JPH11352830A - Image forming device, method for controlling same, and method for image data rotary control - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain optimum both-side printed output result arrayed in the binding direction, even if plural size of paper sheets coexist in the same documents. SOLUTION: This image forming device is constituted so that a CPU of a formater part 8 is allowed to determine compatibility of the image forming directions among recording sheets in different sizes, based on a specified state of a short side bind both-face mode specified with respect to a printing job by a PC/WS 7A, or the long side bind both faces mode, and the specified state of the size of recording sheets respectively specified with respect to each page of the printing job, and moreover to perform the control, based on the detection result, both face images forming on the recording sheet specified out of different sizes based on another both side mode being different from the both side mode specified with respect to the printing job.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for performing double-sided image formation on a recording medium conveyed by designating double-sided printing for image information, a method of controlling the image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling image data rotation. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of image forming apparatus,
Devices capable of finishing operations such as sorting and stapling have been proposed, and some are already commercially available. When printing is performed from a computer using these image forming apparatuses, a finishing function (sorting function, staple function, etc.), a long side binding double-side mode (shown in FIG. 14A described later),
Alternatively, it was possible to specify a duplex mode such as a short side binding duplex mode (shown in FIG. 14B described later) or the like to perform duplex output.

[0003] Hereinafter, each duplex mode, drawing direction, and sheet conveying direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between each double-sided mode and the image forming direction. FIG. 14A corresponds to the long-side bound double-sided mode, and FIG. 14B corresponds to the short-side bound double-sided mode.

[0005] In the long side binding (long edge bind) duplex mode shown in FIG. 1 (a), both sides of a sheet are printed so that the image directions on the front and back sides are the same.

In the short-edge binding (short edge bound) duplex mode shown in FIG. 1B, double-sided printing is performed so that the image directions on the front and back sides are reversed (180-degree rotated direction) when the paper is set up. Do.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between the direction of a sheet and the direction of an image drawn on the sheet. FIG. 15A corresponds to drawing in the portrait direction (hereinafter, portrait drawing), and FIG. ) Corresponds to landscape direction drawing (hereinafter, landscape drawing).

FIGS. 16A and 16B are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between the paper direction and the paper transport direction. FIG. 16A corresponds to a long side feed (long edge feed), and FIG. Edge feed).

[0009]

However, as described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when the above-described double-sided output control is performed, the specification of the double-sided mode such as the long-sided binding double-sided mode designation or the short-sided binding double-sided mode designation is performed. , While specifying for the entire output document, the paper size (A3, A3
4, B4, B5, etc.) and drawing directions (portrait drawing,
(Landscape drawing) can be specified for each page, so that drawing on a plurality of sheets of different sizes can be mixed and specified in the same document.

For this reason, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the binding direction may be inconsistent between the mixed paper sizes with respect to the designation of double-sided output for the entire document.

Hereinafter, a case where A4 size portrait drawing and A3 size landscape drawing are mixed in the same document will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are schematic diagrams showing output results of pages 1 to 4 of portrait drawing of A4 size long side feed paper, FIG. 17A shows a state in which the output results are bundled, and FIG.
Indicates a state in which a few pages of the output result have been opened.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are schematic diagrams showing output results of pages 5 to 8 of landscape drawing of A3 size short side feed paper, and FIG. 18A shows a state where the output results are bundled.
(B) shows a state where pages 6 and 7 of the output result are opened.

FIG. 19 shows output results of portrait drawing pages 1 to 4 of A4 size long side feed paper shown in FIG. 17 and output of landscape drawing 5 to 8 pages of A3 size short side feed paper shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which bundled the result, (a) has shown the state which bundled the output result, (b) has shown the state where page 6 and 7 of the output result were opened, and "page 6" is upside down. Is bound to.

As shown in FIG. 19, A4 size paper is fed by a long side feed (long edge feed) to print portrait drawing, and A3 size paper is printed by a short side feed (short edge feed). When paper is fed and printed by landscape drawing and bundled, the drawing direction on the front and back of A4 size paper and the drawing direction on the front and back of A3 size paper are different.

This is because drawing is designated in the long side binding double-sided mode for both A3 and A4 sizes.
As shown in (b) of FIG.
"8 pages (even pages)" are bound upside down.

On the other hand, a short-edge binding (short edge bind) double-sided mode is specified for a document, and the A4 size portrait drawing and the A3 size landscape drawing are mixed in the same document. Think.

In this case, since the drawing is designated in the short-side binding double-sided mode for both A3 and A4 sizes, two pages (even pages) of A4 size paper are bound upside down.

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when paper sizes are mixed, when the binding direction of both sides is uniquely specified for the entire document, the binding positions may be contradictory.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the first to tenth inventions according to the present invention is to specify a plurality of paper sizes in the same document. Even if you specify only one of the short-edge binding duplex mode and the long-edge binding duplex mode for mixed print jobs, depending on the paper size, ignore the drawing direction based on the specified duplex mode and switch to the other. The image forming apparatus and the control of the image forming apparatus capable of obtaining an optimum double-sided print output result aligned in the binding direction even when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document by printing in the two-sided mode. A method and an image data rotation control method are provided.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image formed on a recording sheet in a state where the recording sheet is in a vertical position is rotated 180 degrees between the front and back sides. A first double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides (short-side binding double-sided mode shown in FIG. 14B), or the recording sheet is formed such that the image directions formed on the recording sheet are the same on the front and back sides. A first designating unit (PC / WS7A shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 1) for designating a second duplex mode (long-side binding duplex mode shown in FIG. 14A) for forming an image on both sides for a print job. 3 and the size of the recording sheet (A3, A4, B).
4, B5, etc. for each page of the print job individually (PC / WS7 shown in FIG. 1).
A, the image forming direction between recording sheets of different sizes based on the operation unit 124 of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 3) and the designation state of the duplex mode and the recording sheet size by the first and second designation means. Determining means for determining the consistency of data (the CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6 makes a determination based on a program stored in the memory 805)
And specifying, on the basis of a result of the determination by the determining means, a double-sided image formation on a recording sheet of any size specified by the second specifying means for the print job by the first specifying means. Control means for performing control based on the other duplex mode different from the duplex mode (the CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6 controls based on a program stored in the memory 805). is there.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a third designating means (PC / WS7A shown in FIG. 1, and an operation unit 124 of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 3) for designating stapling processing for the print job. Stapling means (stapler 221 shown in FIG. 2) for performing stapling processing on a recording medium on which an image has been formed, based on the designation state of the third designation means.
Are provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the determining means (the CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6) is provided with the first specifying means (PC / WS7A shown in FIG. 1 and the reader unit shown in FIG. 3). The first operation unit 124) designates the second double-sided mode (long-side binding double-sided mode), and the second designation means (PC / WS7A shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 124 of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 3). Vertical orientation at a predetermined size
(A), the first recording sheet to be conveyed and the first recording sheet (for example, A4 lengthwise paper, B5 lengthwise paper) having a long side as a short side (horizontal direction). The second recording sheet (for example, A3 landscape paper, B4 landscape paper) conveyed (short side feed shown in FIG. 16B)
If it is determined that both are specified, the control unit (CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6) performs the double-sided image formation of the second recording sheet (A3, B4).
The change control is performed so as to be performed based on a first double-sided mode (short side binding double-sided mode) different from the second double-sided mode specified for the print job.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the determination means (the CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6) is provided with the first designating means (PC / WS7A shown in FIG. 1 and the reader unit shown in FIG. 3). The first double-sided mode (short side binding double-sided mode) is designated by the first operation unit 124), and the second designation means (PC / WS 7A shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 124 of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG. 3). Vertical orientation at a predetermined size
(A) The first recording sheet (for example, A4 vertical paper, B5 vertical paper) to be conveyed and the first recording sheet having a size in which the long side of the first recording sheet is the short side, are set in the horizontal direction ( The second recording sheet (for example, A3 landscape paper, B4 landscape paper) conveyed (short side feed shown in FIG. 16B)
When it is determined that the first recording sheet (A4, B5) is formed, the control unit (the CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6) performs double-sided image formation on the first recording sheet (A4, B5).
The change control is performed so as to be performed based on a second double-sided mode (long-side binding double-sided mode) different from the first double-sided mode specified for the print job.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, rotation designation data (FIG. 10 (b)) corresponding to each image data is received together with a plurality of image data included in one job. In the image forming apparatus that performs a rotation process on the image data based on the rotated designation data and forms an image on both sides of the sheet based on the rotated image data, a plurality of sheets having different sizes are used. When a job for forming an image ((a) in FIGS. 10 to 13) is received, a control unit (not shown) for controlling so as not to follow the rotation designation data corresponding to any of the plurality of image data included in the job. C of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG.
PU 809 is controlled based on a program stored in the memory 805).

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, when the control means (CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6) receives a job for forming an image on a plurality of sheets having different sizes, the control means includes the job. 10 does not follow the rotation designation data corresponding to any of the plurality of image data (FIG. 10).
(B), a 180-degree rotation instruction for the fourth page), and other rotation designation data (0-degree rotation instruction for the first to third pages in (b) of FIG. 10).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the control means (CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 shown in FIG. 6) performs a rotation process on the image data controlled so as not to follow the rotation designation data. (180 with respect to the image of the fourth page in FIG. 10B).
The image of the fourth page is rotated by 0 degree without being based on the degree rotation instruction).

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein the image orientation (the image orientation of the fourth page in FIG. The direction of the image (the direction of the image on the fourth page in FIG. 10C) when the rotation processing is performed based on the designated data is different by 180 degrees.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in a state in which a recording sheet designated for a print job is in a vertical position, recording is performed such that an image formed on the recording sheet is rotated 180 degrees between the front and back sides. Designated state of a first double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of a sheet, or a second double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of a recording sheet so that the image directions formed on the recording sheet are the same on both sides And a determination step of determining the consistency of the image forming direction between recording sheets of different sizes based on the designation state of the recording sheet size individually designated for each page of the print job (step in FIG. 7). (5) to (7)), and based on the determination result, forming a two-sided image on a recording sheet of any of the designated sizes is different from the two-sided mode designated for the print job. Image forming process performed based on the duplex mode of (Step 7 (9), (12)) are those having a.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a rotation process for the image data included in a job for forming an image on both sides of each of a plurality of sheets having different sizes is controlled based on a plurality of image data. In the image data rotation control method, a rotation process is performed on the image data based on the rotation designation data corresponding to each of the image data, and an image is formed on each surface of the sheet based on the processed plurality of image data. Setting the rotation designation data for each of the image data (step (9) in FIG. 7)
To (12)), wherein the step is such that, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one bundle, each of the short sides of the large size sheet and the long side of the small size sheet overlap each other. The rotation designation data is set for each of the image data, with the expectation that the sheet orientations will be aligned.

[0031]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image input device (hereinafter, referred to as a reader unit) which reads a document and converts it into image data. 2 is an image output device (hereinafter, referred to as a printer unit)
And a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, and outputs image data read by the reader unit 1 according to a print command as a visible image on recording paper. An external device 3 has various functions and is electrically connected (connected by a cable) to the reader unit 1 to control various signals and control each function.

In the external device 3, reference numeral 4 denotes a facsimile unit for transmitting and receiving a facsimile via a telephone line. 4
A is a hard disk connected to the facsimile unit 4,
Various transmission / reception data of the facsimile unit 4 can be stored. Reference numeral 5 denotes a file unit which converts various kinds of document information into electric signals and stores them in an external storage device 6 such as a magneto-optical disk. Reference numeral 7 denotes a computer interface unit which is connected to a personal computer / workstation (hereinafter referred to as PC / W).
S) Communication with 7A is performed.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a formatter unit, which develops code information transferred from the PC / WS 7A into image information for rendering a visible image. Reference numeral 9 denotes an image memory unit, and a reader unit 1
And temporarily stores information sent from the PC / WS7A. A core unit 10 controls various signals and functions, and controls the external device 3 as a whole.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view for explaining the configuration of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the reader section 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a document feeder, which sequentially conveys the documents stacked on the document table one by one onto a document table glass surface 102. Reference numeral 104 denotes a scanner unit. The scanner unit 104 moves, and a document placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass
03 is lit and irradiated. Reference numeral 109 denotes a CCD image sensor unit (hereinafter, referred to as CCD), and mirrors 105, 106, and 10
7. The reflected light of the original is input via the lens 108. The reflected light of the document irradiated on the CCD 109 is photoelectrically converted by the reader unit 1 and converted into electric signals of red, green, and blue.

The operation of each section will be described below.

The originals stacked on the original platen of the original feeder 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the original platen glass surface 102. When a document is conveyed to a predetermined position on the platen glass surface 102, the lamp 103 of the scanner unit is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 moves to irradiate the document. The reflected light of the original is reflected by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and lens 108.
Through the CCD 109.

In the printer unit 2, an exposure control unit 201 modulates an image signal input to the printer unit 2, converts the image signal into a light signal, and irradiates the photosensitive member 202 with the light signal. A developing unit 203 develops a latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light. Reference numeral 206 denotes a transfer unit which transfers an image developed by the developing unit 203 to transfer paper stored in the transfer paper stacking unit 204 or 205 and conveyed in synchronization with the leading end of the developing unit 203. A fixing unit 207 fixes the image transferred on the transfer paper. Reference numeral 208 denotes a paper discharge unit, and a fixing unit 207
The transfer paper subjected to the fixing process is discharged outside the image forming apparatus. Reference numeral 209 denotes a conveyance direction switching member (hereinafter referred to as a flapper). When double-sided printing or multiple printing is designated, the flapper 209 is switched at a predetermined timing to transfer the transfer paper to the transfer paper stacking section for re-feeding the transfer paper. 210
Lead to.

Reference numeral 220 denotes a sorter which performs a sort function on the transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208, and discharges the bin to each bin or the uppermost bin of the sorter when the sort function is not operating. The sorter 220 has a stapler 22 inside.
1 to perform a stapling process on the transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208.

The operation of each section will be described below.

The image signal input to the printer unit 2 is modulated by the exposure control unit 201, converted into an optical signal, and irradiates the photosensitive member 202. Photoconductor 202 by irradiation light
The latent image created above is developed by the developing device 203.
The transfer paper stacking unit 2 is combined with the timing of the tip of the developing device and the timing.
04 or 205, the transfer paper is conveyed to the transfer unit 2
At 06, the developed image is transferred. After the transferred image is fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207, the image is discharged from the paper discharge unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper discharge unit 208 is discharged to each pin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220, or to the highest pin of the sorter when the sort function is not working. .

Next, a method of outputting sequentially read images on the screen of one output sheet will be described. Fixing unit 20
After the output sheet fixed in step 7 is once conveyed to the sheet discharging section 208, the sheet is reversed in direction of conveyance, and is conveyed to the transfer sheet stacking section 210 for re-feeding via the flapper 209. When the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as in the above process, but the transfer paper is fed from the re-feeding receiving paper stacking section 210, so that the same output paper (transfer Paper), two original images can be output on the front and back sides.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the signal processing configuration of the reader unit 1 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 110R, 110G, 110
B denotes an amplifier, which amplifies color information from the CCD 109 in accordance with an input signal level of an analog-to-digital converter (A / D converter) 111. The A / D converter 111 digitally converts each color analog information amplified by the amplifiers 110R, 110G, 110B. Reference numeral 112 denotes a shading correction unit which performs shading correction on an output signal from the A / D converter 111 (light distribution unevenness of the lamp 103, CCD shading, etc.).
109, and outputs it to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 and the external I / F switching circuit 119.

The Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 converts the output signal from the shading circuit 112 into the equation “Y = 0.3R
+ 0.6G + 0.1B "to generate a Y signal, and further performs color detection for outputting a signal for each color separated into seven colors from each of the R, G, and B signals. 114 is variable magnification
The repeat circuit performs scaling of the output signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 in the sub-scanning direction and scaling in the main scanning direction according to the scanning speed of the scanner unit 104.
Further, the scaling / repeat circuit 114 can output a plurality of identical images.

Reference numeral 115 denotes a contour / edge emphasizing circuit.
Edge enhancement and contour information are obtained by enhancing the high-frequency component of the signal from the repeat circuit 114, and the signal is output to the marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116 and the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117.

Marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116
Reads a portion written on a document with a marker pen of a designated color and generates contour information of the marker. Patterning
The thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 performs thickening, masking, and trimming based on the contour information from the marker area determination / contour generating circuit 116. Further, patterning is performed by a color detection signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113.

Reference numeral 118 denotes a laser driver circuit which converts an output signal from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 into a signal for driving a laser.
The output signal of the laser driver circuit 118 is
To form an image as a visible image.

The external I / F switching circuit 119 performs an I / F (interface) with the external device 3. When outputting image information from the reader unit 1 to the external device 3, the external I / F switching circuit 119 outputs the image information from the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 to the connector 120. Further, when inputting image information from the external device 3 to the reader unit 1, the external I / F switching circuit 119 inputs image information from the connector 120 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113.

Reference numeral 122 denotes a CPU, which instructs each of the above-described image processing and controls the reader unit 1 as a whole. Reference numeral 121 denotes an area generation circuit which generates various timing signals necessary for the image processing based on values set by the CPU 122.

The CPU 122 communicates with the external device 3 using a built-in communication function. 123 is S
The UB / CPU controls the operation unit 124 and the SU
B. Communication with the external device 3 is performed using a communication function built in the CPU 123.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the core unit 10 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, the connector 100 of the core 10
1 is connected to the connector 120 of the reader unit 1 by a cable. The connector 1001 has four types of signal lines 105.
1,1052,1057,1055 are built in,
The signal line 1051 communicates with the CPU 122 in the reader unit 1. The signal line 1052 is a signal line for communicating with the SUB CPU 123 in the reader unit 1. The signal line 1057 is an 8-bit multi-level video signal line.
The signal line 1055 is a control signal line for controlling a video signal.

Further, the signal lines 1051 and 1052
Is subjected to communication protocol processing by the communication IC 1002, and C
The communication information is transmitted to the CPU 1003 via the PU bus 1053. The CPU 1003 has a ROM in which a control program is stored and a RAM as a work area, and performs overall control of each component in the core unit 10 according to the ROM control program (described later).

The signal line 1057 is a bidirectional video signal line, and transmits information from the reader unit 1 to the core unit 10.
, And information from the core unit 10 can be output to the reader unit 1. In addition, the signal line 105
7 is connected to a buffer 1010 where it is separated from bidirectional signals into signal lines 1058 and 1070 for unidirectional signals. The signal line 1058 is a signal line for an 8-bit multi-level video signal from the reader unit 1, and outputs an 8-bit multi-level video signal to a next-stage look-up table unit (hereinafter, LUT) 1011.

In the LUT 1011, the image information from the reader unit 1 is converted into a desired value by using a look-up table. The signal on the output signal line 1059 from the LUT 1011 is input to the binarization circuit 1012 or the selector 1013. The binarization circuit 1012 includes a simple binarization function for binarizing a multi-valued signal on the signal line 1059 at a fixed slice level, and a binarization function for changing a slice level from a value of a pixel around a target pixel. It has a binarizing function and a binarizing function by an error diffusion method.

When the binarized information is "0", the value is "0".
When it is "0H" or "1", it is converted into a multi-level signal of "FFH" and input to the next-stage selector 1013. Selector 1
Reference numeral 013 selects either the signal from the LUT 1011 or the output signal of the binarization circuit 1012.

Output signal line 106 from selector 1013
The signal of 0 is input to the selector 1014. The selector 1014 inputs video signal outputs from the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, and the image memory unit 9 to the core unit 10 via the connectors 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, and 1009, respectively. The selected signal (on the signal line 1064) and the signal on the output signal line 1060 of the selector 1013 are selected according to an instruction from the CPU 1003.

The signal on the output signal line 1061 of the selector 1014 is input to the rotation circuit 1015 or the selector 1016. The rotation circuit 1015 converts the input image signal into “+”.
It has a function to rotate to "90 degrees", "-90 degrees", and "+180 degrees". The rotation circuit 1015 converts the information output from the reader unit 1 into a binary signal by the binarization circuit 1012, and stores the information as information from the reader unit 1 in the rotation circuit 1015.

Next, in response to an instruction from the CPU 1003, the rotation circuit 1015 rotates and reads the stored information.
The selector 1016 is connected to the output signal line 1 of the rotation circuit 1015.
062 and one of the input signal lines 1061 of the rotation circuit 1015 are selected, and as the signal of the signal line 1063, the connector 1005 to the facsimile unit 4, the connector 1005 to the file unit 5, the connector 1007 to the computer interface unit 7, Connector 1 with formatter unit 8
008, output to the connector 1009 with the image memory unit 9 and the selector 1017.

The signal flowing through the signal line 1063 is
0 is a synchronous 8-bit one-way video bus signal for transferring image information from the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, and the image memory unit 9, and the signal line 1064 is This is a synchronous 8-bit one-way video bus for transferring image information from the facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8, and image memory unit 9.

Here, the video control circuit 1004 controls the synchronous bus between the signal line 1063 and the signal line 1064 by the signal of the output signal line 1056 from the video control circuit 1004. The signal lines 1054 are connected to the connectors 1005 to 1009, respectively. The signal line 1054 is a bidirectional 16-bit CPU bus, and exchanges data commands asynchronously.

The transfer of information between the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, the image memory unit 9 and the core unit 10 is performed by using the above two video buses 1063 and 1064 and the CPU bus 10.
54 is possible.

The facsimile unit 4, file unit 5,
Computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8,
The signal of the signal line 1064 from the image memory unit 9 is input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017. The selector 1014 operates on the signal line 1 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003.
The signal of 064 is input to the rotation circuit 1015 at the next stage.

The selector 1017 selects one of the signals on the signal lines 1063 and 1064 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1003. Output signal line 10 of selector 1017
65 is a pattern matching circuit 1018, selector 1
019 and 1021. The pattern matching circuit 1018 performs pattern matching on the signal of the input signal line 1065 with a predetermined pattern, and outputs a predetermined multi-value signal to the signal line 1066 when the pattern matches. If they do not match in the pattern matching, the signal on the input signal line 1065 is output to the signal line 1066.

The selector 1019 selects the signal line 1065 and the signal line 1066 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. An output signal of the selector 1019 passes through a signal line 1067 and is input to a look-up table (LUT) 1020 at the next stage. The LUT 1020 has an input signal line 106 according to the characteristics of the printer when outputting image information to the printer unit 2.
7 is converted.

The selector 1021 selects one of the output signal line 1066 and the signal line 1065 of the LUT 1020 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. Selector 102
The 1 output signal is input to the next-stage enlargement circuit 1022 via the signal line 1069. The enlargement circuit 1022 includes the CPU 1
In accordance with an instruction from 003, it is possible to set the magnification independently for the X and Y directions of the image.

The enlargement method is a first-order linear interpolation method.
The output signal of the enlargement circuit 1022 is input to the buffer 1010 through the signal line 1070. Buffer 1010
The signal of the signal line 1070 input to the
Is sent to the printer unit 2 via the connector 1001 via the bidirectional signal line 1057 and printed out.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the computer interface unit 7 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

In the figure, 704 and 708 are SCSI interfaces (SCSII / F), 705 is a Centronics interface (Centronics I / F), and 7
06 is an RS232C interface (RS232CI /
In F), communication is performed with the SCSI, RS232C, and Centronics system, respectively.

Reference numerals 700 to 703 denote connectors between externally connected devices (for example, PC / WS7A, etc.), and each interface 704, 708, 705, 706 and signal line 7
51, 752, and 753. 707
Is a connector to the core unit 10 side, and is connected to each interface 704, 708, 705, 706 via a signal line 754. Information from the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the core unit 10 via the connector 707.

The signal flow between the core unit 10 and each unit will be described below.

[Operation of Core Unit 10 by Information Transmission with Facsimile Unit 4] First, a case where information is output from the core unit 10 to the facsimile unit 4 will be described.

The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10
It communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via C1002 and issues a document scan command. The reader unit 1 reads the document by scanning the document with the scanner unit 104 according to the instruction, and outputs the image information to the connector 120. The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10.

The image information input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10 is a multi-valued 8-bit signal line 105.
7 and input to the buffer 1010. The buffer circuit 1010 converts the signal on the bidirectional signal line 1057 into a one-way signal according to an instruction from the CPU 1003, and
Is input to the LUT 1011 via. The LUT 1011 converts the image information from the reader unit 1 into a desired value using a look-up table. For example, it is possible to skip the background of a document.

The output signal of the LUT 1011 is input to the next-stage binarization circuit 1012 through the output signal line 1059. The binarization circuit 1012 converts the 8-bit multilevel signal on the signal line 1059 into a binary signal. Binarization circuit 1012
Is 00H when the binarized signal is 0 and FF when it is 1.
H and two multi-valued signals. Binarization circuit 1012
Is input to the rotation circuit 1015 or the selector 1016 via the selector 1013 and the selector 1014.

The output signal of the rotation circuit 1015 is also
62, is input to the selector 1016, and the selector 1
Reference numeral 016 selects either the signal of the signal line 1061 or the signal of the signal line 1062. The selection of the signal
03 is determined by communicating with the facsimile unit 4 via the CPU bus 1054.

Output signal line 106 from selector 1016
The signal of No. 3 is sent to the facsimile unit 4 via the connector 1005. The facsimile unit 4 can also store the received information on the hard disk 4A.

Next, the case where the core unit 10 receives information from the facsimile unit 4 will be described.

The image information from the facsimile unit 4 is transmitted to the signal line 1064 via the connector 1005 of the core unit 10. The signal on the signal line 1064 is supplied to the selector 101
4 and input to the selector 1017. CP of core part 10
When the image at the time of facsimile reception is rotated and output to the printer unit 2 according to the instruction of U1003, the selector 10
The signal of the signal line 1064 input to the
Rotation processing is performed at 15. The signal of the output signal line 1062 from the rotation circuit 1015 is supplied to the selector 1016 and the selector 101
7, and is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018.

If the image at the time of facsimile reception is to be output to the printer unit 2 as it is in accordance with the instruction from the CPU 1003, the signal line 1064 input to the selector 1017
Is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018.

Next, the pattern matching circuit 1018
Has a function of smoothing the backlash of an image when a facsimile is received. The pattern-matched signal is input to the LUT 1020 via the selector 1019. The LUT 1020 is used to output a facsimile-received image to the printer unit 2 at a desired density.
The table 1020 can be changed by the CPU 1003.

The signal on the output signal line 1068 of the LUT 1020 is input to the enlargement circuit 1022 via the selector 1021. The enlargement circuit 1022 outputs two values (“00
H "," FFH ") is subjected to an enlarging process by a first-order linear interpolation method. Enlargement circuit 1022
The 8-bit multi-valued multi-valued signal having the value of “00-FF” output from the buffer 1010 and the connector 1001
Is sent to the reader unit 1 via the.

The reader unit 1 transmits this signal to the connector 120
Is input to the external I / F switching circuit 119 via the. The external I / F switching circuit 119 inputs a signal from the facsimile unit 4 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113. After the output signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 is processed as described above, it is output to the printer unit 2 and an image is formed on output paper.

[Operation of Core Unit 10 by Information Transmission with File Unit 5] A case where information is output from the core unit 10 to the file unit 5 will be described below.

The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10
It communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via C1002 and issues a document scan command. The reader unit 1 reads the original by scanning the original with the scanner unit 104 according to the instruction, and outputs the image information to the connector 120.

The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and information from the reader unit 1 is input to the connector 1001 of the core unit 10. Image information input to the connector 1001 is input to a one-way signal line 1058 via a buffer 1010. The signal on the signal line 1058, which is an 8-bit multilevel signal, is converted into a desired signal by the LUT 1011. The output signal of the LUT 1011 is a signal line 1059, a selector 1013, a selector 101
4, input to the connector 1006 via the selector 1016.

That is, the data is transferred to the file section 5 as 8-bit multivalued data without using the functions of the binarization circuit 1012 and the rotation circuit 1015. CPU bus 105 of CPU 1003
When filing the binarized signal by communication with the file unit 5 through the file unit 4, it has the functions of the binarizing circuit 1012 and the rotating circuit 1015. The binarization process and the rotation process are the same as those in the case of the facsimile unit 4 described above, and thus will not be described.

Next, the information from the file unit 5 is transferred to the core unit 1
The case of receiving at 0 will be described.

First, image information from the file section 5 is supplied to the selector 10 via the connector 1006 and the signal line 1064.
14 is input to the selector 1017. In the case of 8-bit multi-valued filing, the selector 1017 is used. In the case of binary filing, the selector 1014 or 101 is used.
7 can be input. In the case of binary filing, the processing is the same as that of the facsimile unit 4, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the case of multi-level filing, selector 101
7 from the signal line 1065 to the selector 1019.
Is binarized into the LUT 1020 via the. LUT1020
Then, according to the desired print density, the CPU 1003
Create a look-up table according to the instruction. LUT
The output signal from 1020 is signal line 1068, selector 1
The input signal is input to the enlargement circuit 1022 via the input terminal 21.

The 8-bit multi-level signal 1070 enlarged to a desired enlargement ratio by the enlargement circuit 1022 is
10, sent to the reader unit 1 via the connector 1001. The information of the file unit 5 sent to the reader unit 1 is output to the printer unit 2 and an image is formed on output paper, similarly to the facsimile unit 4 described above.

[Operation of Core Unit 10 by Information Transmission with Computer Interface Unit 7] The computer interface unit 7 is connected to a PC / WS connected to the external device 3.
Interface with 7A. Information transferred to the core unit 10 via the connector 707 of the computer interface unit 7 is transmitted to the connector 1007 and the data bus 10.
The data is sent to the CPU 1003 via 54. CPU 1003
Performs various controls based on the transmitted contents.

[Operation of Core Unit 10 Due to Information Transmission with Formatter Unit 8] The formatter unit 8 is, for example, a PC / WS7A which transmits a document file from the PC interface unit 7 through the core unit 10. It has a function to expand command data into image data.

When the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 determines that the data transmitted from the computer interface unit 7 via the data bus 1054 is data relating to the formatter unit 8, the data is transferred to the formatter unit 8 via the connector 1008. I do. Formatter part 8
Is developed in the memory from the transferred data as a meaningful image such as a character or a figure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the formatter unit 8 of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 800 denotes a connector, which is connected to the core 10. 803 is a dual port memory,
It stores code data (code data transferred via the computer interface 7 and the core unit 10) from the PS / WS 7A transferred from the connector 800 via the data bus line 853. A CPU 809 receives code data transmitted from the PS / WS 7A via the dual port memory 803 via the CPU bus 857, temporarily stores the code data in the memory 805, and sequentially develops the image data into image data. Memory A 806 or memory B 80 via memory controller 808
7 is transferred.

The memory A 806 and the memory B 807
Each memory has a capacity of 1 Mbytes, and one memory (memory A 806 or memory B 807) supports up to A4 paper size data at a resolution of 300 dpi (can be stored). Note that the memory A 806 and the memory B 807
Are connected to the memory controller 808 via data bus lines 858 and 859, respectively.

The memory controller 808 has a memory A8
06 and the memory B 807 are controlled by an instruction from the CPU 809. In addition, for example, in the case of supporting up to A3 paper at a resolution of 300 dpi, control is performed so that the memory A806 and the memory B807 are cascaded to develop image data.

Reference numeral 804 denotes a rotation circuit which is used to rotate characters and figures when developing image data.
After rotating the image data, the image data is transferred to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807.

Further, the memory controller 808 has a CP
When the development of the image data in the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 is completed by the control from the U 809, the data bus line 858 of the memory A 806 or the memory B
A data bus line 859 of 807 is connected to an output line 851 of the memory controller 808.

Reference numeral 802 denotes a timing generation circuit, which is a core unit 1 input via a connector 800 and a signal line 852.
A timing signal for reading image information from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 is output to the memory controller 808 via the signal line 856 in response to the signal from 0.

The connector 800 transfers the output image information from the memory controller 808 transferred via the signal line 851 to the core unit 10.

The memory 805 has a CPU 80 inside.
9 has a program memory storing a program to be executed.

Hereinafter, the operation of each unit will be described.

First, the data from the computer interface unit 7 is determined by the core unit 10, and if the data is related to the formatter unit 8, the CPU of the core unit 10
1003 transfers data from the computer to the dual port memory 803 via the connector 1008 of the core unit 10 and the connector 800 of the formatter unit 9.

The CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 receives the code data sent from the computer via the dual port memory 803. After temporarily storing the code data in the memory 805, the CPU 809 sequentially develops the code data into image data and transfers the image data to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 via the memory controller 808.

If the rotation of characters or figures is required when developing the image data, the image data is rotated by the rotation circuit 804 and then transferred to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807. When the development of the image data in the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 is completed, the CPU 809 controls the memory controller 808 to connect the data bus line 858 of the memory A 806 or the data bus line 859 of the memory B 807 to the output line 851 of the memory controller 808. .

Next, the CPU 809 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 803 and sets a mode for outputting image information from the memory A 806 or the memory 807. CPU 10 of core unit 10
03 uses a communication function built in the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication circuit 1002 in the core unit 10 to execute C
The print output mode is set in the PU 122.

The operation of each section when the print output mode is set will be described below.

First, when the print output mode is set, the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10
8 and the timing generation circuit 802 via the connector 800 of the formatter unit 8. The timing generation circuit 802 generates a timing signal for reading image information from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 to the memory controller 808 according to a signal from the core unit 10.

The image information from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 is input to the memory controller 808 via the signal line 858. Output image information from the memory controller 808 is transferred to the core unit 10 via the signal line 851 and the connector 800. The output from the core unit 10 to the printer unit is the same as that described for the core unit 10 and will not be described.

Next, a procedure for receiving information from the formatter unit 8 and forming an image on an output sheet will be described.

The image information from the formatter unit 8 is transmitted via the connector 1008 to the signal line 1064 as a multi-valued signal having two values (“00H” and “FFH”). The signal on the signal line 1064 is supplied to the selector 101
4, input to the selector 1017. CPU 1003
Controls the selectors 1014 and 1017. The subsequent steps are the same as those in the case of the facsimile unit 4 and will not be described.

Next, an operation when printing a document in which a plurality of sizes of paper are mixed and two-sided printing is specified using the formatter unit 8 will be described, paying particular attention to the drawing direction of an image.

External PC / WS7A and Reader Unit 1
The (operation unit 124) can select and specify “short edge binding double mode” or “long edge binding duplex mode” as a duplex mode for a document including a plurality of pages to be output on both sides by the image forming apparatus. It is possible to select a "paper size" (A3, A4, B4, B5, etc.) and a drawing direction (portrait drawing, landscape drawing) for each page. It is also possible to specify stapling processing in the duplex mode, and to perform stapling processing on the output paper by the stapler 221.

In this case, data necessary for image formation of a plurality of pages sent from the PC / WS 7A is transmitted through the interface unit 7 via the core unit 10 to the formatter unit 8.
Passed to. Further, data necessary for image formation of a plurality of pages constituted by the image data read by the CCD 109 of the reader unit 1 and each designated data designated by the operation unit 124 is transmitted from the reader unit 1 via the core unit 10. Then, it is passed to the formatter unit 8.

Next, the formatter unit 8 receives the data for one job according to the above-described procedure, and temporarily stores the data in the memory 8.
The data is stored in 05 and a printing operation (hereinafter, shown in FIG. 7) is performed.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The first print control operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a first embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
7 is a flowchart for explaining the print control procedure of FIG. 7, and is executed based on a program stored in the memory 805 when the CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 receives data from the outside and stores the data in the memory 805. In addition, (1)-
(17) shows each step.

First, when data for one job is stored in the memory 805 of the formatter unit 8, it is determined whether or not a document printed by the job includes a page for double-sided printing (1). If it is determined that the page is not included, normal printing is performed (17), the processing of this flowchart is terminated, and the process returns to a state of waiting for the next data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (1) that the document to be printed by the job includes a double-sided printing page, it is determined whether or not a plurality of paper sizes are included (2). If it is determined that a plurality of paper sizes are not included, normal printing is performed (17), the processing of this flowchart is terminated, and the process returns to a state of waiting for the next data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (2) that the document printed by the job includes a plurality of paper sizes, 1 is set in the variable N representing the current page.
(3), and determines whether the Nth page is double-sided data (4). If it is determined that the Nth page is not double-sided data (single-sided data), the Nth page is printed in the designated single-sided mode ( 8), proceed to step (13).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (4) that the Nth page is double-sided data, it is determined whether the designated double-sided mode is long edge bind (long side binding double-sided mode) (5). If it is determined that the page is edge bound, it is determined whether or not the Nth page is the sheet size of the short edge feed (short side feed) (6).

Here, the paper size of the short edge feed is, for example, A3 size, B4 size, or the like.
The paper size of the long edge feed (long side feed) is, for example, A4 size, B5 size, or the like.

In the section of the prior art, as described with reference to FIG.
That is, a mode in which the short side of the sheet is transported first, and a long edge feed is a mode in which the long side of the sheet transports first. (See FIG. 16).

If it is determined in step (6) that the Nth page is the sheet size of the short edge feed, the Nth page is short edge bound (short edge binding double-sided mode).
To print (9), and proceed to the process of step (13).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that the Nth page is not the short edge feed paper size (long edge feed paper size), the Nth page is printed in the specified duplex mode (10). ), And proceed to step (13).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that the double-sided mode specified is not long edge binding (long side binding double-sided mode), that is, short edge binding (short side binding double-sided mode), the Nth page is short-circuited. It is determined whether or not the page size is the edge feed paper size (7). If the Nth page is determined to be the short edge feed paper size, the Nth page is printed in the designated duplex mode (11), and step ( Proceed to 13).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (7) that the Nth page is not the short edge feed paper size (long edge feed paper size), the Nth page is subjected to the long edge binding (long side binding double-side mode). To print (12), and proceed to the process of step (13).

Next, after printing the Nth page,
It is determined whether the N page is the last page (13). If it is not the last page, the variable N representing the current page is incremented (14), and step (4).
Return to the processing of.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (13) that the Nth page is the last page, it is determined whether or not the binding process (staple process) is designated (15), and the binding process is designated. If it is determined that the data is present, the designated binding process is performed (16), the process of this flowchart ends, and the process returns to a state of waiting for the next data.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (15) that the binding process has not been specified, the process of this flowchart ends, and the process returns to a state of waiting for the next data.

According to the above processing, even when different sizes of paper are printed by designating the same duplex mode, it is possible to perform printing consistent with the binding direction.

In the steps (9) and (12), the image data is controlled so as not to obey the rotation designation data corresponding to each received image data together with the plurality of image data included in one job. The rotation process on the data is performed based on the rotation designation data.

On the other hand, when the above (steps (9), (1)
In steps (10) and (11) other than 2)), the image data is controlled so as to follow the rotation designation data, and a rotation process on the image data is performed based on the rotation designation data.

As a result, the direction of the image when the rotation process is performed based on the rotation designation data is different from the direction of the image when the rotation process is performed based on the rotation designation data by 180 degrees ( For example, FIG.
(See (c) and (d)).

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a printing result by the image printing control procedure shown in FIG.

The document shown in the figure is an 8-page document.
This is an output result when output is performed by designating up to page 4 as A4 portrait data and pages 5 to 8 as A3 landscape data.

(A) shows a state in which output results are bundled.
(B) shows the state in which the output results shown in (a) are bundled into 6,
This shows a state in which the seventh page is opened. As shown in the figure, when the A4 size and the A3 size are mixed and the binding function is executed, optimal double-sided printing without inconsistency in the printing direction is performed. .

As described above, even if both sides of the entire document are designated for short-edge binding or long-edge binding so that the optimal double-sided printing can be performed even when the paper size is mixed, the paper can be printed on both sides. By ignoring the designated drawing directions of both sides depending on the size, it is possible to provide an optimal binding function.

Performing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 means that a job in which small-size pages (for example, A4 size pages) and large-size pages (for example, A3 size pages) are mixed. In the case of double-sided printing and a binding side print instruction, the rotation designation for a predetermined page out of the rotation designation for each page output from the driver is not followed. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a double-sided printing and binding side print instruction screen for a job in which small-size pages (for example, A4-size pages) and large-size pages (for example, A3-size pages) are mixed. FIG. 8A is a diagram corresponding to a case where the document size is set to “A4” and the printing direction is set to “vertical”, that is, “A4 portrait”; FIG. Is set to “horizontal”, that is, “A3 horizontal”, (c) shows the printing surface as “both sides”, and the binding direction as “long side binding 1 (left long side or upper long side binding)”, ie, This corresponds to the case where the “long side binding double side mode” is set.

For example, it is assumed that a user creates a document for four pages using word processing software in the PC / WS7A shown in FIG. 1 having a printer driver.

Then, on the page setting screen on the word processing software, the document size and orientation of the first and second pages of the document are set to A4 portrait (see FIG. 9A), and the third and fourth pages are set. Assume that the document size and orientation of the page are set to A3 landscape (FIG. 9).
(B)).

Next, as shown in FIG. 9C, the PC / W
In the setting screen of the printer driver in S7A, the user sets the double-sided printing and the long side binding setting, that is, the long side binding double side mode for the document of 4 pages in which A4 vertical 2 pages and A3 horizontal 2 pages are mixed. Suppose you set it.

As described above, in one job, the paper size is set for each page (the first page, the second page, the third page, and the fourth page) on the setting screen of the word processing software; and The user can independently set the setting of the long side binding double side mode or the short side binding double side mode for each job on the setting screen of the printer driver.

When the four-page document is formed on recording paper, the image of the first page is printed on the surface (first side) of the first recording paper.
Then, the image of the second page is formed on the back surface (second surface) of the first recording paper, and the image of the third page is formed on the front surface (first surface) of the second recording paper.
Side), the image of the fourth page is printed on the back side of the second recording paper (second side).
Surface).

The size of the output paper (that is, the size of the recording paper) is determined based on the document size so that the data created by the user on the word processing software is faithfully reproduced unless the output paper is specified by the user. Automatically select the best size.

In this case, the size of the first recording paper (hereinafter, recording paper A) is A4, which is the same as the original size of the first and second pages, and the second recording paper (hereinafter, recording paper B) is used. Is A3, which is the same as the original size of the third and fourth pages.

If the operation mode set by the user is the long side binding double side mode, the driver sets the long side of the sheet on which the image is to be formed as the binding direction, and forms the image on both sides of the sheet based on the binding direction. Then, a driver instruction is output to the printer side together with the image data.

The image data and the rotation designation data included in the printer job sent from the driver on the PC / WS 7A shown in FIG. 1 to the image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, “long side binding” will be described using “long side binding 1” in FIG. 9C, and “short side binding” will be described using “short side binding 1” in FIG. 9 (c). “Long side binding 2” and “short side binding 2” in FIG. 9C
The same applies to the case of.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining processing when various modes are selected (designated).
When a mode of performing double-sided / long-edge binding (long-side binding double-sided mode) is specified for a total of four pages in which three horizontal and two pages are mixed (in FIG. 9C, printing side: both sides, binding direction: Long side binding 1 designation).

First, the designation of the image rotation on the driver side on the PC / WS 7A will be described.

FIG. 10A shows a document created by word processing software executed on the PC / WS7A, and corresponds to, for example, a document having a total of four pages in which A4 vertical two pages and A3 horizontal two pages are mixed (FIG. 10A). (See FIG. 9).

FIG. 10B shows a driver's instruction based on the setting of double-sided / long-edge bind (long-side bound double-sided mode).

The recording paper A as the output paper is a long edge feed sheet, that is, a sheet of a type conveyed with the long side of the sheet at the head, and the recording paper B is a short edge feed sheet. That is, the sheet is conveyed with the short side of the sheet being the leading side.

More specifically, the long side of the first recording paper A is
Left side of the sheet (left end) with reference to the first surface
Therefore, when the user turns over the first side of the recording sheet A with the left end (binding side) as an axis and looks at the second side of the recording sheet A, the image of the second page is correct. The rotation designation of the image of the first page is set to 0 degree, and similarly, the rotation designation of the image of the second page is also set to 0 degree so that the image is designated in the upright state. Is output.

On the other hand, the long side of the second recording paper B is the upper side (upper end) of the sheet with respect to the first surface. Therefore, the user reverses the first side of the recording sheet B to the second side with reference to the upper end thereof,
In order to form the image of the fourth page in an upright state when viewing the surface, the rotation designation of the image of the third page is set to 0 degree, and the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page is set to 180 degrees. Is output to the printer as a driver's instruction.

As described above, the designation of image rotation from the driver is set for each page (in this case, page 1, page 2, page 3, and page 4).

Next, processing on the printer side will be described.

In FIG. 10C, the image is rotated based on the instruction from the driver shown in FIG.
Output result when image forming processing is performed (recording paper A,
B) and (d) of FIG. 10 show output results (recording papers A and B) when image formation processing is performed without specifying the rotation of a predetermined page in accordance with the driver instruction shown in (b) of FIG. ) Shows the state of the sheet bundle when the recording papers A and B are temporarily combined into one sheet bundle by the user.

When a plurality of sheets having different sizes are combined as one sheet bundle, for example, it is conceivable that the directions of the respective sheets are aligned in the direction in which the lengths in the binding direction match.

That is, in this case, the length of the recording paper A in the long side direction matches the length of the recording paper B in the short side direction, so that the long side of the recording paper A and the short side of the recording paper B overlap. The directions of the recording sheets are aligned (see FIGS. 10C and 10D).

This is not limited to the case where the user composes the data by himself / herself, and is automatically processed by the printer (for example, the output is performed by aligning the directions of the recording paper so that the long side of the recording paper A and the short side of the recording paper B overlap). It is conceivable that the same is done in the same case.

Thus, the binding direction of the sheet bundle is the left side (left end) of the sheet when viewed from the first surface.
When the recording papers A and B are combined as one sheet bundle, the binding direction of the recording paper A is the long side direction,
Although the binding direction is the same as the binding direction determined in the driver setting, the binding direction of the recording paper B is the short side direction, which is different from the binding direction (long side direction) determined in the driver setting.

On the other hand, the rotation designation of the image output from the driver to the printer is a rotation designation based on the binding direction set by the driver. For example, as shown in FIG. Is a long side direction, and a rotation instruction is output to the printer for each page based on the long side direction.

As described above, in spite of the fact that the recording paper B should be aligned in the binding direction different from the binding direction set by the driver, the image rotation processing is performed for each page as instructed by the driver. 10C, the orientation of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B is the same as the orientation of the image formed on the other surface, as shown in FIG.
When the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the left end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image on the fourth page, the image becomes upside down with respect to the direction of the other images, making it difficult to see. This causes a problem.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent such a problem from occurring, a rotation designation for a predetermined page (here, the image of the fourth page) is selected from among the rotation designations for each page output from the driver. CPU does not follow the 180-degree rotation specification), but follows the rotation specification for other pages.
809.

For example, in this case, as shown in FIG.
An instruction to rotate the image by 180 degrees was output to the printer as the rotation specification of the image of the page, but the printer does not follow the rotation specification from the driver corresponding to the page and rotates the image of the fourth page. The control is performed so that the image of the fourth page is formed on the second surface of the recording paper B without performing the processing.

On the other hand, according to the rotation specification of the first, second, and third pages, based on the rotation specification corresponding to each of the first, second, and third pages, respectively, Control to perform image rotation processing.

That is, the CPU 809 predicts that the directions of the respective recording sheets are aligned so that the longer side of the recording sheet A and the shorter side of the recording sheet B overlap with each other as a process for matching the binding direction, and outputs the output from the driver. The printer ignores the rotation specification data for the predetermined page and newly sets rotation specification data on the printer side, and performs image rotation processing according to the rotation specification data.

[0174] Note that in making a prediction, the CPU 809
Obtain data relating to the document size and image orientation of the document, the size of the recording paper, the length of the recording paper on which the image is to be formed in the long side direction and the short side direction, and refer to the table stored in the memory in advance. The binding direction of the sheet bundle when combined as one bundle is determined (in this case, the left end), and the binding direction of each sheet at that time is checked (for example, in this case,
It is determined that the binding direction of the recording paper A is the same as the long side direction set by the driver, and the binding direction of the recording paper B is the short side direction different from the driver setting). Set the rotation specification data corresponding to each data.

For example, in this case, the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page, which is set to 180 degrees on the driver side, is reset to 0 degrees on the printer side.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 10D, the direction of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B is the same as the direction of the image formed on the other surface. Therefore, when the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the left end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image on the fourth page, it becomes difficult to see the image upside down to the direction of the other images. Can be prevented.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the processing when various modes are selected (designated).
When a mode of performing double-sided / long-edge binding (long-side binding double-sided mode) is specified for a total of four pages in which three pages and two pages are mixed (printing side: both sides, binding direction: FIG. 9C) Long side binding 1 designation). Here, the recording paper A as the output paper is a short edge feed sheet and the recording paper B is a long edge feed sheet.

First, the designation of image rotation on the driver side on the PC / WS 7A will be described.

FIG. 11A shows a document created by word processing software executed on the PC / WS7A. Here, the document corresponds to a total of four pages in which A4 horizontal two pages and A3 vertical two pages are mixed.

FIG. 11B shows a driver's instruction based on the setting of double-sided / long-edge binding (long-sided binding double-sided mode).

Specifically, the long side of the first recording paper A is
Upper side (upper end) of the sheet with reference to the first surface
Therefore, when the user turns over the first side of the recording sheet A with the upper end (binding side) as an axis and looks at the second side of the recording sheet A, the image of the second page is correct. The rotation designation of the image of the first page is set to 0 degree, the rotation designation of the image of the second page is set to 180 degrees, and the rotation designation of these images is output to the printer side as a driver's instruction so that the image is formed in the upright state. .

On the other hand, the long side of the second recording paper B is the left side (left end) of the sheet with respect to the first surface. Therefore, the user turns over the first side of the recording paper B to the second side with reference to the left end thereof,
When the surface is viewed, the rotation designation of the image of the third page is set to 0 degree, and similarly, the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page is set to 0 degree so that the image of the fourth page is formed in an upright state. The rotation designation of these images is output to the printer as a driver's instruction.

As described above, the image rotation designation from the driver is set for each page (in this case, page 1, page 2, page 3, and page 4).

Next, processing on the printer side will be described.

FIG. 11C shows an output result (recording sheets A and B) in the case where image rotation processing is performed based on an instruction from the driver shown in FIG. 11B and image formation processing is performed. 11 (d) shows an output result (recording paper A, B) when an image forming process is performed without specifying the rotation of a predetermined page in accordance with the driver instruction shown in (b). , B are tentatively shown by the user as a single sheet bundle.

As described above, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one sheet bundle, for example, it is conceivable that the directions of the sheets are aligned in the direction in which the lengths in the binding direction match.

In this case, the length of the recording paper A in the long side direction and
Since the lengths of the recording paper B in the short side direction match, the directions of the recording papers are aligned so that the long side of the recording paper A and the short side of the recording paper B overlap (see FIGS. 11C and 11D). ).

As a result, the binding direction of the sheet bundle is set to the upper side (upper end) of the sheet when viewed from the first surface.
When the recording papers A and B are combined as one sheet bundle, the binding direction of the recording paper A is the long side direction,
Although the binding direction is the same as the binding direction determined in the driver setting, the binding direction of the recording paper B is the short side direction, which is different from the binding direction (long side direction) determined in the driver setting.

On the other hand, the rotation designation of the image output from the driver to the printer is a rotation designation based on the binding direction set by the driver. For example, as shown in FIG. Is a long side direction, and a rotation instruction is output to the printer for each page based on the long side direction.

As described above, although the recording paper B should be aligned in the binding direction different from the binding direction set by the driver, the image rotation processing is performed for each page as instructed by the driver. 11C, the orientation of the image on the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B is the same as that of the image formed on the other surface, as shown in FIG.
When the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the upper end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image on the fourth page, the image becomes upside down with respect to the direction of the other images, making it difficult to see. This causes a problem.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent such a problem from occurring, of the rotation designation for each page output from the driver, the rotation designation relating to a predetermined page (here, the image of the fourth page is designated). The CPU 8 does not follow the rotation designation for other pages, but follows the rotation designation for other pages.
09.

For example, in this case, as shown in (b), the driver instructs to rotate by 0 degrees (that is, not rotate) as the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page to be formed on the second surface of the recording paper B. Is output to the printer, but the printer does not follow the rotation specification from the driver corresponding to the page, but executes the unique rotation processing based on the rotation specification from the driver to convert the image of the fourth page into 180. The rotation control is performed so that an image is formed on the second surface of the recording paper B.

On the other hand, according to the rotation specification of the first, second, and third pages, based on the rotation specification corresponding to each of the first, second, and third pages, respectively, Control to perform image rotation processing.

That is, the CPU 809 predicts that the directions of the respective recording sheets are aligned so that the long side of the recording sheet A and the short side of the recording sheet B are overlapped with each other in the process of matching the binding directions, and the output from the driver is performed. The printer ignores the rotation designation data for the predetermined page and newly sets the rotation designation data on the printer side, and performs a unique image rotation process according to the rotation designation data.

It should be noted that in making a prediction, the CPU 809
Obtain data relating to the document size and image orientation of the document, the size of the recording paper, the length of the recording paper on which the image is to be formed in the long side direction and the short side direction, and refer to the table stored in the memory in advance. The binding direction of the sheet bundle when combined as one bundle is determined (in this case, the upper end portion), and the binding direction of each sheet at that time is checked (for example, in this case,
It is determined that the binding direction of the recording paper A is the same as the long side direction as set by the driver, and the binding direction of the recording paper B is the shorter side direction different from the setting of the driver. The printer ignores the rotation designation data for the predetermined page output from the printer and newly sets the rotation designation data on the printer side, and performs an image rotation process according to the rotation designation data. For example, in this case, the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page set to 0 degree by the driver side is reset to 180 degrees by the printer side, and the processing of rotating the image of the fourth page by 180 degrees is performed. The image of the page is formed on the second surface of the recording paper B.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 11D, the direction of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B is the same as the direction of the image formed on the other surface. Therefore, when the user turns over the recording paper one sheet at a time based on the upper end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image on the fourth page, it becomes difficult to see the image upside down with respect to the direction of the other images. Can be prevented.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining processing when various modes are selected (designated).
A mode in which double-sided / short-edge bind (short-side bound double-sided mode) is specified for a total of four pages in which three horizontal pages and two horizontal pages are mixed (printing side: double-sided, binding in FIG. 9C) (Direction: short side 1 specified). The recording paper A as the output paper is a long edge feed sheet, and the recording paper B is a short edge feed sheet.

First, the designation of the image rotation on the driver side on the PC / WS 7A will be described.

FIG. 12A shows a document created by word processing software executed on the PC / WS7A.
This corresponds to a total of four pages of documents including four vertical two pages and A3 horizontal two pages.

FIG. 12B shows a driver's instruction based on double-sided / short-edge bind (short-sided binding double-sided mode) setting.

Specifically, the short side of the first recording paper A is
Upper side (upper end) of the sheet with reference to the first surface
Therefore, when the user turns over the first side of the recording sheet A with the upper end (binding side) as an axis and looks at the second side of the recording sheet A, the image of the second page is correct. The rotation designation of the image of the first page is set to 0 degree, the rotation designation of the image of the second page is set to 180 degrees, and the rotation designation of these images is output to the printer side as a driver's instruction so that the image is formed in the upright state. .

On the other hand, the long side of the second recording paper B is the left side (left end) of the sheet with respect to the first surface. Therefore, the user turns over the first side of the recording paper B to the second side with reference to the left end thereof,
When the surface is viewed, the rotation designation of the image of the third page is set to 0 degree, and similarly, the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page is set to 0 degree so that the image of the fourth page is formed in an upright state. The rotation designation of these images is output to the printer as a driver's instruction.

As described above, the image rotation designation from the driver is set for each page (in this case, page 1, page 2, page 3, and page 4).

Next, processing on the printer side will be described.

FIG. 12C shows an output result (recording sheets A and B) in the case where image rotation processing is performed based on an instruction from the driver shown in FIG. 12B and image formation processing is performed. FIG. 12 (d) is a diagram of FIG.
4B shows output results (recording papers A and B) when an image forming process is performed without following the driver instruction shown in FIG. 4B, and the recording papers A and B are temporarily combined as one sheet bundle by the user. The state of the sheet bundle in the case is shown.

As described above, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one sheet bundle, for example, it is conceivable that the directions of the sheets are aligned in the direction in which the lengths in the binding direction match.

In this case, the length of the recording paper A in the long side direction and
Since the lengths of the recording paper B in the short side direction match, the directions of the recording papers are aligned so that the long side of the recording paper A and the short side of the recording paper B overlap (see FIGS. 12C and 12D). ).

[0208] Thus, the binding direction of the sheet bundle is the left side (left end portion) of the sheet when viewed with reference to the first surface.
When the recording papers A and B are put together as one sheet bundle, the binding direction of the recording paper B is the short side direction,
Although the binding direction is the same as the binding direction determined in the driver setting, the binding direction of the recording paper A is the long side direction, which is different from the binding direction (short side direction) determined in the driver setting.

On the other hand, the rotation designation of the image output from the driver to the printer is a rotation designation based on the binding direction set by the driver. For example, as shown in FIG. Is a short side direction, and a rotation instruction is output to the printer for each page based on the short side direction.

As described above, although the recording paper A should be aligned in the binding direction different from the binding direction set by the driver, the image is rotated for each page as instructed by the driver. When an image is formed by performing the image forming process, as shown in FIG. 12C, the orientation of the image on the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A is the same as the orientation of the image formed on the other surface.
When the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the left end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image of the second page, the image is turned upside down with respect to the direction of the other images, making it difficult to see. This causes a problem.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent such a problem from occurring, a rotation designation for a predetermined page (here, the image of the second page) is selected from among the rotation designations for each page output from the driver. CPU does not follow the 180-degree rotation specification), but follows the rotation specification for other pages.
809.

For example, in this case, as shown in FIG. 12B, the driver instructs the printer to rotate by 180 degrees as the rotation designation of the image of the second page to be formed on the second surface of the recording paper A. Although the image is output, the printer does not follow the rotation designation from the driver corresponding to the page and rotates the image of the second page by 0 degrees (that is, without rotation) to perform the rotation on the second side of the recording paper A. Is controlled to form an image.

On the other hand, according to the rotation specification of the first, third, and fourth pages, based on the rotation specification corresponding to each of the first, third, and fourth pages, respectively. Control to perform image rotation processing.

In other words, the CPU 809 predicts that the directions of the respective recording papers are aligned so that the long side of the recording paper A and the short side of the recording paper B are overlapped with each other in the process of matching the binding directions, and the output is outputted from the driver. The printer ignores the rotation designation data for the predetermined page and newly sets the rotation designation data on the printer side, and performs a unique image rotation process according to the rotation designation data.

[0215] Note that in making a prediction, the CPU 809
Obtain data relating to the document size and image orientation of the document, the size of the recording paper, the length of the recording paper on which the image is to be formed in the long side direction and the short side direction, and refer to the table stored in the memory in advance. The binding direction of the sheet bundle when combined as one bundle is determined (in this case, the left end), and the binding direction of each sheet at that time is checked (for example, in this case,
It is determined that the binding direction of the recording paper A is the long side direction different from the driver setting, and that the binding direction of the recording paper B is the same long side direction as the driver setting).
Ignoring the rotation specification data for the predetermined page output from the driver (not following the rotation specification for the predetermined page), the printer side newly sets the rotation specification data, and according to the rotation specification data, Performs image rotation processing.
For example, in this case, the rotation designation of the image of the second page set to 180 degrees on the driver side is reset to 0 degree on the printer side, and the process of rotating the image of the second page by 0 degrees is performed (second page). Without performing the rotation process on the second image of the recording paper A), and forming the processed second page image on the second surface of the recording paper A. .

As described above, as shown in FIG. 12D, the orientation of the image of the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A is the same as the orientation of the image formed on the other surface. Since the direction is the same, the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the left end of the sheet bundle, and when viewing the image of the second page, it is difficult to see the image upside down to the direction of the other image. Can be prevented from occurring.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining the processing when various modes are selected (designated).
When a mode of duplex / short-edge bind (short-edge binding duplex mode) is specified for a total of four pages in which three pages and two pages are mixed (printing side: both sides, binding direction: (Short side 1 designation). Here, the recording paper A as the recording paper is a short edge feed, and the recording paper B is a long edge feed.

First, the designation of the image rotation on the driver side on the PC / WS 7A will be described.

FIG. 13A shows a document created by word processing software executed on the PC / WS7A. Here, the document corresponds to a total of four pages in which A4 horizontal two pages and A3 vertical two pages are mixed.

FIG. 13B shows a driver's instruction based on the setting of double-sided / short-edge bind (short-sided binding double-side mode).

Specifically, the short side of the first recording paper A is
Left side of the sheet (left end) with reference to the first surface
Therefore, when the user turns over the first side of the recording sheet A with the left end (binding side) as an axis and looks at the second side of the recording sheet A, the image of the second page is correct. The rotation designation of the image on the first page is set to 0 degree, and the rotation designation of the image of the second page is set to 0 degree, so that the rotation designation of these images is output to the printer side as a driver's instruction so that the image is formed in the upright state. Is done.

On the other hand, the short side of the second recording paper B is the upper side (upper end) of the sheet with respect to the first surface. Therefore, the user reverses the first side of the recording sheet B to the second side with reference to the upper end thereof,
In order to form the image of the fourth page in an upright state when viewing the surface, the rotation designation of the image of the third page is set to 0 degree, and the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page is set to 180 degrees. Is output to the printer as a driver's instruction.

As described above, the designation of image rotation from the driver is set for each page (in this case, page 1, page 2, page 3, and page 4).

Next, processing on the printer side will be described.

FIG. 13C shows an output result (recording sheets A and B) in the case where image rotation processing is performed based on an instruction from the driver shown in FIG. 13B and image formation processing is performed. FIG. 13 (d) is a diagram of FIG.
4B shows output results (recording papers A and B) when an image forming process is performed without following the driver instruction shown in FIG. 4B, and the recording papers A and B are temporarily combined as one sheet bundle by the user. The state of the sheet bundle in the case is shown.

As described above, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one sheet bundle, for example, it is conceivable that the directions of the sheets are aligned in the direction in which the lengths in the binding direction match.

In this case, the length of the recording paper A in the long side direction and
Since the lengths of the recording paper B in the short side direction match, the directions of the recording papers are aligned so that the long side of the recording paper A and the short side of the recording paper B overlap (see FIGS. 13C and 13D). ).

As a result, the binding direction of the sheet bundle is such that, when viewed from the first surface, the upper side (upper end) of the sheet
When the recording papers A and B are put together as one sheet bundle, the binding direction of the recording paper B is the short side direction,
Although the binding direction is the same as the binding direction determined in the driver setting, the binding direction of the recording paper A is the long side direction, which is different from the binding direction (short side direction) determined in the driver setting.

On the other hand, the rotation designation of the image output from the driver to the printer is a rotation designation based on the binding direction set by the driver. For example, as shown in FIG. Is a short side direction, and a rotation instruction is output to the printer for each page based on the short side direction.

As described above, in spite of the fact that the recording paper A should be aligned in the binding direction different from the binding direction set by the driver, the image rotation processing is performed for each page as instructed by the driver. 13C, the orientation of the image of the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A is the same as that of the image formed on the other surface, as shown in FIG.
When the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the upper end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image of the second page, the image is turned upside down with respect to the direction of the other images, making it difficult to see. This causes a problem.

In the present embodiment, in order to prevent such a problem from occurring, a rotation designation for a predetermined page (here, the image of the second page) is selected from among the rotation designations for each page output from the driver. The CPU 8 does not follow the rotation designation for other pages, but follows the rotation designation for other pages.
09.

For example, in this case, as shown in FIG. 13 (b), the driver instructs the printer to rotate by 0 degrees as the rotation designation of the image of the second page to be formed on the second surface of the recording paper A. Although output, the printer rotates the image of the second page by 180 degrees as a unique rotation process not based on the rotation designation from the driver without following the rotation designation from the driver corresponding to the page. Processing is performed, and control is performed so that an image is formed on the second surface of the recording paper A.

On the other hand, according to the rotation designation of the first, third, and fourth pages, based on the rotation designation corresponding to each of the first, third, and fourth pages, respectively. Control to perform image rotation processing.

That is, the CPU 809 predicts that the directions of the respective recording sheets are aligned so that the long side of the recording sheet A and the short side of the recording sheet B overlap with each other as a process for matching the binding direction, and outputs the output from the driver. The printer ignores the rotation designation data for the predetermined page and newly sets the rotation designation data on the printer side, and performs a unique image rotation process according to the rotation designation data.

[0235] Note that in making a prediction, the CPU 809
Obtain data relating to the document size and image orientation of the document, the size of the recording paper, the length of the recording paper on which the image is to be formed in the long side direction and the short side direction, and refer to the table stored in the memory in advance. The binding direction of the sheet bundle when combined as one bundle is determined (in this case, the upper end portion), and the binding direction of each sheet at that time is checked (for example, in this case,
It is determined that the binding direction of the recording paper A is the long side direction different from the setting of the driver, and the binding direction of the recording paper B is determined to be the same short side direction as the setting of the driver. Ignoring the output rotation designation data for the predetermined page (not following the rotation designation for the predetermined page),
The rotation designation data is newly set on the printer side, and the image is rotated according to the rotation designation data. For example,
In this case, the designation of rotation of the second page image set to 0 degree by the driver side is reset to 180 degrees by the printer side, and the process of rotating the second page image by 180 degrees is performed.
The image of the page is formed on the second surface of the recording paper A.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 13D, the direction of the image of the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A is the same as the direction of the image formed on the other surface. Therefore, when the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time based on the upper end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image of the second page, it becomes difficult to see the image upside down to the direction of the other images. Can be prevented.

As described above, for a job in which small-size pages and large-size pages coexist, either the long edge bind mode (long side binding double-side mode) or the short edge bind mode (short side binding double side mode) is used. When the setting is made, the control is performed so that the rotation designation for a predetermined page among the rotation designations for each page output from the driver is not followed. Therefore, even when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document, the binding is performed. It is possible to obtain an optimal double-sided print output result aligned in the direction.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13, in the present embodiment, a case has been described where the processing for matching in the binding direction is performed on the printer side. It may be configured to perform processing for matching in the binding direction.

For example, on the setting screen of the printer driver (see FIG. 9), when the long side binding setting is performed by the user, the driver matches the rotation designation of the large size page in the binding direction of the small size page. Instructions

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the example shown in FIG.

If the driver does not perform the process of aligning in the binding direction, as described above, the image of the fourth page is designated as the rotation of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B. An instruction of the driver is output to the printer to perform the process of rotating the image by 180 degrees (see FIG. 10B).

In this case, if the printer does not perform the process of aligning in the binding direction, the orientation of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B as shown in FIG. However, the direction of the image formed on the other surface is different by 180 degrees.

On the other hand, when the driver performs the process of aligning in the binding direction, the rotation of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B, which is an A3-size sheet, is designated (that is, the large-size image). Page rotation) is set to be the same as the rotation specification of the image of the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A, which is an A4 size sheet (that is, the rotation specification of the small size page). I do.

Therefore, in this case, the driver sets the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page to 0 ° which is the same as the rotation designation of the image of the second page, and outputs the rotation designation to the printer as a driver's instruction. .

That is, as a process of aligning in the binding direction, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one bundle, the driver sets each of the short sides of the large sheet and the long side of the small sheet so as to overlap each other. Rotation designation data which is expected to align the sheet orientation is set for each image data.

When a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one bundle, it is expected that the directions of the respective sheets are aligned so that the short side of the large size sheet and the long side of the small size sheet overlap each other. In doing so, it is assumed that the driver makes a prediction in the same manner as in the case of performing the above-described operation on the printer side.

[0247] On the other hand, when the processing for matching in the binding direction has already been performed on the driver side, the image processing may be performed on the printer side by performing the image rotation processing as instructed by the driver.

As a result, the direction of the image of four pages formed on the second surface of the recording paper B is the same as the direction of the image formed on the other surface. Even in the case where the sizes are mixed, it is possible to output an optimal double-sided printing result matched in the binding direction (see FIG. 10D).

Therefore, for example, when the user turns over the recording sheet one sheet at a time with reference to the left end of the sheet bundle and looks at the image of the fourth page, it becomes difficult to see the image upside down to the direction of the other images. Failure can be prevented from occurring.

For example, if the user sets short-side binding on the setting screen of the printer driver, the driver sets the rotation of the small-sized page to the binding position of the large-sized page as the processing for matching in the binding direction. Process to make the instruction matched.

Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the example shown in FIG.

If the driver does not perform the process of aligning in the binding direction and sets the rotation designation data corresponding to each page, as described above, the first page, the second page, the third page,
The rotation designation of the image of the fourth page is 0 degree, 0 degree, and 0 degree, respectively.
And 180 degrees, and the rotation designation for each page is output to the printer as a driver instruction (FIG. 13).
(B)).

In this case, if the printer does not perform the process of aligning in the binding direction, the orientation of the image of the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A as shown in FIG. However, the direction of the image formed on the other surface is different by 180 degrees.

On the other hand, when the driver performs processing for aligning in the binding direction, the rotation designation of the image formed on the recording paper A, which is an A4 size sheet, is formed on the recording paper B, which is an A3 size sheet. Match the image rotation specification.

For example, the P formed on the second surface of the recording paper A
Rotation designation of image 2 (that is, rotation designation of small size page)
Is set to be the same as the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page formed on the second surface of the recording paper B (that is, the rotation designation of the large-size page). In this case, the rotation designation of the image of the second page is the same 180 degrees as the rotation designation of the image of the fourth page.

Therefore, when the driver performs the process of aligning in the binding direction, the driver specifies the rotation of the images of the first, second, third, and fourth pages by 0 degrees and 180 degrees, respectively.
Degrees, 0 degrees, and 180 degrees, and the rotation designation for each page is output to the printer as a driver's instruction.

That is, as described above, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one bundle as a process of aligning in the binding direction, the short side of the large-size sheet and the length of the small-size sheet are adjusted. Rotation designation data is set for each image data, assuming that the orientation of each sheet is aligned so that the sides overlap.

In this case, on the printer side, the image is rotated as instructed by the driver, and the image is formed, so that the orientation of the image on the second page formed on the second surface of the recording paper A is changed. Since the direction is the same as the direction of the image formed on the other surface, even when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document, an optimum double-sided printing result matched in the binding direction can be output.

As described above, by performing processing for matching in the binding direction on the driver side, there is no need to perform processing for matching in the binding direction on the printer side. Can be reduced.

Therefore, the processing efficiency can be improved and the load on the apparatus can be reduced.

In the PC / WS7A, even if any mode (long side binding double side mode or short side binding double side mode) is set by the user for a document in which a plurality of paper sizes are mixed, the printer side Alternatively, as a process for aligning in the binding direction on the driver side, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are put together as one bundle, each of the short sides of the large sheet and the long sides of the small sheet overlap each other. It is also possible to configure so that the rotation designation data that is expected to align the sheet orientation is automatically set for each image data, and that fact is displayed on the setting screen of the PC / WS7A.

Further, when there are a plurality of buttons for performing the binding setting as in the setting screen of the printer driver shown in FIG. 9C, any one of the buttons for performing the binding setting is provided. Only buttons may be selectable, and other buttons may not be selectable, so that the buttons may be displayed dimmed or shaded.

Thus, the number of operations to be performed by the user can be reduced, and erroneous operations by the user can be prevented.

The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type, an image forming apparatus of an ink jet type, a sublimation type, and other types.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes a new function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program codes, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program codes. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading a storage medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention into the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

Further, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a database on a network by a communication program, the system or apparatus can be
It is possible to enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0272]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the invention, when the recording sheet specified for the print job by the first specifying unit is in the vertical position, the image direction formed on the recording sheet is rotated 180 degrees between the front and back sides. A first double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of the recording sheet, or a second double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of the recording sheet so that the image directions formed on the recording sheet are the same on both sides, And determining the consistency of the image forming direction between recording sheets of different sizes based on the designation state of the recording sheet size individually designated for each page of the print job by the second designation unit. Based on the result of the determination, the control unit causes the first specifying unit to perform double-sided image formation on any of the size recording sheets specified by the second specifying unit. Since the control is performed based on the other duplex mode different from the specified duplex mode, even if multiple paper sizes are mixed in the same document, duplex printing is performed in the image direction aligned with the binding direction Processing can be performed.

According to the second aspect, the third specifying means for specifying the stapling process for the print job and the recording medium on which the image has been formed based on the specified state of the third specifying means. And stapling means for performing stapling processing, it is possible to perform stapling processing in a state where they are aligned in the binding direction even when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document.

According to the third invention, the determination means specifies the second double-sided mode by the first specification means,
In addition, a first recording sheet conveyed vertically in a predetermined size by the second designating means and a second recording sheet conveyed horizontally in a size having the long side of the first recording sheet as a short side are mixed. When it is determined that the print job has been designated, the control unit performs the duplex image formation of the second recording sheet in a first duplex mode different from the second duplex mode designated for the print job.
Since the change control is performed based on the two-sided mode,
Even when the first recording sheet and the second recording sheet designation are mixed in the same document, the image forming direction of the second recording sheet can be changed to match the binding direction of the first recording sheet. Becomes

According to the fourth invention, the determination means specifies the first double-sided mode by the first specifying means,
In addition, a first recording sheet conveyed vertically in a predetermined size by the second designating means and a second recording sheet conveyed horizontally in a size having the long side of the first recording sheet as a short side are mixed. If it is determined that the print job has been designated, the control means performs the double-sided image formation on the first recording sheet in a second duplex mode different from the first duplex mode designated in the print job.
Since the change control is performed based on the two-sided mode,
Even when the first recording sheet and the second recording sheet designation are mixed in the same document, the image forming direction of the first recording sheet can be changed to match the binding direction of the second recording sheet. Becomes

According to the fifth aspect, rotation designation data corresponding to each of the image data is received together with a plurality of image data included in one job, and a rotation process for the image data is performed based on the received rotation designation data. In the image forming apparatus that forms an image on both sides of a sheet based on the rotated image data, the control unit receives a job that forms an image on a plurality of sheets having different sizes. Controls not to follow the rotation designation data corresponding to any of the plurality of image data included in the job, so if a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document, the rotation is performed in a direction different from the binding direction. The output of the processed image can be prevented.

According to the sixth aspect, when the control unit receives a job for forming an image on a plurality of sheets having different sizes, the control unit specifies a rotation designation corresponding to any of a plurality of image data included in the job. Since the data is controlled not to follow the data but to follow the other rotation designation data, when multiple paper sizes are mixed in the same document, the output of the image rotated in the direction that does not match the binding direction is executed. Can be prevented.

According to the seventh aspect, the control means performs a rotation process on the image data controlled so as not to follow the rotation designation data without using the rotation designation data. Even if the paper sizes are mixed, an optimum double-sided print output result matched in the binding direction can be obtained.

According to the eighth aspect, the orientation of the image when the rotation processing is performed without being based on the rotation designation data,
Since the image orientation when performing the rotation processing based on the rotation designation data is different by 180 degrees, when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document, the printer driver rotates the image in a direction different from the binding direction by 180 degrees. Even when the instruction is given, the rotation process in the binding direction can be executed to obtain the optimum double-sided printing output result matched in the binding direction.

According to the ninth aspect, in a state where the recording sheet designated for the print job is in a vertical position, an image formed on the recording sheet is rotated 180 degrees between the front and back sides. A designated state of a first double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides, or a second double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of a recording sheet so that the image directions formed on the recording sheet are the same on the front and back, and Based on the designated state of the recording sheet size individually designated for each page of the print job, the consistency of the image forming direction between recording sheets of different sizes is determined, and the designation is performed based on the determination result. Is performed based on the other duplex mode different from the duplex mode specified for the print job.
Even if multiple paper sizes are mixed in the same document,
This enables double-sided printing processing to be performed in the image direction aligned with the binding direction.

According to the tenth aspect, based on a plurality of image data, image data for controlling rotation processing on the image data included in a job for forming an image on both sides of each of a plurality of sheets having different sizes. In the rotation control method, a rotation process is performed on the image data based on rotation designation data corresponding to each of the image data, and an image is formed on each surface of a sheet based on the processed plurality of image data. Setting a rotation designation data for each of the image data, wherein the step includes, when a plurality of sheets having different sizes are combined as one bundle, a short side of a large size sheet and a short side of a small size sheet. Rotation designation data is set for each of the image data, assuming that the directions of the sheets are aligned so that the long sides overlap. In, even when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document, it is possible to obtain the optimum double-sided printing output aligned with the binding direction.

Therefore, even when a plurality of paper sizes are mixed in the same document, it is possible to obtain an optimum double-sided printing output result matched in the binding direction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a signal processing configuration of a reader unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration and an operation of a core unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a computer interface unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a formatter unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a first print control procedure of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a printing result by the image printing control procedure shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a double-sided printing and binding side print instruction screen for a job in which small-size pages and large-size pages are mixed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process when various modes are selected (designated).

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process when various modes are selected (designated).

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process when various modes are selected (designated).

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process when various modes are selected (designated).

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between each duplex mode and an image forming direction.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a direction of a sheet and an image direction drawn on the sheet.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a sheet direction and a sheet conveyance direction.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing output results of portrait drawing pages 1 to 4 of A4 size long side feed paper.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing output results of pages 5 to 8 of landscape drawing of A3 size short side feed paper.

19 shows output results of portrait drawing pages 1 to 4 of A4 size long side feed paper shown in FIG. 17 and output results of landscape drawing 5 to 8 pages of A3 size short side feed paper shown in FIG. 18. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which was bundled.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 external device 4 facsimile unit 4A hard disk 5 file unit 6 external storage device 7 computer interface unit 7A personal computer / workstation (PC / WS) 8 formatter unit 9 image memory unit 10 core unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification symbol FI G03G 15/00 534 G03G 15/00 534 (72) Inventor Bungo Shimada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. Inside

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A first double-side mode in which images are formed on both sides of a recording sheet such that an image formed on the recording sheet in a state where the recording sheet is in a vertical position is rotated by 180 degrees between the front and back sides, or recording. First designating means for designating, for a print job, a second double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of a recording sheet so that the image direction formed on the sheet is the same direction on the front and back, and the size of the recording sheet A second designating unit for individually designating each page of the print job, and a recording sheet size of different size based on the two-sided mode and the designated state of the recording sheet size by the first and second designation units. Determining means for determining the consistency of the image forming direction in step (a), based on a result of the determination by the determining means; Control means for controlling the image formation on the basis of another duplex mode different from the duplex mode designated for the print job by the first designating means. Forming equipment. 2. A stapling device for stapling a print medium on which an image has been formed, based on a designation state of the third designation device. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit. 3. The first recording sheet, wherein a second double-sided mode is designated by the first designating means, and the first recording sheet and the first recording sheet conveyed vertically in a predetermined size by the second designation means. If it is determined that the second recording sheet conveyed sideways in a size with the long side of the recording sheet as the short side is specified as being mixed, the control unit performs double-sided image formation of the second recording sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the change control is performed based on a first duplex mode different from the second duplex mode specified for the print job. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first designating means designates a first double-sided mode, and the second designation means conveys the first recording sheet vertically and conveyed in a predetermined size. When it is determined that the second recording sheet conveyed in the horizontal direction with the long side of the recording sheet as the short side is specified to be mixed, the control unit performs the double-sided image formation of the first recording sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a change control is performed based on a second double-sided mode different from the first double-sided mode specified for the print job. 5. Receiving rotation designation data corresponding to each of the image data together with a plurality of image data included in one job, performing rotation processing on the image data based on the received rotation designation data, When an image forming apparatus that forms images on both sides of a sheet based on the plurality of pieces of image data received receives a job that forms images on a plurality of sheets having different sizes, a plurality of images included in the job are received. An image forming apparatus, comprising: control means for controlling so as not to follow rotation designation data corresponding to any of the data. 6. When the control unit receives a job for forming an image on a plurality of sheets having different sizes, the control unit does not follow the rotation designation data corresponding to any of the plurality of image data included in the job. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein control is performed so as to follow other rotation designation data. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit performs a rotation process on the image data controlled so as not to follow the rotation designation data, based on the rotation designation data. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction of the image when the rotation processing is performed based on the rotation specification data is different from the direction of the image when the rotation processing is performed based on the rotation specification data by 180 degrees. Item 8. The image forming apparatus according to Item 7. 9. An image is formed on both sides of a recording sheet so that the image direction formed on the recording sheet in a state where the recording sheet designated for the print job is in a vertical position is rotated 180 degrees on the front and back sides. In the first double-sided mode, or in the designated state of the second double-sided mode in which images are formed on both sides of the recording sheet so that the image directions formed on the recording sheet are the same on the front and back, A determining step of determining the consistency of the image forming direction between recording sheets of different sizes based on the specified state of the size of the recording sheet individually specified; An image forming step of forming a two-sided image on a recording sheet of the same size based on the other two-sided mode different from the two-sided mode specified for the print job. Method of controlling an image forming apparatus according to claim. 10. An image data rotation control method for controlling rotation processing on image data included in a job for forming an image on both sides of each of a plurality of sheets having different sizes based on a plurality of image data, A rotation process is performed on the image data based on the rotation designation data corresponding to each image data, and the rotation designation data is used to form an image on each surface of the sheet based on the processed plurality of image data. The method includes a step of setting for each data.
When bundled as one bundle, the rotation designation data is set for each of the image data, in which it is anticipated that the orientation of each sheet is aligned so that the short side of the large size sheet and the long side of the small size sheet overlap each other. An image data rotation control method, characterized in that: