JP5104511B2 - Image forming system, image forming apparatus, control apparatus, print job generating apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming system, an image forming apparatus, a control apparatus, a print job generation apparatus, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in general offices and the like, an image forming system has been constructed in which a plurality of terminal devices and image forming apparatuses such as printers are connected in a network environment, and the printers can be shared or selected from the terminal devices. ing.
In such an image forming system, when a print job is simultaneously output from a plurality of terminal devices to the image forming apparatus, the print job processing is normally performed in the order of reception by the image forming apparatus. At this time, if the print jobs are processed in the order of reception, the entire process may take a long time.
For example, Patent Document 1 analyzes which print priority group a sent print job corresponds to, sorts the print job into the corresponding print priority group based on the analysis result, and includes post-processing. A technique is described in which the printing time is calculated and the printing order is determined in ascending order of printing time within each group.

JP 2007-196475 A

Here, generally, there is a case where the recording material (paper) designated as the print setting in the print job is not held in the image forming apparatus. In that case, the print job is stopped when there is no corresponding paper, and the processing of the subsequent print job stops until the corresponding paper is set, and the print job may not be processed efficiently. .
An object of the present invention is to continuously process subsequent print jobs when a sheet designated as print settings in a print job is not held in an image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 1 is a print job generation unit that generates a print job in which a setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page, and the print job generated by the print job generation unit. Print job accepting means for accepting an input of the image, and forming an image on the recording material based on the print job accepted by the print job accepting means, and accumulating the recording material image-formed based on the print job An image forming unit having a plurality of stacking members; an information storage unit for storing recording material information held in the image forming unit; and the print job received by the print job receiving unit. The print job comprising pages whose material settings match the recording material information stored in the information storage means, and the recording material of the print job The setting and the job division means for dividing into the print job including the page that does not match with the recording medium information stored in the information storage means, the divided print job consists pages that match the recording material information image Output means for outputting to the forming means; and, when the job dividing means divides the print job, an accumulation member allocating means for assigning one or more of the plurality of accumulation members for each of the divided print jobs. a divided job storing means for storing the divided print job including the page that does not match with the recording medium information, storage in the output and the divided job storing means to said image forming means for the divided print job When one or both of the above are performed, printing for the next print job received by the print job receiving unit An image forming system characterized by comprising a processing unit for performing management.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the stacking member allocated for each print job by the stacking member allocating unit or the stacking member allocated for each of the divided print jobs is the print job or divided. and an image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising an integrated member display means for displaying in association with the print job.
The invention according to claim 3 further includes a divided job acquisition unit that acquires the divided print job stored in the divided job storage unit from the divided job storage unit, wherein the divided job acquisition unit includes the information When the recording material information stored in the storage unit is updated, the divided print job is acquired and sent to the job dividing unit. The job dividing unit is sent from the divided job acquiring unit. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the division is further performed on the divided print job.
The invention according to claim 4 displays the setting of the recording material added in association with the first page of the divided print job stored in the divided job storage means, and displays the recording material to the user. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising instruction display means for instructing the image forming means to hold a recording material that matches the above setting.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print job storage unit that stores a print job in which a setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page, and a print that acquires the print job from the print job storage unit A job acquisition unit and a plurality of stacking members for forming an image on the recording material based on the print job acquired by the print job acquisition unit and stacking the recording material image-formed based on the print job an image forming means having an information storage means for storing recording material information held in the image forming unit, the print job acquired by the printing job acquiring means, setting of the recording material of the print job is the The print job composed of pages that match the recording material information stored in the information storage means, and the setting of the recording material of the print job is the information storage A job division means for dividing into the print job including the page that does not match the stored the recording medium information, an output for outputting the divided print job consists pages that match the recording material information to the image forming means Means, and when the job dividing means divides the print job, an accumulation member allocating means for allocating one or more of the plurality of accumulation members for each of the divided print jobs, and the recording material information One or both of a divided job storage unit that stores the divided print job including pages that do not match, an output of the divided print job to the image forming unit, and a storage in the divided job storage unit Processing means for performing print processing on the next print job acquired by the print job acquisition means. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that the.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the image forming unit updates the recording material information stored in the information storage unit when the held recording material is replaced, and the job dividing unit When the recording material information stored in the storage unit is updated, the divided print job is acquired from the print job storage unit, and the division for the divided print job is further executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 .
The invention according to claim 7 displays the setting of the recording material associated with the first page of the divided print job stored in the divided job storage unit, and sets the recording material to the user. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising instruction display means for instructing the image forming means to hold a recording material matching the above.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print job acquisition unit that acquires a print job from a print job storage unit that stores a print job in which a setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page. An image is formed on the recording material based on the print job, and recording material information held in an image forming unit having a plurality of stacking members that stack the recording material image-formed based on the print job is stored. The print job acquired by the information storage unit and the print job acquired by the print job acquisition unit includes a page in which the recording material setting of the print job matches the recording material information stored in the information storage unit. And the setting of the recording material of the print job is divided into the print job including pages that do not match the recording material information stored in the information storage unit A job dividing unit that, the divided print job consists pages that match the recording material information is output to the image forming means, the divided print job storage means includes a page that does not match to the recording material information Control means for performing control to be stored in the storage unit, and the control means performs either one or both of output to the image forming means and storage to the storage means for the divided print job. , Causing the print job to be printed on the next print job acquired by the print job acquisition unit , and assigning one or more of the plurality of stacking members to each of the divided print jobs. The recording material on which the image is formed based on the output divided print job is applied to the integrated member assigned to the divided print job. A controller for causing the product.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, when the job dividing unit grasps that the recording material information stored in the information storage unit has been updated, the job dividing unit stores the divided print job in the print job storage. 9. The control apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising executing the division on the divided print job acquired from the means.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, when the control unit stores the divided print job in the storage unit, the control unit stores the recording material associated with each first page of the divided print job. 9. The control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the setting is displayed on the display unit, and the user is instructed to hold the recording material matching the setting of the recording material in the image forming unit.

The invention according to claim 11 is a print job generation unit that generates a print job in which settings of a recording material on which an image is formed are associated with each page, and the print job generated by the print job generation unit. Information storage means for storing recording material information held in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of stacking members for forming an image on the recording material based on the print job and stacking the recording material image-formed based on the print job The print job generated by the print job generation unit, the print job including pages where the setting of the recording material of the print job matches the recording material information stored in the information storage unit, and job division means for dividing into a corresponding print job including the page setting of the recording material of the print job does not match with the recording medium information stored in the information storage means Control for causing the image forming apparatus to output the divided print job including pages that match the recording material information, and storing the divided print job including pages that do not match the recording material information in a storage unit. Control means for performing the print job generation when the divided print job is output to the image forming apparatus and / or stored in the storage means. Print processing for the next print job generated by the printing unit, and assign one or more of the plurality of stacking members to the divided print job, and output the image to the image forming apparatus. solving the divided print job on the recording material on which an image is formed on the basis be integrated into the integrated member assigned to the divided print job A print job generating unit to.

The invention according to claim 12 is a function of acquiring a print job in which a setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page in a computer, and forming an image based on the acquired print job , the function of acquiring the recording medium information from the information storage means for storing recording material information stored in the image forming means having a plurality of integrated members for stacking the recording material on which an image is formed based on the print job, the print The job includes the print job including a page in which the setting of the recording material of the print job matches the recording material information, and the printing including a page in which the setting of the recording material of the print job does not match the recording material information. a function of dividing the job, the function to output the divided print job consists pages that match the recording material information to the image forming means, before One of a function for storing the divided print job including a page that does not match the recording material information in a storage unit, an output to the image forming unit for the divided print job, and a storage in the storage unit Alternatively, when both are performed, a function for performing the printing process for the acquired next print job , and assigning one or more of the plurality of stacking members to each of the divided print jobs, the image forming unit And a function of stacking the recording material on which the image is formed based on the divided print job output on the stacking member assigned to the divided print job .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the paper designated as the print setting in the print job is not held in the image forming apparatus, the subsequent print job is continuously processed as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. can do. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the print job is divided and images are formed, the recording materials image-formed by the same print job are accumulated on a predetermined accumulation member. Compared to the case where it is not employed, it becomes easier for the user to collect recording materials from the same print job from the integrated member. Further, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the print job is divided and an image is formed, the recording material image-formed by the divided print job in the same print job is a predetermined stacking member. Since they are accumulated in a predetermined area, it is easier for the user to collect recording materials from the same print job from the accumulation member than when the present invention is not adopted.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present invention is not adopted, the user can easily grasp on which accumulation member the print job is accumulated.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the recording material held in the image forming unit is replaced and image formation for the divided print job stored in the divided job storage unit becomes possible, the present invention Compared to a case where the image forming method is not employed, it is possible to promote image formation for a portion of the divided print job where image formation is possible.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when a divided print job is stored in the divided job storage unit, the user can be notified of a sheet necessary for the image forming unit, and when the present invention is not adopted. In comparison, it is possible to promote image formation related to the divided print jobs.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the paper designated as the print setting in the print job is not held in the image forming apparatus, the subsequent print job is continuously processed as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. can do. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the print job is divided and images are formed, the recording materials image-formed by the same print job are accumulated on a predetermined accumulation member. Compared to the case where it is not employed, it becomes easier for the user to collect recording materials from the same print job from the integrated member. According to claim 5 of the present invention, when a print job is divided and an image is formed, the recording material image-formed by the divided print job in the same print job is a predetermined stacking member. Since they are accumulated in a predetermined area, it is easier for the user to collect recording materials from the same print job from the accumulation member than when the present invention is not adopted.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the recording material held in the image forming unit is replaced and image formation is possible for the divided print job stored in the divided job storage unit, the present invention is provided. Compared to a case where the image forming method is not employed, it is possible to promote image formation for a portion of the divided print job where image formation is possible.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when a divided print job is stored in the divided job storage unit, the user can be notified of the sheets necessary for the image forming unit, and when the present invention is not adopted. In comparison, it is possible to promote image formation related to the divided print jobs.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the paper designated as the print setting in the print job is not held in the image forming apparatus, the subsequent print job is continuously processed as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. can do. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when the print job is divided and images are formed, the recording materials image-formed by the same print job are accumulated on a predetermined accumulation member. Compared to the case where it is not employed, it becomes easier for the user to collect recording materials from the same print job from the integrated member. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when a print job is divided and an image is formed, the recording material image-formed by the divided print job in the same print job is a predetermined stacking member. Since they are accumulated in a predetermined area, it is easier for the user to collect recording materials from the same print job from the accumulation member than when the present invention is not adopted.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the recording material held in the image forming unit is replaced and image formation for the divided print job stored in the divided job storage unit is enabled, the present invention is provided. Compared to a case where the image forming method is not employed, it is possible to promote image formation for a portion of the divided print job where image formation is possible.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, when a divided print job is stored in the divided job storage unit, the user can be notified of the necessary paper for the image forming unit, and when the present invention is not adopted. In comparison, it is possible to promote image formation related to the divided print jobs.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the paper designated as the print setting in the print job is not held in the image forming apparatus, the subsequent print job is continuously processed as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. can do.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, when the paper designated as the print setting in the print job is not held in the image forming apparatus, the subsequent print job is continuously processed as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted. can do.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment. In the image forming system 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, for example, terminal devices 1A to 1C (hereinafter also collectively referred to as “terminal device 1”) installed in a user's work space (for example, a desk) and the like, and terminal devices 1A to 1C. An image forming apparatus 2 that is an example of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium (paper) such as recording paper in accordance with a print job generated by the network includes a LAN (Local Area Network) or WAN that is an example of a communication line (Wide Area Network) is connected via a network 3 such as the Internet so that bidirectional communication is possible. The communication line may include a telephone line and a satellite communication line (for example, a spatial transmission line in digital satellite broadcasting). In general, a plurality of terminal devices 1 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 can be connected on the network 3. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, as an example, three terminal devices 1A to 1C are connected to each other. A case where one image forming apparatus 2 is connected is shown.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the terminal device 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal device 1 (1A to 1C) is an example of a print job generation unit (print job generation device), and includes a control unit 11 that controls the operation of the entire terminal device 1 and a predetermined application. The document data generation unit 12 that generates document data according to software, the storage unit 13 that stores document data, programs, and the like, the document data generated by the document data generation unit 12 and the image from the document data stored in the storage unit 13 A printer driver 14 as an example of a print job generation unit that generates a print job that is a print command (command) for the forming apparatus 2, a user interface unit 15 that receives an instruction input from a user, and a print job generated by the printer driver 14 Is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 2 via the network 3. Here, as the terminal device 1, for example, a personal computer (PC) is used.
The functional unit described above of the terminal device 1 is realized by cooperation of software and hardware resources. Specifically, a CPU (not shown) of the terminal device 1 reads a predetermined program from the storage unit 13 to the main storage device (for example, RAM), and realizes the functions of the control unit 11, the document data generation unit 12, and the printer driver 14. Perform the process.
Note that the term “document” used in this specification includes, in addition to text, for example, images such as photographs and figures.

  In the terminal device 1, the control unit 11 instructs the printer driver 14 on the print setting added in association with the page of the document data based on the instruction input from the user received by the user interface unit 15. Thereby, the printer driver 14 specifies the size / type of paper used for printing, the enlargement / reduction ratio, N-up (printing by assigning a plurality of N pages to one page of paper), the size of the margin area, and the like. Is generated in association with the page, and a print job in which the print setting information associated with the page is added to the document data is generated.

Next, the image forming apparatus 2 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus 2 applied to the image forming system 100 of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG. 3 is, for example, a digital color printer, and includes a communication unit 21 as an example of a print job receiving unit that receives an input of a print job transmitted from the terminal device 1 via the network 3. Print job acceptance management unit 22 that accepts print jobs received by unit 21 and manages the order of acceptance of print jobs, and print as an example of a print job storage unit that stores print jobs accepted by print job acceptance management unit 22 A job storage unit 23 and a print job processing unit 25 that processes print jobs stored in the print job storage unit 23 are provided.
The image forming apparatus 2 also includes an image forming unit 29 as an example of an image forming unit that forms an image in accordance with a print job, and a recording material (paper) that is held in a paper feed tray (see FIG. 4). ) Size / paper type information as recording material information as an example of paper feed tray information as an example of information storage means for storing paper tray information, and control for controlling the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 2 Unit 26, a user interface unit 27 for receiving an instruction input from a user and displaying instruction information to the user, an external storage for storing a processing program in the print job processing unit 25, a control program in the control unit 26, and the like A portion 28 is provided. The recording material information stored in the information storage means is not only information relating to the size / paper type of the recording material (paper), but also information specifying, for example, a paper feed tray as information related to the designation of the recording material (paper) It may be.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming unit 29. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming unit 29 forms an image on a sheet according to the print job, for example, an electrophotographic image forming engine unit 291, holds sheets of various sizes / paper types, and creates a print job. A paper holding unit 292 that supplies the set paper to the image forming engine unit 291 and a paper discharge stacking unit 293 that stacks the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming engine unit 291 for each print job are provided.
In the paper holding unit 292, paper trays Trai_1 to Tray_4 that respectively hold papers P1 to P4 of different sizes / paper types are arranged. The sizes / paper types of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet trays Trai_ <b> 1 to Tray_ <b> 4 are stored in the sheet feed tray information storage unit 24 from the image forming unit 29.
The paper discharge stacking unit 293 is provided with paper discharge bins Bin_1 to Bin_8 as an example of a stacking member on which the sheets on which images are formed by the image forming engine unit 291 are stacked. Then, the sheet is moved in the vertical direction under the operation control by the control unit 26, and for example, sheets on which images have been formed for each print job are accumulated in each of the discharge bins Bin — 1 to Bin — 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the print job processing unit 25 reads the print job from the sub job storage unit 253 and acquires the print job acquisition unit 251, the print job acquisition unit 251, and the like as an example of a print job acquisition unit that acquires the print job. A job dividing unit 252 that divides the print job or the like acquired in accordance with the sheet feeding tray information stored in the sheet feeding tray information storage unit 24.
In addition, a sub job storage unit 253 as an example of a divided job storage unit (storage unit) that stores a print job (hereinafter, also referred to as “sub job”) divided by the job division unit 252, and a print control unit that controls print processing. 254, a sub job acquisition unit 255 that acquires a sub job from the job division unit 252 or the sub job storage unit 253 and sends the sub job to the image processing unit 256 or the job division unit 252, and performs image processing on the sub job sent from the sub job acquisition unit 255 An image processing unit 256 to be sent to the image forming unit 29 is provided.

The print control unit 254 is an example of a control unit and a processing unit, and acquires information related to the print job reception order from the print job reception management unit 22. Then, the print job acquisition unit 251 is instructed to read the print jobs from the print job storage unit 23 in the order in which the print jobs are received. As a result, the print job acquisition unit 251 reads the print jobs from the print job storage unit 23 in the order in which the print jobs are received, and sends them to the job dividing unit 252.
The print control unit 254 is also an example of an accumulation member allocating unit. When the print control unit 254 acquires information about the print job reception order from the print job reception management unit 22, the print control unit 254 discharges the image forming unit 29 for each print job. One of the paper discharge bins Bin_1 to Bin_8 provided in the stacking unit 293 is allocated. For example, when a print job is received by the print job reception management unit 22 in the order of print job 1, print job 2, and print job 3, the print job 1 has a discharge bin Bin_1, the print job 2 has a discharge bin Bin_2, and the print job 3 is assigned a paper discharge bin Bin_3. Then, the print control unit 254 notifies the control unit 26 of information relating to the paper discharge bin assigned to each print job. Accordingly, the control unit 26 performs control so that the paper on which an image is formed according to each print job is transported to a paper discharge bin assigned to each print job.
Further, the print control unit 254 restricts the print job reception management unit 22 from accepting a print job according to the number of sub jobs and the data amount stored in the sub job storage unit 253, for example. That is, for example, when the number of print jobs and the amount of data stored in the print job storage unit 23 exceed a predetermined value, the print job reception management unit 22 restricts the reception of print jobs. Further, when the number of sub-jobs stored in the sub-job storage unit 253 and the amount of data exceed a predetermined value, the print job reception management unit 22 may be configured to limit the reception of print jobs.

The job dividing unit 252 is an example of a job dividing unit. Upon receiving a print job from the print job acquisition unit 251, the job dividing unit 252 determines the size / paper size of each page used for printing from the print setting information added to the print job. Read the paper type. Further, the paper feed tray information related to the image forming unit 29 is acquired from the paper feed tray information storage unit 24. As a result, the size / paper type of the papers P1 to P4 held by the paper trays Tray_1 to Tray_4 of the paper holding unit 292 are recognized. Whether the paper size / paper type set in each page in order from the first page of the print job matches the size / paper type of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper trays Trai_1 to Tray_4 of the paper holding unit 292. Determine whether or not. Then, a page in which the paper size / paper type set in the print job does not match the paper size P1-P4 held in the paper holding unit 292 is determined, and a print job (paper) after that page is determined. Print job including a page that does not match the size / paper type of P1 to P4) and a print job that matches the size / paper type of paper P1 to P4 up to one page before the page (size / paper P1 / P4) A print job consisting of pages that match the paper type), and each of them is defined as a “sub job”.
Then, the sub job that matches the size / paper type of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet holding unit 292 is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255. Further, the sub job after the page that does not match the size / paper type of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet holding unit 292 is sent to the sub job storage unit 253.
Further, the job dividing unit 252 acquires a sub job from the sub job storage unit 253 via the sub job acquiring unit 255, divides the sub job, and sets a sub job in the same manner as described above.

Here, FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when the job dividing unit 252 divides a print job into sub-jobs.
As shown in FIG. 5, when the job dividing unit 252 receives a print job from the print job acquisition unit 251 (step 101), the paper size / paper set as the first page (page P = 1) of the print job. The seed is read (step 102). Based on the print setting information added to the print job and the paper feed tray information acquired from the paper feed tray information storage unit 24, the paper size / paper type set for the first page is the paper tray of the paper holding unit 292. It is determined whether or not it matches any of the sizes / paper types of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the tray_1 to the tray_4 (step 103).
If the result of determination in step 103 is that the paper size / paper type set for the first page does not match any of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292, the print job acquired in step 101 The whole is set as a sub job (step 104), and the sub job is sent to the sub job storage unit 253 (step 105).
In this case, the job dividing unit 252 notifies the print control unit 254 of information related to the paper size / paper type set for the first page in association with the sub job.

On the other hand, if the result of determination in step 103 is that the paper size / paper type set for the first page matches one of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292, the first page is the last page. Otherwise (step 106), the paper size / paper type set for the next page (P → P + 1) is read (step 107), and there is a change in the paper size / paper type set for that page. Is determined (step 108).
If the first page is the last page (step 106), the entire print job acquired in step 101 is set as a sub job (step 109), and the sub job is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255 (step 110).

If there is no change in the paper size / paper type set for the page in step 108, the process returns to step 106. If the page is not the last page (step 106), the paper size / paper type set for the next page (P → P + 1) is read (step 107), and the determination at step 108 for that page is performed. Do. When the size / paper type is changed (step 108), the size / paper type of the paper set for the page is the size / paper type of the paper P1-P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. It is determined whether or not it matches any one (step 111).
If the result of determination in step 111 is that the paper size / paper type set for the page whose paper size / paper type has changed matches one of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. Returns to step 106. If the page is not the last page (step 106), the paper size / paper type set for the next page (P → P + 1) is read (step 107), and the determination at step 108 for that page is performed. Do. If the size / paper type has been changed (step 108), the determination at step 111 is performed for the page.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step 111, the paper size / paper type set for the page whose paper size / paper type has changed does not match any of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. In this case, the print job is divided into a print job from the page (P) whose paper size / paper type has been changed to the last page, and a print job from the first page to the previous page (P-1). Each is defined as a sub job (step 112).
Then, the sub job from the first page to the previous page (P-1) is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255, and the sub job from the page (P) whose paper size / paper type has been changed to the last page is stored in the sub job storage unit. 253 (step 113).
In this case, the job dividing unit 252 associates the information regarding the paper size / paper type set in the first page (page (P)) of the sub job sent to the sub job storage unit 253 with the sub job, and sends it to the print control unit 254. Notice.

The job dividing unit 252 divides the print job received from the print job acquisition unit 251 into sub-jobs, for example, by a process as shown in FIG. Among the divided sub jobs, a sub job whose paper size / paper type matches any of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292 is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255. Also, among the divided sub jobs, sub jobs whose paper size / paper type does not match any of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292 are stored in the sub job storage unit 253.
At this time, the job division unit 252 notifies the print control unit 254 of information regarding the data amount of the sub job sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255 and the data amount of the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253.
When the job dividing unit 252 divides the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 into sub jobs, the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

Next, in the print job processing unit 25, when a sub job is sent from the job dividing unit 252 to the sub job acquisition unit 255, the print control unit 254 sends the sub job sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255 to the image processing unit 256. Instruct. As a result, the sub job is sent from the sub job acquisition unit 255 to the image processing unit 256, and the image processing unit 256 performs image processing according to the sub job and sends the processed image to the image forming unit 29 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the sub job acquisition unit 255 also functions as an output unit that outputs the sub job to the image processing unit 256.
As described above, the sub job subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 256 here matches the size / paper type of the print-set paper with any of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. Is. Therefore, the image forming unit 29 selects one of the papers P1 to P4 that matches the paper size / paper type set for each page, and performs image forming processing.
At this time, the print control unit 254 assigns the paper discharge bins Bin_1 to Bin_8 provided in the paper discharge stacking unit 293 of the image forming unit 29 for each print job that is the source of the sub job. Therefore, under the control of the control unit 26, the sub-jobs that have been subjected to the image forming process by the image forming unit 29 are accumulated in a predetermined assigned paper discharge bin.

After instructing the sub-job acquisition unit 255 to send the sub-job to the image processing unit 256, the print control unit 254 reads the next print job from the print job storage unit 23 in the order in which the print jobs are received. To instruct. Accordingly, the print job acquisition unit 251 reads the next print job from the print job storage unit 23, and the above-described processing in the job division unit 252, the sub job acquisition unit 255, and the image processing unit 256 is executed again.
The print control unit 254 starts the processing of the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 when the processing of a predetermined number or all of the print jobs stored in the print job storage unit 23 is completed. As a result, the sub job acquisition unit 255 is instructed to read the sub jobs stored in the sub job storage unit 253 in the order of storage and send them to the job dividing unit 252.

In addition, the print control unit 254 notifies the control unit 26 of information regarding the paper size / paper type set in the first page (page (P)) of the sub job read by the sub job acquisition unit 255. Accordingly, the control unit 26 sets one of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet holding unit 292 to the size / paper type set as the first page (page (P)) of the sub job read by the sub job acquisition unit 255. The user interface unit 27, which is an example of the instruction display means, is set to display the instruction to the user to replace the paper. In that case, the print control unit 254 may grasp a sheet that is not used among the sheets P1 to P4, and specify the sheet to be replaced from the sheets P1 to P4 to the control unit 26. .
As a result, when the user replaces one of the sheets P1 to P4 of the sheet holding unit 292 with a sheet of the size / paper type set as the first page (page (P)) of the sub job, the image forming unit 29 detects that. Then, the contents of the paper feed tray information storage unit 24 are updated. As a result, the job dividing unit 252 performs the process shown in FIG. 5 on the sub job sent from the sub job acquiring unit 255 using the paper feed tray information updated in the paper feed tray information storage unit 24. Do.

The print job processing unit 25 repeatedly performs the processing for the sub job as described above. When the processing of a predetermined number or all the sub jobs stored in the sub job storage unit 253 is completed, the print job reception management unit 22 is subsequently instructed to accept the print job to the print job storage unit 23. . Further, it instructs the print job acquisition unit 251 to read out the print jobs from the print job storage unit 23 in the order in which the print jobs are received.
As a result, the processing of the next cycle for the print job stored in the print job storage unit 23 is started.

Next, a procedure for processing a print job performed by the print job processing unit 25 according to the present embodiment will be described with a specific example.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing various settings in a specific example used in the description here. In FIG. 6, A4 size plain paper is used as paper P1 in the paper tray Tray_1 of the paper holding unit 292 of the image forming unit 29, letter size plain paper is used as paper P2 in the paper tray Tray_2, and paper P3 is used in the paper tray Tray_3. The B4 size plain paper and the paper tray Tray_4 hold A3 size plain paper as the paper P4. The paper discharge stacking unit 293 is provided with paper discharge bins Bin_1 to Bin_8. Assume that three print jobs 1 to 3 are stored in the print job storage unit 23 in the setting state. The print setting relating to the paper for each page in the print job 1 is that the first page is A4 size thick paper, the second page to the 101st page are A4 size plain paper, and the 102nd page is A4 size thick paper. To do. In addition, the print setting for the paper for each page in the print job 2 is that the first to 100th pages are A4 size plain paper, and the 101st page is A4 size tab paper (paper with a heading formed on one side). , Pages 102 to 201 are assumed to be A4 size plain paper. Also, the print settings for the paper for each page in the print job 3 are assumed to be letter-size plain paper for the first to 100th pages (entire).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the print job process performed by the print job processing unit 25. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7 using the specific example of FIG.
First, the print control unit 254 of the print job processing unit 25 sends a print job from the print job storage unit 23 to the print job acquisition unit 251 based on the information regarding the print job reception order acquired from the print job reception management unit 22. For example, it instructs to read in the order of acceptance (step 201). In other words, the print control unit 254 instructs the print job acquisition unit 251 to read out the print job 1 accepted earliest from the print job storage unit 23.
Accordingly, the print job acquisition unit 251 reads the print job (print job 1) instructed from the print control unit 254 from the print job storage unit 23 (step 202). Then, the print control unit 254 assigns a paper discharge bin (paper discharge bin Bin_1) provided in the paper discharge stacking unit 293 of the image forming unit 29 to the read print job (print job 1) (step 203).
On the other hand, the print job acquisition unit 251 sends the print job (print job 1) read from the print job storage unit 23 to the job dividing unit 252 (step 204).

The job dividing unit 252 divides the print job (print job 1) acquired from the print job acquisition unit 251 into sub-jobs by the dividing process shown in FIG. 5 (step 205).
Specifically, the paper size / paper type set for the first page (first page) of print job 1 is read (see step 102 in FIG. 5). The paper setting for the first page of print job 1 is A4 thick paper. Therefore, it does not match any of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet holding unit 292, and therefore the entire print job 1 is set as a sub job (see step 104 in FIG. 5).

Subsequently, the job dividing unit 252 distributes the sub-jobs divided (set) in step 205 into those that can be image-formed by the image forming unit 29 and those that cannot be image-formed. In other words, the job dividing unit 252 determines whether the sub-job is capable of image formation processing or not capable of image formation processing based on the result of the division processing in FIG. 5 (step 206).
Then, the job dividing unit 252 sends a sub job that can be subjected to image forming processing to the sub job acquiring unit 255. The sub job acquisition unit 255 sends a sub job capable of image formation processing to the image processing unit 256, and the image processing unit 256 performs image processing. Then, the image-processed sub-job is sent from the image processing unit 256 to the image forming unit 29 (step 207). As a result, image forming processing is performed in the image forming unit 29 and is collected in the paper discharge bin assigned to the original print job of the sub job.
On the other hand, the job dividing unit 252 sends a sub job that cannot be subjected to image forming processing to the sub job storage unit 253 and stores it (step 208).
Specifically, for print job 1, the entire print job 1 is set as a sub job, and the first page of the sub job (the entire print job 1) does not match any of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet holding unit 292. . Therefore, it is determined in step 205 that the job cannot be subjected to image formation processing, and is stored in the sub job storage unit 253 in step 208 (see step 105 in FIG. 5).
In this case, the job dividing unit 252 prints information on the paper size / paper type (A4 thick paper) set in the first page of the sub job (the entire print job 1) stored in the sub job storage unit 253 in association with the sub job. The control unit 254 is notified (step 209).

After the above-described processing for the print job (print job 1) in the print job processing unit 25 is completed, the print control unit 254 subsequently determines whether there is a print job to be processed in the print job storage unit 23. Is determined (step 210).
In this case, since the print control unit 254 acquires information regarding the order in which the print jobs 1 to 3 are received from the print job reception management unit 22, the print job 2 and the print job 3 are stored in the print job storage unit 23. It is recognized that it is stored as a processing target. Therefore, returning to step 201, the print control unit 254 reads out, for example, the next print job (second received print job 2) from the print job storage unit 23 to the print job acquisition unit 251. Instruct. Accordingly, the print job acquisition unit 251 reads the instructed print job (print job 2) from the print job storage unit 23 (step 202).
Then, the print control unit 254 assigns the paper discharge bin Bin_2 of the paper discharge stacking unit 293 to the read print job (print job 2) (step 203), and the print job acquisition unit 251 receives from the print job storage unit 23. The read print job 2 is sent to the job dividing unit 252 (step 204).

In subsequent step 205, the job dividing unit 252 divides the print job (print job 2) acquired from the print job acquisition unit 251 into sub-jobs by the dividing process shown in FIG.
Specifically, the paper size / paper type set for the first page (first page) of the print job 2 is read (see step 102 in FIG. 5). The paper setting for the first page of print job 2 is A4 plain paper. Therefore, since it matches the paper P1 held in the paper holding unit 292, it is determined whether or not the paper setting is changed in the subsequent page (see step 108 in FIG. 5). Since the paper setting is changed to A4 tab paper on the 101st page, it is determined whether or not the paper setting on the 101st page matches the size / paper type of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. Determination is made (see step 111 in FIG. 5). The A4 tab sheet does not coincide with any of the sheets P1 to P4 held by the sheet holding unit 292. Therefore, the print job 2 is divided into the first page to the 100th page and the 101st page to the 201st page (last page), and each is set as a sub job (see step 112 in FIG. 5).

  In subsequent step 206, the job dividing unit 252 determines whether the divided sub-job is capable of image formation processing or not capable of image formation processing based on the result of the division processing in FIG. 5. In this case, the sub job from the first page to the 100th page of the print job 2 has a paper setting that matches the paper P 1 held in the paper holding unit 292. Therefore, in step 206, the job dividing unit 252 determines that the sub jobs from the first page to the 100th page of the print job 2 are sub jobs capable of image forming processing. As a result, the sub jobs from the first page to the 100th page of the print job 2 are sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255, subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 256, and then sent to the image forming unit 29 (step S1). 207). In this case, the sheets on which the images related to the sub jobs from the first page to the 100th page of the print job 2 are formed are stacked in the discharge bin Bin_2 of the discharge stacking unit 293.

  On the other hand, the sub job from the 101st page to the 201st page of the print job 2 does not match the paper settings of the first page (101st page) with any of the papers P1 to P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. Therefore, in step 206, the job dividing unit 252 determines that the sub jobs from the 101st page to the 201st page of the print job 2 are the sub jobs that cannot be subjected to the image forming process. Then, the data is sent to and stored in the sub job storage unit 253 (see step 208 and step 113 in FIG. 5). In this case, the job dividing unit 252 performs print control by associating information on the paper size / paper type (A4 tab sheet) set to the first page (101st page) of the sub job to be sent to the sub job storage unit 253 with the sub job. This is notified to the unit 254 (step 209).

After the above-described processing for the print job (print job 2) in the print job processing unit 25 is completed, the print control unit 254 subsequently determines whether there is a print job to be processed in the print job storage unit 23. Is determined (step 210).
In this case, the print control unit 254 recognizes that the print job 3 as a processing target is stored in the print job storage unit 23. Therefore, returning to step 201, the print control unit 254 instructs the print job acquisition unit 251 to read, for example, the next print job (the last received print job 3) from the print job storage unit 23. To do. Accordingly, the print job acquisition unit 251 reads the instructed print job (print job 3) from the print job storage unit 23 (step 202).
Then, the print control unit 254 assigns the discharge bin Bin_3 of the discharge stacking unit 293 to the read print job (print job 3) (step 203), and the print job acquisition unit 251 receives the print job storage unit 23 from the print job storage unit 23. The read print job 3 is sent to the job dividing unit 252 (step 204).

In subsequent step 205, the job dividing unit 252 divides the print job (print job 3) acquired from the print job acquisition unit 251 into sub-jobs by the dividing process shown in FIG.
Specifically, the paper size / paper type set for the first page (first page) of the print job 3 is read (see step 102 in FIG. 5). The paper setting for the first page of print job 3 is letter-size plain paper. Therefore, since it matches the paper P2 held in the paper holding unit 292, it is determined whether or not the paper setting is changed in the subsequent page (see step 108 in FIG. 5). Since the paper setting is not changed until the last page, the entire print job acquired in step 101 is set as a sub job (see step 109 in FIG. 5).

In the subsequent step 206, the job dividing unit 252 determines whether the divided sub-job is capable of image formation processing or not capable of image formation processing based on the result of the division processing in FIG.
Regarding the print job 3, the entire print job 3 is set as a sub job, and the paper setting of the sub job (the entire print job 3) matches the paper P 2 held in the paper holding unit 292. As a result, the sub job (the entire print job 3) is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255, subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 256, and then sent to the image forming unit 29 (step 207). In this case, the paper on which the image relating to the sub job (the entire print job 3) is formed is stacked in the paper discharge bin Bin_3 of the paper discharge stacking unit 293.

After the above-described processing for the print job (print job 3) in the print job processing unit 25 is completed, the print control unit 254 subsequently determines whether there is a print job to be processed in the print job storage unit 23. Is determined (step 210).
In this case, the print control unit 254 recognizes that all print jobs stored in the print job storage unit 23 are read from the print job acquisition unit 251 and no processing target is stored in the print job storage unit 23. is doing. Therefore, it is next determined whether or not a sub job to be processed is stored in the sub job storage unit 253 (step 211).
When it is determined that the sub job to be processed is stored in the sub job storage unit 253, the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 is processed (step 212). The processing of the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 will be described later.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the sub job to be processed is not stored in the sub job storage unit 253, or when the processing of the sub job in step 212 is completed, the print job stored in the print job storage unit 23 is stored. Terminate the process.
When the processing of the print job stored in the print job storage unit 23 is completed, the print job processing unit 25 instructs the print job reception management unit 22 to accept the print job in the print job storage unit 23. As a result, the process shown in FIG. 7 for the print job stored in the print job storage unit 23 is started.

Next, processing of the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 executed in step 212 in FIG. 7 will be described.
FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts illustrating an example of a sub job processing procedure performed by the print job processing unit 25. Here, description will be made using the specific example of FIG.
As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7, in the specific example of FIG. 6, the sub job storage unit 253 includes a sub job consisting of the entire print job 1 and sub jobs from the 101st page to the 201st page of the print job 2. Is remembered. When these sub jobs are stored, the print control unit 254 of the print job processing unit 25 sets the first page of the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 from the job dividing unit 252 in step 209 of FIG. Information on the size / type of the printed paper is notified in association with the sub job.
Therefore, in the processing of FIG. 7 related to the specific example of FIG. 6, the print control unit 254 recognizes that the sub job is stored in the sub job storage unit 253. Accordingly, it is determined in step 211 in FIG. 7 that the sub job is stored in the sub job storage unit 253, and the processing in step 212 is executed.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the sub job processing performed by the print job processing unit 25, first, the print control unit 254 sends a job to the sub job acquisition unit 255, which is an example of a divided job acquisition unit. An instruction is given to read from the sub-job storage unit 253 the sub-jobs associated with the paper size / paper type information set in the first page of the sub-job acquired from the dividing unit 252 in the storage order in the sub-job storage unit 253 (step 301). Here, the print control unit 254 instructs the sub job storage unit 253 to read and acquire a sub job (sub job 1) consisting of the entire print job 1. Thereby, the sub job acquisition unit 255 acquires the sub job (sub job 1) instructed from the print control unit 254 (step 302). Then, the sub job acquisition unit 255 sends the acquired sub job (sub job 1) to the job division unit 252 (step 303).

  In addition, the print control unit 254 notifies the control unit 26 of information regarding the paper size / paper type set in the first page of the sub job (sub job 1) read by the sub job acquisition unit 255 (step 304). As a result, the control unit 26 sets any one of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet trays Trai_1 to Tray_4 of the sheet holding unit 292 of the image forming unit 29 to the size / paper type set as the first page of the read sub job. The user interface unit 27 is displayed on the user interface unit 27 to instruct the user to replace the paper (step 305). In that case, the print control unit 254 may grasp a sheet that is not used among the sheets P1 to P4, and specify the sheet to be replaced among the sheets P1 to P4 to the control unit 26. .

  By the display in step 305, the user replaces one of the sheets P1 to P4 of the sheet holding unit 292 with a sheet of the size / paper type set in the first page of the sub job, so that the contents of the sheet feed tray information storage unit 24 are changed. Updated. Therefore, the print control unit 254 instructs the job dividing unit 252 that has acquired the sub job (sub job 1) to monitor whether or not the contents of the paper feed tray information storage unit 24 have been updated. Thereby, the job dividing unit 252 monitors whether or not the contents of the paper feed tray information storage unit 24 have been updated (step 306).

When the contents of the paper feed tray information storage unit 24 are updated, the job dividing unit 252 uses the updated paper feed tray information to transfer the sub job (sub job 1) sent from the sub job acquisition unit 255. On the other hand, the dividing process shown in FIG. 5 is performed (step 307).
Specifically, it is assumed that the paper P3 of the paper holding unit 292 has been changed from B4 size plain paper to A4 size thick paper. Here, FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating various settings at the time when the processing of the sub job 1 is performed in a state where the paper P3 of the paper holding unit 292 is changed to A4 size thick paper in the specific example of FIG. .
Referring to FIG. 10, in the dividing process shown in FIG. 5 for sub job 1 by job dividing unit 252, the first page of sub job 1 matches the paper P 3 whose paper setting is held in paper holding unit 292. It is. From the second page to the 101st page, the paper setting matches the paper P1 held in the paper holding unit 292. Further, the next 102nd page (last page) corresponds to the sheet P3 in which the sheet setting is held in the sheet holding unit 292. Therefore, the job dividing unit 252 sets the entire sub job 1 acquired in step 303 as a sub job (see step 109 in FIG. 5).

Subsequently, the job dividing unit 252 determines whether the divided sub job (the entire sub job 1) is capable of image formation processing or not capable of image formation processing based on the result of the division processing in FIG. 5 (step 308). ).
Then, the job dividing unit 252 sends a sub job that can be subjected to image forming processing to the sub job acquiring unit 255. The sub job acquisition unit 255 sends a sub job capable of image formation processing to the image processing unit 256, and the image processing unit 256 performs image processing. Then, the image-processed sub-job is sent from the image processing unit 256 to the image forming unit 29 (step 309). As a result, image forming processing is performed in the image forming unit 29 and is collected in the paper discharge bin assigned to the original print job of the sub job.
On the other hand, the job dividing unit 252 sends a sub job that cannot be subjected to image forming processing to the sub job storage unit 253 and stores it (step 310).
In this case, the job dividing unit 252 notifies the print control unit 254 of information regarding the paper size / paper type set in the first page of the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 in association with the sub job (step 311). .
Specifically, for the sub job (sub job 1 as a whole), the paper settings match the papers P1 and P3 held in the paper holding unit 292. Thereby, the sub job (sub job 1 as a whole) is determined as a sub job capable of image forming processing. Then, the sub job (the entire sub job 1) is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255, subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 256, and then sent to the image forming unit 29 (step 309). In this case, the paper on which the image relating to the sub job (the entire sub job 1) is formed is accumulated in the paper discharge bin Bin_1 assigned to the print job 1 that is the original of the sub job 1 of the paper discharge stacking unit 293.

After the above-described processing for the sub job (sub job 1) in the print job processing unit 25 is completed, the print control unit 254 subsequently determines whether or not there is a sub job to be processed in the sub job storage unit 253 ( Step 312).
The print control unit 254 determines whether or not there is a sub job to be processed in the sub job storage unit 253 from the information regarding the paper size / paper type set in the first page of the sub job acquired from the job dividing unit 252. Here, it is recognized that the sub jobs from the 101st page to the 201st page of the print job 2 are stored in the sub job storage unit 253. Therefore, returning to step 301, the print control unit 254 associates the sub job acquisition unit 255 with the information regarding the paper size / paper type set as the first page of the sub job acquired from the job division unit 252. The sub job is instructed to be read out, for example, in the order of storage in the sub job storage unit 253. That is, the print control unit 254 instructs the sub job storage unit 253 to read and acquire the sub jobs (referred to as sub job 2) from the 101st page to the 201st page of the print job 2. Thereby, the sub job acquisition unit 255 acquires the sub job (sub job 2) instructed from the print control unit 254 (step 302). Then, the sub job acquisition unit 255 sends the acquired sub job (sub job 2) to the job division unit 252 (step 303).

  In addition, the print control unit 254 includes information on the paper size / paper type (A4 tab sheet) set as the first page (the 101st page of the print job 2) of the sub job (sub job 2) read by the sub job acquisition unit 255. Is notified to the control unit 26 (step 304). As a result, the control unit 26 displays a display for instructing replacement of any of the sheets P1 to P4 held in the sheet trays Trai_1 to Tray_4 of the sheet holding unit 292 of the image forming unit 29 with A4 tab sheets. 27 (step 305).

In response to the job dividing unit 252 that has acquired the sub job (sub job 2), the print control unit 254 replaces any of the sheets P1 to P4 of the sheet holding unit 292 with the A4 tab sheet, and supplies the sheet feeding tray information storage unit 24. Instructed to monitor whether the contents of the file have been updated. Thereby, the job dividing unit 252 monitors whether or not the contents of the paper feed tray information storage unit 24 have been updated (step 306).
When the contents of the paper feed tray information storage unit 24 are updated, the job dividing unit 252 uses the updated paper feed tray information to perform the sub job (sub job 2) sent from the sub job acquisition unit 255. The dividing process shown in FIG. 5 is performed (step 307).

Specifically, it is assumed that the paper P4 of the paper holding unit 292 has been changed from A3 size plain paper to A4 size tab paper. Here, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating various settings at the time when the processing of the sub job 2 is performed in a state where the sheet P4 of the sheet holding unit 292 is changed to the A4 size tab sheet in the specific example of FIG. is there.
Referring to FIG. 11, in the dividing process shown in FIG. 5 for sub job 2 in job dividing unit 252, the sheet setting is set to sheet holding unit 292 for the first page of sub job 2 (the 101st page of print job 2). This corresponds to the held paper P4. From the next page onward (from page 102 to page 201 (last page) of print job 2), the paper setting matches the paper P1 held in the paper holding unit 292. Therefore, the job dividing unit 252 sets the entire sub job 2 acquired in step 303 as a sub job (see step 109 in FIG. 5).

In subsequent step 308, the job dividing unit 252 determines whether the divided sub job (sub job 2) can be subjected to image forming processing or cannot be subjected to image forming processing based on the result of the dividing processing in FIG.
Specifically, for the sub job 2, the paper setting matches the papers P1 and P4 held in the paper holding unit 292. Thereby, the sub job 2 is determined as a sub job capable of image forming processing. Then, the sub job 2 is sent to the sub job acquisition unit 255, subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 256, and then sent to the image forming unit 29 (step 309). In this case, the paper on which the image relating to the sub job (sub job 2) is formed is accumulated in the paper discharge bin Bin_2 assigned to the print job 2 that is the original of the sub job 2 of the paper discharge stacking unit 293.

After the above-described processing for the sub job (sub job 2) in the print job processing unit 25 is completed, the print control unit 254 subsequently determines whether or not there is a sub job to be processed in the sub job storage unit 253 ( Step 312).
In this case, the print control unit 254 recognizes that all the sub jobs stored in the sub job storage unit 253 are read from the sub job acquisition unit 255 and that no processing target is stored in the sub job storage unit 253. Yes. Therefore, next, it is determined whether or not a new sub job is set in the previous step 307 and a new sub job to be processed is stored in the sub job storage unit 253 (step 313).
If it is determined that a new sub job to be processed is stored in the sub job storage unit 253, the process returns to step 301 to process the sub job newly stored in the sub job storage unit 253.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the sub job to be processed is not stored in the sub job storage unit 253, or when no new sub job is set in step 307, the sub job stored in the sub job storage unit 253 is stored. Terminate the process.

  As described above, in the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 2 receives a plurality of print jobs, the print settings relating to the paper size / paper type added to each print job are: Each print job is divided from the viewpoint of whether or not it matches the size / type of paper held in the image forming apparatus 2, and the divided print job is set as a sub job. Then, regarding the sub job in which the print setting relating to the paper set as the sub job matches the paper held in the image forming apparatus 2, it is determined that the image forming process is possible, and the image forming process is executed. On the other hand, it is determined that the image forming process cannot be performed for the sub job in which the print setting related to the paper set in the sub job does not match the paper held in the image forming apparatus 2. Then, when a sheet having a size / paper type that matches the print setting related to the sheet set in the sub-job is installed in the image forming apparatus 2, the image forming process is executed.

For example, when a print job is generated in a format in which different print settings can be provided for each page of the print job, paper settings that are not held in the image forming apparatus 2 are applied to the head of the first received print job. If it is, the image forming process cannot be performed. In this case, it is possible to change the order of the print jobs. However, if the paper setting is changed to a setting not held in the image forming apparatus 2 in the middle of the changed print job, the image forming apparatus 2 is changed. The image forming process of the print job after the page changed to the paper setting not held and the print job after the print job cannot be continued.
However, in the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment, for each print job, the image forming process is continued within the page range from the first page where the print setting related to the paper matches the paper held in the image forming apparatus 2. The As a result, even if the paper setting is not held in the image forming apparatus 2 in the middle of one print job, the image forming process is shifted to the next print job. Then, the image forming process is continued from the first page to the page changed to the paper setting not held in the image forming apparatus 2 in the transferred next print job. Accordingly, a plurality of print jobs are efficiently processed within the range of the paper size / paper type held in the image forming apparatus 2.

  Note that in the image forming system 100 of the present embodiment, a paper feed tray information storage unit 24 as an example of an information storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus 2 and a job provided in the print job processing unit 25 of the image forming apparatus 2. The terminal device 1 includes a job dividing unit 252 as an example of a dividing unit, a sub job storage unit 253 as an example of a divided job storage unit (storage unit), and a print control unit 254 as an example of a control unit that controls print processing. It is good also as a structure provided for.

As described above, in the image forming system 100 according to the present embodiment, when the image forming apparatus 2 receives a plurality of print jobs, the print settings relating to the size / type of paper added to each print job. Then, each print job is divided based on the paper size / paper type held in the image forming apparatus 2, and the divided print job is set as a sub job. Then, an image forming process is executed for a sub job in which the print setting related to the paper set in the sub job matches the paper held in the image forming apparatus 2. On the other hand, for a sub job in which the print setting related to the paper set in the sub job does not match the paper held in the image forming apparatus 2, the size matches the print setting related to the paper set in the image forming apparatus 2. / When the paper type is installed, image forming processing is executed.
Accordingly, a plurality of print jobs are efficiently processed in correspondence with the size / type of paper held in the image forming apparatus 2.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the paper discharge bin provided in the paper discharge stacking unit 293 is assigned to each of a plurality of print jobs received in the image forming apparatus 2 has been described. In the present embodiment, a configuration in which a paper discharge bin is assigned to each sub job obtained by dividing a print job will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is used about the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted here.

12 divides each print job from the viewpoint of whether the print settings regarding the paper size / paper type added to each print job match the paper size / paper type held in the image forming apparatus 2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a configuration in which a discharge bin is assigned to each sub job for sub jobs set in a divided manner.
In FIG. 12, it is assumed that a sub job is set for each paper size / paper type added to each print job. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 12, in the print job 1, the discharge bin Bin_1 for A4 size thick paper, the discharge bin Bin_2 for A4 size plain paper, and the discharge bin for A4 size thick paper. Bin_3 is assigned to each. In print job 2, a paper discharge bin Bin_4 is assigned to A4 size plain paper, a paper discharge bin Bin_5 is assigned to A4 size tab paper, and a paper discharge bin Bin_6 is assigned to A4 size plain paper. In the print job 3, since the same paper setting is used for the entire print job 3, one paper discharge bin Bin_7 is assigned.

  In this way, by assigning a discharge bin to each sub job, even if the printing order is different for each sub job, the user can stack the sheets stacked in the discharge bin for each print job in order from the top. The page order for each print job is aligned.

As described above, in order to assign a discharge bin for each sub-job, the following processing is performed in the print job processing performed by the print job processing unit 25 described in the first embodiment.
First, in the print job processing shown in FIG. 7, in the paper discharge bin allocation processing in step 203, the print job read from the print job storage unit 23 is provided in the paper discharge stacking unit 293 of the image forming unit 29. A predetermined number of paper discharge bins (Bin_1 to Bin_8) are assigned.
Then, in the print job process and the sub job process, one is assigned in order from the predetermined number of discharge bins assigned to each print job to the sub job set by the division process shown in FIG. For example, a predetermined number of paper discharge bins assigned to each print job are assigned from the paper discharge bins arranged at the top in the order of image formation.
At that time, if the number of output bins assigned for each print job is less than the number of set sub-jobs, for example, a plurality of output bins are assigned to the lowermost output bin assigned to each print job. It may be configured to stack sheets by the sub job. In that case, a slip sheet may be inserted between the sub-jobs.

Furthermore, if the number of paper discharge bins assigned to each print job is insufficient, one or a plurality of print jobs are assigned in correspondence with the number of paper discharge bins provided in the paper discharge stacking unit 293. On the other hand, as in the case of the first embodiment, one discharge bin may be assigned. In that case, a slip sheet may be inserted between the sub-jobs.
In addition, when one paper discharge bin is assigned to each sub job, the user interface unit 27 as an example of the stacking member display unit (display unit) sets the print job that is the source of each sub job. A plurality of paper discharge bins may be displayed, and the order of taking out the paper from the plurality of paper discharge bins may be indicated. Similarly, even when one discharge bin is assigned for each print job, the user interface unit 27 may display the one discharge bin assigned for each print job.

  As described above, in this embodiment, a paper discharge bin is assigned to each sub job. As a result, even if the printing order is different for each sub-job, the user can arrange the page order in each printing job by stacking the sheets stacked in the paper discharge bin sequentially for each printing job.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an exemplary embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed an example of the structure of the terminal device. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a job dividing unit divides a print job into sub-jobs. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating various settings in a specific example used for explaining a procedure of processing a print job. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of a print job performed by a print processing unit. 6 is a first half of a flowchart illustrating an example of a sub-job processing procedure performed in a print processing unit. 6 is a second half of a flowchart illustrating an example of a sub-job processing procedure performed by the print processing unit. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating specific examples of various settings at the time when processing of sub job 1 is performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating specific examples of various settings at the time when processing of sub job 2 is performed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a configuration in which paper discharge bins are assigned for each sub job.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1A-1C) ... Terminal device, 2 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... Network, 21 ... Communication part, 22 ... Print job acceptance management part, 23 ... Print job storage part, 24 ... Paper feed tray information storage part, 25 ... print job processing unit, 26 ... control unit, 27 ... user interface unit, 29 ... image forming unit, 251 ... print job acquisition unit, 252 ... job division unit, 253 ... sub job storage unit, 254 ... print control unit, 255 ... Sub job acquisition unit, 256... Image processing unit, 292... Paper holding unit, 293.

Claims (12)

Print job generation means for generating a print job in which the setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page;
Print job accepting means for accepting input of the print job generated by the print job generating means;
An image forming unit having a plurality of stacking members for forming an image on the recording material based on the print job received by the print job receiving unit and stacking the recording material image-formed based on the print job ; ,
Information storage means for storing recording material information held in the image forming means;
The print job received by the print job receiving unit, the print job including a page in which the recording material setting of the print job matches the recording material information stored in the information storage unit, and the print job A job dividing unit that divides the recording material into the print job including pages that do not match the recording material information stored in the information storage unit ;
An output unit that outputs the divided print job including pages that match the recording material information to the image forming unit;
A stacking member allocating unit that allocates one or more of the plurality of stacking members for each of the divided print jobs when the job dividing unit divides the print job;
Divided job storage means for storing the divided print job including pages that do not match the recording material information;
The next print received by the print job accepting means when one or both of outputting the divided print job to the image forming means and storing to the divided job storage means is performed. An image forming system comprising processing means for performing print processing for a job. The accumulated member assigned for each print job by the accumulated member assigning unit or the accumulated member assigned for each divided print job is displayed in association with the print job or the divided print job. the image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising a integrated member display means for. A division job acquisition unit that acquires the divided print job stored in the division job storage unit from the division job storage unit;
The divided job acquisition unit acquires the divided print job and sends the divided print job to the job dividing unit when the recording material information stored in the information storage unit is updated. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the division is further performed on the divided print job sent from the divided job acquisition unit.   The setting of the recording material added in association with the first page of the divided print job stored in the divided job storage means is displayed, and the recording material that matches the setting of the recording material is displayed to the user 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, further comprising instruction display means for instructing the image forming means to hold the image forming means. A print job storage means for storing a print job in which the setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page;
Print job acquisition means for acquiring the print job from the print job storage means;
An image forming unit having a plurality of stacking members for forming an image on the recording material based on the print job acquired by the print job acquiring unit and stacking the recording material image-formed based on the print job ; ,
Information storage means for storing recording material information held in the image forming means;
The print job acquired by the print job acquisition unit, the print job including a page in which the recording material setting of the print job matches the recording material information stored in the information storage unit, and the print job A job dividing unit that divides the recording material into the print job including pages that do not match the recording material information stored in the information storage unit ;
An output unit that outputs the divided print job including pages that match the recording material information to the image forming unit;
A stacking member allocating unit that allocates one or more of the plurality of stacking members for each of the divided print jobs when the job dividing unit divides the print job;
Divided job storage means for storing the divided print job including pages that do not match the recording material information;
The next print acquired by the print job acquisition unit when one or both of the output to the image forming unit and the storage in the divided job storage unit are performed for the divided print job An image forming apparatus comprising: processing means for performing print processing for a job. The image forming means updates the recording material information stored in the information storage means when the held recording material is replaced,
The job dividing unit acquires the divided print job from the print job storage unit when the recording material information stored in the information storage unit is updated, and the job dividing unit acquires the divided print job. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the division is further performed. The setting of the recording material associated with the first page of the divided print job stored in the divided job storage unit is displayed, and the recording material that matches the setting of the recording material is displayed to the user as the image formation 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising instruction display means for instructing the apparatus to hold the image. A print job acquisition unit that acquires the print job from a print job storage unit that stores a print job in which a setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page;
Recording material information held in an image forming unit having a plurality of stacking members for forming an image on the recording material based on the acquired print job and stacking the recording material formed based on the print job. Information storage means for storing;
The print job acquired by the print job acquisition unit, the print job including a page in which the recording material setting of the print job matches the recording material information stored in the information storage unit, and the print job A job dividing unit that divides the recording material into the print job including pages that do not match the recording material information stored in the information storage unit ;
Control is performed to output the divided print job including pages that match the recording material information to the image forming unit, and to store the divided print job including pages that do not match the recording material information in the storage unit. Control means,
When the control unit performs one or both of outputting the divided print job to the image forming unit and storing the divided print job in the storage unit, the control unit acquires the next acquired by the print job acquisition unit A print process is performed on the print job, and at least one of the plurality of stacking members is assigned to each divided print job, and an image is generated based on the divided print job output to the image forming unit. A control apparatus for stacking the formed recording material on the stacking member assigned to the divided print job . When the job dividing unit grasps that the recording material information stored in the information storage unit has been updated, the job dividing unit acquires the divided print job from the print job storage unit, and 9. The control apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising executing the division for a print job. When the storage unit stores the divided print job in the storage unit, the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting of the recording material associated with each first page of the divided print job, 9. The control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the control apparatus instructs the user to hold the recording material that matches the setting of the recording material in the image forming unit. A print job generation unit that generates a print job in which the setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page;
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of stacking members for forming an image on the recording material based on the print job generated by the print job generation unit and stacking the recording material formed on the basis of the print job Information storage means for storing the recording material information held in
The print job generated by the print job generation unit includes the print job including a page in which the recording material setting of the print job matches the recording material information stored in the information storage unit, and the print job Job dividing means for dividing the print material into a print job including a page in which the setting of the recording material of the job does not match the recording material information stored in the information storage means ;
Control is performed to cause the image forming apparatus to output the divided print job including pages that match the recording material information, and to store the divided print job including pages that do not match the recording material information in a storage unit. Control means,
The control unit generates the next job generated by the print job generation unit when the divided print job is output to the image forming apparatus and / or stored in the storage unit. Based on the divided print job output to the image forming apparatus and assigning any one or more of the plurality of stacking members to the divided print job. A print job generation apparatus that stacks the image-formed recording material on the stack member assigned to the divided print job. On the computer,
A function for acquiring a print job in which the setting of a recording material on which an image is formed is associated with each page;
An information storage unit that forms an image based on the acquired print job and stores recording material information held in an image forming unit that has a plurality of stacking members that stack the recording material image-formed based on the print job A function for acquiring the recording material information from
The print job includes the print job including a page in which the setting of the recording material of the print job matches the recording material information, and a page where the setting of the recording material of the print job does not match the recording material information. A function to divide the print job ,
A function of causing the image forming unit to output the divided print job including pages that match the recording material information;
A function of storing the divided print job including a page that does not match the recording material information in a storage unit;
A function of performing print processing for the acquired next print job when one or both of output to the image forming unit and storage in the storage unit of the divided print job are performed ;
One or more of the plurality of stacking members are assigned to each of the divided print jobs, and the recording material image-formed based on the divided print job output to the image forming unit is divided. A program for realizing the function of accumulating on the accumulating member assigned to the print job .

Images