JP3327208B2 - Imposition printing control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an imposition print control apparatus for outputting print data for a plurality of pages to be printed on one sheet of paper each time.

As a method of outputting print data, a method of outputting print data of one page to be printed on one sheet of paper is generally used. However, this method requires a long time for printing when the number of pages is large. There is a problem that time reduction is an issue.

[0003] Further, since printed paper is used after being bound, it is necessary to reduce the time including the binding time.
Even in an imposition print control apparatus that outputs print data for a plurality of pages to be printed on one sheet each time, it is necessary to output print data for a plurality of pages in a format suitable for a bookbinding method.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional imposition printing control apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIGS.

A method of imposition printing for printing a plurality of pages on one sheet is, for example, when there is a document of 100 pages in total.
As shown in FIG. 2A, assuming that printed sheets are overlapped and bound at the center, bookbinding is performed one page at a time.
A saddle-stitch printing method (hereinafter, referred to as a page) in which the sum of the page numbers of a pair of pages such as page 2, page 99, and the like is constant.
This is called "multi-face printing". ) And as shown in FIG.
The printed sheets are overlapped and cut at the center, and the upper bundle (for example, sheets of 1 to 50 pages) and the lower bundle (for example,
It is assumed that bookbinding is performed by overlapping pages 51 to 100) so that pages are continuous.
There is a printing method of printing the first half page and the second half page in pairs, such as two pages (hereinafter, referred to as “high-speed imposition printing”).

In the following, data in a bitmap format or an outline format represented by a print image (hereinafter, collectively referred to as "rasterized data") is input as print data, and print data for two pages is output each time. A conventional example will be described with an example of imposition printing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional imposition printing control device, wherein 1 is an imposition printing control device, 2 is an input circuit, 3 is a processor, and 4 'is a page. A storage circuit, 5 is an output circuit, 6 is a storage circuit,
61 is an input analysis unit, 62 is a page number counting unit, and 6
3 'is a control unit, 64 is a page number storage unit, and 65 is a buffer unit.

The input circuit 2 is a circuit to which print data and the total number of pages are input. The input analyzer 61 is software held in the storage circuit 6 for analyzing input data and notifying the controller 63 'of the analysis result.

The page storage circuit 4 is a circuit for holding print data and outputting the print data when a page number is designated.
The page number counting section 62 is an area provided in the storage circuit 6 for counting the page number of the print data stored in the page storage circuit 4 'one by one as a page count value.

The buffer section 65 is an area provided in the storage circuit 6 for holding and outputting print data for two pages to be printed on one sheet of paper. The output circuit 5 is a circuit that outputs print data for two pages to be printed at one time from the buffer unit 65.

If the input data is the total number of pages, the control unit 63 generates the number of saved pages by dividing the result obtained by adding 1 to the total number of pages by 2 and divides the number of saved pages by the number of pages. If the input data is print data, the print data is stored in the page storage circuit 4 'until the total number of pages is reached. Software held in the storage circuit 6 that reads out the specified print data and the print data that is paired with the print data, stores the read print data in the buffer unit 65 as a print image, and outputs from the buffer unit 65 via the output circuit 5 It is.

The processor 3 is a circuit in which the software stored in the storage circuit 6 runs to operate the imposition printing control device 1. The page number storage section 64 is an area provided in the storage circuit 6 for storing the number of saved pages.

When input data is input via the input circuit 2, the input analyzer 61 notifies the controller 63 'that the total number of pages has been input, and the controller 63' sets 1 to the total number of pages. The added value is divided by 2 to generate the number of saved pages, which is stored in the page number storage unit 64. (Step S01) The control unit 63 ′ sets “0” in the page number counting unit 62 as an initial value of the page count value. (Step S02) When input data is input via the input circuit 2, the input analysis unit 61 notifies the control unit 63 'that the print data has been input. The controller 63 'sequentially stores the input print data in the page storage circuit 4' until the total number of pages is reached. (Step S03) The control unit 63 'compares the page count value held by the page number counting unit 62 with the number of save pages held by the page number storage unit 64, and if the page count value is smaller than the number of saved pages. Proceeding to step S05, if the page count value is equal to or greater than the number of saved pages, the process ends. (Step S04) Taking the case of multi-page printing with a total page number of 100 pages as an example, if the page count value is “1”, the control unit 63 ′ determines that the page count value is “1” and the last page If the page count value is “100” and the page count value is “2”, the page count value is “2” and “9” which is one page before the last page.
A paired page number which is a fixed value of "101" is generated as a sum such as "9."
For example, in the case of high-speed imposition printing of a page, the page count value is indicated as "51" if the page count value is "1", and "52" if the page count value is "2". A paired page number is generated by adding the page number and the page count value to the number of saved pages. (Step S05) The control section 63 'sends a page number indicated by the page count value from the page storage circuit 4' and a page number designated by the page number corresponding to the page number.
The print data for the page is read and stored as a print image in a position adjacent to the buffer unit 65. (Step S06-
S07) The control unit 63 'reads out the print data for two pages from the buffer unit 65, outputs it through the output circuit 5, adds 1 to the page count value, updates it, and returns to step S04. (Steps S08 to S09)

[0014]

In the conventional imposition printing control apparatus, the print data is stored in advance in the page storage circuit 4 'for the total number of pages, and the paired print data for two pages is stored in the page storage circuit 4'. 'And stored in the buffer unit 65 adjacently so as to match the print image.

Therefore, a page storage circuit 4 'capable of storing print data for the total number of pages is required. Further, the number of pages to be read from the page storage circuit 4 'has to be generated each time.

An object of the present invention is to provide an imposition print control apparatus 1 which can save the circuit amount required as the page storage circuit 4 '.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the input data is input in the order of the total number of pages and the print data, and the print data is input in the ascending order of the page numbers such as one page and two pages. When the input print data is stored, when half of the total number of pages is stored, one of the two pages is stored in the imposition print control device. The print data paired with the input print data when the number of print data exceeds half is read out of the print data held by the imposition print control device, and is configured and output as a print image.

Next, the principle of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 610 denotes input analysis means, 620 denotes page number counting means, 630 denotes data control means, 640 denotes page number holding means, and 650 denotes page number holding means.
Is a buffer means, and 400 is a page storage means.

The input analysis means 610 is a means for analyzing input data and notifying the data control means 630 of an analysis result. The data control means 630
When it is notified that the data inputted from 10 is the total number of pages, the number of saved pages is generated from the total number of pages, and the page number holding means 6
When the data input from the input analysis means 610 is notified that the data is print data, the print data is stored in the page storage means 4 while counting the number of pages by the page number counting means 620.
00, and when the number of pages reaches the number of saved pages, every time a notification that print data has been input is received from the input analysis unit 610, the print data corresponding to the print data is counted by the page number counting unit 620. The print data input from the page storage unit 400 is read from the page storage unit 400 while counting the number of pages.
And the print data read from the printer is transferred to the buffer means 650, and the processing is terminated when the page number returns to the initial value.

The page number holding means 640 is a means for holding the number of saved pages. The page number counting unit 620 is a unit that counts the number of pages of the print data held in the page storage unit 400 under the control of the data control unit 630.

The page storage means 400 is means for holding the input print data until the number of saved pages is reached. The buffer unit 650 is a unit that holds print data of two pages to be printed on one sheet as a print image.

When data is input, input analysis means 61
0 notifies the data control means 630 of the analysis result. If the input data is the total number of pages, the data control means 630 adds 1 to the total number of pages, divides the obtained result by 2, generates the number of save pages, and stores the number in the number-of-pages holding means 640.

If the input data is print data, the data control means 630 stores the print data in the page storage means 400
And counts the number of pages held by the page number counting means 620.
Update.

The data control means 630 repeats the comparison between the number of pages and the number of saved pages every time print data is input. After the number of pages matches the number of saved pages, the data control means 63
0 reads out the print data paired with the print data from the page storage means 400 every time the print data is input, counts and updates the number of pages held by the page number counting means 620, and outputs the input print data and the page. The print data read from the storage unit 400 and the print data to be paired are stored in the buffer unit 650.
And print data for two pages is output from the buffer unit 650.

The data control means 630 is provided in the page storage means 40
Every time the print data is read from 0, the number of pages held by the page number holding means 640 is counted and updated, and when it is detected that the number of pages has returned to the initial value, the processing is terminated.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the configuration of an imposition printing control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3, and the flow of imprinting printing control processing according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. .

The same or corresponding parts as those described in the description of the conventional example and the principle of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the parts newly described in the present description are denoted by the new reference numerals. I will explain. (A) Configuration of Imposition Printing Control Device of the Present Invention FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the imposition printing control device of the present invention, wherein 1 is an imposition printing control device, 2 is an input circuit, and 3 Is a processor, 4 is a page storage circuit, 5
Is an output circuit, 6 is a storage circuit, 61 is an input analysis unit, 62 is a page number counting unit, 63 is a control unit, 64 is a page number storage unit, and 65 is a buffer unit. It is.

The input circuit 2 is a circuit to which the print data and the total number of pages are input. The input analysis unit 61 is software held in the storage circuit 6 that analyzes input data and notifies the control unit 63 of an analysis result.

The page storage circuit 4 is a circuit for storing and outputting print data. In the case of multi-faced printing, a page storage circuit 4 outputs a print data in a reverse order to the stored order.
In the case of high-speed imposition printing, this circuit is a FIFO (First In First Out) circuit that outputs print data in the same order as stored.

The page number counting section 62 is an area provided in the storage circuit 6 for counting the page number of the print data stored in the page storage circuit 4 one by one as a page count value. The buffer section 65 is an area provided in the storage circuit 6 for holding and outputting print data for two pages to be printed on one sheet of paper.

The output circuit 5 is a circuit for outputting print data for two pages to be printed at one time from the buffer unit 65. The page number storage section 64 is an area provided in the storage circuit 6 for storing the number of saved pages.

If the input data is the total number of pages, the control unit 63 generates a save page number by dividing the result obtained by adding 1 to the total page number and dividing the save page number by two. If the input data is print data, the print data is stored in the page storage circuit 4 until the number of save pages is reached, and after reaching the save page number, the print data is paired with the input print data. A storage circuit 6 that reads out data from the page storage circuit 4 and stores the data together with the input print data in the buffer unit 65 as a print image and outputs the data from the buffer unit 65 via the output circuit 5.
Software that is maintained by

The processor 3 is a circuit for running the software stored in the storage circuit 6 to operate the imposition printing control device 1. (B) Flow of Imposition Printing Control Process of the Present Invention Next, the flow of the imposition printing control process will be described with reference to FIG.

In this description, the case of multi-page printing (the page storage circuit 4 is LIFO) in which the total number of pages is 100 pages will be described as an example. When data is input via the input circuit 2, the input analysis unit 61 analyzes the data and notifies the control unit 63 that the total number of pages has been input. The control unit 63 adds 1 to the total number of pages, divides the obtained result by 2, generates the number of saved pages, and stores it in the page number storage unit 64. In this example, 50 pages are stored in the page number storage 64 as the number of save pages. (Step S0
1) The control unit 63 sets the page number “0” in the page number counting unit 62 as an initial value of the page count value. (Step S02) When data is input via the input circuit 2, the input analysis unit 61 analyzes the data and notifies the control unit 63 that the print data has been input. The control section 63 compares the page count value held by the page number counting section 62 with the number of saved pages held by the page number storage section 64. If the page count value is smaller than the number of saved pages, the process proceeds to step S04. If the page count value is not smaller than the number of saved pages, that is, if the page count value reaches 50, the process proceeds to step S06. (Step S03) The control unit 63 stores the print data in the page storage circuit 4, and updates the page count value held by the page number counting unit 62 by adding one.
Then, the process returns to step S03. This process is performed when the page count value is 0.
Repeat for 50 pages from to 49. (Step S04-
S05) The control section 63 refers to the page count value held by the page number counting section 62, and if the page count value is larger than "0", the control section 63 proceeds to step S0.
The process proceeds to step S7, and if "0", the process is terminated. (Step S06) The control unit 63 stores the print data input via the input circuit 2 in the buffer unit 65. That is, the print data for 50 pages having a page count value of 50 to 99 is stored in the buffer unit 65 each time it is input. (Step S07) The control unit 63 reads one page of print data from the page storage circuit 4 and stores it in the buffer unit 65 at a position adjacent to the stored print data. For example, when the print data of the 51st page is input, the control unit 63 reads the print data of the first page stored first in the page storage circuit 4 and sends the read data to the buffer unit 6.
5 is stored in a position adjacent to the print data of the 51st page.
(Step S08) The control unit 63 prints two pages of print data to be printed on one sheet from the buffer unit 65, for example,
The print data of the first page is output via the output circuit 5.
(Step S09) The control unit 63 calculates 1 from the page count value held by the page number counting unit 62.
, And returns to step S06. That is, after the first page print data and the 51st page print data are output via the output circuit 5, the page count value is updated from 49 to 48. (Step S10) In this description, the total number of pages is 100 in the LIFO page storage circuit 4.
In the case of a page, multi-sided printing in which two sides are printed as multi-sided printing is described as an example. However, according to the present invention, a case where high-speed imposed printing in which two sides are printed as multi-sided by the page storage circuit 4 of the FIFO is also applicable. When the print data is the 51st page, the print data of the 50th page last stored in the page storage circuit 4 is read out.
This can be realized with a small storage area such that print data of page 0 and print data of page 51 are output.

Also, in this description, the case where the input data is rasterized print data such as a bitmap or an outline is taken as an example, but according to the present invention,
Even if unrasterized data is input, imposition printing can be realized with a small storage area by adding a known rasterizing circuit.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, when performing imposition printing in which a plurality of pages are printed on one sheet, all the print data can be printed without being developed in the memory. There is an industrial effect that imposition printing can be controlled with a small amount of memory, and the expanded print data can be read without being aware of the read destination.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating imposition printing.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an imposition printing control device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional imposition printing control device.

FIG. 6 is a conventional flowchart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 imposition printing control device 2 input circuit 3 processor 4, 4 'page storage circuit 5 output circuit 6 storage circuit 61 input analysis unit 62 page number counting unit 63, 63' control unit 64 page number storage unit 65 buffer unit 400 page storage Means 610 Input analysis means 620 Page number counting means 630 Data control means 640 Page number holding means 650 Buffer means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Seiji Inuyama 4-1-1, Kamidadanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (56) References JP-A-7-72608 (JP, A) JP-A-6-3801 (JP, A) JP-A-5-112087 (JP, A) JP-A-60-73636 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 21 / 00 G06F 3/12 G06F 17/21 566

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An imposition print control apparatus for controlling information of two pages having a correspondence relationship to be printed on the same sheet, based on a total number of pages of input print data and a print format. A page number holding means for calculating the number of required printing papers and holding the number as save pages, a buffer means for holding print data to be printed on one sheet, and a page for sequentially holding a predetermined number of input print data. Storage means for determining the correspondence between two pages to be printed on the same sheet based on the total number of pages of the input print data and the designated print format, and Until the print data is reached, the input print data is stored in the page storage means, and after exceeding the number of saved pages, every time print data is input,
And a data control means for storing the print data and the print data read from the page storage means corresponding to the print data in a buffer means. 2. The imprinting print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data control means generates a save page number by dividing a result obtained by adding 1 to the total page number by two. 3. The impressed print control device according to claim 1, wherein the page storage means comprises a first-in first-out storage circuit for outputting print data in the order in which the print data is stored. 4. The imprinting method according to claim 1, wherein the page storing means comprises a last-in first-out memory circuit for outputting the print data in an order reverse to the order in which the print data is stored. Print control device.