JPH082019A - Image output equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to dispense with an operation of restacking on a stacker by detecting switchover of a one-side output and a both-side output and by passing one-side output data through a both-side output path with blank paper data added onto the other side. CONSTITUTION:When a forced both-side printing mode is designated for the case where pages of a one-side output and a both-side output are present mixedly in the same job, CPU 2 judges whether a page to be printed is the both-side output page or not. When it is the both-side output page, both-side printing is executed in confomity with prescribed regulations on the basis of information of a side index 4d. In the case of the one-side output, it is judged according to the information of the side index 4d whether the output is of a surface page or not. When it is of the surface page, the surface page is prepared in accordance with the designation. It is stored in the side index 4d that the page to be prepared next is the rear. On the occasion of the rear page, the rear blank paper page is prepared, the surface is set in a storage area of the side index 4d and the surface page is prepared.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image output device,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image output device in which the stacking direction on the stacker is different between single-sided output and double-sided output.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an example as shown in FIG. 5 is conceivable in an image output apparatus in which the stacker stacking direction for single-sided output is different from that for double-sided output with respect to the sheet conveying direction. Figure 5
The following shows the case of single-sided output and double-sided output with respect to the paper setting direction on the paper feed tray and the paper stacking direction on the stacker, respectively.

As is clear from FIG. 5, in the case of single-sided printing, the paper setting direction on the paper feed tray and the paper stacking direction on the stacker are opposite to the paper transport direction. Further, in the case of double-sided printing, the paper setting direction on the paper feed tray and the paper stacking direction on the stacker are the same as the paper transport direction. In the image output apparatus as described above, when a single-sided output job or a double-sided output job is continuously printed, sheets having different stacking directions are mixed and stacked in the stacker.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. In an image output device that has a mechanism in which the stacking direction on the stacker is different for single-sided output and double-sided output, if you use a sheet with binding holes for output, you can print only one-sided output jobs or two-sided output jobs. Although it is good to do so, if you output a single-sided output job and a double-sided output job in succession and output continuously, the stacking holes may be mixed and stacked in the stacker. Stacked in the opposite direction when outputting one side and when outputting both sides. Therefore, it is necessary for the operator to manually reload the sheets after taking out the sheets from the stacker.

Further, when one side and both sides are mixed in one job, it takes more time to re-load than the above case, and there is much waste. Suppose that the output device unconditionally develops both sides in order to prevent the above-described mixed print data of one side and both sides. Normally, when creating print data in which one-sided and two-sided are mixed, when one-sided or both-sided switching is performed, designation is made by a control command such as one-sided-> two-sided or two-sided-> one-sided switching. After switching to both sides, the pages are created in the order of the analyzed pages, that is, front side → back side → front side → back side.

In the above case, when the output device side instructs the double-sided output, the control command for switching one side → two sides or both sides → one side is ignored, and the front side is analyzed in the order of the analyzed pages.
Created with the back side. This will be described with an example.

For example, looking at the print data shown in FIG. 2 as an example, since the first two sheets are naturally designated to output both sides first, the combination of the front side and the back side does not change, but 3 to
In the single-sided output portion of the fourth sheet, page 5 is the front side and page 6 is printed on the back side.

In the case of print data as shown in FIG. 6, page 1 is the front side, page 2 is the back side, page 3 is the front side, and page 4 is the back side. As described above, even if the output device side simply specifies the double-sided output, the print result originally intended will be different.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a single-sided / single-sided image output apparatus having a mechanism in which stacking directions on a stacker are different between single-sided output and double-sided output.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image output device that does not need to perform a transshipment work on a stacker when outputting double-sided mixed data, particularly on paper with binding holes, and can output a print result as originally intended.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, an image output apparatus of the present invention comprises a switching detection means for detecting switching between single-sided output and double-sided output, and one-sided output data for the other side. Is provided with means for adding blank data to and passing through the double-sided output path. Further, instead of the above-mentioned means, there is provided means for dividing the two-sided output data into two separately and passing them through the one-sided output path. Further, instead of the above-mentioned means, a means is provided for notifying an error prompting a change in the paper setting direction when it is detected that the one-sided output is switched to the two-sided output or the two-sided output is switched to the one-sided output. Alternatively, at least two of these means are provided, and means for allowing the operator to select these means is provided. Note that these means will be hereinafter referred to as a print mode.

[0011]

With the above configuration, even if one-sided jobs or both-sided jobs are mixed, or even if one-sided and two-sided data are mixed in the same job, by selecting an appropriate print mode, the stacker (EN) Provided is an image output device that does not need to be aware of loading. Next, the operation relating to the processing in the forced double-sided printing mode will be described as the present embodiment.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An image output apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration example of this embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image output apparatus main body of this embodiment, which includes the following configuration. Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU, which is, for example, a microcomputer, and which follows a program stored in the ROM 3 or the like.
The entire image output device is controlled via the CPU bus 2a. A RAM 4 is used as a work area for the CPU 2. The RAM 4 has a page buffer 4a for storing print data on a page-by-page basis, a page management table 4b for managing the page buffer, a variable 4c for storing a print mode, and a front side or a back side of a page to be created next. Side index 4d to indicate
including. The print mode 4c can be changed from the console 5 as well.

FIG. 2 is a sample job form used in the description of the embodiment of the present invention. This is an example in which double-sided output and single-sided output are mixed in the same job. The first two sheets are double-sided output, the third and fourth sheets are single-sided output, and thereafter, double-sided output is performed again. In the present embodiment, for such a job, the processing when the forced double-sided output mode is selected will be described. However, 2- and 2- are pages that do not actually exist because they are originally single-sided output.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the page management table 4b created when forced double-sided output is performed for the job shown in FIG. The page number is different from the page number in FIG. The pages 5 and 6 in FIG. 2 are single-sided output, but in FIG. 3, since they are created as double-sided output pages, the single-sided double-sided attributes are all double-sided.

Pages 5 and 6 of FIG. 2 correspond to FIG.
Pages 5 and 7. Also, pages 6 and 8 in FIG. 3 correspond to the original pages shown by 2- and 2 in FIG. The sideindex is information indicating whether the page is the front surface or the back surface of both sides, and the start address indicates the address of the page to the page buffer 4a. The start address is not set for pages 6 and 8 in FIG. 3, but this is a page that originally did not exist.
This indicates that a blank page has been inserted for double-sided output. The other elements of the page management table 4b are omitted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure when the forced double-sided printing mode is designated in the present embodiment, when single-sided output and double-sided output pages are mixed in the same job. A description will be given based on this flowchart.

First, in step S1, print data is fetched and an analysis process is performed. As a result of the analysis, in step S2, it is determined whether the page is a double-sided page. If it is a double-sided output page, step S
Go to 3. In step S3, it is determined whether or not there is a surface designation for the page. If the surface is designated, the process proceeds to step S7. If no surface is designated, the sideindex storage area 4d is checked in step S4. That is, it is checked whether the page attribute variable described later is front or back. This sideindex indicates whether the page to be created next is a front page or a back page. S in step S4
If the side index is the back side, the process proceeds to step S5, and after the back page is created, the side index is set in step S6.
It is stored in the index storage area 4d that the next page to be created is a front page, and the process returns to step S1.

If the page is single-sided in step S2, the flow advances to step S7 to check the sideindex storage area. If it is a front page, the front page can be created as it is specified, so that the page is created as the front page in step S8. After that, in step S9, it is stored in the sideindex storage area 4d that the next page to be created is the back, and the process returns to step S1.

If the sideindex storage area 4d is the back side in step S7, the back side of the previous sheet has not been created yet in step S10, so a back side blank page is created. Then, in step S11, sideinde
A table is set in the x storage area, and the process proceeds to step S8 to create a table page. If the surface is specified in step S3,
That is, even when the page is designated as a front page by double-sided designation, the sideindex storage area 4d is similarly checked in step S7, and in the case of a table, step S8 is performed as described above.
Proceed to and create a front page.

If it is the back side in step S7, that is, if both sides are designated and the sideindex is the back side, the process proceeds to step S10 as described above and a back side blank page is created. Sideinde in step S4
If the x storage area 4d is a table, that is, if there is no surface designation on both sides and the sideindex storage area 4d is a table, the process proceeds to step S8 and a table page is created as usual.

(Other Embodiments) In the part of the above-mentioned embodiment,
The case where single-sided / double-sided output is switched in the same job has been described, but a method of changing all double-sided output data to single-sided output is also effective. That is, when there is print data on both sides, one sheet is divided into two sheets and output.

Further, when switching from one side to both sides or from both sides to one side, an operator call is made so that the operator can have a means for reversing the sheet setting direction of the paper feed tray at that time. . In this case, it seems to be effective for the operation mode in which switching is not frequently performed.

Further, in the present invention, the method of setting the print mode has a style specified from the console, but means for changing the specification in a default file for setting the initial value of the system may be considered. In addition, when changing the print mode, not only is it changed at the operator's level, but when the host computer transfers print data, printing is performed with control commands etc. at the beginning of the job according to the mixing ratio of double-sided / single-sided. Since a method of changing the mode is also conceivable, this method allows the operator to proceed with the process without considering the print mode.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the image output device in which the stacking direction of the sheets on the stacker is different at the time of single-sided or double-sided output, the operator does not have to be aware of the sheet setting direction on the sheet feed tray, and the stacker does not have to be aware. Efficient business operation can be performed for double-sided / single-sided output processing without manually re-loading the paper loaded in the stack.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration example of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a job form described in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a page management table created by the processing of this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a stacking direction on a paper feed tray and a stacker related to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a job form used in the description of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Image Output Device Main Body 2 CPU 3 ROM 4 RAM 5 Console

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image output device capable of double-sided printing, wherein means for detecting switching between single-sided output and double-sided output, and single-sided output data are added not to a single-sided printing path but to blank paper data on the other side. An image output device having means for passing through a double-sided output path. 2. In an image output device capable of double-sided printing, means for detecting switching of single-sided output and double-sided output, and switching by the detecting means to single-sided output to double-sided output or double-sided output to single-sided output. An image output device having means for notifying an error of changing the paper setting direction when it is detected that the paper is set. 3. An image output device capable of double-sided printing, comprising means for detecting switching between single-sided output and double-sided output, and means for separately dividing two-sided output data into two-sided output paths. An image forming apparatus characterized by having. 4. In an image output device capable of double-sided printing, a detecting means for detecting switching between single-sided output and double-sided output, and single-sided output data is added not to a single-sided printing pass but to blank paper data on the other side. However, when the double-sided output path passing means for passing the double-sided output path and the detecting means detects that the single-sided output is switched to the double-sided output or the double-sided output is switched to the single-sided output, an error indicating that the paper setting direction is changed The error notifying means for notifying, the single-sided output path passing means for separately passing the two-sided output data into the single-sided output paths, and the double-sided output path passing means, the error notifying means and the single-sided output path passing means An image output device comprising a selecting means for selecting any one of them. 5. An image output device capable of double-sided printing, an analyzing means for reading print data and analyzing the print data, a page determining means for determining a double-sided page or a single-sided page from the result of the analyzing means, and the page determining After determining that the page is a one-sided page, the front and back determining means determines whether the page is front or back, and when the front and back determining means determines that the page is a back side, a creating means for creating a blank page on the back side is provided. Image forming output device. 6. The image output device according to claim 5,
An image output device, further comprising: a creation unit that creates a front or back page of a double-sided page based on a front-side instruction or a determination of front-side or back-side when the page determination unit determines that the page is a double-sided page . 7. The image output device according to claim 5, wherein after the page is created by the creating means, the data is the opposite of the created page as the data of the obverse and reverse judgment means. An image forming apparatus further comprising setting means for setting the front and back sides of the image forming apparatus.