JPH08187913A - Printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable all indicated image information to be printed in a substantially double-sized recording paper by providing control means for determining whether or not printing can be done on a recording paper with the size twice as large as an indicated one and for printing the indicated front and rear surface information on one side surface of recording paper. CONSTITUTION: In the case where an instruction is given to effect both surface printing from a host computer 11 to the printer having no both surface printing mechanism such as a laser beam printer 1000 if the printer has the capability of printing a double-sized recording paper, the page development direction, arrangement, and binding margin are decided based upon the size and binding marginal direction of an indicated recording paper. Then. an image information to be printed in both surfaces of a sheet of recording paper is printed on one side surface of the double-sized recording paper. Thus, printing can be carried out with flexibility to the intention of a user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a printer for processing input print information and printing it on a recording sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are a printing apparatus having only a single-sided printing mechanism for recording paper and a printing apparatus equipped with a double-sided printing mechanism for automatically printing image information on both sides of the recording paper. When double-sided printing is designated for the apparatus, this designation is ignored and printing is performed on one side of the recording paper.

Also, in the latter type of printing apparatus, if the printing apparatus does not support printing on a recording sheet of a specified size, the printing is executed by simply displaying a paper size mismatch error. I was supposed not to be.

[0004]

Therefore, in the printing apparatus equipped with only the conventional single-sided printing mechanism described above, only one side of the recording paper is contrary to the intention of the user who tried to print the image information on both sides of the recording paper. Image information is printed,
Even in a printing apparatus equipped with a double-sided printing mechanism, if printing on a recording paper of a specified size is not supported, there is a disadvantage that printing is not executed even though the user has instructed printing.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when only a single-sided printing mechanism is provided, or even when a specified recording paper size cannot be accommodated, a recording of approximately twice the size is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of printing all image information specified on paper.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is a printing system comprising a double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing and a size designating means for designating the size of recording paper. In the apparatus, the printing device determines whether or not it is possible to print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating unit, and double-sided printing is designated by the double-sided printing designating unit. When it is determined by the determination means that the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the image information of the front surface and the back surface for which the double-sided printing is specified is specified. And a control means for controlling to print on one side of the recording paper having a size approximately twice as large as the selected size.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing, size designating means for designating the size of the recording paper, and binding margin direction designating means for designating the binding margin direction of the recording paper. And a double-sided printing designating means for determining whether or not the printing device is capable of printing on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means. When double-sided printing is designated and it is determined by the determining means that the printing device can print on a recording sheet having a size that is approximately twice the specified size, the double-sided printing is performed on the specified front and back sides. Image information is approximately 2 of the specified size
First control means for controlling to record on one side of double-size recording paper, and binding margin of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating means during single-sided printing by the first control means. It is characterized by being provided with second control means for determining a printing direction and a printing position of the image information on the front surface and the back surface, and a binding margin position corresponding to the direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a printing apparatus including a double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing and a size designating means for designating the size of the recording paper, the printing apparatus is capable of designating the size. Determination means for determining whether or not it is possible to print on a recording paper of a size approximately twice the size specified by the means, and double-sided printing is specified by the double-sided printing specifying means, and the printing device is specified by the determination means. When it is determined that printing can be performed on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the specified size, the image information for a plurality of consecutive pages for which the double-sided printing has been specified is output for each two pages in the specified size. It is characterized in that it is provided with a control means for controlling to print respectively on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper having a size twice as large.

The invention according to claim 4 further comprises: double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing; size designating means for designating the size of the recording paper; and binding margin direction designating means for designating the binding direction of the recording paper. And a double-sided printing designating unit that determines whether or not the printing unit can print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating unit. When printing is designated and it is determined by the discriminating means that the printing device can print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the designated size, the double-sided printing is performed for a plurality of designated continuous pages. By the first control means and the first control means for controlling to print the image information of 2 pages each on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size. A second direction for determining a printing direction and a printing position of the image information of the plurality of pages, and a binding margin position in correspondence with the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating unit during double-sided printing. It is characterized in that it is provided with the control means.

[0010]

According to the printing apparatus of the first aspect, the determining unit determines whether or not the printing apparatus can print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating unit. When double-sided printing is designated by the double-sided printing designating unit and it is determined by the discriminating unit that the printing apparatus can print on a recording sheet having a size that is approximately twice the designated size, the control unit causes the double-sided printing to be performed. The printing is controlled so that the image information of the specified front surface and the back surface is printed on one side of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size.

According to the printing apparatus of the second aspect,
The determining means determines whether or not the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means, and the double-sided printing designating means designates double-sided printing. When it is determined that the printing apparatus can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the first control unit
The double-sided printing is controlled so as to print the image information of the designated front and back sides on one side of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the designated size, and the first control is performed by the second control means. During single-sided printing by means, the printing direction and printing position of the front and back image information, and the binding margin position are determined in correspondence with the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating means. It

According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect,
The determining means determines whether or not the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means, and the double-sided printing designating means designates double-sided printing and the determination is made. When it is determined by the means that the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the control means controls the image information for a plurality of consecutive pages for which the double-sided printing is specified. Is controlled so that two pages each are printed on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size.

According to the printing device of the fourth aspect,
The determining means determines whether or not the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means, and the double-sided printing designating means designates double-sided printing. When it is determined that the printing apparatus can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the first control unit
The double-sided printing is controlled so as to print the image information of a plurality of designated continuous pages for each two pages on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size. The control means, in the double-sided printing by the first control means, corresponding to the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating means, the printing direction and the printing position of the image information of the plurality of pages. , And the binding margin position is determined.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 shows an LBP (laser beam printer) 1000 which constitutes a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of FIG. The LBP1000 is a laser printer that has only a single-sided printing mechanism, that is, does not have a double-sided printing mechanism that automatically prints on both sides of recording paper, and print information (character code etc.) supplied from an externally connected host computer. ), Form information, or a macro command or the like, image information such as a corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created and recorded on recording paper as a recording medium.

The components of the LBP 1000 will be described below. In FIG. 1, 1015 is an operation panel,
In addition to having switches for inputting various operation information, a display unit such as an LED (light emitting diode) is provided. A printer control unit 1001 is an LBP.
The laser driver 1002 controls the entire 1000, analyzes print information (character codes, etc.), form information, macro commands, etc. supplied from the host computer and converts them into video signals of corresponding character patterns, form patterns, etc. Output to.

The laser driver 1002 is a semiconductor laser 1
003 is a drive circuit which drives 003 based on the video signal input from the printer control unit 1001.
Laser light 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003
ON / OFF switching control is performed.

A laser beam 1004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 1003 is horizontally swung by a rotating polygon mirror 1005 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 1006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as the character pattern or the form pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 1006. The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 1007 arranged around the electrostatic drum 1006, and then transferred to the recording paper.

Cut sheets used as recording paper are stored in a paper cassette 1008, and from the paper cassette 1008, a paper feed roller 1009 and a first transport roller 1 are provided.
It is taken into the apparatus by 010 and the second conveying roller 1011 and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 1006.

Electrostatic drum 1006 and developing unit 1
The recording sheet developed and transferred in 007 is fixed by a fixing device 1012, conveyed to a sheet ejection section by a third conveyance roller 1013, a fourth conveyance roller 1014, and the like, and ejected to a sheet ejection tray.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control system of the apparatus of this embodiment. The control system mainly includes a printer control unit 1001 and a host computer 11 connected to the printer control unit 1001 via a predetermined interface 21.

The printer control unit 1001 includes a printer CPU 12, a RAM 19, a ROM 13, a system bus 15, an input section 18, and a printing section interface (I / F) 1.
6 and a memory controller (MC) 20 and the like. These respective constituent elements are connected to each other via a system bus 15, an operation unit 1015 is connected to the system bus 15, and a printing unit interface 16 is provided.
The printing unit 17 is connected to the external memory 14, and the external memory 14 is connected to the memory controller 20. In addition, the input unit 18
A predetermined interface 21 is connected to the host computer 11, and the host computer 11 is connected via the interface 21. The host computer 11 sends data such as graphics, characters and images to the printer control unit 1001 in the printer language format.

The printer CPU 12 comprehensively controls the access from the host computer 11 to the various devices connected to the system bus 15 based on the control program stored in the program ROM 13b of the ROM 13 or the external memory 14. And a printing unit (printer engine) 1 via the printing unit interface 16
The output of the image information to 7 is controlled. In addition, the printer CP
U12 is the host computer 11 via the input unit 18.
Communication processing with is possible.

The printing unit 17 is a printing unit interface 16
The image information input via is recorded on the recording paper.

The font ROM 13a of the ROM 13 is
Font data and the like used when generating the output image information is stored, and the data ROM 13c stores information and the like used in the host computer 11.

The RAM 19 functions as a main memory, a work area, etc. of the CPU 12, and is used as a buffering area for input data, a drawing information expansion area, and an environment data storage area. The RAM 19 is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown).

The external memory 14 is a hard disk (H
D), an expansion ROM, a flash PROM, or the like, which is an optionally connected memory, whose access is controlled by the memory controller 20, and which stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. The external memory 14 is not limited to one system, and in addition to a built-in font, an optional font, a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages can be connected. May be. Furthermore, NV not shown
It may have a RAM and store the printer mode setting information from the operation panel 1015.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of print processing controlled by the host computer 11 and the printer control unit 1001.

First, in step S501, when the power is turned on, various variables set in the RAM 19 are initialized. For example, the print mode flag indicating the print mode is set to single-sided printing, the paper size flag is set to A4, the binding margin direction flag indicating the binding margin direction of the recording paper is set to left binding, and the binding margin length is set. Is set to a value of 0, and the printing surface flag indicating the recording surface of the recording paper is set to the front surface (first surface) designation.

Next, in step S502, the input unit 18 receives data from the host computer 11 and reads data for one unit code. Next, in step S503, it is determined whether the input data is a print mode designation command, a paper size designation command, a paper discharge command, or print information such as a character code. If it is determined to be the print mode designation command, step S
In step 504, it is determined whether the designated print mode is the single-sided print mode or the double-sided print mode. The printing mode designating command designates a printing mode indicating single-sided printing or double-sided printing, a binding direction of recording sheets at the time of double-sided printing, and a binding margin length setting value (unit: millimeter). The binding directions of the recording paper designated by the print mode designation command include binding margin directions of left binding, right binding, top binding, and bottom binding.

When it is determined in step S504 that the designated mode is the single-sided printing mode, the process proceeds to step S505, the printing mode flag is set to single-sided printing designation, and the printing side flag is set to front-side designation. After setting, the process returns to step S502.

If it is determined in step S504 that the mode is the double-sided printing mode, the process advances to step S506 to set the printing mode flag to double-sided printing designation,
The binding direction flag and binding margin length are set to the designated direction and value, respectively, and the process returns to step S502.

If it is determined in step S503 that the input data is a paper size designation command, the flow advances to step S507 to set the size designated by the paper size designation command in the paper size flag. ,
The procedure returns to step S502. In this embodiment, A
Various sizes of 4, A4R, B5, B5R, A5, and A5R can be set in the paper size flag.

If it is determined in step S503 that the input data is a character code, the process proceeds to step S508, the character pattern corresponding to the input character code is read from the font ROM 13a, and is stored in the RAM 19. The image is expanded in the drawing memory provided in step S502, and the process returns to step S502.

If it is determined in step S503 that the input data is a paper discharge command, the process proceeds to step S509, the print mode flag is checked, and if it is the single-sided print mode, the process proceeds to step S510. The character pattern stored in the drawing memory is sent as it is to the printing unit 17 via the printing unit interface 16 and is recorded on the recording paper of the size designated by the paper size flag. On the other hand, in the double-sided printing mode, step S511
The printing surface flag is checked, and if the front surface is designated, the designation of the printing surface flag is changed to the back surface, the stored contents of the drawing memory are saved, and a new one is stored in the RAM 19. The drawing memory is acquired, and the process returns to step S502.

In step S511, if the printing surface flag specifies the back surface, step S513.
To check the paper size flag and the binding margin direction flag, the paper size of the recording paper for recording the image information,
The page development direction, the layout, and the binding margin layout are determined, and the process proceeds to step S514, and the recording sheet size, the page development direction, the layout determined in step S513,
According to the arrangement of the binding margin and the binding margin, the front side image information and the back side image information saved in the drawing memory are transferred to the printing unit 17 via the printing unit interface 16 to execute printing, and the printing side flag is set to the front side. Back to
The procedure returns to step S502.

4 and 5, the paper size and binding direction of the recording paper designated by the print mode designating command, the size of the recording paper on which the image information is actually recorded, the developing direction of the page, the layout, It is a figure which shows the relationship with and arrangement | positioning of a binding margin.

FIG. 4 shows conditions under which the binding margin positions are provided on both sides of the recording paper in the left and right or up and down directions, and the printing directions on the left side and the right side or the upper side and the lower side of the recording paper are the same. For example, FIG. a) indicates that when the binding margin direction is set to be printed as left binding on both sides of A5 size recording paper,
The image information for the front side of the image information to be printed on both sides is recorded on the left side of the center folding line on one side of the recording paper of A4R which is twice the size of 5, and the image information to be printed on the back side is on the right side. It is recorded in the same direction as, and the binding margins are provided at the left end portion and the right end portion of the recording paper. Further, when the designated recording paper size is B5 or A4, it indicates that the recording is performed on the recording paper of B4R or A3R which is twice as large as the above.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a condition in which the binding margin position is provided only at one end in the left-right or up-down direction of the recording paper, and the printing directions of the left side and the right side or the upper side and the lower side of the recording paper are reversed. 5 (a) is A when the setting is made such that the binding margin direction is printed as top binding on both sides of the recording paper of A5.
Image information for the front side of the image information to be printed on both sides is recorded on the left side of the center folding line on one side of the 4R recording paper, and image information to be printed on the back side is recorded on the right side in the opposite direction to the left side. The binding margin is provided at the upper end of the recording paper. Also, the specified recording paper size is B5 or A4.
In the case of, it means that recording is performed on the recording paper of B4R or A3R in the same manner as above.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, when the printer that does not support double-sided printing is instructed to execute double-sided printing, the printer will print the double-size recording paper. If it can be printed on, the page development direction, layout, and binding margin layout are determined based on the specified recording paper size and binding margin direction, and image information to be printed on both sides of one recording paper. Is printed on one side of the double-size recording paper, it is possible to flexibly respond to the user's intention.

In the above embodiment, the LBP100
The processing when the host computer 11 instructs the printer that does not have a double-sided printing mechanism such as 0 to perform double-sided printing has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Also in the printer provided with, the image information to be printed on both sides of the recording paper of the designated size may be set to be recorded on one side of the recording paper having an area approximately twice the designated size.

Further, in the above embodiment, the paper size is described as the standard A4, B5, etc., but it is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that it is applicable to non-standard recording paper. Nor.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the schematic arrangement of an LBP 3000 that constitutes the printing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The LBP3000 is a laser beam printer capable of performing double-sided printing, and responds based on print information (character code, etc.) or form information supplied from an externally connected host computer, or a macro command. Image information such as a character pattern and a form pattern to be created is created and recorded on a recording paper as a recording medium.

The respective constituent elements of the LBP3000 will be described below. In FIG. 6, 3026 is an operation panel,
In addition to having switches for inputting various operation information, a display unit such as an LED (issuing diode) is provided. A printer control unit 3001 is an LBP.
In addition to controlling the entire 3000, a video signal such as a corresponding character pattern or form pattern is created on the basis of print information (character code, etc.) or form information supplied from a host computer, or a macro command,
It outputs to the laser driver 3002. When performing double-sided printing by the LBP3000, the printer control unit 3001 firstly, based on the print information for the back surface (second surface) of the print information for both surfaces of the recording paper supplied from the host computer. The created video signal is output to the laser driver 3002, and then the video signal for the front surface (first surface) is output to the laser driver 3002.

The laser driver 3002 is the semiconductor laser 3
A drive circuit for driving the laser beam 003, which controls ON / OFF switching of the laser beam 3004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 3003 according to the video signal input from the printer control unit 3001.

The laser beam 3004 emitted from the semiconductor laser 3003 is oscillated in the left-right direction by the rotating polygon mirror 3005 to scan and expose the electrostatic drum 3006. As a result, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern corresponding to the video signal is formed on the electrostatic drum 3006. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing unit 3007 arranged around the electrostatic drum 3006, and then transferred to a recording paper.

Cut sheets used as recording paper are stored in a paper cassette 3008, and from the paper cassette 3008 a paper feed roller 3009 and a first conveying roller 3 are provided.
It is taken into the apparatus by 010 and the second conveying roller 3011 and is supplied to the electrostatic drum 3006.

Electrostatic drum 3006 and developing unit 3
The recording paper which has been developed and transferred to the back surface in 007, the third conveyance roller 3012, the fourth conveyance roller 3013,
And the fixing device 3015 by the fifth conveyance roller 3014.
To the first switching device 30
The seventh and sixth conveying rollers 3018 convey to the seventh conveying roller 3019, and the seventh conveying roller 30
Held once at 19 for switchback.

The recording paper switched back by the seventh transport roller 3019 is the second switch 3020,
Eighth transport roller 3021 and second transport roller 3
By 011 the electrostatic drum 3006 and the developing unit 3
It is conveyed to 007, the development and transfer to the surface are performed, the third conveying roller 3012, the fourth conveying roller 3013,
And the fixing device 3015 by the fifth conveyance roller 3014.
To the second switching device 30
22, eighth transport roller 3023, ninth transport roller 3
024 and the tenth transport roller 3025 discharge the sheet to the sheet discharge tray.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control system of the apparatus of this embodiment. Since this control system is the same as the control system of the first embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the flow of print processing controlled by the host computer 11 and the printer control unit 1001. In the figure, steps S901 to S909 correspond to step S501 in FIG.
The description is omitted because it is the same as S509 to S509.

If it is determined in step S909 that the print mode set in the print mode designation flag is the one-sided print mode, the flow advances to step S910 to print on the recording paper of the designated size. Also, it is determined whether or not it is possible to print on the recording paper having a size twice the designated size. If printing can be performed on the recording paper of the specified size, the process proceeds to step S911, and the contents stored in the drawing memory are used as they are for the printing unit interface 16
It is transferred to the printing unit 17 via the and is recorded on the recording paper.

If it is determined in step S910 that printing can be performed only on a recording sheet having a size twice the designated size, the flow advances to step S912 to check the printing surface flag. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the printing surface flag can be set from the first page to the fourth page for which printing is designated.
When the print surface flag is set to the first page in 12, the process advances to step S913 to save the recording content of the drawing memory set in the RAM 19 and acquire a new drawing memory to print the print surface. The flag is switched to the second page, and the process returns to step S902.

If the printing surface flag is set to the second page in step S912, the process proceeds to step S914, the paper size flag and the binding margin flag are checked, and as shown in FIGS. According to the above example, the paper size of the recording paper on which the image information is recorded, the page development direction, the layout, and the binding margin layout are determined.

Next, in step S915, the first page saved in each drawing memory (according to the recording paper size, page development direction, layout, and binding margin layout determined in step S914). The image information of the front side and the image information of the second page (back side) are transferred to the printing unit 17 via the printing unit interface 16 to execute printing, and the printing surface flag is set to the first value.
Return to the page and return to step S902.

If it is determined in step S909 that the print mode is the double-sided print mode, the flow advances to step S916 to check the print surface flag, and if the print surface flag is the first page or the third page. If it is set to the page, the process proceeds to step S917, and the printing surface flag is incremented by one page (if it is the first page, it is the second page, if it is the third page, it is the fourth page).
Along with the page), the drawing memory in which the image information of the printing surface is stored is saved, a new drawing memory is acquired, and the process returns to step S902.

If it is determined in step S916 that the printing surface is the second page, step S916
Proceeding to step 918, it is determined whether printing can be performed on the recording paper of the designated size and recording paper having a size twice the designated size. When printing is possible on the recording paper of the specified size, the process proceeds to step S919, and the storage contents of the drawing memories of the first page and the second page and the specified binding margin direction are set via the printing unit interface 16. And transfers it to the printing unit 17 to perform double-sided printing by providing a binding margin corresponding to the designated binding margin direction on the recording paper of the designated size, and returns the printing surface flag to the first page. The procedure returns to step S902.

If it is determined in step S918 that printing can be performed only on the recording paper having a size twice the designated size, the flow advances to step S920 to save the drawing memory and save a new drawing memory. Acquire, set the printing surface flag to the third page, and execute the step S9.
Return to 02.

When it is determined in step S916 that the printing surface is the fourth page, the paper size flag and the binding direction flag are checked to check the size of the recording paper on which the image information is recorded and the page number. The development direction, the layout, and the binding margin layout are determined, and the process proceeds to step S921, and is saved in the drawing memory according to the size of the recording paper, the page development direction, the layout, and the binding margin layout determined in step S916. From the first page to the fourth
The image information of the page is transferred to the printing unit 17 via the printing unit interface 16 to print on both sides of the recording paper, and the printing surface flag is returned to the first page,
The procedure returns to step S902.

9 to 12 show the paper size and the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the print mode designation command, the size of the recording paper on which the image information is actually recorded, the developing direction of the page, the layout, It is a figure which shows the relationship with and arrangement | positioning of a binding margin.

FIG. 9 shows the condition that the binding margin positions are provided at both ends of the recording paper in the left-right direction, the left and right printing directions of the recording paper are the same, and the front and back printing directions of the recording paper are the same. For example, in FIG. 9A, when the setting is made so that the binding direction is left binding on both sides of the A5 recording sheet, the image of the first page is displayed on the left side of the center cut line on the recording sheet surface of the A4R. The information is recorded, the image information of the fourth page is recorded on the right side in the same direction as the left side, and the image information of the third page is recorded on the left side of the cut line on the back side of the recording paper in the same direction as the front side. The right side shows that the image information of the second page is recorded in the same direction as the front side. If the designated recording paper size is B5 or A4, it indicates that the recording paper is recorded on B4R or A3R recording paper, respectively.

In FIG. 10, the binding margin positions are provided at both ends in the vertical direction of the recording paper, the upper and lower printing directions of the recording paper are the same, and the printing directions of the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper are opposite. For example, FIG. 10A shows the image of the first page above the center cut line on the front surface of the recording sheet of A4 when the binding direction is set to print on both sides of the recording sheet of A5R. The information is recorded, the image information of the fourth page is recorded on the lower side in the same direction as the upper side, and the image information of the second page is recorded on the reverse side of the cut line on the back side of the recording paper in the opposite direction to the front side. , The lower side indicates that the image information of the third page is recorded in the direction opposite to the front side. If the designated recording paper size is B5R or A4R, it indicates that the recording paper is recorded on B4 or A3 recording paper, respectively.

FIG. 11 shows a condition in which the binding margin position is provided at one end in the vertical direction of the recording paper, the printing directions on the left side and the right side of the recording paper are reversed, and the printing directions on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper are the same. For example, in FIG. 11A, when the binding direction is set to be printed as top binding on both sides of the recording sheet of A5, the first line is placed on the left side of the center cut line on the surface of the recording sheet of A4R.
The image information of the page is recorded, the image information of the fourth page is recorded on the right side in the opposite direction to the front side, and the image information of the third page is recorded on the left side of the cut line on the back side of the recording paper in the same direction as the front side. Indicates that the image information of the second page is recorded on the right side in the same direction as the front side. If the designated recording paper size is B5 or A4, it indicates that the recording paper is recorded on B4R or A3R recording paper, respectively.

In FIG. 12, the binding margin position is provided at one end of the recording paper in the left-right direction, the printing directions on the upper side and the lower side of the recording paper are reversed, and the printing directions on the front and back sides of the recording paper are the same. For example, FIG. 12A shows the image of the fourth page above the center folding line on the front surface of the recording sheet of A4 when the binding direction is set to be printed on both sides of the recording sheet of A5R as left binding. The information is recorded, the image information of the first page is recorded on the lower side in the opposite direction to the upper side, and the image information of the third page is recorded on the upper side of the folding line on the back side of the recording paper in the same direction as the front side. , Indicates that the image information of the second page is recorded in the same direction as the front side on the lower side. If the designated recording paper size is B5R or A4R, it indicates that the recording paper is recorded on B4 or A3 recording paper, respectively.

FIG. 13 shows a condition in which the binding margin position is provided in the center of the recording paper, the left and right printing directions of the recording paper are the same, and the front and back printing directions of the recording paper are the same. FIG. 13A shows that when the binding direction is set to be printed as left binding on both sides of the A5 recording paper,
The image information of the fourth page is recorded on the left side of the center folding line on the front side of the recording paper of A4R, and the image information of the first page is recorded on the right side in the same direction as the left side. Shows that the image information of the second page is recorded in the same direction as the front surface, and the image information of the third page is recorded in the same direction as the front surface on the right side. If the designated recording paper size is B5 or A4, B4
Indicates that the image is recorded on R or A3R recording paper.

FIG. 14 shows a condition in which the binding margin position is provided in the central portion of the recording paper, the upper and lower printing directions of the recording paper are the same, and the printing directions of the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper are opposite, For example, in FIG. 14A, when the binding is set to print on both sides of the A5R recording sheet as top binding,
The image information of the fourth page is recorded on the upper side of the center folding line of the recording sheet of A4, the image information of the first page is recorded on the lower side in the same direction as the upper side, and on the folding line of the back side of the recording sheet. The side shows that the image information of the third page is recorded in the direction opposite to the front side, and the lower side shows that the image information of the second page is recorded in the direction opposite to the front side. If the designated recording paper size is B5R or A4R, it indicates that the recording paper is recorded on B4 or A3 recording paper, respectively.

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, when it is instructed to execute the printing on the recording paper of the incompatible size, the printer changes the recording paper of the double size to the recording paper of the double size. If printable, the page expansion direction, layout, and page orientation based on the specified recording paper size and binding direction
And the layout of the binding margin is determined, and the image information to be printed on both sides of the two recording sheets is printed on both sides of the double-sized recording sheet. Therefore, the user's intention can be flexibly dealt with. Printing can be performed.

In the above embodiment, the double-sided recording paper is printed on both sides only when the double-sided printing on the specified size recording paper is impossible. However, the present invention is not limited to this. However, even if double-sided printing can be performed on a designated recording paper, it is of course possible to print on both sides of the double-sized recording paper depending on the setting.

Further, in the above embodiment, the paper size is described as the standard A4, B5, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to nonstandard recording paper. Needless to say.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the method of printing on both sides of the double-size recording paper is explained as so-called bag binding printing in which the center of the recording paper is a cut line, but it is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Instead of this method, it is possible to use a printing method in which the center of the paper is folded as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to the laser beam printer has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention may be applied to printers of other systems.

[0075]

As described above, according to the printing apparatus of the first aspect, the printing means prints on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means by the discriminating means. It is determined whether or not it is possible, double-sided printing is designated by the double-sided printing designating unit, and it is determined by the determining unit that the printing apparatus can print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the designated size. At this time, the control means controls the double-sided printing so as to print the image information of the specified front surface and the back surface on one side of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size. Even if it is equipped with, or even if the specified recording paper size cannot be supported, it is possible to print all the specified image information on the recording paper of approximately twice the size.

According to the printing apparatus of the second aspect,
The determining means determines whether or not the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means, and the double-sided printing designating means designates double-sided printing. When it is determined that the printing apparatus can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the first control unit
The double-sided printing is controlled so as to print the image information of the designated front and back sides on one side of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the designated size, and the first control is performed by the second control means. During single-sided printing by means, the printing direction and printing position of the front and back image information, and the binding margin position are determined in correspondence with the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating means. Therefore, even when only the single-sided printing mechanism is installed, or even when the specified recording paper size cannot be supported, it is possible to print all the specified image information on the recording paper of approximately twice the size.

According to the printing apparatus of the third aspect,
The determining means determines whether or not the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means, and the double-sided printing designating means designates double-sided printing and the determination is made. When it is determined by the means that the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the control means controls the image information for a plurality of consecutive pages for which the double-sided printing is specified. Is controlled so as to be printed on each of the front and back sides of the recording paper having a size of about twice the specified size, even if the specified recording paper size cannot be accommodated. It is possible to print all the specified image information on the recording paper of the size.

According to the printing apparatus of the fourth aspect,
The determining means determines whether or not the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating means, and the double-sided printing designating means designates double-sided printing. When it is determined that the printing apparatus can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size, the first control unit
The double-sided printing is controlled so as to print the image information of a plurality of designated continuous pages for each two pages on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size. The control means, in the double-sided printing by the first control means, corresponding to the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating means, the printing direction and the printing position of the image information of the plurality of pages. , And the binding margin position are determined, it is possible to print all the specified image information on the recording paper of approximately twice the size even when the specified recording paper size cannot be accommodated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of control performed by the control system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a specified paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a specified paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system of the device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of control performed by the control system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a designated paper size and binding direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a designated paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between a specified paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a designated paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between a designated paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a designated paper size and binding margin direction, a recorded paper size, a drawing position, and a binding margin setting position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 CPU 17 printing unit 19 DKC 20 external memory 21 bidirectional interface 11 host computer 1015 operation unit 1000 LBP 3000 LBP

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus comprising a double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing and a size designating means for designating a size of a recording paper, wherein the printing apparatus is substantially the size designated by the size designating means. A discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not it is possible to print on a recording sheet having a size twice as large, and double-sided printing is designated by the double-sided printing designating unit, and the printing device is approximately twice the designated size by the determining unit. When it is determined that printing is possible on the size of recording paper,
A printing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls the double-sided printing so that image information of a specified front surface and a back surface is printed on one side of a recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size. . 2. A printing apparatus comprising a double-sided printing designating unit for designating double-sided printing, a size designating unit for designating a size of recording paper, and a binding margin direction designating unit for designating a binding margin direction of the recording paper, A determination unit that determines whether the printing apparatus can print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating unit, and double-sided printing is designated by the double-sided printing designation unit, and the determination is made. When it is determined by the means that the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size,
First control means for controlling the double-sided printing so as to record the image information of the specified front surface and the back surface on one side of the recording paper having a size approximately twice the specified size;
At the time of one-sided printing by the control means, corresponding to the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the binding margin direction designating means,
A printing apparatus comprising: a second control unit that determines a printing direction and a printing position of the image information on the front surface and the back surface, and a binding margin position. 3. A printing apparatus comprising a double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing and a size designating means for designating a size of a recording paper, wherein the printing apparatus is substantially the same as the size designated by the size designating means. A discriminating unit that discriminates whether or not it is possible to print on a recording sheet having a size twice as large, and double-sided printing is designated by the double-sided printing designating unit, and the printing device is approximately twice the designated size by the determining unit. When it is determined that printing is possible on the size of recording paper,
And a control means for controlling the double-sided printing so as to print image data for a plurality of designated continuous pages on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper having a size approximately twice as large as the designated size. A printing device characterized by being provided. 4. A printing apparatus comprising: double-sided printing designating means for designating double-sided printing; size designating means for designating a size of recording paper; and binding margin direction designating means for designating a binding direction of the recording paper. The printing device determines whether or not it is possible to print on a recording sheet having a size approximately twice the size designated by the size designating unit, and the double-sided printing designating unit designates double-sided printing and the determining unit. When it is determined that the printing device can print on the recording paper having a size that is approximately twice the specified size, the double-sided printing is performed for each two consecutive pages of image information for a plurality of consecutive pages. A first control unit that controls to print on the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper that is approximately twice the specified size, and the binding margin during double-sided printing by the first control unit. A second control means for determining a printing direction and a printing position of the image information of the plurality of pages and a binding margin position corresponding to the binding margin direction of the recording paper designated by the direction designating means. And printing device.