines and valley fold lines, one page is divided into two upper and lower stages. It is possible to display the folding position and folding direction of the booklet that is used by folding it into four sections in two rows on the left and right.

  A second image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of collective printing in which eight pages are arranged on a rectangular sheet and arranged in two upper and lower rows and four rows in a horizontal direction. In order to make a booklet that is folded at a first fold line divided into upper and lower rectangles and further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first fold line, the eight pages are divided into the first fold lines. And a layout arrangement part that arranges the page order of the eight pages in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. It is possible to correctly print the page order of the booklet used by folding it into 8 sections of 4 rows and 4 rows and the vertical direction of the page.

  When the second image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a boundary line generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows, It is possible to display the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of a booklet that is used by folding one page into 8 sections of 2 rows in the upper and lower rows and 4 rows.

  In this case, the boundary line generation unit of the second image forming apparatus according to the present invention folds the boundary line that divides the upper and lower two rows at the left and right ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. Line, the boundary line that separates the upper and lower rows of the two central rows is a cut line, the boundary between the upper and lower rows of the middle that divides the left two rows and the two right rows is a mountain fold line, the left first column and the left Of the two upper and lower boundary lines that divide the second column and the two upper and lower boundary lines that divide the right first column and the right second column, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain fold line, If the other three boundary lines are valley fold lines, it is possible to display the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of a booklet that is used by folding one page into eight sections in two rows at the top and bottom and four rows. .

  A third image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of collective printing in which eight pages in four rows and two rows are arranged and printed on a rectangular sheet of paper, and the sheet is half of the sheet. In order to make a booklet that is folded by a first crease divided into right and left rectangles and further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first crease, the eight pages are divided into the first crease. The page arrangement is arranged so that the vertical direction of the pages is reversed on the left and right sides, and the page order of the eight pages is arranged clockwise or counterclockwise. It is possible to correctly print the page order and the vertical direction of the page of the booklet to be used by folding it into 8 sections of 4 rows and 2 rows.

  In a case where the third image forming apparatus of the present invention further includes a boundary line generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower four rows and the two horizontal rows, It is possible to display the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of a booklet that is used by folding one page into eight sections in four rows at the top and bottom and two rows.

  In this case, the boundary line generation unit of the third image forming apparatus of the present invention generates a boundary line that divides the left column and the right column in the upper and lower ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower four columns and the two horizontal columns. It is a mountain fold line, the boundary line that separates the left and right columns in the middle two stages is a cut line, the boundary line of the center left and right columns that divide the upper two stages and the lower two stages is a mountain fold line, Among the two boundary lines in the left and right columns that divide the first stage and the upper second stage, and the two boundary lines in the left and right columns that divide the lower first stage and the lower second stage, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain. If the fold line is used and the other three boundary lines are valley fold lines, the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of the booklet to be used by folding one page into 8 sections of 2 rows at the top and bottom and 4 rows in width are displayed. Is possible.

  When the image forming apparatus of the present invention has a margin setting unit that allows a margin page to be set at a free position in the section, it is possible to set a part of the page as a margin page. It is possible to set a page and insert a margin between them.

  A first printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that causes a computer to realize a print job generation function capable of performing aggregate printing that arranges and prints four pages in two vertical rows and two horizontal rows on a rectangular sheet. A booklet in which the sheet is folded at a first fold that divides the rectangle into half-sized rectangles, and is further folded at a second size by a second fold in a direction perpendicular to the first fold; In order to achieve this, a layout arrangement function is provided in which the four pages are arranged so that the vertical direction of the page faces the first fold, and the page order is arranged in the page turning direction as the binding portion of the second fold. Since it is realized by a computer, the page order of the booklet used by folding one page into 4 sections of 2 columns in the top and bottom and 2 columns in the left and right and the vertical direction of the page should be printed correctly. Possible it is.

  The first printer driver according to the present invention is characterized in that a computer realizes a boundary line generation function for generating and printing a mountain fold line and a valley fold line of the first fold line and the second fold line. In this case, it is possible to display the folding position and folding direction of a booklet that is used by folding one page into four sections of two rows, two columns on the upper and lower sides.

  A second printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that causes a computer to realize a print job generation function capable of performing collective printing, in which eight pages are arranged on a rectangular sheet and arranged in two vertical rows and four horizontal rows. In order to form a booklet in which the paper is folded by a first fold that divides the paper into half rectangles, and further divided into four equal parts in a direction perpendicular to the first fold. The page is arranged so that the vertical direction of the page is opposed to the first fold, and the layout arrangement function for arranging the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise is realized by a computer. Therefore, it is possible to correctly print the page order of the booklet and the vertical direction of the page which are used by folding one page into 8 sections of 2 rows in the upper and lower rows and 4 rows in the horizontal direction.

  The second printer driver of the present invention further causes a computer to realize a boundary line generation function for generating a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. In this case, it is possible to display the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of a booklet that is used by folding one page into eight sections in two rows at the top and bottom and four rows.

  In this case, the boundary line generation function realized by the second printer driver of the present invention on the computer is the boundary line that separates the upper and lower rows of the two columns at the left and right ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. Is the mountain fold line, the boundary line that separates the upper and lower rows of the center two rows is the cut line, the boundary line of the upper and lower middle rows that divide the left row and the right row is the mountain fold line, Of the two upper and lower boundary lines that separate the row and the second left column and the two upper and lower boundary lines that separate the right first column and the right second column, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is mountain-folded If the other three boundary lines are valley fold lines, the folding position, folding direction and cutting position of the booklet to be used by folding one page into 8 sections of 2 rows at the top and bottom and 4 rows horizontally can be displayed. It becomes possible.

  A third printer driver according to the present invention is a printer driver that causes a computer to realize a print job generation function capable of performing collective printing in which eight pages in four vertical rows and two horizontal rows are arranged and printed on rectangular paper. In order to obtain a booklet that is folded at a first fold that divides the sheet into left and right rectangles of half size and is further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first fold. Are arranged so that the vertical direction of the pages is reversed on the left and right of the first fold, and the layout arrangement function of arranging the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise is realized by the computer. Therefore, it is possible to correctly print the page order of the booklet and the vertical direction of the page to be used by folding one page into 8 sections of 4 rows in the upper and lower rows and 2 rows.

  The third printer driver of the present invention further causes a computer to realize a boundary line generation function for generating a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower four rows and two horizontal rows. In this case, it is possible to display the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of a booklet that is used by folding one page into eight sections in four rows at the top and bottom and two rows.

  In this case, the boundary line generation function that the third printer driver of the present invention realizes in the computer divides the left column and the right column in the two upper and lower ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower four columns and the two horizontal columns. The boundary line is a mountain fold line, the boundary line that separates the left and right columns in the middle two stages is a cut line, and the boundary line of the center left and right column that divides the upper two stages and the lower two stages is a mountain fold line Boundary in the binding direction of the first page among the two boundary lines of the left and right columns that divide the upper first stage and the upper second stage and the two boundary lines of the left and right columns that divide the lower first stage and the lower second stage If the line is a mountain fold line and the other three boundary lines are valley fold lines, the folding position, folding direction, and cutting position of the booklet to be used by folding one page into 8 sections of 2 rows up and down and 4 rows horizontally It can be displayed.

  The printer driver of the present invention can further set a part of the page as a margin page when the computer implements a margin setting function that allows a margin page to be set at a free position in the section. It is possible to set pages on the cover and insert a margin between them.

  In the booklet that is used by folding in the image forming apparatus and printer driver capable of aggregate printing, the problem is that the vertical direction of the page and the page order are not correctly arranged. The invention has been solved by providing a layout arrangement unit that arranges them in order and further includes a boundary line generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line, which is suitable for the crease direction or cut of the boundary line.

  An image forming apparatus and a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention that can perform aggregate printing so that the page order and the vertical direction are correct when the booklet is folded will be described below.

  Aggregated printing suitable for a folded booklet performed by the image forming apparatus and printer driver of the present embodiment is referred to as folded aggregated printing.

[About folding booklets and folding aggregate printing]
As shown in FIG. 1 (A), a sheet of paper is divided into four sections of two columns, upper and lower, two rows, left and right, and the lower right section as shown in FIG. When the upper row is printed in the upside down direction and the lower row is printed in the up / down forward page order and the up / down direction, the page up / down direction and the page order are correctly aligned when folded into a booklet as shown in FIG.

  In normal aggregate printing, the page layout is not arranged counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1A, or the page vertical direction is not different between the upper and lower stages. The upper left, the upper right, the lower left, and the lower right are merely arranged. However, in the image forming apparatus and the printer driver program of the present embodiment, the folding aggregate printing shown in FIG. 1A corresponding to the folded booklet is used. The page order and the vertical arrangement of the page are possible.

  Further, the boundary line for folding is printed with a one-dot chain line in the case of mountain folding, and with a broken line in the case of valley folding. When the user folds the paper according to the boundary line, the user can complete the folded booklet correctly (FIG. 1B).

  The folded booklet may be further divided into eight sections shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (A), one sheet of paper is divided into 8 sections of 2 upper and lower rows and 4 columns on the left and right, and the lower right section is set to 1 page, the upper row is turned upside down and the lower row is turned counterclockwise. Print in the vertical direction.

  Of the four sections of the upper and lower boundary lines, a cut is made in the two sections at the center, and if the section is folded according to the folding line shown in FIG. 2 (A), the shape shown in FIG. The 8-page booklet is completed.

  Although FIG. 1 shows an example of page layout in the case of four sections, another example is shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 (A) shows an arrangement in the case where the crease is on the upper side and the lower side is open in the four sections.

  FIG. 3 (B) shows an arrangement when the fold is on the upper side and the lower side is open in the four sections.

  FIG. 3 (C) shows an arrangement in the case of four sections with left binding and a crease on the bottom and an upper side open.

  FIG. 3 (D) shows an arrangement when the fold is on the bottom and the upper side is open in the four sections.

  In all the above cases, the folding lines are arranged in the same way, the upper and lower boundary lines are mountain fold lines, the upper left and right column boundary lines are valley fold lines, the lower left and right columns The boundary line is a mountain fold line.

  Next, another example of the eight sections shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 4 (A), the lowermost rightmost section in the eight sections is the first page, and the pages are arranged counterclockwise. The lower part is the forward and downward direction of the page, the upper part is the reverse direction of the page, and the crease is At the top, the bottom of the page is open.

  In FIG. 4 (B), the lower section of the second column from the left in the eight sections is the first page, and the pages are arranged counterclockwise, the lower section is the forward and backward direction of the page, the upper section is the reverse direction of the page, The crease is at the top and the bottom of the page is open.

  In FIG. 4 (C), the lower leftmost section of the left binding is the first page, and the pages are arranged counterclockwise. The upper part is the forward and downward direction of the page, the lower part is the reverse direction of the page, and the crease is At the bottom, the top of the page is open.

  In FIG. 4 (D), the lower section in the second column from the right in the left binding is the first page, and the pages are arranged counterclockwise, the upper section is the vertical direction of the page, the lower section is the reverse direction of the page, The crease is at the bottom and the top of the page is open.

  In FIG. 4 (E), the lowermost leftmost section of the right binding is the first page, and the pages are arranged in the clockwise direction. The lower part is the vertical direction of the page, the upper part is the reverse direction of the page, and the crease is the upper part. At the bottom of the page.

  In FIG. 4 (F), the lower section of the second row from the right in the right section is the first page, and the pages are arranged in the clockwise direction. The lower section is the forward and downward direction of the page, the upper section is the reverse direction of the page, and the crease. Is at the top and the bottom of the page is open.

  In FIG. 4G, the lowermost rightmost section in 8 sections is the first page, and the pages are arranged in the clockwise direction. The upper section is the forward and downward direction of the page, the lower section is the reverse direction of the page, and the fold is the lower part. And the top of the page is open.

  In FIG. 4 (H), the lower section in the second column from the left in the right binding is the first page, and the pages are arranged in the clockwise direction. The upper section is the forward and downward direction of the page, the lower section is the reverse direction of the page, and the crease. Is at the bottom and the top of the page is open.

  The boundary lines in FIG. 4 are two fold lines at both ends that divide the upper stage and lower stage as mountain fold lines, two central sections that divide the upper stage and lower stage are cut lines, and the left and right central boundaries are mountain fold lines. Of the four borders between the upper and lower rows of the two rows and the upper and lower borders of the first and right two rows, the border in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain fold line, and the other three borders are valley fold lines And

  Further, as a variation of 8 sections, the present invention can also be applied to a vertically long structure as shown in FIG. 5 (I), in which paper is arranged vertically and divided into two upper and lower rows and four left and right rows. Even in this case, it responds to the eight arrangements shown in FIG. 4, but the illustration and description are the same except that the shape of each section is different, and the description is omitted.

  Further, as a variation of 8 sections, the present invention can also be applied to a case of two rows on the left and four rows on the top and bottom when paper is placed vertically as shown in FIG. 5 (J). In this case as well, it corresponds to the eight arrangements shown in FIG. 4, but its illustration and description are omitted.

[Constitution]
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus and the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 101 includes an operation unit 111, a display unit 113, a printing unit 115, an interface unit 117, a software function unit 121, a layout setting unit 123, a layout arrangement unit 125, a boundary line generation unit 127, a margin setting unit 129, and a preview unit. 131, each functional block of the image processing unit 133.

  The host computer 201 includes a printer driver 221, and the printer driver 221 includes functional blocks of a layout setting unit 223, a layout arrangement unit 225, a boundary line generation unit 227, a margin setting unit 229, a preview unit 231, and an image processing unit 233. Have

  Each functional block will be described below.

  The operation unit 111 is a functional unit that inputs an operation of the image forming apparatus 101 and can be used to input settings for folding and aggregate printing.

  The display unit 113 is configured by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays a display of the apparatus state of the image forming apparatus, a display when an operation is input from the operation unit 111, and a preview screen.

  The printing unit 115 is a functional unit that performs printing. The main printing unit 115 prints the page layout for aggregate printing corresponding to the folded booklet, which is a feature of the present invention, and the image and boundary line of each page generated according to the page order.

  The interface unit 117 is a functional unit that connects the image forming apparatus 101 and the host computer 201. A print job from the host computer 201 is received by the interface unit 117 and printed by the printing unit 115.

  The software function unit 121 is a function unit that realizes each function of the image forming apparatus 101 by software. The software function unit 121 includes a layout setting unit 123, a layout arrangement unit 125, a boundary line generation unit 127, a margin setting unit 129, a preview unit 131, and an image processing unit 133.

  The layout setting unit 123 is a functional unit that receives the setting of folding aggregate printing that is a feature of the image forming apparatus. How many folds the fold print is divided into, how it is left-bound, right-bound, where the first page is arranged, how the page is arranged, and the boundary line is printed The margin is set by accepting input from the user, such as where to set the margin and whether to insert the page number.

  Layout settings are divided into two parts. One is a layout setting in one sheet, and the other is a layout setting in the entire document. When the layout setting in one sheet is changed, a pattern corresponding to the setting content is displayed on the pattern display unit.

  The layout arranging unit 125 arranges the page in the order and the vertical arrangement of the pages based on the layout setting of the folding aggregate printing received by the layout setting unit 123.

  The page is arranged by dividing one sheet into four sections of equal area in two upper and lower tiers and two columns on the left and right, and in the case of left binding, the page is arranged counterclockwise with the lower right section as the first page, In the case of right binding, the page is arranged clockwise with the lower left section as the first page. In both cases of left binding and right binding, the upper and lower pages of the lower two sections are normal, and the upper two sections are Place the page upside down, or place the page in the clockwise direction with the lower left section as the first page in the case of left binding, and counterclockwise with the lower right section as the first page in the case of right binding The pages are arranged around, and in both cases of left binding and right binding, the upper and lower pages of the upper two sections are arranged normally, and the lower two sections of the pages are arranged upside down.

  In addition, the page layout is divided into 8 sections of equal area of 2 upper and lower 2 rows and 4 left and right, and in the case of left binding, the lower rightmost partition or the lower left column The page is arranged counterclockwise as the first page, and in the case of right binding, the page in the lower leftmost column or the second row from the lower right is arranged in the clockwise direction as the first page, and the left binding and right In any case of binding, the upper and lower pages of the lower four sections are arranged normally, and the upper four sections of the pages are arranged upside down, or in the case of left binding, the lower leftmost section or Pages are arranged clockwise with the second row from the lower right as the first page, and in the case of right binding, the rightmost row in the lower row or the second row from the lower left is the first page in the counterclockwise direction. Place the page and on the upper four sections of the page for both left and right binding Is normally, lower 4 compartments pages of arranged to be upside down.

  The boundary line generation unit 127 generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line as the boundary line of each section of the folding aggregate printing when the layout setting unit 123 is set to generate the boundary line. . The generated boundary line is combined with the page image arranged by the layout arrangement unit 123 by the image processing unit 133 and printed by the printing unit 115.

  For the display of the boundary line, the mountain fold line may be displayed as a one-dot chain line, the valley fold line as a broken line, and the cut line as a solid line, or may be expressed as <mountain fold line>, for example, The above-described notation such as a one-dot chain line and characters may be combined.

  If it is set to include a boundary line, a description of the folding method may be printed. The explanation may be a sentence or an illustration.

  Boundary lines are divided into four sections of equal area, two upper and lower columns and two left and right columns, and if the first page is in either the left or right column, the upper and lower boundary lines are The boundary line between the upper left column and the right column is a valley fold line, and the lower left column and right column boundary is a mountain fold line.

  In addition, when dividing one sheet into 8 sections of equal area of 2 steps in the upper and lower sides and 4 columns in the left and right sides, the upper and lower sections are divided into two sections at both ends that divide the upper and lower stages, and the upper and lower stages are separated. The center two sections are cut lines, the left and right center boundaries are mountain fold lines, and one of the four left and right upper and lower right and left upper and lower right four lines The boundary in the positive binding direction of the page is a mountain fold line, and the other three boundaries are valley fold lines.

When the margin setting unit 129 is folded, if the total number of pages is N and the total number of pages does not match a multiple of N, some pages of the final print are blank pages. This function unit is a function provided to avoid this. When a margin page is set, a blank page is inserted between the last printed pages so that the last page of the document comes. The blank page to be inserted is set so that the total number of pages including the blank page is a minimum multiple of N. (An example in which margins are embedded in FIG. 9B is displayed; margin page 73)
In addition to the above settings, a method may be possible in which the last page is set as a blank page, or a section at another free position is set as a blank page.

  The page including the margin set by the margin setting unit 129 is arranged by the layout arrangement unit 125 as folded aggregate printing.

  The preview unit 131 is a functional unit that creates and displays a preview for the set value. Both a state in which one sheet is spread without being folded and a state in which one sheet is applied to the aggregate pattern are switched and displayed. In the operation from the printer driver, it is also possible to return to the application editing screen while maintaining the setting. FIG. 9B shows an example of a preview screen.

  The image processing unit 133 inserts a document image in units of pages along the page layout arranged by the layout arranging unit 125, combines it with the boundary line generated by the boundary line generation unit 127, and prints it by the printing unit 115. It is a functional unit that generates print data in a possible data format.

  The host computer 201 generates a print job for printing with the image forming apparatus. The folding aggregate printing function can be performed by the image forming apparatus alone as described above, but can also be generated by a printer driver on the host computer 201.

  The printer driver 221 is a program for causing a host computer to realize a function of generating a print job for performing printing with the image forming apparatus 101.

  The printer driver 221 responds to the layout setting unit 123, the layout arrangement unit 125, the boundary line generation unit 127, the margin setting unit 129, the preview unit 131, and the image processing unit 133 described in each functional unit of the image forming apparatus 101. A layout setting unit 223, a layout arrangement unit 225, a boundary line generation unit 227, a margin setting unit 229, a preview unit 231, and an image processing unit 233, which have the same functions. Therefore, description of each functional unit of the printer driver is omitted.

[flowchart]
The operation flow will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  In the following description, a case will be described in which operations are performed by the function units of the layout setting unit 223, the layout arrangement unit 225, the boundary line generation unit 227, the margin setting unit 229, the preview unit 231, and the image processing unit 233 on the host computer. However, this operation may be performed by each function unit corresponding to the image forming apparatus and performed by the image forming apparatus alone.

  S11: When the printer driver 221 of the host computer 201 is activated, the setting screen of the printer driver 221 shown in FIG. 9A is displayed, the folding / aggregating tab is selected, and the setting operation for folding / aggregating printing is started. This setting is accepted by the layout setting unit 223.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a default value for folding aggregate printing is set in advance. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, this default value is 4 pages per sheet (the number of consolidated pages), left binding, no border printing, no manuscript page number printing, and manuscript page number adjustment. Is set to ON.

  S13: Loop 1 repeats the loop until the OK button or cancel button in FIG. 9A is pressed.

  S19: If the button for setting the number of consolidated pages, which is the number of pages of one sheet, that is, the number of pages of a document to be printed on one sheet, is selected, the process proceeds to S21. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S23.

  S21: The number of consolidated pages is set. Specifically, first, when the user selects “number of pages of one sheet” (4 or 8) in FIG. 9A, the layout setting unit 223 accepts the selected number of pages as the number of consolidated pages. Next, the layout setting unit 223 sets the aggregate page number as a printing condition, and the process proceeds to S39.

  S23: If the page number display setting is selected, the process proceeds to S25. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S27.

  S25: The page number display is set. Specifically, when the user first checks “print page number of original” in FIG. 9A, the layout setting unit 223 analyzes the data of the original and sets the page number in the header or footer. It is determined whether or not. If the page layout setting unit 223 determines that the page number has already been set, the process of S25 is terminated, and the process proceeds to S13. In this case, the above-mentioned “print of original page number” check is ignored, and the page number added to the original data is printed. If the layout setting unit 223 determines that the page number is not set, the page number is sequentially assigned from the first page of the document and set as the printing condition, and the process proceeds to S39.

  Even when “print page number of document” is not checked, the page number of the document is printed if the page number is set in the document data.

  S27: If the binding direction is selected, the process proceeds to S29. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S31.

  S29: The binding direction is set. Specifically, first, when the user selects the “binding direction” in FIG. 9A, the layout setting unit 223 accepts the selected direction as the binding direction for folding and aggregate printing. Next, the layout setting unit 223 sets the binding direction as a printing condition, and proceeds to S39.

  S31: If the setting of the boundary line at the time of folding is selected, the process proceeds to S33. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S35.

  S33: A boundary line is set. Specifically, first, when the user checks “print boundary line” in FIG. 9A, the boundary line generation unit 227 uses FIGS. 2 to 4 above according to the number of consolidated pages and the binding direction. Determine the boundary as described above. The layout setting unit 123 sets the boundary line determined by the boundary line generation unit 227 as a printing condition, and proceeds to S39.

  S35: If the print page number adjustment setting is selected, the process proceeds to S37. Otherwise, the process proceeds to S39.

  S37: Setting for adjusting the number of printed pages is performed. Specifically, when the user first checks “print original page number” in FIG. 9A, the margin setting unit 229 determines that the number of original pages is the number of consolidated pages (4 in the example of FIG. 9A). It is determined whether it is a multiple of. If the margin setting unit 229 determines that the number of document pages is a multiple of the number of consolidated pages, the margin setting unit 229 ends the process of S37 and proceeds to S39. If the margin setting unit 229 determines that the number of document pages is not a multiple of the number of consolidated pages, how many blank pages are inserted between the last page of the document and the second page from the end, the number of document pages is equal to the number of consolidated pages. It is calculated whether it becomes a multiple of. Here, it is preferable that the margin setting unit 229 calculates the minimum number of blank pages. Next, the layout setting unit 223 sets the number of blank pages calculated by the reservation setting unit 229 as a printing condition.

  S39: A combination pattern of folding and aggregation (FIG. 9A) 71 is displayed, and the process proceeds to S41. Specifically, first, the layout arrangement unit 225 generates a page layout of the first page (first sheet) of folded aggregate printing according to the printing conditions (the number of consolidated pages and the binding direction) set by the layout setting unit 223. . The preview unit 231 displays the page layout and the binding direction generated by the layout arranging unit 225 as a combined pattern 71 of folding aggregate printing shown in FIG.

  S41: If the document preview button is selected, the operation proceeds to S43. If not selected, the image processing unit 233 generates print data, and the operation proceeds to S59. The details of the generation of print data are as follows. First, the layout arrangement unit 225 sets each page (each of the folded aggregate prints) according to the print conditions (the number of consolidated pages, the binding direction, and the blank page setting) set by the layout setting unit 223. Paper) page layout. Further, the boundary line generation unit 227 generates a boundary line for each page (each sheet) of the folded aggregate printing along the printing condition (boundary line) set by the layout setting unit 223. Next, the image processing unit 233 inserts the image of the original page along the page layout generated by the layout arranging unit 225 and synthesizes the boundary line generated by the boundary line generation unit 227 to generate print data. Here, the print data may be in a file format that can be printed by the image forming apparatus 101, such as a page description language, a PDF (Portable Document Format) file, or bitmap data.

  S43: The preview unit 231 displays a preview (FIG. 9B), and proceeds to S45. Specifically, the preview unit 231 converts the print data combined by the image processing unit 233 into bitmap data reduced for preview, and displays the first two pages as a preview as shown in FIG. 9B.

  S45: Loop 2 is repeated until the close button on the preview screen (FIG. 9) is pressed. When the close button is pressed, the image processing unit 233 generates print data in accordance with the print conditions changed in the later-described document data editing (S53) and margin setting (S57), as in S41.

  S47: When the display switching button (previous page, next page, enlargement, reduction, switching) is selected, the operation proceeds to S49. Otherwise, the operation proceeds to S51.

  S49: The preview unit 231 performs a display switching operation according to the selected display switching button, and proceeds to the end of the loop 2.

  S51: It is selected whether or not editing of document data has been selected. If it is selected, the operation proceeds to S53. If it is not selected, the operation proceeds to S55.

  S53: The document data is edited and the process proceeds to the end of the loop 2. More specifically, first, the printer driver 221 calls an application for editing a document, and delivers document data to this application. When the user edits a document and performs a save operation on the application, the application delivers the edited document data to the printer driver 221. Next, the preview unit 231 performs a preview display according to the setting of the printing conditions based on the edited document data, similarly to S43.

  S55: It is determined whether or not margin setting has been selected. If it is selected, the operation proceeds to S57. If it is not selected, the operation is shifted to the end of the loop 2.

  S57: The margin is set and the process proceeds to the end of the loop 2. Specifically, first, the margin setting unit 229 displays the page number of the document in which the blank page is inserted (after the blank page is inserted). When the user changes the displayed page number, the margin setting unit 229 changes the blank page of the page number before the change to the page number after the change, and further adds the page number before the change and the page number after the change. The manuscript page (including blank pages) in between is changed to the page number after one page. The layout setting unit 223 sets the changed page number as a printing condition and erases the page number display of the blank page.

  S59: It is determined whether or not the test print button has been pressed. If trial printing is pressed, the operation proceeds to S61. Otherwise, the operation shifts to the end of loop 1.

  S 61: The printer driver 221 transmits the print data generated by the image processing unit 233 to the image forming apparatus 101. Next, the image forming apparatus 101 passes the print data received via the interface unit 117 to the printing unit 115, and the printing unit 115 prints only the first part (for example, the first page of folding aggregate printing) for trial printing. To do.

  S63: It is determined whether or not the print button has been pressed. If it has been pressed, the operation proceeds to S65. Otherwise, the operation ends.

  S 65: The printer driver 221 transmits the print data generated by the image processing unit 233 to the image forming apparatus 101. Next, the image forming apparatus 101 passes the print data received via the interface unit 117 to the printing unit 115, and the printing unit 115 prints the print data. As a result, printing is performed according to the settings of the folding aggregate printing set up to now.

  In the above embodiment, whether the folded booklet is opened downward or opened is set in advance in the layout arrangement unit 223 or 123 and cannot be selected by the user. That is, depending on the setting of the number of consolidated pages and the binding direction (left and right), it is determined in advance which mode from FIGS. 3 (A) to 3 (D) and FIGS. 4 (A) to (H). Further, depending on the orientation (vertical) of the printing paper and the binding direction (up and down), it is determined in advance from the types shown in FIGS. 5 (I) to (J).

  In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Whether the folded booklet is opened downward or upward (when the binding direction is left or right), whether it is opened right or left (when the binding direction is up or down), printing paper Also, the user may be able to select the direction.

[Effect of Example]
The image forming apparatus and the printer driver according to the embodiment of the present invention enable collective printing with a folded booklet.

  It is now possible to print instructions such as mountain folds, valley folds, and cuts on the folding borders of a folded booklet at the same time.

  Even with a printer driver alone, it has become possible to perform consolidated printing and border printing on the folded booklet.

It is explanatory drawing of the folding aggregate printing of 4 divisions. It is explanatory drawing of the folding aggregation printing of 8 divisions. It is an example of a pattern of folding aggregation printing of 4 sections. It is an example of a pattern of folding aggregate printing of 8 sections. It is a variation of an example of a pattern of folding and printing in 8 sections. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus and a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart 1 of an image forming apparatus and a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart 2 of an image forming apparatus and a printer driver according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a setting screen (A) and a preview screen (B) for the image forming apparatus and printer driver of the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Image forming apparatus 111 Operation part 113 Display part 115 Printing part 117 Interface part 121 Software function part 123 Layout setting part 125 Layout arrangement part 127 Boundary line generation part 129 Margin setting part 131 Preview part 133 Image processing part 201 Host computer 221 Printer driver 223 Layout setting unit 225 Layout arrangement unit 227 Boundary line generation unit 229 Margin setting unit 231 Preview unit 233 Image processing unit

Claims (14)

An image forming apparatus capable of collective printing that arranges and prints four pages in two vertical rows and two horizontal rows on a rectangular paper,
In order to make a booklet in which the paper is folded at a first fold that divides it into half-sized rectangles and then folded again at half-size by a second fold in a direction perpendicular to the first fold. The four pages are arranged so that the vertical direction of the pages is opposed to the first fold, and the layout arrangement unit arranges the page order in the page turning direction as the binding part of the second fold. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a boundary line generation unit that generates and prints a mountain fold line and a valley fold line of the first fold line and the second fold line. An image forming apparatus capable of collective printing that arranges and prints 8 pages in 2 rows, 4 rows and 4 rows on a rectangular sheet,
In order to form a booklet in which the paper is folded at a first fold that divides the paper into half rectangles, and further divided into four equal parts in a direction perpendicular to the first fold, the eight pages are An image forming system comprising: a layout arrangement unit arranged so that a vertical direction of a page is opposed to the first crease, and arranging the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise. apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
A boundary generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary between the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows;
The boundary generation unit divides the upper and lower rows of the middle two rows using the mountain fold line as the boundary line dividing the upper and lower rows of the two rows on the left and right ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows. The boundary line is a cut line, the central upper and lower boundary lines dividing the left column and the right column are mountain fold lines, the upper and lower boundary lines separating the left first column and the left second column, and Of the two upper and lower boundary lines separating the right first column and the right second column, the boundary line in the binding direction on the first page is a mountain fold line, and the other three boundary lines are valley fold lines. An image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus capable of collective printing that arranges and prints eight pages in four rows and two rows on a rectangular sheet,
In order to form a booklet in which the paper is folded at a first fold that divides the left and right rectangles into half, and further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first fold, the eight pages are An image having a layout arrangement unit arranged so that the vertical direction of the page is reversed on the left and right of the first fold, and arranging the page order of the eight pages clockwise or counterclockwise. Forming equipment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
A boundary line generation unit that generates a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary of the eight pages in the upper and lower four rows and two horizontal rows;
The boundary line generation unit uses a mountain fold line as a boundary line dividing the left column and the right column at the upper and lower ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower four columns and the two horizontal columns, The boundary line that divides the right column is the cut line, the boundary line of the central left and right column that divides the upper two steps and the lower two steps is the mountain fold line, and the left and right column 2 that divides the upper first step and the upper second step Of the two boundary lines in the left and right columns that divide the first boundary and the lower second stage, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain fold line, and the other three boundary lines are valley folded. An image forming apparatus characterized by being a line. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a margin setting unit that allows a margin page to be set at a free position of the section. A printer driver that causes a computer to generate a print job that can be consolidated and printed by arranging four pages in two vertical rows and two horizontal rows on a rectangular paper.
In order to make a booklet in which the paper is folded at a first fold that divides it into half-sized rectangles and then folded again at half-size by a second fold in a direction perpendicular to the first fold. The computer has a layout arrangement function in which the four pages are arranged so that the vertical direction of the page is opposed to the first fold, and the page order is arranged in the page turning direction as a binding portion of the second fold. A printer driver characterized by having 9. The printer driver of claim 8, wherein
A printer driver that causes a computer to realize a boundary line generation function for generating and printing a mountain fold line and a valley fold line of the first fold line and the second fold line. A printer driver that causes a computer to generate a print job generation function capable of aggregate printing that arranges and prints eight pages in two vertical rows and four horizontal rows on rectangular paper,
In order to form a booklet in which the paper is folded at a first fold that divides the paper into half rectangles, and further divided into four equal parts in a direction perpendicular to the first fold, the eight pages are A layout arrangement function for arranging the page order of the eight pages in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction is arranged on the computer so as to face the first fold line so that the vertical direction of the page is opposed to the first crease. Printer driver. The printer driver according to claim 10, comprising:
The computer realizes a boundary line generation function for generating a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and four horizontal rows,
The boundary line generation function uses a mountain fold line as a boundary line that divides the upper and lower two rows at the left and right ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower two rows and the four horizontal rows, and separates the upper and lower rows of the two middle rows. The boundary line is a cut line, the central upper and lower boundary lines dividing the left column and the right column are mountain fold lines, the upper and lower boundary lines separating the left first column and the left second column, and Of the two upper and lower boundary lines separating the right first column and the right second column, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain fold line, and the other three boundary lines are valley fold lines. Printer driver. A printer driver that causes a computer to generate a print job generation function capable of aggregate printing that arranges and prints 8 pages in 4 rows and 2 rows on a rectangular sheet.
In order to form a booklet in which the paper is folded at a first fold that divides the left and right rectangles into half, and further divided into four equal parts in a direction orthogonal to the first fold, the eight pages are A layout arrangement function for arranging the page order of the eight pages in a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction is arranged on a computer so that the vertical direction of the page is reversed on the left and right sides of the first fold. Printer driver. A printer driver according to claim 12, comprising:
The computer realizes a boundary line generation function for generating a valley fold line, a mountain fold line, and a cut line on the boundary of the eight pages in the upper and lower four rows and two horizontal rows,
The boundary line generation function uses a mountain fold line as a boundary line that separates the left and right two columns at the upper and lower ends of the eight pages in the upper and lower four columns and two horizontal columns, The boundary line that divides the right column is the cut line, the boundary line of the central left and right column that divides the upper two steps and the lower two steps is the mountain fold line, and the left and right column 2 that divides the upper first step and the upper second step Of the two boundary lines in the left and right columns that divide the first boundary and the lower second stage, the boundary line in the binding direction of the first page is a mountain fold line, and the other three boundary lines are valley folded. A printer driver characterized by a line. A printer driver according to any one of claims 8 to 13,
A printer driver that causes a computer to implement a margin setting function that allows a margin page to be set at a free position in the section.