JPH1134438A - Print processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing variously by comparing a current operating mode with the attributes of a page data to be printed next and printing the page data to be printed next without switching the operating mode when printing can be executed in the current operating mode. SOLUTION: An input means 101 accumulates a page data to be printed, and the like, in an accumulating means 102, notifies the attributes of a page to a control means 105 and examine the page data in the accumulating means 102 to obtain the attributes of the page data. Current mode of a print means 104 is then compared with the attributes of a page to be printed next and if the page data is printable although the attributes do not match the current mode, the control means 105 takes out the next page from the accumulating means 102 and notifies a data delivery means 103 to deliver the next page to the print means 104. Furthermore, printing is executed by the print means 104 without switching the mode. According to the arrangement, the time required for printing can be shortened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a print processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a print processing apparatus which has a plurality of operation modes and can output in various print modes by switching each operation mode, and performs high-speed printing. About technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are many printers having a plurality of print modes. For example, a general color printer has a color mode for executing color printing and a black and white mode for executing black and white printing. When printing a black and white page after a color page, first set the color mode to the black and white mode. I switched to the settings and then printed a black and white page.

A print processing apparatus disclosed in JP-A-9-73375 has a color mode and a black-and-white mode. When printing a black-and-white page after a color page, the printer engine used for the color page and the black-and-white page is switched. It is configured to perform printing.

A conventional double-sided printer capable of performing double-sided printing has a single-sided mode for performing printing on only one side and a double-sided mode for performing double-sided printing. When printing single-sided data after performing double-sided printing, First, it is necessary to switch from the double-sided mode to the single-sided mode, and then print the data of one side.

[0005] In addition to plain paper, a print processing apparatus capable of printing on special paper such as thick paper or OHP film requires changing the printing speed so that plain paper is printed in high-speed mode and thick paper or OHP is printed in low-speed mode. Some printing apparatuses have a mechanism that enables the printing. In a printing apparatus having such a printing speed setting mechanism, when printing on plain paper next to the OHP, first switching from the low-speed mode to the high-speed mode,
I was printing on plain paper.

Some inkjet printers can switch between a low-speed mode for high image quality and a high-speed mode for draft. To print a draft page after a high-quality page, first switch to the high-speed mode. I was printing a draft page.

Further, in a print processing apparatus capable of supplying a plurality of paper sizes, an operation mode differs for each paper size.
For example, to print an A4 size page after an A3 size page, the user first switches to the A4 size mode and then prints an A4 size page.

In a printer which can set the paper direction of the horizontal feed and the vertical feed even if the paper size is the same, when printing the page data of the vertical feed next to the page data of the horizontal feed, first switch to the vertical feed mode. After that, it is necessary to print the page data of vertical feed, and conversely, to print the page data of horizontal feed after the page data of vertical feed, switch to horizontal feed and print the page data of horizontal feed I needed to.

[0009]

As described above, in a conventional print processing apparatus, for example, in order to print black and white data when a color printer is operating in a color mode, the mode is first switched to black and white. Had to print black and white data. However, in the case of a color printer, in a color mode, a plurality of color formers (ink, toner, donor film) including four colors of YMCK (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) or three colors of YMC or an additional color are added. Etc.), and in black-and-white mode, printing is performed using only the black colorant. Therefore, it takes time to switch the mode by temporarily stopping the operation of the printer and then mechanically switching or manually changing the colorant. Therefore, it took time to print the black and white data.

In a conventional print processing apparatus capable of printing on both sides, a printer having a single-sided mode and a double-sided mode is used. When printing is performed on both sides, the mode is first switched to single-sided in order to print one-sided data. It was necessary to print one side of the data.

However, such a conventional print processing apparatus capable of double-sided printing requires a mechanical operation for switching the path when switching from two-sided to one-sided, since the paper transport path is different in each mode. ,
It took time to switch modes, and as a result, it took time to print this one-sided data.

In a printer capable of printing in a plurality of paper sizes and paper setting directions, when the paper size and paper setting direction are switched, the printer is stopped and the paper is replaced manually, or a plurality of paper trays are provided. Therefore, an operation of mechanically switching the paper transport path is required, and it takes time to switch the mode.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and in a print processing apparatus having a plurality of operation modes, various print modes are changed in the same manner as in mode switching without switching between various operation modes. An object of the present invention is to provide a print processing device capable of printing.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print processing apparatus capable of performing printing in a plurality of print modes, comprising: input means for inputting page data to be printed; A storage unit that stores the page data input to the input unit, a transmission unit that reads out the page data from the storage unit and transfers the page data to the printing unit, and a plurality of operation modes corresponding to attributes of the page data to be output. A printing unit that outputs page data transferred from the unit on a recording medium, an operation mode of the printing unit, and an operation mode of the printing unit based on an attribute of the page data stored in the storage unit. Control means for controlling the transmission of page data by the transmission means to control the execution of printing, wherein the control means comprises a current operation mode set in the printing means. The attributes of the page data to be printed next are compared. If the attribute of the page data to be printed next is different from the current operation mode of the printing unit, but printing is possible in the current operation mode, the printing unit On the other hand, the present invention is characterized in that control is performed so that page data to be printed next is printed without switching the current operation mode.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting in a black and white mode and a color mode. When the current operation mode of the printing means is the color mode and the attribute of the page data to be printed next is black and white, the control means is provided. Controls the printing means to execute the printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the color mode, and controls the transmitting means to print a color other than black in the page data to be printed next. It is characterized in that the component is controlled to be transmitted as white data.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting in a black and white mode and a color mode. When the current operation mode of the printing means is the color mode and the attribute of the page data to be printed next is black and white, the control means is provided. Controls the printing means to execute printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the color mode, and controls the sending means for black data in the page data to be printed next. In order to execute the generation of black data by the superposition processing of a plurality of color components, control is performed so as to transmit a plurality of each color component data of the page data.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting in a one-sided printing mode and a two-sided printing mode. When the current operation mode of the printing means is a two-sided printing mode and the attribute of page data to be printed next is one-sided printing, The control means controls the printing means to execute printing of the next page data to be printed while maintaining the two-sided printing mode, and controls the transmitting means to print the page data to be printed next and the white data. The combination of data is controlled so as to be transmitted as a combination of front and rear surface data.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting in a plurality of printing speed modes. When the current operation mode of the printing means is a low-speed printing mode and the attribute of page data to be printed next is high-speed printing, the control means Is characterized by controlling the printing means to execute printing of page data to be printed next while maintaining the low-speed print mode.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The print processing device includes a rotation unit that executes a rotation process of the page data, and the printing unit is a printing unit that can output in a horizontal feeding mode and a vertical feeding mode as a recording medium feeding mode. In the case where the current recording medium feed mode is different from the recording medium feed mode of the attribute of the page data to be printed next, the control means controls the printing means to print the next print medium while maintaining the recording medium feed mode in the current mode. In addition to controlling to execute printing of page data to be performed, controlling to execute rotation processing of page data with respect to the rotation means, and transmitting the page data having been subjected to the rotation processing to the transmission means. It is characterized by controlling.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The print processing apparatus has a recording medium cutting unit, and the printing unit has a configuration capable of outputting to a sheet of a selected size from a plurality of output sheets by setting a recording medium size setting mode. When the recording medium size setting mode is a setting of a large recording medium size and the attribute of page data to be printed next is a small recording medium size, the control unit sets the recording medium size setting mode to the printing unit. It is characterized by controlling to execute printing of page data to be printed next while maintaining the mode, and instructing the cutting means to cut the recording medium.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
When the recording medium size in the current mode is at least twice the recording medium size of the attribute of the plurality of continuous page data, the control unit keeps the recording medium size setting mode in the current mode for the printing unit. The present invention is characterized in that a plurality of continuous page data are controlled so as to be collectively printed on one page, and the cutting means is controlled so as to cut the recording medium.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The control means holds the time data of the switching time between each operation mode in the printing means and each time data of one page output time in each mode, and based on the time data, changes the next page data in the current mode. Compares the time required to print with the time required to print after switching modes, and prints in the current mode only when it is faster to print in the current mode It is characterized by controlling the means.

Further, in the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
The control unit holds the switching time between the operation modes in the printing unit and the time data of one page output time in each mode, and performs continuous printing while maintaining a plurality of pages to be continuously printed in the current mode. The time it takes to
Compare the time required to execute the mode switching and perform printing, and control the printing means so that printing is performed in the current mode only when continuous printing in the current mode is faster. Features.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a print processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a print processing apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the print processing apparatus has an input unit 101, a storage unit 102, a transmission unit 103, a printing unit 104, and a control unit 105.

The input means 101 receives page data or a row of page data to be printed, and each received data is stored in the storage means 102. At this time, the control unit 105 is notified of the page attribute or the attribute sequence. The attribute is input to the input unit 101 as a part of the page data or together with the page data. Alternatively, the control unit 105 checks the page data of the storage unit 102 and obtains the attribute of the page data. The control unit 105 stores the page attribute in an internal memory or the like. Control means 10
5 stores the current mode of the printing unit 104, and compares the mode of the printing unit 104 with the attribute of the page to be printed next.

As the page data to be printed, a raster image corresponding to the number of pixels and the number of gradations of the printing means 104 is used. An example of this raster image is shown in FIGS.
FIG. 2 is an example of monochrome page data, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are examples of color raster images.

As shown in FIG. 2, each pixel is composed of 8 bits, and a plurality of pixels form one scanning line (Scan).
Line). Further, one print data is formed by continuously forming a large number of scanning lines in the sub-scanning direction.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples of color images.
As shown in FIG. 2, the scan line configuration of one print data to be output is the same as the monochrome data shown in FIG.
pixel) has four colors of data of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, so-called YMCK.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the final output data is constituted by these YMCK data.
8 for each pixel for each color of yellow, magenta and cyan
It is formed as bit data, and indicates that the color data of the final output is generated by the overlap.

The page attributes relating to the page data to be printed include color / monochrome, single-sided / double-sided, paper size, paper feed direction, high-speed printing / low-speed printing, and plain paper / special media. There is another. The page attribute data will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

When the mode of the printing unit 104 and the attribute of the next page match, for example, when the mode of the printing unit 104 is the color printing mode and the attribute of the next page is also color, the storage unit 102 Then, the next page is taken out, and the data sending unit 103 is notified to send it to the printing unit 105. At the same time, printing is continued without switching the mode of the printing unit 104. This is the same operation as in the prior art.

When the mode of the printing means 104 does not match the attribute of the next page, and printing cannot be performed as it is, for example, the setting operation mode of the printing means 104 is the monochrome printing mode, and When the attribute requires color printing, the control unit 105
4 is instructed to switch the operation mode, that is, switching from the monochrome printing mode to the color printing mode. When the mode switching is completed, the next page is taken out from the storage means 102 and the data sending means 103 is sent to the printing means 104.
Notify. This is also the same operation as the prior art.

When the mode of the printing unit 104 does not match the attribute of the next page but printing is possible, for example, the current operation mode of the printing unit 104 is the color printing mode, and the attribute of the next page is black and white. Is satisfied, the control unit 105 retrieves the next page from the storage unit 102 and sends the next page to the printing unit 104.
Notify. At the same time, the printing unit 104 is caused to continue printing without switching the mode.

FIG. 5 shows a more detailed configuration diagram of the printer device. The printer controller 501 includes a CPU, an RO,
It is a computer system that is composed of M, RAM, communication interface, printer interface, etc., that is, a personal computer or a workstation. Further, it may have a disk interface and a disk device 502 connected thereto, that is, a magnetic disk device or an optical disk device. Although the printer controller also has other components such as a user interface, it is not relevant to the present invention and will not be described.

The CPU is connected to a ROM, a RAM,
It is connected to a communication interface, a printer interface, a disk interface, etc., exchanges data with these, and executes the programs stored in the ROM or the RAM to control the above components.

The CPU inputs data from the outside using the communication interface, and realizes input means.

The storage means may use a RAM (semiconductor memory), or may be realized by connecting a disk interface to a disk device and using a disk (magnetic disk device or optical disk device).

When the RAM is used as the storage means, the printer interface performs a DMA (Direct Memory Access) from the RAM, acquires page data, and transmits the page data to the printer. As a result, a transmission unit is realized. Alternatively, the CPU may read page data from the RAM, write the page data to the printer interface, and transmit the page data to the printer device 503.

When using a disk as storage means, the disk interface copies page data to the RAM by DMA, and the printer interface
(Direct memory access) to obtain page data and transmit it to the printer device 503.
As a result, a transmission unit is realized.

If a semiconductor memory is used, access can be performed at high speed, and high-speed printing means using electrophotography or the like can be supported. Use of a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, or the like has an advantage that a large amount of page data can be stored. The control means is realized as a program executed by the CPU.

FIGS. 6 to 11 show an example of a mode in which the print processing apparatus of the present invention is used.

In FIG. 6, a print processing apparatus constituted by a print controller 604 and a printer 605 is directly connected to a host computer 603, that is, a personal computer or a workstation by using a serial line, a parallel line, a SCSI bus, a GPIB bus or the like. It is connected. In this case, as a communication interface used as an input means, an input / output interface such as an RS232C, a Centronics parallel interface, a SCSI interface, or a GPIB interface is used. The host computer 603 is connected with a keyboard 601 as input means and a display 602 as display means.

In FIG. 7, a print processing apparatus constituted by a print controller 704 and a printer 705 is connected to a network and receives page data from another computer system such as a personal computer or a workstation on the network. In this case, the communication interface used as the input means is a network interface card such as Ethernet, ATM, FDDI, and token ring. A keyboard 701 as input means and a display 702 as display means are connected to the host computer 703.

In FIG. 8, a print processing apparatus including a print controller 805 and a printer 806 is connected to a PDL processor 604 that processes a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript to generate page data. I have. The PDL processor 604 is operated on another computer system, and a serial line, a parallel line, a SCSI bus,
The connection may be made directly using a GPIB bus or via a network such as Ethernet, ATM, FDDI, or token ring.

Alternatively, the PDL processor 604 can be realized as software operated by the CPU of the print controller. PDL processor 60
The realization of No. 4 is not described here because it can be realized by a known technique. The host computer 803 is connected with a keyboard 801 as input means and a display 802 as display means.

In FIG. 9, a print processing device constituted by a print controller 902 and a printer 903 is connected to a communication device 901, that is, a modem, a facsimile modem or an ISDN communication device, and receives image data from a communication line. In this case, the communication interface is realized by using a connectable serial interface or the like.

In FIG. 10, the print controller 100
2 and a printer 1001 are connected to an image input device 1001 such as an image scanner or a digital still camera. As a communication interface at this time, a serial interface, a parallel interface, a SCSI interface, a GPIB interface, or an interface dedicated to these devices is used according to the input / output interface of each device.

In FIG. 11, the print controller 110
3 and a printer 1104 are connected to an image processing device 1102 connected to an image input device 1101 such as an image scanner or a digital still camera. The communication interface at this time is serial interface, parallel interface, SCSI
Interface, GPIB interface, Ethernet, ATM, FDD
The connection may be made via a network using a network interface card such as I or token ring.

In FIG. 12, the print controller 120
2 and a printer 1201 are connected to a portable storage medium drive device 1201 which is a device that can be input from a portable storage medium. Floppy disk, C
There are a D-ROM, an optical disk, a DVD, a ZIP drive, a removable magnetic disk, and the like. At this time, the communication interface includes a disk interface, a SCSI bus interface, and a GPIB to which each device can be connected.
It is realized by a bus interface, an IDE interphase, or a floppy interface.

In FIG. 13, the print controller 130
5 and a printer 1306 are connected to an image file device 1303 that stores a plurality of image files. Since the image file device is a kind of computer system, the communication interface may be directly connected using a serial interface, a parallel interface, a SCSI interface, a GPIB interface, or may be an Ethernet, ATM, FDDI, token ring, etc. Connect via a network using a network interface card. The image file device 1303 is connected with a keyboard 1301 as input means, a display 1302 as display means, and a disk device 1304 as storage means.

Although the hardware used as the communication interface is different in the configurations shown in FIGS. 6 to 13, it does not affect other parts of the print processing apparatus.

FIG. 14 shows a color copying machine using a xerographic technique as an example of the printing means. A color copier includes a CCD sensor for inputting a document on a platen, and an IPS (Image Processing) for performing image processing.
Subsystem), an ROS unit that converts an image into a laser beam to expose the photosensitive drum, a photosensitive drum that forms an electrostatic latent image, and a developing device that develops the latent image on the photosensitive drum with toner using black and yellow. , Magenta, and cyan colors, a rotary developing unit that can switch the developing machine to be used by rotating, a transfer drum that wraps a sheet of recording medium and transfers toner to the sheet, toner on the sheet And a fixing device for heating and pressing to melt and fix the paper, and a cleaner for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred.

When this copying machine is used as a printing means of a print processing apparatus, the following operation is performed. First, the operation in the color mode will be described. The sheet is transported from a sheet tray and wound around a transfer drum. The page data sent from the transmission means is divided into four times of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, and is exposed, fixed, and transferred. First, black data is sent from the sending means. The data enters the printing means from the IPS, is converted into light by a laser diode, and scans and exposes the photosensitive drum by the ROS. At the same time, the rotary developing unit performs development using a black developing machine. The developed toner is transferred to a sheet on a transfer drum. As a result, on the paper,
An image having only a black component is formed.

When the black exposure, fixation, and transfer are completed, the rotary developing unit is rotated to switch the developing machine to yellow, and the yellow data is transmitted from the transmission means, and the same exposure, fixation, and transfer are performed. Thereafter, magenta and cyan exposure, fixing, and transfer are sequentially performed in the same manner. When the transfer of the four colors is completed, a full-color unfixed image is formed on the sheet.

Finally, the sheet is sent from the transfer drum to the fixing device, where it is fixed and discharged. Thus, printing of the color page is completed.

In the case of the black and white mode, only the black data is sent from the transmission means, and only the black developing device is used. When the black exposure, fixing, and transfer are completed, a black and white unfixed image is formed on the sheet, so the sheet is sent from the transfer drum to the fixing device, fixed, and discharged. Thus, printing of the black and white page is completed.

As described above, the mechanical operation is different between the color mode and the black and white mode. Specifically, the rotary developing machine operates in the color mode in black, yellow, magenta,
The four drums of cyan are mechanically switched and used, and the transfer drum rotates four times during the printing of one page, whereas in the black-and-white mode, the rotary developing machine is only black and the switching is not necessary, and the transfer drum is one page. Only one rotation during printing.

For this reason, the mechanical operation differs depending on the mode, so that the mode cannot be switched instantaneously. When switching modes, it is necessary to stop temporarily, switch modes, and then restart. Therefore, it takes time to switch the mode.

When printing is performed using such a full-color copying machine as printing means, according to the present invention, when the printing means is in the color mode and the next page to be output is a black-and-white page, the control means controls the transmitting means. The transmission of the next page is instructed, and at the same time, the printing is continued without switching the mode of the printing unit. However, when the printing means is in the color mode, it needs not only black but also yellow, magenta, and cyan data as described above, so the control means sends the white data to the sending means for yellow, magenta, and cyan. Instruct to send as data. The white data may be prepared in the storage unit in advance, or the transmission unit may generate the white data.

Since the white data is raster image data in which all bits are 0, it can be easily prepared in the storage means and generated by the transmission means.

As a result, a monochrome page can be output in the color mode without switching the mode.

[Second Embodiment] A copy machine as one of the print processing apparatuses described in the first embodiment is a YMCK, which is obtained by removing black from YMCK.
A color image can be printed in C3 color. That is, a color image can be output by outputting only three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan to a recording medium. In this mode, first, yellow data is sent from the transmission means,
An image containing only a yellow component is transferred onto a sheet by using a yellow developing machine. Next, data is sent in the order of magenta and cyan, and the corresponding developing machine is used. Finally, the data is fixed and discharged, and printing is completed.

The printing means is in the three-color mode,
When the next page data is black and white, the control means
Send the next page black and white data to the transmission
Times, that is, instruct to transmit data so that black and white data is constituted by a combination of each color data of yellow, magenta, and cyan. When three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are superimposed, a black color is formed, so that a black-and-white page can be printed without switching from the three-color mode. Since white and others are realized in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

[Embodiment 3] The copier as the print processing apparatus described in the embodiment 1 has a color mode, and the next page to be printed is only in three colors, that is, only three colors of yellow, magenta and cyan. When configured, the control unit causes the transmission unit to first output white data for the black data in the page data, and then sequentially outputs three color component data of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Instruct Thus, data of three colors can be printed without switching the color mode.
The other components are realized in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

[Embodiment 4] Next, an example in which a printer having a double-sided printing function is used as a printing means will be described. A printer with a double-sided printing function converts the image into a laser beam to expose the photosensitive drum, exposes a photosensitive drum to form an electrostatic latent image, and develops the latent image on the photosensitive drum with toner. Machine, transfer unit to transfer toner to paper,
From a fixing unit that heats and pressurizes the toner on the paper to melt it and fix it on the paper, a cleaner that removes the toner remaining on the photoconductor drum without being transferred, and a duplex unit that reverses the paper printed on one side and sends it back to the drum Become.

When this printer is used as a printing means of a print processing apparatus, it operates as follows. First, the operation in the duplex mode will be described. The sheet is transported from the sheet tray and sent to the transfer unit. The page data sent from the transmission means is exposed, fixed, and transferred. First, the data of the surface is transmitted from the transmission means. The data exposes the photosensitive drum by the ROS of the printing means. At the same time, development is performed using a developing machine. The developed toner is
The image is transferred to the paper at the transfer unit. As a result, on the paper,
An image of only the surface is formed.

Next, the sheet enters the duplex unit, where it is turned over and sent again to the transfer unit. The data on the back side is sent from the sending means. The data exposes the photosensitive drum by the ROS of the printing means. At the same time, development is performed using a developing machine. The developed toner is transferred to a sheet at a transfer unit. As a result, images on both sides are formed on the sheet. Finally, the sheet is sent to a fixing device, where the toner is fixed and discharged. As a result, printing on both sides can be performed.

In the case of one side, the page data sent from the transmission means is exposed, fixed, and transferred, and then the sheet is sent to a fixing device where it is fixed and discharged as it is. Thus, one-sided printing can be performed.

As described above, the mechanical operation of the duplex unit and the like and the paper conveyance path are different between the single-sided and the double-sided, so that the double-sided mode and the single-sided mode cannot be instantaneously switched. In order to switch the mode, it is necessary to mechanically stop and move a part of the paper feed mechanism, so that it takes time to switch the mode.

Next, an embodiment using this double-sided printer as the printing means of the present invention will be described. When the printer is in the double-sided mode and the attribute of the next page is single-sided, the control unit instructs the transmission unit to transmit the data of the next page, and continues printing while the printer mode remains in the double-sided mode. I do. Since the printer prints the front side with the transmitted data and then needs the data on the back side, the transmitting means transmits the white data. The white data may be prepared in the storage unit in advance, or may be transmitted while being generated by the transmission unit.

Alternatively, if it is preferable to print one-sided data on the back side depending on the paper discharge direction, the transmitting means first transmits white data as front side data and sets page data to be output as back side data. Output. The other components are realized in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

[Embodiment 5] Next, an embodiment in which a full-color printer having a duplex printing function is used as a printing means will be described. FIG. 15 shows this full-color printer.

This full-color printer has the following configuration. An ROS unit that converts an image into a laser beam to expose the photosensitive drum, a photosensitive drum that forms an electrostatic latent image, a developing machine that develops the latent image on the photosensitive drum with toner, and a recording medium, such as paper. It has four sets of xerography units of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan each consisting of a transfer section for transferring toner and a cleaner for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum without being transferred, and paper between the four sets of xerography units is provided. It consists of a paper transport belt that transports paper, a paper tray, and a paper reversing system for both sides.

When this copying machine is used as a printing means of a print processing apparatus, the following print processing operation is executed. First, the operation of the printing process in the color single-sided mode will be described.

The paper is conveyed by a belt from a paper tray and sent to a black transfer unit. The black component of the page data sent from the transmission means enters the ROS of the black xerography unit, and is exposed to light, fixed, and fixed. Transcribed. At the same time, the yellow, magenta, and cyan data also shift the xerographic unit interval by the time the paper moves,
Sent and exposed by each xerographic unit,
Fixed and transferred. Thus, a color image is formed on the sheet.

After the transfer of cyan is completed, the sheet is sent to a fixing device, where the sheet is fixed and discharged. Thus, printing of the color single-sided page is completed.

Next, the operation in the duplex mode will be described. The black component on the surface of the page data transmitted from the transmission means enters the ROS of the black xerography unit, and is exposed, fixed, and transferred. At the same time, data on the surfaces of yellow, magenta, and cyan are also transmitted with the interval between the xerographic units shifted by the time the paper moves, and are exposed, fixed, and transferred by the respective xerographic units. As a result, a single-sided color image is formed on the sheet.

Next, the sheet enters the sheet reversing unit, is turned upside down, and is sent again to the black xerography unit.

The black component on the back side of the page data sent from the transmitting means is the ROS of the black xerography unit.
And is exposed, fixed, and transferred. At the same time, yellow,
The data on the back sides of magenta and cyan are also transmitted with the interval of the xerography unit shifted by the time the paper moves, and each xerography unit exposes, fixes,
Transcribed.

Next, the operation of the monochrome single-sided mode will be described. The page data sent from the transmission means enters the ROS of the black xerography unit, and is exposed, fixed, and transferred. Yellow, magenta, and cyan xerographic units do not work because they are not used for black and white printing.

When the transfer is completed, a black and white single-sided image is formed on the sheet. When the transfer is completed, the sheet is sent to a fixing device, where the sheet is fixed and discharged. Thus, printing of the black and white single-sided page is completed.

Similarly, in the black-and-white double-sided mode, first, the page data on the front side sent from the transmission means enters the ROS of the black xerography unit, and is exposed, fixed, and transferred. Yellow, magenta, and cyan xerographic units do not work because they are not used for black and white printing.
As a result, a black-and-white single-sided image is formed on the sheet.

Next, the sheet enters the sheet reversing unit, where the sheet is turned over and sent again to the black xerography unit.

The black component on the back side of the page data sent from the transmission means is the ROS of the black xerography unit.
And is exposed, fixed, and transferred. Yellow, magenta, and cyan xerographic units do not work because they are not used for black and white printing. When the transfer is completed, a black-and-white double-sided image is formed on the sheet.

When the transfer is completed, the paper is sent to a fixing device,
Settled and discharged. Thus, printing of the black and white double-sided page is completed.

When this printer is used as a printing means, the following modes and printable relations are established, and the present invention can be applied to each of them.

[0088]

[Table 1] [Operation mode] [Printable attributes] Color both sides Color single side, black and white both sides, black and white single side Color single side Black and white single side Black and white Double side black and white single side

The other parts are realized in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

[Sixth Embodiment] A case will be described in which the current operation mode is A4 landscape and the attribute of the next page data is A4 portrait in a print processing apparatus capable of setting the paper setting direction. At this time, any of the printing units described above may be used as the printing unit.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a print processing apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the print processing apparatus includes an input unit 1601, a storage unit 1602, and a transmission unit 1.
604, a printing unit 1604, and a control unit 1605, and a rotation unit 1603 is configured between the accumulation unit 1602 and the transmission unit 1604.

As shown in FIG. 16, in the print processing apparatus of this embodiment, a rotating means 160 for rotating page data.
3 Print controller 501 shown in FIG.
When the inside RAM is used as the storage unit 1602, the start address of the page data is the address A of the RAM, the number of pixels in the main scanning direction is W, the number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction is H, and one pixel is represented by 1 byte. Assuming that an address is assigned to the RAM in units, when the transmitting means 1604 reads without rotating, the address is increased from A to A + 1, then A + 2 to A + H * W-1 in increments of 1 at a time. Is read.

In this case, the rotating means 1603 is realized by changing the address generated by the DMA controller of the printer interface. That is, the address order is increased by the number of pixels W in the main scanning direction, such as A, A + W, A + 2 * W, and A + 3 * W.
(H-1) * Set to read H times to address W.
Next, starting from address A + 1 and increasing by W,
A + 1 + (H-1) * Set so as to read up to address W. Next, similarly, A + 2 + (H−
1) Read up to * W address. Similarly, A + 3, A +
4 and start from A + W-1 address, A + W-1 +
(H-1) * W, that is, set so as to read up to the address A + H * W-1.

As a result, the scanning order of the image of the page data is changed, and as a result, the image received by the transmitting means 1604 is rotated by 90 degrees. As a result, the page data that is A4 portrait in the storage unit 1602 is sent to the printing unit 1605 as A4 landscape data.

In the print processing apparatus having the rotating means 1603, when the current operation mode of the printing means 1605 is A4 landscape and the attribute of the next page data is A4 portrait, the control means 1606 , A command to output without switching the mode.
For No. 3, an instruction is set to execute a rotation process of rotating the page data by 90 degrees, and an instruction is sent to the transmitting unit 1604 to transmit the page data. As a result, page data having an A4 portrait attribute can be printed in the A4 landscape mode.

[Embodiment 7] In this embodiment, the time required to print the next page by switching the mode by the printing means is compared with the time required to print the next page without switching the mode. If the time required for printing without switching the mode is short, printing is performed without switching the mode.

The case where the operation mode is color and the next page data is black and white will be described as an example. If the time required to switch the mode from color to black and white is M, the time required to output one page in color is C, and the time required to output one page in black and white is B, printing is performed after switching to black and white mode. The time required to perform printing is M + B, and the time required for printing in the color mode is C. Therefore, if M + B> C, printing is performed in the color mode, and if M + B <C, printing is performed in the color mode. Switch to black and white mode before printing. When M + B = C, either may be used. For example, in the color copying machine according to the first embodiment, if M = 5 seconds, B = 2 seconds, and C = 6 seconds,
M + B> C, and printing is performed in the color mode. However, when M = 5 seconds, B = 2 seconds, and C = 10 seconds, since M + B <C, printing is performed after switching to the monochrome mode.

For example, in the double-sided color printer of the embodiment, M = 20 seconds, B = 2 seconds, and C = 2 seconds.
+ B> C, and printing is performed in the color mode without switching the mode.

[Embodiment 8] In this embodiment, the time required to print a row of pages to be continuously printed by switching modes and the time required to print a row of pages to be printed continuously without switching modes are determined. Compare,
If the time required for printing without switching the mode is short, printing is performed without switching the mode.

The case where the current operation mode is color, two pages to be subsequently printed are stored in the storage means, and the next page data of the two pages is monochrome will be described.

If the operation mode is color and two pages to be subsequently printed are both black and white pages, the time required to switch the mode from color to black and white is M, and one page is output in color. Time is C,
Assuming that the time required to output one page in black and white is B, the time required to print after switching to the black and white mode is M + 2 * B, and the time required to print without switching the mode is 2 * C. For example, in the color copying machine of the first embodiment, M = 5 seconds, B = 2 seconds, C =
Since 6 seconds, M + 2 * B = 9 and 2 * C = 12, the mode is switched to black and white before printing. However, if the page to be printed next is black and white and the next page is color, switching to black and white mode and printing will require switching to color mode after printing the black and white page. The time required is M + B + M + C = 18 seconds. If printing is performed without switching the mode, 2 * C = 12 seconds is sufficient, so printing is performed in the color mode without switching the mode.

[Embodiment 9] Next, an embodiment of a print processing apparatus in the case where the current print mode and the paper size of the page to be printed next are different will be described.

If the paper size of the current print mode is larger than the paper size of the page to be printed next, for example, the current print mode is B4 (257 mm × 364 m).
m), and the next page to be printed is A4 (210
mm × 297 mm).

FIG. 17 shows an example of a print processing apparatus having a cutting means 1705. As the cutting unit 1705, a known cutter or the like is used. The other input means 1701, accumulation means 1702, transmission means 1703, printing means 1704, and control means 1706 are the same as those in the above-described embodiments, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

The control unit 1706 instructs printing without changing the mode of the printing unit 1704. The transmission unit 1703 is instructed to transmit A4 size data to be printed next.

At this time, since the number of pixels required by the printing means 1704 is larger than the number of pixels of the image data read from the storage means 1702, the transmitting means replaces the required number of white pixels with each scanning line of the image data. To the end (right end).
Also, a necessary number of scanning lines composed of white pixels are added after the last scanning line of the image data. As a result, the image of A4 is printed on the upper left of the sheet of B4.

After the printing is completed, the control means 1706 instructs the cutting means 1705 to cut off the right and lower ends of the sheet. In this example, the size of the B4 paper is 257 mm ×
364 mm, and the size of A4 paper is 210 × 29
Since it is 7 mm, the right end may be cut off by 47 mm and the lower end by 67 mm. As a result, an A4 size print is obtained.

If the paper size of the current print mode is smaller than the paper size of the page to be printed next,
For example, if the current print mode is A4 and the next page to be printed is B4, printing cannot be performed. Therefore, the printing unit is temporarily stopped, the paper size is switched, and then restarted as in the related art. Print.

[Embodiment 10] If the page to be printed next and the next page can be printed simultaneously on the paper in the current print mode, printing can be performed more efficiently.

If the current print mode paper size is A3
(297 mm x 420 mm) and the next page is A4
The case of a vertical size (297 mm × 210 mm) will be described as an example.

The control unit 1706 instructs printing without changing the mode of the printing unit 1704. The transmission unit 1703 is instructed to transmit image data of A4 vertical size to be printed next and image data of A4 vertical size to be printed next.

At this time, since the number of scanning lines requested by the printing unit 1704 is twice the number of image data to be printed next, the transmission of image data ends in the middle of a page. The transmitting unit 1703 continuously transmits the next image data. As a result, two A4 portrait images are printed on A3 paper. After the printing is completed, the control unit 170
Reference numeral 6 designates a cutting unit 1705 at the center of the sheet, in this case A3.
Is 420 mm x 297 mm,
It is instructed to cut the paper at the position of 10 mm. Thus, printing of two pages of A4 size can be performed.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a print job input in the print processing apparatus of the present invention. The print job data includes information on the job to be printed, that is, a name as an identifier for identifying the job to be printed,
It has, as constituent elements, a user name as an identifier of a print instructor, an instruction on a print mode such as the number of pages to be printed, the number of copies to be printed, and the attributes of each page included in the print job. These print job data are sent to the print processing device together with the print data at the time of a print request from the client or together with the print request.

The print job data 1 shown in FIG.
This print job requests a print of four pages,
This shows that only three pages are monochrome pages and the other pages are color prints.

The print job data 2 shown in FIG.
This print job requests the printing of three pages,
The first two pages indicate double-sided printing, and the last page indicates single-sided printing.

FIG. 19 shows an example of internal data held by the control means in the print processing apparatus of the present invention. The internal data held by the control unit includes a print mode set by the printing unit and a list of print jobs to be printed.

The print mode of the printing means includes the paper size,
Color / black and white, double-sided / single-sided, etc. These are updated when the print mode of the printing unit is switched.
The print job list holds the attributes of the pages included in the job. When print job data is input, the input information is added to this list. By referring to this list, the page attribute of the page or page sequence to be printed next is obtained.

The print processing apparatus according to the present invention receives print job data together with print data sent from a client or the like via a network or the like to which a printing means, a print request means, and the like are connected, and controls the control means in the print processing apparatus. With reference to print mode data relating to the printing means of
Printing is performed by a print mode setting adapted to the print job. The print mode setting is set in consideration of the feasibility of printing in the current mode and the current print mode of the next print mode. At this time, the switching time and the like shown in the above-described embodiments are also taken into consideration, and printing is performed under a mode setting that allows processing at the highest speed.

[0119]

As described above, according to the print processing apparatus of the present invention,
In a print processing apparatus capable of outputting in various printing modes by switching various modes, the attributes of page data are compared with the current mode of the printing unit, and printing is continuously performed without switching the operation mode of the printing unit. If the printing can be performed, the printing is performed without executing the mode switching, so that the time required for printing can be reduced.

Further, according to the print processing apparatus of the present invention, when printing continuous page data, continuous print processing is performed without mode switching, and print processing is performed with mode switching. By comparing the required times, it is configured to determine which method is used for printing, so that the printing time can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a print processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example (black and white) of page data for executing a printing process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example (color) of page data for executing a printing process.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example (color) of page data for performing a printing process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a print processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a use example (local printer) of the print processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a use example (network) of the print processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a usage example (PDL printer) of the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a use example (communication line) of the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a use example (image input device) of the print processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a use example (image processing apparatus) of the print processing apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of use (portable storage medium) of the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of use (image file system) of the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a color copying machine.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a color duplex printer.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a print processing apparatus having a rotation unit in the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a print processing apparatus having a cutting unit in the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print job used in the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of internal data of a control unit in the print processing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 input means 102 storage means 103 transmission means 104 printing means 105 control means 501 print controller 502 disk device 503 printer 601 keyboard 602 display 603 host computer 604 print controller 605 printer 804 PDL processor 1001 image input device 1102 image processing device 1201 portable storage Medium drive device 1303 Image file device 1603 Rotating means 1705 Cutting means

Claims (10)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting page data to be printed; a storage unit for storing the page data input to the input unit; and a storage unit. Transmitting means for reading page data from the printer and transferring the data to the printing means; and printing means for outputting the page data transferred from the transmitting means on a recording medium, the printing means having a plurality of operation modes corresponding to the attributes of the page data to be output. Controlling the operation mode of the printing unit based on the operation mode of the printing unit and the attribute of the page data stored in the storage unit, and controlling the transmission of the page data by the transmission unit to execute printing Control means for controlling the current operation mode set in the printing means and the next print mode. The attributes of the page data are compared, and the attribute of the page data to be printed next is different from the current operation mode of the printing unit. A print processing apparatus for performing control so as to print the page data to be printed next without performing the switching of the operation mode. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is capable of outputting a monochrome mode and a color mode. The current operation mode of the printing device is a color mode, and the attribute of page data to be printed next is monochrome. In this case, the control means controls the printing means to execute printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the color mode, and controls the transmitting means to print the next page data. 2. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that color components other than black in the page data to be transmitted are transmitted as white data. 3. The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting in a black and white mode and a color mode. The current operation mode of the printing means is a color mode, and the attribute of page data to be printed next is black and white. In this case, the control means controls the printing means to execute printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the color mode, and controls the transmitting means to print the next page data. 2. A control method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of color component data of the page data is transmitted in order to generate black data by superimposing a plurality of color components on black data in power page data. The print processing apparatus according to the above. 4. The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting a one-sided printing mode and a two-sided printing mode, the current operation mode of the printing means is a two-sided printing mode, and the attribute of page data to be printed next is In the case of single-sided printing, the control unit controls the printing unit to execute printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the printing unit in the double-sided printing mode. 2. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that a combination of the page data to be printed next and the white data is transmitted as a combination of the front surface and the back surface data. 5. The printing means is a printing means capable of outputting in a plurality of printing speed modes, wherein the current operation mode of the printing means is a low speed print mode, and the attribute of page data to be printed next is high speed. 2. In the case of printing, the control unit controls the printing unit to execute printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the printing unit in the low-speed print mode. Print processing device. 6. The print processing apparatus has a rotation unit for executing a rotation process of page data, wherein the printing unit is capable of outputting in a horizontal feed mode and a vertical feed mode as a recording medium feed mode. When the current recording medium feed mode of the printing means is different from the recording medium feed mode of the page data attribute to be printed next, the control means sets the recording medium feed mode to the printing means. While controlling to execute the printing of the page data to be printed next while maintaining the mode, control is performed to execute the rotation processing of the page data to the rotation means, and the rotation processing is executed. 2. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to send the page data to a transmission unit. 7. The print processing apparatus has a recording medium cutting unit, and the printing unit can output from a plurality of size output sheets to a selected size sheet by setting a recording medium size setting mode. In the case where the current recording medium size setting mode is a large recording medium size setting and the attribute of the page data to be printed next is a small recording medium size, the control unit controls the printing unit. On the other hand, while the recording medium size setting mode is maintained in the current mode, control is performed to print the page data to be printed next, and the cutting means is controlled to execute cutting of the recording medium. The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The recording medium size setting mode for the printing means when the recording medium size in the current mode is twice or more the recording medium size of the attribute of a plurality of continuous page data. And controlling the cutting means to execute cutting of the recording medium by controlling the cutting means so as to collectively print the plurality of continuous page data into one page while maintaining the current mode in the current mode. Item 8. The print processing device according to Item 7. 9. The control means holds time data of a switching time between each operation mode in the printing means and time data of one page output time in each mode, and based on the time data, a next page data is stored. Compare the time required to print in the current mode with the time required to print after switching the mode.If it is faster to print in the current mode, The print processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is controlled so as to perform printing as it is. 10. The control means holds time data of a switching time between operation modes in the printing means and time data of one page output time in each mode, and sets a plurality of pages to be continuously printed to the current mode. Compare the time required for continuous printing with the time required to execute mode switching and print while maintaining the current mode. The print processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the printing unit is controlled so as to perform printing.