JP2012108830A - Printer driver, printing method and printing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print interleaving sheets which facilitate extraction of a desired document from a bundle of documents.SOLUTION: A printer driver 50 comprises: a first function generating and outputting a first printing job for printing images on sheets; and a second function generating and outputting a second printing job for printing information concerning the first printing job on both sides of one sheet after the first printing job is output.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer driver, a printing method, and a printing system.

  When a single user prints multiple documents on a printer, or when multiple users print each document on a printer connected to a network, the documents that the user has instructed to print are sequentially printed on paper. Printed and discharged from the discharge section. However, when a single document is composed of a plurality of pages, a bundle of printed documents is stacked on the output unit, and thus it is not easy to extract only a desired document from the bundle of documents. . In Patent Document 1 below, in order to solve such a problem, an interleaving paper in which document information is printed on the non-printing side of the document is created, and the created interleaving paper is discharged to a position between the document and the document break. Thus, a printing apparatus that can easily extract a desired document has been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-143017

However, in recent years, many printing apparatuses having a function of printing on both sides of a sheet have been provided. When searching for an interleaving sheet from a side of a bundle of documents printed on both sides, the interleaf is not printed. When the side of the face is rolled up, it is sometimes impossible to extract a slip sheet. In such a case, since it is necessary to pick up a bundle of documents again from the back side of one side and extract the interleaving paper, it takes time and effort to extract a desired document from the document bundle.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to easily find and extract a desired document from a document bundle.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
The printer driver according to this application example includes a first function for generating and outputting a first print job for printing an image on a sheet, and the first print job after outputting the first print job. And a second function for generating and outputting a second print job for printing information on both sides of one sheet of paper.

  According to such a function, after the first print job for printing an image is generated and output, the second print information for printing information on the first print job on both sides of one sheet of paper. A print job is generated and output. Therefore, the printing apparatus that has input the output print job prints the first print job on paper and discharges it, and then discharges the paper on which information about the first print job is printed on both sides. Even when the stacked sheet bundle is turned from either side, the separation of the sheet on which the first print job is printed can be extracted, so that the sheet on which the first print job is printed can be easily extracted from the sheet bundle. Can be extracted.

[Application Example 2]
In the printer driver according to the application example, the second print job prints first information on a facing surface of the one sheet facing the sheet on which the first print job is printed, It is preferable to print the second information on the back surface of the facing surface.

  According to such a function, different information can be printed on the side facing the sheet on which the first print job is printed and the back side.

[Application Example 3]
In the printer driver according to the application example, it is preferable that the first information indicates the end of the first print job, and the second information indicates the start of the first print job.

  According to such a function, in addition to being able to extract the break of the sheet on which the first print job is printed, it is possible to recognize the side of the sheet on which the first print job is printed in the sheet bundle.

[Application Example 4]
In the printer driver according to the application example described above, at least one of the first information and the second information may indicate a predetermined color or a predetermined graphic.

[Application Example 5]
The printer driver according to the application example described above preferably includes a separator page setting function for determining whether or not to generate and output the second print job.

  According to such a function, it can be determined whether or not the second print job is generated and output.

[Application Example 6]
A printer driver according to this application example generates a first print command for printing an image on a sheet, and prints information related to printing by the first print command on both sides of a sheet of paper. A function of generating a print command; and a function of generating and outputting a print job in which the second print command is executed following the first print command.

  According to such a function, a first print command for printing an image and a second print command for printing information related to printing by the first print command on both sides of one sheet are generated. Then, following the first print command, a print job for executing the second print command is generated and output. Therefore, the printing apparatus that has input the output print job prints the first print job on paper and discharges it, and then discharges the paper on which information about the first print job is printed on both sides. Even when the stacked sheet bundle is turned from either side, the separation of the sheet on which the first print job is printed can be extracted, so that the sheet on which the first print job is printed can be easily extracted from the sheet bundle. Can be extracted.

[Application Example 7]
The printing method according to this application example includes a step of generating and outputting a first print job for printing an image on paper, and outputting information about the first print job after outputting the first print job. And a step of generating and outputting a second print job for printing on both sides of a sheet of paper.

  According to such a method, after a first print job for printing an image is generated and output, the second print information for printing information on the first print job on both sides of a sheet of paper. A print job is generated and output. Therefore, the printing apparatus that has input the output print job prints the first print job on paper and discharges it, and then discharges the paper on which information about the first print job is printed on both sides. Even when the stacked sheet bundle is turned from either side, the separation of the sheet on which the first print job is printed can be extracted, so that the sheet on which the first print job is printed can be easily extracted from the sheet bundle. Can be extracted.

[Application Example 8]
The printing system according to this application example is characterized in that after an image is printed on a sheet and discharged, information on the printing of the image is printed on both sides of one sheet and discharged.

  According to such a configuration, after the image is printed on the paper and discharged, the paper on which information relating to image printing is printed on both sides is discharged. Even in this case, since the separation of the sheet on which the image is printed can be extracted, the sheet on which the image is printed can be easily extracted from the sheet bundle.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer driver according to the embodiment of the invention. The figure which shows an example of the user interface of print setting. The flowchart which shows the flow of a separator page printing process. The figure which shows an example of the discharged | separated separator page.

  Hereinafter, a printing system that generates and discharges a separator page will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the printing system 5. The printing system 5 includes a computer 10 serving as a host device and a printer 30 serving as a printing device that are communicably connected.
The computer 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 12 serving as the center of arithmetic processing as hardware, and the CPU 12 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like via a system bus 26. The memory 14 can be accessed. In addition, an input / output I / F 18 and a data input / output I / F 16 are connected to the system bus 26.

  An HDD 20 as an external storage device is connected to the input / output I / F 18. The HDD 20 controls an operating system (not shown) as software and functions of the printer 30, and corresponds to the functions of the printer 30. A printer driver 50 (FIG. 2) that generates print data and an application 80 (FIG. 2) that can create document information and image information are stored. These software are appropriately transferred to the RAM of the memory 14 by the CPU 12 at the time of execution. The CPU 12 executes the software by appropriately accessing the RAM. That is, various programs are executed by using the RAM as a temporary work area.

The input / output I / F 18 is connected to a display device 22 for displaying image and character information, and an input device 24 for inputting instruction information by a user operation, such as a keyboard and a mouse. .
The data input / output I / F 16 is assumed to be connected by, for example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), and outputs data of a print job generated by the printer driver 50 to the printer 30, or inputs status information from the printer 30. To do. The connection with the printer 30 can be assumed to be connected via a network.
The printer 30 includes a controller 32, a transport unit 42, a carriage unit 44, and a head unit 46. In this embodiment, the printing method of the printer 30 is assumed to be an inkjet method, and when the print job data is received from the computer 10, the controller 32 controls the transport unit 42, the carriage unit 44, and the head unit 46. Also, an image is formed on the printing paper by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles of a print head (not shown).

The controller 32 is a control unit for controlling the printer 30. The controller 32 includes a data input / output I / F 38, a CPU 34, a memory 36, and a unit control circuit 40, which are connected via a bus 48.
The data input / output I / F 38 is for transmitting / receiving data to / from the computer 10. The CPU 34 controls the entire printer 30. The memory 36 is for securing an area for storing a program of the CPU 34, a work area, and the like. The CPU 34 controls each unit via the unit control circuit 40.
The transport unit 42 feeds the print paper to a printable position, and transports the print paper by a predetermined transport amount in the transport direction during printing. The carriage unit 44 moves the print head in a direction that intersects the transport direction. The head unit 46 has a print head, and ejects ink droplets onto the printing paper by driving a piezo element corresponding to the nozzle.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer driver 50. The printer driver 50 includes a print setting UI (User Interface) 55 for a user to perform print settings, and a print processing module 60 that generates a print job.
The print setting UI 55 is a user interface for the user to make print settings for the printer driver 50. In the present embodiment, a user interface as shown in FIG. 3 is assumed. The print setting UI 55 includes a separator page setting unit 58 having a separator page setting function. The separator page is also called a slip sheet or a job separator, and indicates a separator of the print job by outputting a print sheet following the last page of the print job. In FIG. 3, whether or not to insert a separator page can be selected with a check box.
In the present embodiment, the printer driver 50 has various functions in addition to inserting a separator page. However, these functions are not described, and only the function of the separator page is described.

  Information on whether or not a separator page can be inserted determined by the print setting UI 55 is stored in a predetermined storage area called DevMode or a print ticket according to the operating system, and information on the predetermined storage area is received from the application 80 as necessary. Referenced.

  The application 80 has a function of creating content images such as documents and images. The user can create a desired content image using the application 80 and instruct printing. The application 80 receives a print instruction from the user, refers to a predetermined storage area, acquires the print setting information stored in the storage area, and obtains a content image having a predetermined size based on the print setting information. Vector image data is generated, and the generated vector image data and print setting data are sent to the print processing module 60.

The print processing module 60 includes an image processing unit 65, a duplex printing instruction unit 70, and a print job generation unit 75. The image processing unit 65 includes a content image processing unit 66 and a separator page image processing unit 68.
The content image processing unit 66 acquires vector image data of a content image sent from the application 80, performs image processing on the vector image indicated by the acquired vector image data, and converts it into a RGB (Red Green Blue) raster image. It has the function to do. Further, the content image processing unit 66 applies a three-dimensional conversion table (Look Up Table) or an interpolation calculation method to the RGB raster image and converts it into a CMYK (Cyan Magenta Yellow Black) raster image. The converted raster image data of the content (raster image data) is sent to the print job generation unit 75.

The separator page image processing unit 68 is determined in advance by referring to the print setting data of the content image most recently processed by the content image processing unit 66 based on the generation instruction of the separator page image sent from the double-sided printing instruction unit 70. Job information (first information) is acquired, and a raster image including the acquired job information is generated.
In the present embodiment, as job information, information on a print job name, a user name, and a printing date and time is assumed. Further, assuming that double-sided printing is performed, the separator page image processing unit 68 prints the first raster image data and the first raster image that are printed on the opposite side of the printing paper on which the content image is printed. The second raster image data printed on the back surface of the opposite surface is generated.
Note that the processing for generating a raster image from character string data inside the printer driver 50 can be applied to the stamp mark printing function in the same manner as the processing for generating a raster image of a predetermined text character string. The raster image data (raster image data) of the job information generated in this way is sent to the print job generation unit 75.

When the double-sided printing instruction unit 70 analyzes the print setting data and determines to insert a separator page, the separator page image processing unit 68 prints the separator page image to print the separator page following the printing of the content image. In addition to sending a generation instruction, control data for performing double-sided printing with a print job is generated based on the print setting data, and the generated double-sided printing control data is sent to the print job generation unit 75.
When the raster image data of the content is sent from the image processing unit 65, the print job generation unit 75 generates control data based on the print setting data, and the printer 30 combines the generated control data and the raster image data. The command is converted into a recognizable command group (first print command), and a print job (first print job) in which the converted command group is described in units of pages is created. The created print job is transmitted to the printer 30, and the printer 30 prints a content image in units of pages based on the print job (first function).

In addition, when the raster image data of the job information is sent from the image processing unit 65, the print job generation unit 75 controls the double-sided printing control data sent from the double-sided printing instruction unit 70, the generated control data and raster image data, Are converted into a command group (second print command) that can be recognized by the printer 30, and a print job (second print job) in which the converted command group is described in units of pages is created. The created print job is transmitted to the printer 30, and the printer 30 prints page by page based on the print job (second function).
In the present embodiment, the above-described two command groups are output by different print jobs. However, one print is performed so that the first print command is executed first and then the second print command is executed. A job may be generated and output.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of separator page printing processing by the printer driver 50. This process is executed at predetermined time intervals by the operating system.
When this process is executed, first, the CPU 12 of the computer 10 determines whether there is content to be printed by the printer 30 (step S100).
Here, when the CPU 12 determines that there is no content to be printed (No in step S100), the series of processing ends.
On the other hand, if the CPU 12 determines that there is content to be printed (Yes in step S100), the CPU 12 generates raster image data of the content (step S102).
Next, the CPU 12 generates a print job of the raster image data of the generated content based on the print setting information (step S104). Subsequently, the CPU 12 sends the generated print job to the printer 30 (step S106).

Next, the CPU 12 determines whether or not to print a separator page based on the print setting information (step S108).
Here, if the CPU 12 determines not to print a separator page (No in step S108), the series of processing ends.
On the other hand, when the CPU 12 determines to print a separator page (Yes in step S108), the CPU 12 generates raster data of one side of the separator page to be printed on both sides (step S110).
Next, the CPU 12 generates raster data of the other side of the separator page to be printed on both sides (step S112).
Next, the CPU 12 generates a print job including control data relating to double-sided printing and the generated two raster image data based on the print setting information (step S114). Subsequently, the CPU 12 sends the generated print job to the printer 30 (step S116) and ends a series of processing.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the separator page P printed by the above process. The separator page P shown in FIG. 5 is printed after JOB1 for printing the first content image is printed, and after this separator page P is printed, JOB2 for printing the second content image is printed. . A state is shown in which JOB1, separator page P, and JOB2 printed in the above order are taken out so that JOB1 is on the upper side.
The first raster image is printed on the upper surface of the separator page P, that is, the one surface facing the printing paper of the final page on which the first content image is printed. Further, the second raster image is printed on the lower surface of the separator page P, that is, the back surface on which the first content image is printed.

In the first raster image, an area that is displayed as “JOB1 so far” indicating the end of the print job of JOB1, and text information indicating the user name and the print date and time are displayed. In the second raster image, an area that is displayed as “starting from JOB1” indicating the start of the print job of JOB1 and text information indicating the user name and the printing date and time are displayed.
Therefore, when a person who holds the JOB1 print sheet, the separator page P, and the JOB2 print sheet as a bundle, searches for a separator between JOB1 and JOB2 from one page of JOB1 and prints large on the separator page P. By visually recognizing “Job 1 so far”, JOB 1 and JOB 2 can be separated from a bundle of print sheets. Further, when flipping paper from the last page of JOB2 and searching for a separator between JOB1 and JOB2, by visually checking “JOB1 from here” printed on the separator page P, JOB1 and JOB2 are separated from a bundle of printed paper. Can be separated.

In the present embodiment, the page break is visually recognized by the words ("JOB1 to here" and "JOB1 from here") that are printed largely on both sides of the separator page P. However, the present invention is limited to such text information. Instead of filling, a predetermined area may be filled with a predetermined color, or a predetermined figure or symbol mark may be drawn. The job information described in the separator page P is not limited to the print job name, the user name, and the printing date and time, but may be other information that can be acquired from the print setting information or the operating system.
In the present embodiment, the printer system 50 is set in the computer 10 as the printing system 5, and the print job generated by the printer driver 50 is sent to the printer 30 connected to be communicable. It is not limited to the mode, and a stand-alone type printer 30 such as a multifunction machine can be assumed. In this case, the present invention can also be applied to a mode in which image data recorded on a memory card or the like is read and the printer driver 50 incorporated in the printer 30 generates a print job and prints it.

  5 ... Printing system, 10 ... Computer, 12 ... CPU, 14 ... Memory, 16 ... Data input / output I / F, 18 ... Input / output I / F, 20 ... HDD, 22 ... Display device, 24 ... Input device, 26 ... System bus, 30 ... Printer, 32 ... Controller, 34 ... CPU, 36 ... Memory, 38 ... Data input / output I / F, 40 ... Unit control circuit, 42 ... Transport unit, 44 ... Carriage unit, 46 ... Head unit, 48 ... Bus, 50 ... Printer driver, 55 ... Print setting UI, 58 ... Delimiter page setting section, 60 ... Print processing module, 65 ... Image processing section, 66 ... Content image processing section, 68 ... Delimited page image processing section, 70 ... Double-sided printing instruction unit, 75... Print job generation unit, 80... Application.

Claims (8)

A first function for generating and outputting a first print job for printing an image on paper;
And a second function for generating and outputting a second print job for printing information on the first print job on both sides of a sheet of paper after the first print job is output. Features printer driver. The printer driver according to claim 1,
In the second print job, first information is printed on a facing surface of the one sheet facing the sheet on which the first print job is printed, and second information is printed on a back surface of the facing surface. A printer driver characterized by printing. The printer driver according to claim 2,
The printer driver, wherein the first information indicates the end of the first print job, and the second information indicates the start of the first print job. The printer driver according to any one of claims 2 to 3,
The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first information and the second information indicates a predetermined color or a predetermined figure. The printer driver according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
A printer driver comprising a separator page setting function for determining whether to generate and output the second print job. A function of generating a first print command for printing an image on paper;
A function of generating a second print command for printing information on printing by the first print command on both sides of one sheet;
A printer driver comprising: a function for generating and outputting a print job for executing the second print command following the first print command. Generating and outputting a first print job for printing an image on paper;
And a step of generating and outputting a second print job for printing information on the first print job on both sides of a sheet of paper after the first print job is output. Printing method.   A printing system, wherein an image is printed on a sheet and discharged, and then information relating to the printing of the image is printed on both sides of a sheet of paper and discharged.