JP4630939B2 - Printing apparatus and printing apparatus control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method and an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, image forming applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a fax machine that includes a double-sided image forming mechanism and adopts a digital image processing method. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus.

  In recent years, for example, in an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying apparatus, an editing function has been enhanced, so that a function that can be processed only by a large-scale printing apparatus owned by a specialist in the past is usually in the user's hand. Copiers have come to be required. For example, this is a function of inserting special paper such as cardboard or colored paper at the beginning, end, or middle of the copy.

  Therefore, today, instead of just inserting blank paper on special paper, you can force single-sided printing on the inserted special paper while specifying the whole copy as double-sided printing, Although single-sided printing is possible, it is possible to force double-sided printing on the inserted special paper. Further, there is a case where a function of printing with white paper is provided.

  By providing such a function, it is possible to obtain an output result in a form that the user desires. As an image forming apparatus using such a method, for example, an image forming apparatus such as Patent Document 1 is proposed. Has been.

JP-A-11-224027

  However, in the conventional image forming apparatus, if the number of all originals is not determined due to the allocation of the paper in the section, the feeding operation for printing cannot be performed, so the printing start is delayed and output to the user's hand There was a problem that the result was delayed.

  Further, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an image reading device such as a feeder, in order to determine the number of originals before a printing operation, a sequence for reading the originals before reading the original image is required. For this reason, it is necessary to turn the document to the feeder twice, and there is a problem that the possibility of damaging the document increases.

  Furthermore, a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD can be provided, and the number of documents to be read and the image reading sequence can be performed simultaneously to reduce the document reading sequence and reduce the possibility of damaging the document. Since it is necessary to store images of all originals, there is a problem that the area in the HDD may be compressed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to make sure that the printing result including the final document is double-sided printing in a normal digital copying apparatus or printer, and in the shortest time. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method and apparatus capable of obtaining an output result.

In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a document and inputs image data, and a printing unit that executes a printing process based on the image data input by the reading unit. Determining means for determining whether or not the document of page n (n is an integer of 2 or more) read by the reading means is the document of the last page, and when n is an even number, the document of page n A first control means for controlling the printing means so as not to execute the printing process based on the image data of the (n−1) th page of the document until the determination unit determines whether the document is the last page; In the case of an odd number, the image data of the n−1th page document and the image data of the n−2th page document are determined until the determination unit determines whether or not the nth page document is the last page document. based on And a second control unit that controls the printing unit so as not to execute the printing process. The first control unit is configured such that when n is an even number, the nth page document is the last page document. When the determination unit determines, the printing unit is controlled to execute the double-sided printing process based on the image data of the nth page original and the image data of the n−1th page original, and the second When n is an odd number and the determination unit determines that the document on the nth page is not the document on the last page when n is an odd number, the image data of the document on the (n-1) th page and the (n-2) th page are displayed. The printing unit is controlled to execute the double-sided printing process based on the image data of the original, and when the determination unit determines that the nth page is the final page, the n− 2nd page Image data And the printing unit is controlled to execute the double-sided printing process based on the image data of the nth page document and the image data of the (n-1) th page document. .

According to the present invention, in the printing apparatus, when the printing process based on the image data of the document is executed in parallel with the reading of the document, the double-sided printing is performed on the last sheet and the other sheets are printed. Even in this case, it is possible to appropriately execute the printing process for executing double-sided printing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image input / output system according to an embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows a leader part and a printer part. It is explanatory drawing which showed the operation part. It is the block diagram which showed the control apparatus. It is the block diagram which showed the main controller. It is explanatory drawing which showed the system bus bridge. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a scanner controller and a printer controller. FIG. FIG. 4 is a first explanatory diagram illustrating a recording paper conveyance path. FIG. 6 is a second explanatory diagram illustrating a recording paper conveyance path. It is the schematic diagram which showed the data structure in a control apparatus. It is the model which showed the data structure which manages the conventional paper feed control. 10 is a flowchart illustrating conventional paper feed control. It is explanatory drawing in case the original document which performs double-sided printing by the conventional paper feed control is one page. It is explanatory drawing in case the document which performs double-sided printing by the conventional paper feed control is two pages. It is explanatory drawing in case the original document which performs double-sided printing by the conventional paper feed control is 3 pages. It is the schematic diagram which showed the data structure which manages the paper feed control which concerns on this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating sheet feeding control according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when a document on which single-sided printing is performed by paper feed control according to the present invention is three pages. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when a document on which double-sided printing is performed by paper feed control according to the present invention is four pages. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when a document on which double-sided printing is performed by paper feed control according to the present invention is five pages. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when a document on which double-sided printing is performed by paper feed control according to the present invention is one page. FIG. 4 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating a screen of the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a second diagram illustrating a screen of the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a diagram (No. 3) illustrating a screen of the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram (No. 4) illustrating a screen of the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 3; It is explanatory drawing which shows the user interface for forcibly performing double-sided printing on the paper containing the final document.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image input / output system according to an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data, and has a scanner unit 210 having a function of reading a document and a function of conveying document paper. The document feeder unit 250 is configured.

  The printer unit (image output apparatus) 300 has a function of conveying recording paper, printing image data as a visible image on the recording paper, and discharging the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus. A unit 310; a marking unit 320 having a function of transferring and fixing image data onto recording paper; a paper discharge unit 330 having a function of outputting printed recording paper to the outside of the apparatus; and a finisher for performing stapling and sorting The unit 500 is configured.

  The control device 110 (controller unit) is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, and is further connected to host computers 4001 and 4002 via the network 4000. The control device 110 has a copy function by controlling the reader unit 200 to read the image data of the original, and further controlling the printer unit 300 to output the image data to a recording sheet. Further, the control device 110 converts the image data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmits the code data to the host computer via the network 4000, and the code data received from the host computer via the network 4000. It has a printer function that converts it into image data and outputs it to the printer unit 300.

  The operation unit 150 is connected to the control device 110, is configured with a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus including a reader unit and a printer unit. The document feeding unit 250 of the reader unit feeds the documents one by one on the platen glass 211 in order from the top, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 211 to the discharge tray 219 after the document reading operation is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, and the movement of the optical unit 213 is started to expose and scan the document. Reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218 by mirrors 214, 215, and 216 and a lens 217. Thus, the scanned image of the original is read by the CCD 218. Image data output from the CCD 218 is transferred to the control device 110 after being subjected to predetermined processing.

  The laser driver 321 of the printer unit 300 drives the laser light emitting unit 322 and causes the laser light emitting unit 322 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the control device 110. The laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 323, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 323. A developer is attached to the latent image portion of the photosensitive drum 323 by a developing device 324. The recording paper is fed from any of the cassette 311, the cassette 312, the cassette 313, the cassette 314, and the manual paper feed stage 315 at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, and is transferred to the transfer unit 325 by the conveyance path 331. The developer attached to the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 327 by the conveyance belt 326, and the developer is fixed to the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 327. Thereafter, the recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 327 is discharged through the transport path 335 and the transport path 334. Alternatively, when the printing surface is reversed and discharged, the paper is guided to the transport path 336 and the transport path 338, and the recording paper is transported in the reverse direction, and is discharged through the transport path 337 and the transport path 334.

  If double-sided recording is set, after passing through the fixing unit 327, the recording paper is guided from the conveyance path 336 to the conveyance path 333 by the flapper 329, and then the recording paper is conveyed in the reverse direction. Thus, the sheet is guided to the conveyance path 338 and the refeed conveyance path 332. The recording sheet guided to the refeed conveyance path 332 passes through the conveyance path 331 at the timing described above and is fed to the transfer unit 325. The recording paper discharged from the conveyance path 334 is conveyed to the finisher unit 500.

  The conveyed recording paper is first sent to the buffer unit 501. Here, the recording paper conveyed according to circumstances is wound around a buffer roller for buffering. For example, when processing such as stapling that takes place downstream takes time, using this buffer unit can keep the conveyance speed of the recording paper conveyed from the main body constant, which helps to improve the throughput. Is possible.

  Thereafter, the recording paper is discharged to the stack tray 507a by the upstream discharge roller pair 502 and the downstream discharge roller pair 503. In the staple mode, the paper is transported by the upstream discharge roller pair 502, and immediately after the trailing edge of the recording paper passes through this, it is pulled back by the knurled belt 504 and discharged to the staple tray 505. After a predetermined number of recording sheets are stacked, the staple unit 506 performs a stapling process, and then the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 507a by the downstream discharge roller pair 503. The discharge tray has two bins 507a and 507b, and these can be moved up and down in conjunction with a drive unit (not shown). In FIG. 2, the recording paper is at a position where the recording paper is discharged onto the discharge tray 507a, but it is also possible to move the recording paper upward and discharge it onto the discharge tray 507b.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation unit. The operation unit will be described below with reference to FIG.
Reference numeral 600 denotes an LCD touch panel, and main mode setting and status display are performed here. Reference numeral 601 denotes a numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value from 0 to 9. Reference numeral 602 denotes an ID key, which is used when inputting a department number and a reef mode when the apparatus is under department management. Reference numeral 603 is a reset key for resetting the set mode, reference numeral 604 is a guide key for displaying an explanation screen for each mode, reference numeral 605 is a user mode key for entering the user mode screen, and reference numeral 606 is an interrupt. It is an interrupt key for copying. Reference numeral 607 denotes a start key for starting a copy operation, and reference numeral 608 denotes a stop key for stopping a copy job being executed. Reference numeral 609 denotes a soft power supply SW, and when pressed, the backlight of the LCD 600 is turned off and the apparatus falls to a low power state. Reference numeral 610 denotes a power saving key which is pressed to enter a power saving state, and is pressed again to return from the power saving state.

  Reference numerals 611 and 612 denote function keys for shifting to copy and box. In FIG. 3, a standard screen for copying is displayed, and the standard screen for each function is displayed when another function key 612 is pressed. Reference numeral 614 is an adjustment key for adjusting the contrast of the LCD touch panel. Reference numeral 615 denotes a counter confirmation key. When this key is pressed, a count screen for displaying the total number of copies specified so far is displayed on the LCD. Reference numeral 616 denotes an LED indicating that the job is being executed and the image is being stored in the image memory, reference numeral 617 denotes an error LED indicating that the apparatus is in an error state such as a jam or door open, and reference numeral 618 indicates that the main switch of the apparatus is turned on. The power LED indicates that the

Next, the control device will be described.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating functions of the control device. The main controller 111 mainly includes a CPU 112, a bus controller 113, and various I / F controller circuits.

  The CPU 112 and the bus controller 113 control the overall operation of the control device 110, and the CPU 112 operates based on a program read from the ROM 114 via the ROM I / F 115. The operation of interpreting PDL (page description language) code data received from the host computer and decompressing it into raster image data is also processed by the program read from the ROM 114. The bus controller 113 controls data transfer input / output from each I / F, and performs arbitration at the time of bus contention and control of DMA data transfer.

  The DRAM 116 is connected to the main controller 111 by a DRAM I / F 117 and is used as a work area for the CPU 112 to operate and an area for storing image data.

  The network controller 121 is connected to the main controller 111 via an I / F 123 and is connected to an external network via a connector 122. The network is generally Ethernet (registered trademark).

  An extension connector 124 for connecting an extension board and an I / O control unit 126 are connected to the general-purpose high-speed bus 125. A PCI bus is generally used as a general-purpose high-speed bus.

  The I / O control unit 126 is equipped with two channels of an asynchronous serial communication controller 127 for transmitting and receiving control commands to and from the CPUs of the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300. F circuits 140 and 145 are connected.

  The panel I / F 132 is connected to the LCD controller 131 and includes an I / F for displaying on the liquid crystal screen on the operation unit 150 and a key input I / F 130 for inputting hard keys and touch panel keys. Has been.

  The operation unit 150 includes a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device attached on the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. A signal input from the touch panel or hard key is transmitted to the CPU 112 via the panel I / F 132 described above, and the liquid crystal display unit displays image data sent from the panel I / F 132. The liquid crystal display unit displays function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus.

  The real time clock module 133 is for updating / saving the date and time managed in the device, and is backed up by a backup battery 134.

  The E-IDE interface 161 is for connecting an external storage device. A hard disk and a CD-ROM drive can be connected via this I / F, and programs and image data can be written and read.

  The connectors 142 and 147 are connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, respectively, and are composed of a synchronized step-synchronized serial I / F (143, 148) and a video I / F (144, 149).

  The scanner I / F 140 is connected to the reader unit 200 via the connector 142, and is also connected to the main controller 111 via the scanner bus 141, and an image received from the reader unit 200 is processed according to the contents of processing in the subsequent process. , Have the function of performing the optimal binarization and the scaling process of the main scanning and the sub scanning, and further, the control signal generated based on the video control signal sent from the reader unit 200, It also has a function of outputting to the scanner bus 141.

  Data transfer from the scanner bus 141 to the DRAM 116 is controlled by the bus controller 113.

  The printer I / F 145 is connected to the printer unit 300 via the connector 147, and is connected to the main controller 111 via the printer bus 146. The printer I / F 145 performs smoothing processing on the image data output from the main controller 111, and And a function of outputting a control signal generated based on the video control signal sent from the printer unit 300 to the printer bus 146.

  The transfer of the raster image data expanded on the DRAM 116 to the printer unit is controlled by the bus controller 113 and is DMA-transferred to the printer unit 300 via the printer bus 146 and the video I / F 149.

Next, the main controller will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main controller. The processor core 401 is connected to a system bus bridge (SBB) 402 via a 64-bit processor bus (SC bus). The SBB 402 is a 4 × 4 64-bit crossbar switch, and is connected to a memory controller 403 that controls an SDRAM or ROM including a cache memory in addition to the processor core 401 via a dedicated local bus (MC bus). The G bus 404, which is a graphic bus, and the B bus 405, which is an IO bus, are connected to a total of four buses. The SBB 402 is designed to ensure simultaneous parallel connection between these four modules as much as possible. The system bus bridge (SBB) 402 is also connected to a data compression / decompression unit (codec) 418 via a codec I / F.
The G bus 404 is cooperatively controlled by a G bus arbiter (GBA) 406 and is connected to a scanner / printer controller (SPC) 408 for connecting to a scanner or a printer. The B bus 405 is cooperatively controlled by a B bus arbiter (BBA) 407. In addition to the SPC 408, a power management unit (PMU) 409, an interrupt controller (IC) 410, and a serial interface controller (SIC) 411 using UART. , USB controller 412, parallel interface controller (PIC) 413 using IEEE 1284, LAN controller (LANC) 414 using Ethernet (registered trademark), LCD panel, key, general-purpose input / output controller (PC) 415, PCI bus interface ( (PCIC) 416 is also connected. An operation panel 417 having a display panel and a keyboard is connected to the PC 415.

Next, the interrupt controller will be described.
The interrupt controller 410 is connected to the B bus 405, integrates each functional block in the main controller chip and interrupts from the outside of the chip, and integrates into six levels of external interrupts and non-maskable interrupts (NMI) supported by the CPU core 401. Redistribute. Each functional block includes a power management unit 409, a serial interface controller 411, a USB controller 412, a parallel interface controller 413, an Ethernet (registered trademark) controller 414, a general-purpose IO controller 415, a PCI interface controller 416, a scanner / printer controller 408, and the like. is there.

Next, the memory controller will be described.
The memory controller 403 is connected to an MC bus, which is a local bus dedicated to the memory controller, and controls a synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), a flash ROM, and a ROM.

  Next, the system bus bridge will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the system bus. The SBB 402 is a multi-channel bi-directional bus bridge that provides interconnection between a B bus (input / output bus), a G bus (graphic bus), an SC bus (processor local bus), and an MC bus using a crossbar switch. With the cross bus switch, two systems of connections can be established simultaneously, and high-speed data transfer with high parallelism can be realized.

  The SBB 402 includes a B bus interface 2009 for connection to the B bus 405, a G bus interface 2006 for connection to the G bus 404, a CPU interface slave port 2002 for connection to the processor core 401, a memory controller 403, A memory interface master port 2001 for connection and a CODEC bus interface 2014 for connection to the compression / decompression unit 418 are provided. The SBS 402 includes an address switch 2003 for connecting the address bus, a data switch 2004 for connecting the data bus, and a cache invalidation unit 2005 for invalidating the cache memory of the processor core.

  Next, the PCI bus interface will be described. The PCI bus interface 416 is a block that interfaces between the B bus, which is a general-purpose IO bus inside the main controller, and the PCI bus, which is a chip external IO bus.

Next, the G bus arbiter and the B bus arbiter will be described.
The arbitration of the G bus is a central arbitration method, and has a dedicated request signal and a grant signal for each bus master. This arbiter can program the control method. Also, as a method of giving priority to the bus master, all bus masters have the same priority, the fair arbitration mode in which the bus right is given fairly, and the priority of any one bus master is raised and the bus is used preferentially. Either priority arbitration mode can be specified.

  The B bus arbiter 407 receives a bus use request for the B bus 405, which is an IO general-purpose bus, and after arbitration, gives a use permission to the selected master, and two or more masters simultaneously access the bus. Is prohibited. The arbitration method has three levels of priority, and a plurality of masters can be assigned to each priority in a programmable manner.

  Next, the scanner controller / printer controller will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a scanner controller and a printer controller. The scanner / printer controller 408 is a block that is connected to the scanner and the printer by the Video I / F and interfaces with the internal bus G bus and B bus. It is roughly divided into three blocks: a scanner controller 4302, a printer controller 4303, and G bus / B bus I / F units (GBI) 4301A and 4301B.

  A scanner controller 4302 is connected by a scanner and a video I / F, and performs operation control and data transfer control. The G bus / B bus I / F unit (GBI) 4301A is connected by an IF bus to perform data transfer and register read / write. A printer controller 4303 is connected by a printer and a video I / F, and performs operation control and data transfer control. The GBI 4301B is connected by an IF bus to perform data transfer and register read / write. G bus / B bus I / F units (GBI) 4301A and 4301B are units for connecting the scanner controller 4302 and printer controller 4303 to the G bus or B bus. The scanner controller 4302 and the printer controller 4303 are independently connected, and are connected to both the G bus and the B bus. The CP bus is a bus for directly connecting the image data of the scanner and the printer and a synchronizing signal for horizontal and vertical synchronization.

Next, the power management unit will be described.
The main controller 111 is a large-scale ASIC with a built-in CPU. For this reason, if all the internal logics operate simultaneously, a large amount of heat is generated and the chip itself may be destroyed. In order to prevent this, the main controller 111 performs power management for each block, that is, power management, and further monitors the power consumption of the entire chip.

  Each block performs power management individually. Information on the power consumption of each block is collected in a power management unit (PMU) 409 as a power management level. In the PMU 409, the power consumption of each block is summed, and the power consumption of each block of the main controller is collectively monitored so that the value does not exceed the limit power consumption.

Next, paper feed control in single-sided image formation and double-sided image formation will be described.
First, recording paper conveyance paths in single-sided image formation and double-sided image formation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8A is a diagram schematically illustrating a recording sheet conveyance path in the printer unit 300 of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 8C is a diagram schematically illustrating the conveyance path, and FIG. 8C is a diagram schematically illustrating the conveyance path of the recording sheet for single-sided image formation in the back discharge mode. FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams schematically illustrating a transport path for transporting a recording paper whose both surfaces are formable. Here, the description is limited to the case where paper is fed from the manual paper feed stage 315.

  In the printer unit 300, as shown in FIG. 8A, a recording and conveying path includes a conveying path 331 extending from the manual sheet feeding stage 315 or each of the cassettes 311 to 314 to between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the conveyance path 335 for conveying the recording paper onto which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 323 has been transferred from the fixing unit (not shown) to the outside (sheet discharge bin). A transport path 336 for guiding the recording paper from a fixing unit (not shown) to the transport path 338 or the transport path 333, a transport path 337 for discharging the recording paper guided to the transport path 338 to the outside, and a transport path The sheet is guided to the conveyance path 331 and is constituted by a refeed conveyance path 332 for performing refeeding between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325.

  In the case of single-sided image formability, as shown in FIG. 8B, first, the recording paper S fed from the manual paper feed stage 315 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325 via the conveyance path 331. Is done. After the toner image on the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the surface of the recording paper S, the recording paper S is sent to the fixing unit, and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper S by the fixing unit. The recording sheet S on which the image has been fixed is discharged to the outside (a discharge bin or a discharge processing unit) through the conveyance path 335. In the case of performing the rear discharge, as shown in FIG. 8C, the recording sheet S after fixing is once guided to the transport path 338 through the transport path 336 and then to the outside through the transport path 337. Paper is ejected from the rear. In FIGS. 8B and 8C, the surface of the recording paper S that is marked with Δ is an image forming surface.

  In the case of double-sided image formation, as shown in FIG. 9A, the recording paper S fed from the manual paper feed stage 315 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 323 and the transfer unit 325 via the conveyance path 331, and this recording is performed. After the toner image on the photosensitive drum 323 is transferred to the surface of the paper S, it is sent to the fixing unit. The recording sheet S on which the image is fixed by the fixing unit is once guided to the transport path 333 through the transport path 336 and then guided to the refeed transport path 332. When double-sided image formation is performed on a plurality of recording sheets, a predetermined number of recording sheets S are sequentially fed. When a predetermined number of recording sheets S are fed, the recording sheet on the refeed conveyance path 332 is refeeded to the photosensitive drum 323 via the conveyance path 331. Then, the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the re-fed recording paper, and the recording paper on which images are formed on both sides is discharged to the outside through the fixing unit. Next, the next recording sheet S on the refeed conveyance path 332 is fed again. In the drawing, the surface marked with Δ in the recording paper S indicates the surface on which the image was first formed, and the surface marked with a semi-circular mark was formed by re-feeding. Show the surface.

  The paper conveyance operation described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 is controlled by the control device 110 of FIG. 1 incorporated in the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure indicating the recording paper S in the data structure of the DRAM 116 in the control device. The paper 1000 has an area 1001 indicating the front side document and an area 1002 indicating the back side document.

  FIG. 11 shows a data structure for managing conventional paper feed scheduling. First, in the conventional data structure for managing paper feed scheduling, there are data of double-sided back side original waiting 1100 and paper feed scheduling 1101, and the paper 1000 described with reference to FIG. 10 hangs on the list. Since it is determined that there can be at most one paper 1000 in the double-sided back side original waiting 1100, the list structure is not necessarily limited to the double-sided back side original waiting 1100. The double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is data indicating paper in a state for waiting for the next original, when only the one original is determined when the paper 1000 performs double-sided printing. The paper feed scheduling 1101 indicates the paper 1000 that has been determined to actually perform the paper feed / discharge process as shown in FIGS. That is, it is impossible to change single-sided printing or double-sided printing for paper added to the paper feed scheduling 1101.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing conventional paper feed control.
First, in step S1201, a document that is read by the reader unit 200 or a document that is not read by the reader unit 200 such as PDL or FAX is in a waiting state until it is determined that there is a document. Yes.

  After it is determined that there is a document, it is checked in step S1202 whether paper exists for the double-sided back side document waiting 1100. If there is paper waiting for the double-sided back side document, the process proceeds to step S1205, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1203. In step S1205, because there is paper waiting for both-side and back-side originals, the document determined this time is registered on the back side of the paper waiting for both-side and back-side documents, and the process proceeds to step S1208. In step S1208, since the front side document and the back side document waiting for the double-sided back side document in step S1205 are determined, the determined paper is shifted from double-sided back side document waiting 1101 to paper feed scheduling 1101, and the paper is fed. The process advances to step S1209 with the expectation that paper will be fed, and the paper feed process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S1202 that there is no paper waiting for a double-sided back side original, the process advances to step S1203. In step S1203, it is determined whether the document determined this time performs duplex printing. If double-sided printing is to be performed, the process proceeds to step 1204. If not, the process proceeds to step S1206. In step S1206, since it is determined in step S1203 that the current document does not perform double-sided printing, it is possible to perform paper feeding as soon as single-sided printing is confirmed. For this reason, the current original is registered as single-sided printing in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101 and the paper is expected to be supplied, and the process advances to step S1209 to end the paper supply processing.

  In step S1204, the document determined this time performs double-sided printing, and it is checked whether or not the document is the final document. If it is the final document, there are no more documents, and the process advances to step S1206 to register the current document in the paper feed scheduling 1101 as single-sided printing. In step S1207, the document that has been confirmed this time performs double-sided printing, and since the document is not the final document, it is registered in the double-sided back side document confirmation waiting 1100 and an operation of waiting for the confirmation of the next document is performed.

  Next, the actual operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the document for duplex printing in the conventional scheduling is one page. First, after waiting for document determination S1201, it is checked in step S1202 if there is paper waiting for both-sided back side documents. Since the original is the first page, that is, the first check, there is no paper waiting for the double-sided back original. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1203. In step S1203, is the original document determined this time printed on both sides? However, since it is scheduled to perform double-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1204. In step S1204, it is checked whether or not the current document is the final document, that is, whether or not a document will be added in the future. However, since it is determined that there is only one document, it can be regarded as the final document. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1206, where the current original is set as single-sided printing, that is, the data 1002 indicating the reverse side original is determined as blank paper printing, added to the paper feed scheduling 1101, and the process is terminated. The paper is shown at 1301.

  FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram in the case where there are two pages of a document on which double-sided printing is performed according to the conventional scheduling. FIG. 14A shows a state when the first page of the document is confirmed. First, in the first page of the document, after waiting for document determination S1201, it is checked in step S1202 whether there is paper waiting for both-side reverse document. Since the original is the first page, that is, the first check, there is no paper yet waiting for the double-sided back side original. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1203. In step S1203, is the original document determined this time printed on both sides? However, since it is scheduled to perform double-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1204. In step S1204, it is checked whether the current document is the final document, that is, whether or not a document will be added in the future. However, since there are two pages of the document, the first page is not yet the final document. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S1207, and the current document is registered in the double-sided back document waiting 1101. The paper is shown at 1401.

  FIGS. 14B and 14C are diagrams showing the operation when the document on the second page is confirmed with respect to FIG. 14A. On the second page of the document, after waiting for document determination S1201, it is checked in step S1202 whether there is paper waiting for both-sided back side document. Since paper 1401 having the first page as the front surface already exists, step S1205 is performed. Proceed to In step S1205, the current document (second page) is registered on the paper waiting for both-side and back-side documents. 1402 in FIG. 14B indicates that the second page of the original is added to the back side of the paper 1401. Further, the process proceeds to step S1208, where the paper waiting for the double-sided back side original is shifted to the waiting for paper feed scheduling 1101 in step S1205, and the process ends. FIG. 14C shows the paper 1403 that has transitioned to the paper supply scheduling wait 1101.

  FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram in the case where there are three pages of originals to be printed on both sides by the conventional scheduling. First, FIG. 15A is the same diagram as FIG. This shows a state when the document on the second page is confirmed. Next, FIG. 15B shows a state when the document on the third page is confirmed.

  On the third page of the document, after waiting for document determination S1201, whether or not there is a paper waiting for both-sided and backside documents is checked in step S1202. Therefore, since there is no waiting for the double-sided back side original, the process proceeds to step S1203. In step S1203, is the document confirmed this time performing duplex printing? However, since the document on the third page is scheduled to be printed on both sides, the process proceeds to step S1204. In step S1204, it is checked that the current document is the final document, that is, no document is added in the future. Since the third page is the final document, the process proceeds to step S1206, where the current document is registered as single-sided printing in waiting for sheet feeding scheduling 1101 and the process is terminated. Thus, the state shown in FIG.

  By performing the operation as described above, the conventional image forming apparatus determines the single-sided paper and the double-sided paper before the paper feeding scheduling. However, in this control, the paper including the final document cannot always be double-sided. .

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a paper feed scheduling wait 1600 is added to the data structure for managing the conventional paper feed scheduling shown in FIG. Realize control.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a data structure for managing paper feed scheduling according to the present invention. In addition to the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 and the paper feeding scheduling 1101 shown in FIG. 11, data of paper feeding scheduling waiting 1600 is added, and the paper 1000 is also hung on the list. However, since it is determined that there can be at most one paper 1000 in the paper feed scheduling wait 1600 in the same manner as the double-side back original waiting 1100, the paper feed scheduling wait 1600 is a list similar to the double-side back original waiting 1100. It does not have to be a structure.

  In this way, by adding the paper feed scheduling wait 1600, as soon as the double-sided back side original is confirmed, the paper 1000 is shifted to the paper feed scheduling 1101, and it is impossible to change the layout of the side at that stage. In contrast to the conventional control processing, paper feeding scheduling for one paper is delayed, so that the paper including the final document can be surely printed on both sides.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing paper feed control according to the present invention.
First, in step S1701, the document is in a waiting state until it is confirmed that the document read by the reader unit 200 or the document not read by the reader unit 200 such as PDL or FAX is present. .

  After it is determined that there is a document, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final document. If the document determined this time is the final document, the process proceeds to step S1703. If not, the process proceeds to step S1705. In step S1705, it is checked whether or not there is paper for the paper feed scheduling wait 1600. If there is paper waiting for paper feed scheduling, the process proceeds to step S1706, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1710. In step S1706, the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is shifted to paper feed scheduling 1101, and paper feed scheduling for the paper is started.

  In step S1710, it is checked whether there is a double-sided back side original waiting 1100 paper. If there is, the process proceeds to step S1711. If not, the process proceeds to step S1713. In step S1711, since the document confirmed this time becomes the back side document 1002 of the double-sided back side document waiting 1100, it is registered in the back side document 1002 of the double-sided back side document waiting 1100 paper. In step S1716, since the double-sided original on the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is determined in step S1711, the process shifts to the paper-feed scheduling waiting 1600 and waits until the next original is determined.

  In step S1713, since there is no paper waiting for the double-sided back side original in this state, it is checked whether the original confirmed this time performs double-sided printing. If double-sided printing is performed, the process proceeds to step S1714; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1715. In step S <b> 1714, since the current document has been printed on both sides and the back side document has not yet been determined, the current document is registered on paper waiting for the back side document on both sides. In step S1715 to wait until the next original is confirmed, the current paper is printed on one side, so the current original is registered in the paper feed scheduling wait 1101 and waits until the next original is confirmed.

  In step S1703, it is checked whether there is a sheet waiting for sheet feeding scheduling in a state where it is determined that the current document is the final document. If there is no paper waiting for paper feed scheduling, the process proceeds to step S1707, and if present, the process proceeds to step S1704. Here, there are only two patterns for proceeding to step S1707 when the original is only one page or the original is only two pages and duplex printing is performed.

  In step S1707, it is checked whether there is paper waiting for both-side and back-side documents. When it exists, it progresses to step S1712, and when it does not exist, it progresses to step S1718. Here, when the process proceeds to step S1712, it is a case where duplex printing is performed with only two pages of the document, and when the process proceeds to step S1718, the document is only one page. In step S 1712, the current document is registered in the paper back document 1002 in the double-sided back document waiting 1100, and the process proceeds to step S 1717. In step S1717, the paper in the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 whose back side is determined in step S1712 is shifted to the paper feed scheduling 1101, and the paper feed scheduling is started.

  In step S1718, there is no paper in the double-sided backside original waiting 1100 in step S1707, no paper in waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 exists in step S1703, and the final original is determined in step S1702. Therefore, it can be seen that the document is only one page. Therefore, the current sheet is registered as one side in the sheet feeding scheduling 1101 and sheet feeding scheduling is started.

  In step S1704, it is determined whether the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is single-sided printing. If the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is single-sided printing, the process advances to step S1708, and if it is double-sided printing, the process advances to step 1709. In step S1708, for the purpose of always performing double-sided printing on the paper including the final document, the paper document registered in the paper feed scheduling waiting 1600 is set as the front surface document of the paper including the final document, and the current document (final document). Is used as the back side document, the paper document waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is saved and the paper itself is deleted.

  In step S1719, a paper document waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 saved in step S1708 is used as the front side, and the current original document (final document) is used as the back side. The paper is registered in the paper feed scheduling 1101 and paper feed scheduling is started. To do.

  In step S1709, for the purpose that the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling in step S1704 is double-sided printing, and that the paper including the final original is always subjected to double-sided printing, the back side original of the paper registered in the paper feed scheduling waiting 1600 is used. Is the front side of the paper including the final original, and the current original (the final original) is the back side original, the back side original of the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is stored, and the back side of the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is blank. The printing is registered in the paper feed scheduling 1101 as single-sided printing.

  In step S 1720, the paper 1000 is generated with the original saved in step S 1709 as the front side and the current original (final original) as the back side, and registered in the paper supply scheduling 1101 to start paper supply scheduling.

Next, the actual operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram in the case where there are three pages of documents to be printed on one side by scheduling according to the present invention. FIG. 18A shows the state of the first page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it cannot be determined as the final document yet at the time of the first page of the document, the process advances to step S1705. In step S1705, it is checked whether the paper 1000 exists in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101. However, the paper 1000 does not exist because it is the first page of the original. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1710. In step S1710, a check is made to see if there is paper 1000 for both-side and back-side original waiting 1100. However, since it is still the first page of the original, there is no paper 1000 for both-side and back-side original waiting 1100. In step S1713, it is checked whether or not the current document performs double-sided printing. However, in order to perform single-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1715, and the current document is set as single-sided printing (that is, the backside document 1002 is printed as blank paper). And wait until the next document is confirmed. The paper registered in the paper supply scheduling waiting 1600 is shown as 1801.

  FIG. 18B shows a state of the second page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it is still not possible to determine the final document at the time of the second page of the document, the process proceeds to step S1705. In step S1705, it is checked whether the paper 1000 exists in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101. Since the paper 1801 shown in FIG. 18A exists, the process advances to step S1706.

  In step S1706, the paper 1801 waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is shifted to paper feed scheduling 1101 to start paper feed scheduling. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S1713.

  In step S1713, it is checked whether the currently confirmed document is to be printed on both sides. However, since it is single-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1715, and the document confirmed this time is fed as single-sided printing (that is, the backside document 1002 is printed as blank paper). It is registered in the scheduling wait 1600 and waits until the next document is confirmed. The paper 1801 registered in the paper supply scheduling 1101 in step S1706 and the paper registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600 in step S1715 is shown as 1802.

  FIG. 18C shows the state of the third page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it can be determined that the document is the final document at the time of the third page of the document, the process advances to step S1703. In step S1703, it is checked whether there is paper in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600. Since the paper 1802 registered in FIG. 18B is registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600, it is determined that the paper 1802 exists, and the process advances to step S1704.

  In step S1704, it is checked whether the paper registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600 is single-sided printing. As can be seen from 1802, the back side document 1002 is printed on a blank page, and therefore can be determined as single-sided printing. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1708.

  In step S1708, the front document 1001 of the paper 1802 waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is held, and the paper 1802 is deleted. The process advances to step S1719 to generate a paper 1803 with the paper 1802 waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 held in step S1708 as the front side and the current original as the back side, and register the originals in the front side document 1001 and the back side document 1002 respectively. Then, it registers in the paper feed scheduling 1101 and ends.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram in the case where there are four pages of originals on which double-sided printing is performed by scheduling according to the present invention.
FIG. 19A shows the state of the first page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it cannot be determined as the final document yet at the time of the first page of the document, the process advances to step S1705. In step S1705, it is checked whether the paper 1000 exists in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101. However, the paper 1000 does not exist because it is the first page of the original. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1710.

  In step S1710, it is checked whether or not there is paper 1000 waiting for both-side and back-side original 1100. However, since it is still the first page of the original, there is no paper 1000 in both-side and back-side original waiting 1100, and the process proceeds to step S1713.

  In step S1713, it is checked whether or not the current document performs double-sided printing. However, in order to perform double-sided printing, the flow advances to step S1714 to generate a paper 1000 having the current document as the front side document 1001 and register it in the double-sided backside document waiting 1100. Wait until the next manuscript is confirmed. The paper registered in the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is shown as 1901.

  FIG. 19B shows a state of the second page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it is still not possible to determine the final document at the time of the second page of the document, the process proceeds to step S1705.

  In step S1705, it is checked whether or not the paper 1000 exists in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101. In FIG. 19A, since paper is not registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101, the process advances to step S1710. In step S1710, it is checked whether there is paper waiting for both-side and back-side documents. However, since the paper 1901 shown in FIG. 19A exists, the process proceeds to step S1711.

  In step S 1711, the current document is registered in the back document 1002 on the double-sided back document waiting 1100 paper (1901 in FIG. 19A), and the process advances to step S 1716. In step S1716, since the back side of the paper 1901 of the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is determined in step S1711, the paper 1901 is shifted to the paper feed scheduling waiting 1600 and waits until the next original is determined. The back side document 1002 of the paper 1901 waiting for double-sided back side document determination 1600 is confirmed and illustrated as paper 1902 registered in the paper-feed scheduling waiting 1600.

  FIG. 19C shows a state of the third page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it is still not possible to determine the final document at the time of the third page of the document, the process proceeds to step S1705. In step S1705, it is checked whether the paper 1000 exists in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101. Since the paper 1902 described with reference to FIG. 19B exists, the process advances to step S1706.

  In step S1706, the paper 1902 registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600 is shifted to the paper supply scheduling 1101, and the process advances to step S1713. In step S1713, it is checked whether or not the current document performs double-sided printing. However, in order to perform double-sided printing, the flow advances to step S1714 to generate a paper 1000 having the current document as the front side document 1001 and register it in the double-sided backside document waiting 1100. Wait until the next manuscript is confirmed. The paper registered in the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is shown as 1903.

  FIG. 19D shows the state of the fourth page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it can be determined that the document is the final document at the time of the fourth page of the document, the process advances to step S1703. In step S1703, it is checked whether there is paper in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600. In FIG. 19C, since there is no paper registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600, the process proceeds to step S1707.

  In step S1707, it is checked whether there is paper in the double-sided back side document waiting 1100. As shown in FIG. 19C, since paper 1903 exists in the double-sided back side document waiting 1100, the process proceeds to step S1712. In step S 1712, the current document is the final document, and there is a paper 1903 waiting for both-side and back-side documents. Therefore, the document is registered for the back-side document 1002 of the paper 1903, and the process proceeds to step S 1717. In step S 1717, the paper 1903 waiting for both-side and back-side originals is shifted to the paper feed scheduling 1101 and the process ends. A paper 1903 on the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 transitioned to the paper feed scheduling 1101 is shown as 1904.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram in the case where there are five pages of documents to be printed on both sides by scheduling according to the present invention.
FIG. 20A shows the state of the third page of the document. This state is the same as that in FIG. 19C, and the description is omitted here. The paper registered in the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is shown as 2001, and the paper registered in the paper feed scheduling 1101 is shown as 2002.

  FIG. 20B shows the state of the fourth page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it is still not possible to determine the final document at the time of the fourth page of the document, the process proceeds to step S1705. In step S1705, it is checked whether or not there is paper 1000 in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101. However, in FIG. 20B, since paper is not registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1101, the process advances to step S1710. In step S1710, it is checked whether there is paper waiting for both-side and back-side originals. However, since the paper 2001 illustrated in FIG. 20B exists, the process proceeds to step S1711. In step S1711, the current document is registered in the back document 1002 on the double-sided back document waiting 1100 paper (2001 in FIG. 20A), and the process advances to step S1716. In step S1716, since the reverse side of the paper 2001 on the double-sided back side original waiting 1100 is determined in step S1711, the paper 2001 is shifted to the paper supply scheduling waiting 1600 and waits until the next original is determined. The back side document 1002 of the paper 2001 waiting for double-sided back side document determination 1600 is confirmed and illustrated as the paper 2003 registered in the paper-feed scheduling waiting 1600.

  FIG. 20C shows a state of the fifth page of the document. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it can be determined that the document is the final document at the time of the fifth page of the document, the process advances to step S1703. In step S1703, it is checked whether there is paper in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600. In FIG. 20B, since there is paper registered in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600 as 2003, the process advances to step S1704. In step S1704, it is checked whether the paper waiting for paper feed scheduling is single-sided printing. Since 2003 is double-sided printing, the process advances to step S1709. In step S1709, the document on the back side of the paper 2003 waiting for paper feed scheduling 1600 is removed, and the paper 2003 is registered in the paper feed scheduling 1101 as single-sided paper. The paper is shown as 2003 '. Then, the process proceeds to step S1720. In step S1720, the paper 2004 having the back side of the paper 2003 previously held in step S1709 as the front side and the current original as the back side is generated, registered in the paper feed scheduling 1101, and the process ends.

  FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram in the case where the document to be printed on both sides by scheduling according to the present invention is one page. First, after the original confirmation waiting step S1701, it is checked in step S1702 if it is the final original. Since it can be determined that the document is the final document at the time of the first page of the document, the process advances to step S1703. In step S1703, it is checked whether there is paper in the paper supply scheduling wait 1600, but since there is no paper because it is the first page of the document, the process proceeds to step S1707. In step S1707, it is checked whether or not there is a sheet waiting for 1100 on both sides of the back side document, but this also does not exist because the document is the first page. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S1718. In step S1718, paper 2005 having the current original as one side is generated, registered in the paper feed scheduling 1101, and the paper feed scheduling starts and ends.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 26 are explanatory diagrams of a user interface for forcibly performing double-sided assignment on paper including the final document of this time.
FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a screen of the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 3. Since the paper including the final manuscript is forcibly assigned on both sides, the application mode 2201 button can be selected to make these settings. By selecting the application mode 2201, the user can select a mode that is not normally used.

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a dialog screen that appears when the application mode button is selected. This dialog allows you to select a mode that you would not normally use. In this way, the screen for selecting the mode that is not normally used is changed to a separate dialog, thereby simplifying the normal screen and improving the user-friendliness. The user selects the cover / interleaf 2301 button to forcibly perform double-sided assignment on the paper including the final document.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a dialog screen that appears when a cover / interleaf is selected. This dialog can be either a cover page (paper containing the first manuscript, or a blank sheet inserted before the first manuscript), or a slip sheet (paper containing a manuscript arbitrarily specified by the user, or a user-specified manuscript with white paper) It is possible to select whether to use a paper to be inserted) or a back cover (paper containing the final document, or paper to be inserted with blank paper after the final document). Since the user wants to perform double-sided printing on the paper including the final document, the user can select the back cover 2401 button and select from which paper feed stage the paper is to be fed.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a dialog screen that appears when the back cover button is selected. This dialog can be either a cover page (paper containing the first manuscript, or a blank sheet inserted before the first manuscript), or a slip sheet (paper containing a manuscript arbitrarily specified by the user, or a user-specified manuscript with white paper) It is possible to select how to set the printing surface of the paper to be inserted) or the back cover (paper including the final document, or paper to be inserted with blank paper after the final document). The user can select not to copy (insert with blank paper) 2501, to copy on the front 2502, to copy on the back 2503, to copy on both sides 2504, this time the user is forced to the paper containing the final manuscript In order to perform double-sided assignment, the user selects 2504 to copy on both sides. By selecting this button, the double-sided assignment is forcibly set for the paper including the final document, and the screen returns to FIG. Next, the user selects a button 2402 to feed the paper including the final document from an arbitrary paper feed stage.

  FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a dialog screen that appears when the button 2402 is selected. This dialog allows the user to arbitrarily select the back cover feed stage. The user can select the paper feed stage from which the paper serving as the back cover (paper including the final document) is fed. A4 color paper is set on the first level, A4 recycled paper on the second level, A5 plain paper on the third level, A3 normal paper on the fourth level, and A4 normal paper on the fifth level. . For example, when the user wants to print the back cover with colored paper, the paper including the final document can be printed with the first colored paper by selecting the first paper feeding stage.

Further, the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 22 is built in the main body of the image forming apparatus. However, such operation means is not limited to the operation unit built in the main body, and for example, from the host computer 4001 of FIG. In addition, operation means for setting the control device 110 is also provided.
In addition, if a user selects a paper type that is not shown here but cannot perform both sides (for example, OHP, 2nd original drawing, thick paper, etc.) and the user tries to perform double-sided printing on the paper including the final document, one side is forcibly forced. By controlling to discharge, it is possible to protect against jamming and prevent damage to the device due to incorrect operation by the user.

100 Image Input / Output System 110 Controller 111 Main Controller 112 CPU
113 Bus controller 140 Scanner I / F
145 Printer I / F
200 Reader device (leader part)
300 Printer device (printer part)
325 Fixing unit 323 Photosensitive drums 331, 333, 335, 336, 338 Conveyance path 332 Refeed conveyance path 1000 Paper (data)
1110 Duplex backside waiting document (data)
1101 Paper feed scheduling (data)
1600 Waiting for paper feed scheduling (data)

Claims (5)

Reading means for reading a document and inputting image data;
Printing means for executing print processing based on image data input by the reading means;
Determining means for determining whether or not the document on page n (n is an integer of 2 or more) read by the reading means is the document on the last page;
When n is an even number, the print processing based on the image data of the n−1th page document is not executed until the determination unit determines whether the nth page document is the last page document. First control means for controlling the printing means;
When n is an odd number, the image data of the (n−1) th page and the n−2th page of the document are determined until the determination unit determines whether the nth page is the last page. A second control unit that controls the printing unit so as not to execute a printing process based on image data;
In the case where n is an even number and the determination unit determines that the nth page is the last page, the first control unit sets the image data of the nth page and n−1. Controlling the printing means to execute double-sided printing processing based on the image data of the original of the page;
In the case where n is an odd number and the determination means determines that the nth page document is not the last page document, the second control unit determines that the image data of the n−1th page document and n− When the printing unit is controlled to execute the double-sided printing process based on the image data of the second page document, and the determination unit determines that the nth page document is the last page document, n−2 The printing unit is configured to execute single-sided printing processing based on the image data of the page original, and to execute double-sided printing processing based on the image data of the nth page original and the image data of the (n−1) th page. A printing apparatus characterized by controlling. A holding unit that holds the image data read by the reading unit in a first state that is not used for the printing process or a second state that is used for the printing process;
In the case where n is an even number, the first control means stores the image data of the (n−1) th page of the document until the determination section determines whether the nth page is the last page. Controlling the holding means to hold the holding means in the first state;
When the n is an odd number, the second control means determines whether the image data of the (n-1) th page of the document until the determination section determines whether the nth page is the last page. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding unit is controlled to hold the image data of the document on the (n−2) th page in the holding state in the first state. In the case where n is an even number and the determination unit determines that the nth page is the last page, the first control unit sets the image data of the nth page and n−1. Controlling the holding means to hold the image data of the document of the page in the second state;
In the case where n is an odd number and the determination means determines that the nth page document is not the last page document, the second control unit determines that the image data of the n−1th page document and n− When the holding unit is controlled to hold the image data of the second page document in the second state, and the determination unit determines that the nth page document is the last page document, the nth page The holding means is controlled to hold the image data of the original document, the image data of the original document of the (n-1) th page, and the image data of the original document of the (n-2) th page in the second state. The printing apparatus according to 1. A plurality of paper feeding means for feeding paper to the printing means when the printing means executes the printing process;
The control unit is configured to supply the paper to the printing unit when the printing unit executes a printing process based on the image data of the original document of two or more pages before the last page. When the printing unit executes the printing process based on the image data of the document on the last page and the image data of the document on the page one page before the last page, the first sheet feeding unit is controlled. 4. The second paper feeding unit different from the first paper feeding unit among the plurality of paper feeding units is controlled so as to feed paper to the unit. 5. The printing apparatus according to item 1. A reading step of reading an original and inputting image data;
A printing step for executing a printing process based on the image data input in the reading step;
A determination step of determining whether or not the document of page n (n is an integer of 2 or more) read by the reading step is the document of the last page;
When n is an even number, the print processing based on the image data of the (n-1) th page document is not executed until the determination step determines whether the nth page document is the last page document. A first control step for controlling the printing step;
When n is an odd number, the image data of the (n−1) th page and the n−2th page of the document are determined until the determination step determines whether the nth page is the last page. A second control step for controlling the printing step so as not to execute the printing process based on the image data,
In the first control step, when n is an even number and the determination step determines that the nth page is the final page, the image data of the nth page and n−1 Controlling the printing step to execute the double-sided printing process based on the image data of the document of the page;
In the second control step, when n is an odd number and the determination step determines that the document on the nth page is not the document on the last page, the image data of the document on the (n-1) th page and n- When the printing step is controlled to execute the double-sided printing process based on the image data of the second page document, and the determination step determines that the nth page document is the last page document, n−2 The printing step is performed such that single-sided printing processing is executed based on image data of the original document of the page, and double-sided printing processing is executed based on image data of the nth page original and image data of the (n−1) th page original. A method for controlling a printing apparatus, comprising: controlling the printing apparatus.

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