JPH1097396A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print plural jobs which are processed independently of each other on a form in each page one after another. SOLUTION: A mode setting means of an image processor sets this processor in a job parallel print mode. When two jobs JOB1 and JOB2 which are processed independently of each other are successively issued, a client adds the same related identifiers to both Jobs JOB1 and JOB2. The image processor generates a page image of the JOB1 that is earlier issued and stores it as the page image of a stand-by job. Then the image processor generates a page image of the later JOB2 and also decides from the related identifiers of both Jobs JOB1 and JOB2 that the page images on both Jobs should be printed on a form in each page one often another. Thus, the image processor generates the print image data to print the page images of both jobs JOB1 and JOB2 on a form in each page one after another.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for an image forming system such as a printer or a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When printing or copying a document with a printer or a copying machine, it is necessary to allocate a plurality of pages of an image in one job as a one-page image and print out the image on one sheet of paper. (Nu
known as p). For example, JP-A-4-3171
No. 82, JP-A-6-30923 and the like disclose that two pages of image in one job are allocated as one page image and printed out on one sheet of paper.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-44245 discloses that a plurality of document files constitute one document as a whole or independent documents, thereby constituting one document as a whole. At times, it is shown that one document including the plurality of document files is continuously printed two pages on one sheet.

[0004] Further, although not related to N-up, JP-A-7-200202 discloses one composite document by inserting a job from another higher-level device into a job in a page unit with respect to a job from a higher-level device. Has been shown to create.

Also, although not related to N-up, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-148994 discloses that a plurality of printing apparatuses each having a separate paper feed unit can be used to separate images of different pages or images of the same page on separate sheets. The upper part shows that the printout is performed simultaneously.

[0006]

However, in the conventional system called N-up, a plurality of pages in one job are allocated as one page image and printed on one sheet of paper. It is not possible to print a plurality of independently processed jobs, for example, page images of two jobs side by side on a sheet of paper.

The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-44245 also prints images of two pages in one continuous document on one sheet of paper. Further, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-200202 merely creates one composite document from a plurality of jobs.

Further, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-148994 prints different page images or the same page image simultaneously on separate papers by a plurality of printing devices, and is also independent of each other. This does not mean that page images of a plurality of processed jobs are printed side by side on a sheet of paper.

However, even if a plurality of jobs are processed independently of each other, it may be convenient to print the page images of the plurality of jobs side by side on a sheet of paper, or if it is possible to print side by side.

For example, if one of the two jobs is a document written in a foreign language, the other is a document translated from the description in the foreign language into Japanese, or one is a document of a presentation sentence for presentation, If the other is a document of material such as graphs or tables, or one is a document of the test question,
If the other is a document of the answer to it, part 2
By printing the page images of one job side by side on a sheet in a page unit, it is convenient to compare two related documents.

Further, even if the documents are not related documents, the page images of the two jobs are arranged and printed out on a sheet in a page unit, and thereafter, the sheet is cut into two documents, thereby forming one job. The time required for printing can be reduced and the cost of paper can be saved, as compared with the case of sequentially printing and outputting each time.

Therefore, the present invention is, firstly, capable of printing page images of a plurality of jobs processed independently of each other on a sheet in a page unit.

If images of the same page of the same job can be printed side by side on a sheet of paper, for example,
By cutting the sheet after printing, compared to the case where the image of the same page is simultaneously printed on separate sheets by a plurality of printing devices as in the method disclosed in JP-A-7-148994 described above, In addition, the cost of the system can be reduced, and the cost of paper can be reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention is, secondly, capable of printing the same page image of the same job side by side on a sheet of paper.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as an image processing apparatus, a page image acquiring unit for acquiring a page image for each job, and a page for storing the page image acquired by the page image acquiring unit. Image storing means, mode setting means for setting a job parallel printing mode for arranging and printing page images of a plurality of jobs on paper in page units, and the job parallel printing mode is set by the mode setting means. Mode determining means for determining whether or not the job parallel printing mode is set by the mode determining means; and a page image of the job acquired by the page image acquiring means and the page image when the job parallel printing mode is set. The page image of the waiting job stored in the storage unit and A print image data generation means for generating print image data for printing are arranged in page units on a sheet, the provision.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, the print image data generating means matches the related identifier included in the job with the related identifier included in the waiting job. At this time, it is assumed that print image data for printing the page image of the job and the page image of the waiting job side by side on a sheet in units of pages.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the mode setting means prints the page images of a plurality of jobs having no associated identifiers on a sheet of paper in a page unit and prints the job without the identifier. It is assumed that a parallel printing mode can be set, and the mode determination means sets a related identifier for the job when the mode setting means sets the parallel printing mode for the non-identifier job.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as the image processing apparatus, a page image acquiring means for acquiring a page image for each job, and a same page parallel for arranging and printing the same page image of the same job on a sheet by page unit. Mode setting means for setting a print mode;
A mode determining means for determining whether or not the same page parallel printing mode is set by the mode setting means; and a mode determining means for determining whether or not the same page parallel printing mode is set by the mode determining means. Print image data generating means for generating print image data for arranging and printing the same page image of the job acquired by the image acquiring means on a sheet in units of pages.

[0019]

In the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user sets the job parallel printing mode by the mode setting means, or when the user sets the job parallel printing mode, the user operates the image processing apparatus. A plurality of print jobs are sequentially issued to the apparatus, or a plurality of originals are sequentially read by a scanner unit of the apparatus, and a plurality of copy jobs are sequentially issued to the apparatus. Are sequentially issued, the page image of each job other than the last job is stored in the page image storage unit as the page image of the waiting job.

When the last job is issued, the page image of the job is acquired by the page image acquiring means as the page image of the job, and the page image acquiring means is acquired by the print image data generating means. The print image data for printing the page image of the job acquired by the above and the page image of the waiting job stored in the page image storage means on the paper side by side in page units is generated, and the print image data Is sent from the image processing device to the printing device. Therefore, in the printing apparatus, the page images of a plurality of jobs processed independently of each other are printed side by side on a sheet and printed.

In the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, when a user sequentially issues a plurality of jobs to be printed in parallel, the same related identifier is added to each job to perform printing. The image data generating means generates print image data for arranging and printing page images of a plurality of jobs having the same associated identifier on a sheet in page units. Therefore, in the printing device, the page images of a plurality of jobs that the user wants to print in parallel are arranged and printed on paper in page units.

In the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of jobs are sequentially issued to the apparatus even if the user does not add a related identifier to the plurality of jobs to be printed in parallel. When the mode setting unit sets the parallel printing mode for the non-existent job, the mode determining unit sets the related identifier such that, for the plurality of jobs issued sequentially, the plurality of jobs are printed in parallel. Is set, and the print image data generating means generates print image data for arranging and printing page images of a plurality of jobs for which the related identifiers are set on a sheet in page units. Therefore, in the printing apparatus, page images of a plurality of jobs are printed on a sheet in a page unit.

In the image processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same page parallel printing mode is set by the mode setting means or the same page parallel printing mode is set. When a user issues a job to the apparatus, print image data generating means prints image data for printing the same page image of the job acquired by the page image acquiring means on a sheet by arranging the page. Is generated, and the print image data is sent from the image processing device to the printing device. Therefore, in the printing apparatus, the same page image of the same job is printed side by side on the paper in page units.

[0024]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a network image forming system using an image forming apparatus provided with an example of the image processing apparatus of the present invention as an image processing section. The image forming apparatus 10 is connected.

The network 1 is a communication network such as a LAN (local area network). The client device 2 includes a workstation, a personal computer, and the like, and issues a print job to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 1.

The print job is a PostScript (AdobeSys
page description language (Page Descr)
Job information is added to the print information described in iption language, and the job attribute information includes the client name and document name for the print attribute information such as the paper size and number of copies to be printed. It is added.

This embodiment is for the case where two jobs can be printed in parallel. When the client wants to print two jobs in parallel, as described later,
For each job, a control statement indicating that the job is a related identifier and a subsequent related identifier are added.

In this example, the image forming apparatus 10 receives a print job from the client device 2 and performs printing.
Alternatively, a copy job is received and copy is performed, which will be described later. The job receiving unit 11, the scanner unit 12, the job processing unit 13, the storage unit 14, the print image data generation unit 15, the printing unit 16, and the post-processing unit 17, a control device unit 21, an identifier detection determination unit 22, an output control unit 23, and a user interface unit 24.

The job receiving unit 11 receives a print job transmitted from the client device 2 via the network 1 and sends print information and job attribute information to the job processing unit 13. When a control statement and a related identifier indicating that the print job is a related identifier are included,
The job receiving unit 11 also sends the control statement and the related identifier to the job processing unit 13.

The scanner section 12 reads an original and obtains image data, and the obtained image data is supplied to the job processing section 13 as a page image.

The job processing section 13 interprets and executes the print information described in the page description language from the job receiving section 11 to develop and generate image data of the page image, and also generates the image data of the page image from the scanner section 12. The data is subjected to necessary processing, and the image data of the generated or processed page image is written to a page image storage means set in the storage unit 14 as described later.

The storage unit 14 is an internal storage device such as a semiconductor memory or an external storage device such as a hard disk. A page image storage unit (storage area) is set for each job by the control unit 21, and the page image storage is performed. The page image from the job processing unit 13 is written into the unit, and the page image for generating print image data is read from the page image storage unit.

The print image data generating unit 15 is controlled by the control unit 21 via the output control unit 23, reads out a necessary page image from the page image storage means of the storage unit 14, and generates print image data. .

The printing unit 16 outputs the print image data from the print image data generation unit 15 onto paper, and the post-processing unit 17 performs staple binding on the printed matter from the printing unit 16. Post-processing such as stapling and cutting is performed.

The identifier detection / determination unit 22 detects the presence or absence of a related identifier in the print job, and if there is a related identifier, determines the content of the related identifier, and passes the detection determination result to the control unit 21.

The control unit 21 determines the print mode set by the user interface unit 24 as described later, and based on the determination result and the detection determination result from the identifier detection determination unit 22, the storage device unit 14 and the output control unit 23 are controlled. Further, the control device unit 21 controls the job processing unit 13 and the like. The output controller 23 controls the print image data generator 15 and the printer 16.

The user interface unit 24 allows the administrator of the network image forming system to set the print mode in advance, and when the client causes the scanner unit 12 to read the original and copy the original. The client can set the print mode.

That is, at the time of setting the print mode, a print setting screen 24a as shown in FIG. 6, for example, is displayed on the user interface unit 24. "Yes" is instructed on whether or not to print jobs side by side. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 enters the job parallel printing mode. FIG. 6 shows a case where "yes" is designated. In this case, for example, "yes" is shaded.

If the administrator instructs “No” for whether to “print jobs side by side”, the image forming apparatus 10 is not set to the job parallel printing mode, and the client performs printing via the network 1. When submitting a job,
Even when a control statement and a related identifier are added to two jobs as described above, the two jobs are not printed in parallel.

When the administrator sets the job parallel printing mode, the administrator further instructs “arrange” for “jobs without associated identifiers” to “arrange” or “not align”. The non-existent job parallel printing mode can be set. FIG. 6 shows a case in which “not arranged” is instructed and the job parallel printing mode is set, but the identifier non-existent job parallel printing mode is not set.

However, when the client wants the scanner unit 12 to read the original and copy the original,
The setting part of "Job without related identifier" is not displayed as "Side" or "Side", and the client instructs "Yes" for whether to "Side jobs and print" and When the print mode is set, the identifier non-existent job parallel print mode is automatically set.

That is, for a print job issued via the network 1, if the administrator sets the job parallel printing mode and sets the identifier non-existent job parallel printing mode, the client When issued sequentially, even if a control statement and a related identifier are not added to each job, the two jobs are printed in parallel, the administrator sets the job parallel printing mode,
If the parallel printing mode without the identifier-existing job is not set, only when the client issues a control statement and the same related identifier to each job when sequentially issuing two jobs, Two jobs are printed in parallel.

On the other hand, for a copy job using the scanner unit 12, the client sets the job parallel printing mode, so that the scanner unit 12 sequentially reads two originals without setting a related identifier. When two jobs are sequentially issued to the image forming apparatus 10, the two jobs are printed in parallel.

The administrator or the client further selects "one original" or "two originals" as the output paper on the print setting screen 24a. FIG.
This is a case where “two originals” is selected.

"One document" is a case where two jobs are printed in parallel on a sheet of the same size as the larger sheet size specified by the client in each job. This is a case where two jobs are printed in parallel on a sheet having a size twice as large as the sheet size specified by the client in each job.

For example, when the administrator or the client selects "one document", when the client specifies the A4 size in each job, two jobs are printed in parallel on A4 size paper. When the administrator or the client selects “two originals”, when the client specifies A4 size in each job, two jobs are printed in parallel on A3 size paper.

The setting of the job parallel printing mode by the client is released after the copy job from the client is executed and two jobs are printed in parallel on the paper. Automatically returns to the print mode setting state by the administrator.

Based on the print mode setting as described above on the print setting screen 24a, the image forming apparatus 10 executes processing for a print job or copy job from the client by the basic processing routine 100 shown in FIGS. I do.

That is, in the basic processing routine 100,
After the processing is started, first in step 101, the job receiving unit 11 receives a print job from a client, or the scanner unit 12 receives a copy job from a client. Then, the process proceeds to step 102, and the control unit 21 determines whether or not the setting of the image forming apparatus 10 is set to "print jobs side by side".

When the setting of the image forming apparatus 10 is set to "print jobs side by side", that is, when the job parallel printing mode is set, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 103, where the identifier detection judging section At 22, the job is accepted at step 101,
In step 120, it is determined whether or not the job processed has a related identifier.

When a client issues a print job via the network 1, two jobs JOB
When trying to print 1 and JOB2 in parallel,
For each of JOB1 and JOB2, as a control statement indicating that it is a related identifier and a subsequent related identifier, for example, as shown in FIG.
elationJobID = trans ”is added.

To print out JOB1 on the left side of the paper and print out JOB2 on the right side of the paper, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, "% RelationJobID = tran
s ”, and“% Relation ”for JOB2.
nJobID = trans, R "is added.

Job in which the client has two jobs
When the client 1 and JOB2 are to be printed out individually, the client does not add the above-described control statements and related identifiers to JOB1 and JOB2. In this case, at the time of the reception processing of the previous job JOB1,
In step 103, it is determined that the job has no related identifier.

When the client issues a copy job using the scanner unit 12, the client sets the related identifier as described above even when the two jobs JOB1 and JOB2 are to be printed in parallel. In the same manner, at the time of the reception processing of the previous job JOB1, it is determined in step 103 that the job has no related identifier.

When it is determined in step 103 that the job does not have a related identifier, the process proceeds from step 103 to step 104, where the setting of the image forming apparatus 10 in the control unit 21 is changed to "no related identifier". It is determined whether or not “sort jobs” is set, that is, whether or not the parallel printing mode for the job without the identifier is set.

As described above, for a print job issued via the network 1, when the administrator sets the job parallel printing mode and sets the identifier non-existent job parallel printing mode, the previous job is used. At the time of accepting a job 1, in step 104, it is determined that the parallel printing mode without identifier is set.

Similarly, when the client sets the job parallel printing mode for the copy job using the scanner unit 12, at the time of the reception processing of the previous job JOB1, in step 104, the identifier does not exist. It is determined that the job parallel printing mode is set.

When it is determined in step 104 that the parallel printing mode for the job without identifier is set, the process proceeds from step 104 to step 105, where the job processing unit 13 In this case, the previous job JOB
For example, “% RelationJobID = ALL” as shown in FIG. 7C is set as a related identifier that does not select a job to be subjected to parallel printing.

When the client issues a print job via the network 1, two jobs JOB
When the control statement and the related identifier as described above are added to the previous job JOB1 in order to print the job 1 and JOB2 in parallel, at the time of accepting the job 1, in step 103, the relevant job is Is determined.

When it is determined in step 103 that the job has the related identifier, or when it is determined in step 104 that the identifier non-existent job parallel printing mode is set, step 10 is executed.
When the above-described related identifier is set for JOB1 in step 5, the process proceeds from step 103 or 105 to step 106, where the control unit 21 determines whether there is a waiting job having the related identifier. That is, it is determined whether or not the page image of the waiting job having the related identifier is stored in the storage device unit 14.

At the time of accepting the previous job JOB1,
In step 106, it is determined that there is no waiting job having the related identifier.

When it is determined in step 106 that there is no waiting job having the related identifier, the process proceeds from step 106 to step 111, where the control unit 21 controls the storage unit 14 as described later. In step 120, the page image storage unit in which the page image of the job is written is stored. That is, in this case, the page image storage unit 14A in which the page image of JOB1, which is the previous job, is written.
Is stored.

Next, from step 111 to step 112
The control unit 21 sets a new page image storage unit in the storage unit 14 for the next job,
That is, in this case, the page image storage unit 14B is set for the job JOB2, and thereafter,
It returns to step 101.

When a job is received for JOB2 in step 101 and job processing is performed for JOB2 in step 120, the process proceeds to step 102, where it is determined whether or not the job parallel printing mode is set as described above. When the job parallel printing mode is set, the process further proceeds to step 103 to determine whether or not JOB2 has a related identifier.

If JOB2 does not have a related identifier, the process proceeds to step 104, where it is determined whether or not the identifier non-existent job parallel printing mode is set in the same manner as described above. If the mode is set, the process further proceeds to step 105, in which a job to be subjected to parallel printing is not selected for the job, that is, in this case, for the subsequent job JOB2. As a related identifier, FIG.
"% RelationJobID" as shown in (C)
= ALL ”is set.

When it is determined in step 103 that JOB2 has a related identifier, or when it is determined in step 104 that the parallel printing mode without an identifier-existing job is set, step 105 is performed on JOB2 as described above. When a related identifier is set, the process proceeds from step 103 or 105 to step 106 to determine whether there is a waiting job having the related identifier, that is, to determine whether the waiting job having the related identifier is in the storage unit 14. It is determined whether a page image is stored.

In this case, JOB1 exists as a waiting job having a related identifier. That is, the page image storage unit 14A of the storage unit 14 stores the JO as a page image of a waiting job having a related identifier.
The page image of B1 is stored.

When there is a waiting job having the related identifier as described above, the process proceeds from step 106 to step 107, where the identifier detecting / determining section 22 determines whether the waiting job having the related identifier is associated with the related identifier. It is determined whether or not the related identifier matches with the job having the related identifier or the related identifier set. In this case, it is determined whether or not the related identifiers of JOB1 and JOB2 match.

The related identifiers of JOB1 and JOB2 are shown in FIG.
When it is as shown in (A) or in FIG.
(C)
If it is as shown in the following, JOB1 and JOB2
Are determined to match.

As described above, in step 107, JOB1 and JOB
When it is determined that the related identifiers of OB2 match, the process proceeds from step 107 to step 108, in which the control unit 21 sends the output control unit 23 the JOB1 and JOB.
2. A page image storage unit that instructs reduction and enlargement of an image as needed based on the paper size specified in Step 2 and the above-described paper selection mode in the print setting screen 24a, and in which the page images of JOB1 and JOB2 are written. 14A and 14B, and further proceeds to step 109, where the control device 21
To instruct job parallel printing.

Then, the process proceeds to step 130, where the print image data generation unit 15 generates print image data based on an instruction from the output control unit 23 as shown in FIG. Proceeding to 140, in the printing device section 16, the print image data generation section 15
The print image data generated in step (1) is output on a sheet of paper, and the process proceeds to step S150.
The post-processing set in the job, such as staple binding or cutting, is executed on the printed matter from the printing unit 16, and the basic processing ends.

When the job parallel printing mode is set, for example, when the client
B1 and JOB2 are printed in parallel.
In order to print JOB3 and JOB4, which are two jobs, in parallel, JOB1, JOB3, JOB2, JOB
If the job is issued through the network 1 in the order of 4, the job is determined to have the related identifier in step 103 during the reception processing of the job 3, and in step 106, the job in standby having the related identifier is When it is determined that a job exists, step 10
In 7, it is determined that the related identifiers of the waiting job having the related identifier and the job having the related identifier do not match. That is, it is determined that the related identifiers of JOB1 and JOB3 do not match.

As described above, when it is determined in step 107 that the related identifier of the waiting job and the job do not match, as in the case where it is determined that there is no waiting job having the related identifier in step 106, Proceeding to step 111, the page image storing means in which the page image of the job is written in step 120 is stored, and further proceeding to step 112, a new page image storing means is set for the next job, It returns to step 101.

If it is determined in step 102 that the job parallel printing mode is not set, or if the administrator sets the job parallel printing mode for the print job issued via the network 1, If it is determined in step 104 that the parallel print mode is not set and the identifier-absent job parallel print mode is not set in step 104, the process proceeds from step 102 or 104 to step 130, as shown in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step 140 to output the print image data on a sheet of paper, and further proceeds to step 150 to execute post-processing and terminate the basic process.

In step 120, that is, in the job processing routine 120, as shown in FIG.
1 or a copy job from the scanner unit 12, and then proceeds to step 122, where a print job is obtained from the job receiving unit 11 in step 121, and a related identifier is included in the job. , The related identifier is extracted and the identifier detection determination unit 2
Hand over to 2.

Next, the routine proceeds to step 123, where the control unit 2 is executed in step 112 of the basic processing routine 100 described above.
It is determined whether or not the page image storage means specified by 1 is valid, that is, whether or not all the page images of the job can be stored in the specified page image storage means.

If all the page images of the job cannot be stored in the designated page image storage means, the flow advances from step 123 to step 124 to request the control unit 21 to switch the page image storage means. Then, after switching to the page image storage unit by the control unit 21, the process proceeds to step 125. When all the page images of the job can be stored in the designated page image storage unit, the process directly proceeds from step 123 to step 125. .

In step 125, the job processing unit 13 interprets and executes the print information described in the page description language from the job receiving unit 11 to develop and generate image data of a page image, or The necessary processing is performed on the image data of the page image of, and the image data of the generated or processed page image is
The designated or switched page image storage is stored.

In step 130, that is, in the print image data generation routine 130, as shown in FIG. 5, first, in step 131, it is determined whether or not the output control unit 23 has received an instruction for job parallel printing from the control unit 21. to decide.

When the instruction for parallel printing of the job is received, the process proceeds from step 131 to step 132, where the output control unit 23 sets the print image size, and further proceeds to step 133, where the output control unit 23 Based on the instruction, the print image data generating unit 15 reads out the page images of the job to be printed side by side and the waiting job from the page image storage unit, and generates print image data in which each is arranged for each page. Then, the process proceeds to step 134, where the output control unit 2
3 transmits the generated print image data to the printing unit 16.
To send to.

When the instruction for parallel printing of the job has not been received, the process proceeds from step 131 to step 135, where the print image data generation unit 15 prints the page of the job to be printed alone based on the instruction from the output control unit 23. The image is read out from the page image storage means to become print image data, and further proceeds to step 134, where the output control unit 23 outputs the print image data to the printing device unit 16
To send to.

When page images of two jobs are printed side by side on a sheet of paper, and if the number of pages of one job is larger than the number of pages of the other job, the latter page of the sheet has The page image of one job is printed on one side, for example, the left side, and the page image of the other job is not printed on the other side, for example, the right side.

However, the English “Chapter 1” and “C”
Chapter 2 ”and Japanese“ Chapter 1 ”“ Chapter 2 ”...
For example, characters, terms, symbols, marks, and the like designated in advance are detected from each job. When generating print image data, as shown in FIG. By arranging the page images of the two jobs such that the same or corresponding portions are arranged on the same page of the sheet, and a blank page portion 5 is generated on one side of the page in the middle of the sheet, It is possible to obtain a document that makes it easier to compare the contents of the two jobs.

According to the above-described embodiment, the page images of two jobs processed independently of each other can be printed side by side on a sheet of paper, and a document described in a foreign language and a document in the foreign language can be printed. Compare two related documents, such as a document translated into Japanese, a presentation document for presentation, a document document such as graphs and tables, or a document on the test question and a document on the answer to it. It is convenient for

Even if the documents are not related documents, the page images of the two jobs are printed out side by side on a sheet of paper, and then the sheet is cut into two documents, thereby forming one job. The time required for printing can be reduced and the cost of paper can be saved, as compared with the case of sequentially printing and outputting each time.
Further, there is no need to increase the cost of the system as in the case where printing is performed simultaneously on separate sheets by two printing apparatuses having separate sheet feeding units.

Further, a client that issues a print job via the network 1 only needs to add the same related identifier to the two jobs when trying to print two jobs in parallel. There is no need to consider the order in which jobs are issued.

Further, even when the designated paper size is different in each job, the page images of the two jobs can be printed side by side.

The above-described embodiment is directed to a case where job parallel printing is enabled for both a print job issued via the network 1 and a copy job using the scanner unit 12. Job parallel printing may be enabled for only one of a job and a copy job. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10
May simply constitute a network printer or simply constitute a copier.

Further, as for the network printer, the mode is not set by the administrator in the user interface unit of the printer, but the client adds the information instructing the parallel printing of the job, and for example, the control statement and A print job is issued via a network by adding a related identifier as information for instructing parallel printing of a job, and the information is associated with a client name or other identification information and written into storage means on the printer side. Thus, the printer can set the job parallel printing mode for the client. In that case, the storage means on the printer side becomes the mode setting means.

Further, when a recording medium such as a magnetic disk on which a print job is written is mounted instead of a printer that receives a print job issued via a network, a print job is obtained from the recording medium. Printer.

Further, the printer or copier may not have the printing device incorporated therein, but may have the image processing device and the printing device configured as separate devices.

Further, it is possible to adopt a mode in which page images of three or more jobs are arranged and printed on paper in page units.

In the above-described embodiment, a case where page images of a plurality of jobs are printed side by side on a sheet of paper is printed. In the example of FIG. ,
By changing the above-described basic processing routine, job processing routine, and print image data generation routine,
The same page images of the same job can be printed side by side on a sheet of paper.

According to this, for example, by cutting the paper after printing, the cost of the system can be reduced compared with the case where the image of the same page is simultaneously printed on separate papers by a plurality of printing devices. It is possible to reduce the paper cost while realizing the realization.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, page images of a plurality of jobs processed independently of each other can be printed side by side on a sheet of paper and a plurality of related documents can be compared. It is convenient for Even if it is not a related document, the page images of a plurality of jobs are printed out side by side on a sheet in a page unit, and then the sheet is cut into a plurality of documents, so that each job is sequentially processed. In addition, the time required for printing can be reduced and the cost of paper can be reduced as compared with the case of printing out. Furthermore, the cost of the system does not increase as in the case where printing is performed simultaneously on separate sheets by a plurality of printing apparatuses having individual sheet feeding units.

Further, according to the present invention, the same page image of the same job can be printed side by side on a sheet in units of pages, and by cutting the sheet after printing, the same page image can be printed by a plurality of printing devices. The system cost can be reduced compared to the case where the images are printed out on separate papers at the same time.
It is possible to save paper costs.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network image forming system using an image forming apparatus including an example of the image processing apparatus of the present invention as an image processing unit.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a part of an example of a basic processing routine performed by the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a continuation of an example of a basic processing routine performed by the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job processing routine performed by the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print image data generation routine performed by the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen in a user interface unit of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a related identifier.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing on paper in a job parallel printing mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 network 2 client device 10 image forming device 11 job receiving unit (page image obtaining unit) 12 scanner unit (page image obtaining unit) 13 job processing unit (page image obtaining unit) 14 storage unit (page image storing unit) 15 printing Image data generation unit (print image data generation means) 16 printing unit 17 post-processing unit 21 control unit (mode determination unit) 22 identifier detection determination unit 23 output control unit (print image data generation unit) 24 user interface unit ( Mode setting means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Juichi Kitagawa 3-2-1, Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Kawabata, Sakado-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 3-2-1 KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Toru Murai 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] A page image acquisition unit for acquiring a page image for each job; a page image storage unit for saving a page image acquired by the page image acquisition unit; Mode setting means for setting a job parallel printing mode in which printing is performed side by side in units; mode determining means for determining whether or not the job parallel printing mode is set by the mode setting means; When it is determined that the job parallel printing mode is set, the page image of the job acquired by the page image acquisition unit and the page image of the waiting job stored in the page image storage unit are printed on paper. Print image data for printing on top of each page An image processing apparatus comprising: a print image data generating unit that generates a data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said print image data generating means is configured to, when a related identifier included in said job and a related identifier included in said waiting job match each other, output said job. An image processing apparatus for generating print image data for arranging and printing the page image of the standby job and the page image of the waiting job on a sheet in a page unit. 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mode setting means sets an identifier-free job parallel printing mode in which page images of a plurality of jobs having no associated identifier are arranged and printed on paper in page units. Wherein the mode determining means sets a related identifier for the job when the mode setting means sets the identifier-free job parallel printing mode. apparatus. 4. A page image acquiring means for acquiring a page image for each job, and a mode setting capable of setting a same page parallel printing mode for arranging and printing the same page image of the same job on a sheet by a page unit. Means; mode determining means for determining whether or not the same page parallel printing mode is set by the mode setting means; and when the mode determining means determines that the same page parallel printing mode is set. And print image data generating means for generating print image data for printing the same page image of the job acquired by the page image acquiring means on a sheet by arranging them in page units. Processing equipment.