JPH1170717A - Method and device for controlling printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To divide an output object into part units lest the boundary of a part is arranged on the same paper by a method in which printing data for the desired numbers of copies of each part are sent continuously to a printing apparatus, and when the final page of each part comes to the surface of a printing medium, a blank page is inserted into its back. SOLUTION: A spool file manager 304, when it judges the setting of file 303 printing to be reading unit printing and perfecting printing sets the specified number of copies to N of the residual number of copies. Printing is done, if N is less than 1, treatment is finished, if 1 or more, printing treatment of 1 copy is done similarly, the residual copies is reduced by 1, the number of N is investigated, the printing treatment of the specified number of copies 1 copy is done. One is set to K which indicates the number of page under treatment and treated, when the number K page exists, the page is printed, treatment is finished, the treatment of the next page is to be started, but when judged that the turn of the K page does not exist, it is investigated whether K is an even number or not, if it is an odd number, printing is finished, if it is an even number, a blank page is printed as the number K page.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing control apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a system comprising information processing such as a personal computer and a printing apparatus having no unit-based printing function, the output of a plurality of double-sided printed copies. The present invention relates to a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of obtaining results in a united form for each copy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a plurality of copies of one document including texts, images, tables, and the like are output from an information processing apparatus, the output result is output by a designated number of pages for each page (each sheet in duplex printing). In some cases, the output is collectively output for each unit. There are two methods for realizing the collated printing that is output collectively for each copy, using a printing device and a method using an information processing device.

[0003] In a method of realizing collated printing by a printing apparatus, all print data of one print job received from an information processing apparatus is accumulated in the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus repeatedly outputs the data for a designated number of copies. There is a method and a method of using a device that switches the output destination for each copy such as a sorter. In the former case, a memory or hard disk for storing print data is required in the printing apparatus, and in the latter case, a sorter is required. In any case, there is a problem that it is costly to implement collated printing by a printing apparatus, and a printing apparatus that cannot perform collated printing is generally used.

[0004] For this reason, a method for realizing collated printing by an information processing apparatus has been conventionally performed. 2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional method of realizing collated printing in an information processing apparatus, there is a method of repeatedly transmitting print data to a printing apparatus for the number of copies to be output in one print job. In order to perform this method, it is necessary for application software that executes printing to perform processing for realizing the method. When performing double-sided printing by collating printing by this conventional application, if the number of pages of the document to be printed is an odd number, the first page of the next copy is printed on the back of the last page of one copy, and the output material is printed. There was a problem that it could not be divided into sets.

[0005] As one method for solving this problem,
When printing N copies of a document, there has been a method of generating N print jobs for printing one copy and transmitting the job to a printing apparatus. In this method, printing is performed by an independent print job one copy at a time, so that one copy is printed at the boundary between adjacent copies, ie, one copy.
By discharging paper at the end of one job, output products can be divided into sets.

[0006]

However, when a print job is generated for each copy, each print job must be stopped or interrupted in order to stop or interrupt the printing of the document being printed.

When printing a document from a printing device shared on a network, a print job transmitted from another client may be inserted between print jobs. For this reason, it is necessary to check the presence / absence of the output of another client from the output of the plurality of copies. If another client prints a plurality of copies of a document, print jobs are generated for the number of output copies of each document. As a result, the two types of documents are discharged to the discharge tray of the printing apparatus in a mixed state, although they are grouped for each copy. Clearly, if more clients print multiple copies of a document, organizing the output will be a very complicated task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional example, and in a printing apparatus having no copy unit printing function, when printing odd-numbered page print data using double-sided printing of the printing apparatus, the printing of the copy is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing control apparatus and method for performing printing so that boundaries are not arranged on the same sheet and output products can be divided into sets.

[0009] Further, by realizing a single print job for printing a plurality of documents collectively for each copy in a single print job, even a plurality of print outputs can be managed by one print job. It is another object of the present invention to provide a print control apparatus and a print control method capable of performing printing without collapsing another print job even if printing is performed in copies.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a printing control device connected to a printing device that sequentially prints on each of the front and back surfaces of the recording medium, and continuously transmits the desired number of copies of print data to the printing device for each copy, and prints the last page of each copy. , The blank page is inserted on the back side of the print medium.

Alternatively, there is provided a printing control method for controlling a printing apparatus for sequentially printing on each of the front and back surfaces of a recording medium. If the last page is the front side of the print medium, a blank page is inserted on the back side.

Alternatively, there is provided a printing system including a printing apparatus and a printing control apparatus for controlling the printing apparatus, wherein the printing control apparatus continuously sends print data for a desired number of copies to each printing apparatus for each copy. When the last page of each section is the front side of the print medium, a blank page is inserted on the back side, and the printing apparatus sequentially prints on the front and back sides of the recording medium.

Alternatively, the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium for storing a program for controlling printing from a printing apparatus for sequentially printing on both sides of a recording medium, wherein the program stores print data for a desired number of copies for each copy. It includes means for continuously sending to the printing apparatus, and for inserting a blank page on the back side when the last page of each section is the front side of the print medium.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer control system showing an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, as long as the functions of the present invention are executed, whether a single device or a system including a plurality of devices, LAN,
The present invention can be applied to a system in which a connection is made via a network such as a WAN and processing is performed. <Structure of Printing System> In the figure, a host computer 3000 includes figures, images, characters, and tables (including spreadsheets) based on a program processing ROM stored in a ROM 3 or a document processing program stored in an external memory 11.
And a CPU 1 for executing document processing in which document processing is mixed. C
The PU 1 totally controls each device connected to the system bus 4. Further, the program R of the ROM 3
The OM or the external memory 11 stores an operating system program (hereinafter referred to as OS), which is a control program of the CPU 1, and the font ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores font data and the like used in the document processing. The data ROM of the ROM 3 or the external memory 11 stores various data used when performing the document processing and the like. The RAM 2 functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 1.

The keyboard controller (KBC) 5
It controls key input from a keyboard 9 or a pointing device (not shown). CRT controller (CRTC)
6 controls the display of a CRT display (CRT) 10. The disk controller (DKC) 7 includes a boot program, various applications, font data,
Hard disk (HD), floppy disk (FD) for storing user files, edit files, printer control command generation program (hereinafter, printer driver), etc.
Access to the external memory 11 is controlled. The printer controller (PRTC) 8 communicates with the printer 1 via a predetermined bidirectional interface (interface) 21.
500, and executes communication control processing with the printer 1500.

The CPU 1 executes, for example, a process of developing (rasterizing) the outline font in the display information RAM set on the RAM 2, and outputs the W on the CRT 10.
YSIWYG is possible. In addition, the CPU 1
Various registered windows are opened based on a command specified by a mouse cursor or the like (not shown) on T10, and various data processes are executed. When performing printing, the user opens a window related to print settings, and can set a printer and a print processing method for a printer driver including selection of a print mode.

In the printer 1500, the printer C
The PU 12 sends an image signal as output information to a printing unit (printer engine) 17 connected to the system bus 15 based on a control program or the like stored in the program ROM of the ROM 13 or a control program or the like stored in the external memory 14. Is output. The program ROM of the ROM 13 stores a control program of the CPU 12 and the like. The font ROM of the ROM 13 stores font data and the like used when generating the output information. In the case of a printer having no external memory 14 such as a hard disk in the data ROM of the ROM 13, the font ROM is stored on the host computer. The information used is stored.

The CPU 12 is capable of communicating with a host computer via an input unit 18, and is configured to be able to notify the host computer 3000 of information in the printer and the like. The RAM 19 is a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work area, and the like for the CPU 12, and is configured so that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an extension port (not shown).
The RAM 19 is used for an output information development area, an environment data storage area, an NVRAM, and the like. The access to the external memory 14 such as a hard disk (HD) and an IC card is controlled by a memory controller (MC) 20. The external memory 14 is optionally connected,
It stores font data, emulation programs, form data, and the like. The operation unit 1501 is provided with switches for operation, an LED display, and the like.

The number of the external memory 14 is not limited to one, and at least one external memory is provided. In addition to the built-in fonts, an option card and a plurality of external memories storing programs for interpreting printer control languages of different languages are connected. It may be configured to be able to. Further, N (not shown)
A VRAM may be provided and printer mode setting information from the operation unit 1501 may be stored.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection form between the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram in a case where the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 are directly connected by the bidirectional interface 21, but FIG. 10 shows a case in which the host computer 3000 and the printer 1500 are connected via a network. FIG.
At 0, the printer 1500a is directly connected to the host computer 3000a, and the host computer 3000a manages print jobs for the printer 1500a. The host computer 3000a permits sharing so that the printer 1500a can be used from other host computers on the network. By this sharing, the host computers 3000b and 300b
0c can use the printer 1500a via a network.

The printer 1500b is directly connected to a network. The host computer 3000b manages the print job for the printer 1500b. The host computer 3000b is connected to the printer 150
0b is allowed to be shared by other host computers on the network. With this sharing, the host computers 3000a and 3000c
The printer 1500b can be used via a network.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a typical printing process in a host computer to which a printing device such as a printer is directly connected or connected via a network. The application 201, the graphic engine 202, the printer driver 203, and the system spooler 204 exist as files stored in the external memory 11, and when executed, are loaded into the RAM 2 and executed by the OS or a module using the module. It is a program module. Further, the application 201 and the printer driver 203
It can be added to the FD of the external memory 11, a CD-ROM (not shown), or the HD of the external disk 11 via a network (not shown).

The application 201 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and executed.
When printing is performed on the image data, output (drawing) is performed using the graphic engine 202 which is similarly loaded into the RAM 2 and becomes executable. Graphic engine 2
02 is a printer driver 20 prepared for each printing device.
3 is similarly loaded from the external memory 11 to the RAM 2, and the output of the application 201 is output to the printer driver 203.
Is converted into a printer control command using The converted printer control command is output to the printer 1500 via the interface 21 via the system spooler 204 loaded into the RAM 2 by the OS. <Configuration of Print Control System> In addition to the print system including the printer and the host computer shown in FIG. 2, the print control system of the present embodiment temporarily converts print data from an application into intermediate code data as shown in FIG. 3. It assumes a spooling system.

FIG. 3 is an extension of the system shown in FIG. 2. When a print command is sent from the graphic engine 202 to the printer driver 203, a spool file 303 composed of intermediate codes is once generated. In the system shown in FIG. 2, the application driver 201 is released from the printing process only when the printer driver 203
This is the point at which all the print commands from 02 have been converted into printer control commands. On the other hand, in the system shown in FIG. 3, the spooler 302 converts all the print commands into intermediate code data and outputs them to the spool file 303. Usually, the latter requires less time. Also,
In the system shown in FIG.
3 can be processed. This allows
It is possible to realize functions that the application does not have, such as enlargement / reduction of print data from the application, and printing by reducing a plurality of pages to one page.

For these purposes, the system shown in FIG. 2 is spooled with intermediate code data as shown in FIG.
The system has been extended. In order to process the print data, the operator normally makes settings on a setting screen provided by the printer driver 203, and the printer driver 203 stores the set contents in the RAM 2 or the external memory 11.

The details of FIG. 3 will be described below. As shown in the figure, in this extended processing method, the dispatcher 301 receives a print command from the graphic engine 202. Dispatcher 301 is graphic engine 2
02 received from the application 20
1 to the graphic engine 202, the dispatcher 301 uses the external memory 11
Is loaded into the RAM 2 and a print command is sent to the spooler 302 instead of the printer driver 203.

The spooler 302 converts the received print command into an intermediate code and outputs it to the spool file 303. In addition, the spooler 302 includes a printer driver 203.
The processing settings relating to the print data set for the printer driver 203 are acquired from the printer driver 203 and stored in the spool file 303. Although the spool file 303 is generated as a file on the external memory 11, the
2 may be generated. Further, the spooler 302
The spool file manager 304 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded onto the RAM 2, and the spool file manager 304 is notified of the generation status of the spool file 303. After that, the spool file manager 304 determines whether or not printing can be performed according to the contents of the processing settings related to the print data stored in the spool file 303.

When the spool file manager 304 determines that printing can be performed using the graphic engine 202, the despooler 305 stored in the external memory 11 is loaded into the RAM 2 and the despooler 305 is transferred to the spool file 303. An instruction is issued to perform the printing process of the described intermediate code.

The despooler 305 stores the spool file 30
3 is processed in accordance with the contents of the processing settings included in the spool file 303, and output again via the graphic engine 202.

The print command received from the graphic engine 202 by the dispatcher 301 is transmitted to the despooler 30.
In the case of a print command issued to the graphic engine 202 from the printer 5, the dispatcher 301
Instead, a print command is sent to the printer driver 203.

The printer driver 203 generates a printer control command according to the received print command, and outputs it to the printer 1500 via the system spooler 204 and the bidirectional interface 21. <Configuration of Printer> FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a color laser beam printer having a double-sided printing function, which is an example of the printer 1500.

This printer is a host computer 300
The laser light modulated with the image data for each color obtained based on the print data inputted from 0
Scans the photosensitive drum 15 to form an electrostatic latent image.
Then, this electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to obtain a visible image,
This is multiplex-transferred for all colors to the intermediate transfer member 9 to form a color visible image. Further, the color visible image is transferred to the transfer material 2 and the color visible image is fixed on the transfer material 2. The image forming unit that performs the above control includes a drum unit having a photosensitive drum 15, a primary charging unit having a contact charging roller 17, a cleaning unit, a developing unit, an intermediate transfer body 9, a paper cassette 1 and various rollers 3, 4, 5, 7, a transfer unit including the transfer roller 10, and a fixing unit 25.

The drum unit 13 is formed integrally with a photosensitive drum (photosensitive member) 15 and a cleaner container 14 having a cleaning mechanism also serving as a holder for the photosensitive drum 15. The drum unit 13 is detachably supported by the printer main body, and is configured such that the unit can be easily replaced according to the life of the photosensitive drum 15. The photosensitive drum 15 is formed by applying an organic photoconductor layer to the outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotatably supported by the cleaner container 14. The photosensitive drum 15 is rotated by transmitting a driving force of a drive motor (not shown). The drive motor rotates the photosensitive drum 15 in a counterclockwise direction according to an image forming operation. Exposure to the photosensitive drum 15 is performed by the scanner unit 3
The electrostatic latent image is formed by selectively exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 to the laser beam sent from the laser beam 0. In the scanner unit 30, the modulated laser light is reflected by a polygon mirror that rotates in synchronization with a horizontal synchronization signal of an image signal by a motor 31a, and irradiates the photosensitive drum via a lens 32 and a reflecting mirror 33.

The developing section includes three color developing units 20Y and 20Y for developing yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) in order to visualize the electrostatic latent image.
M, 20C, and one black developing device 21B for developing black (B). Sleeves 20YS, 20MS, 20CS and 21B are provided in the color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20C and the black developing unit 21B.
S and these sleeves 20YS, 20MS, 20CS,
Coating blade 20Y pressed against the outer periphery of each 20BS
B, 20 MB, 20 CB, and 21 BB, respectively. Further, three color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20
C is provided with application rollers 20YR, 20MR and 20CR.

The black developing device 21B is detachably attached to the printer main body, and the color developing devices 20Y, 20M, and 20C are detachably attached to a developing rotary 23 that rotates about a rotation shaft 22. ing.

Sleeve 21BS of black developing unit 21B
Are arranged at a minute interval of, for example, about 300 μm with respect to the photosensitive drum 15. Black developing unit 21B
Is a sleeve 21B rotating clockwise while conveying toner by a feeding member built in the container.
An electric charge is applied to the toner by frictional charging so that the toner is applied to the outer periphery of S by the application blade 21BB. Further, by applying a developing bias to the sleeve 21BS,
The photosensitive drum 15 is developed in accordance with the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image on the photosensitive drum 15 using black toner.

The three color developing units 20Y, 20M, 20
C rotates with the rotation of the developing rotary 23 during image formation, and the predetermined sleeves 20YS, 20MS, 20
The CS is opposed to the photosensitive drum 15 at a minute interval of about 300 μm. As a result, the predetermined color developing units 20Y, 20M, and 20C are stopped at the developing position facing the photosensitive drum 15, and a visible image is created on the photosensitive drum 15.

When forming a color image, one of the intermediate transfer members 9
The developing rotary 23 rotates with each rotation, and a yellow developing device 20Y, a magenta developing device 20M, a cyan developing device 20C,
Next, a developing process is performed in the order of the black developing device 20B,
The intermediate transfer member 9 rotates four times to sequentially form visible images using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, and as a result, a full-color visible image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 9.

The intermediate transfer member 9 is configured to rotate in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 15 in contact with the photosensitive drum 15, and rotates clockwise during color image formation. Undergoes multiple transfers of visible images. Further, the intermediate transfer body 9 simultaneously transfers the color visible image on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 by multiple transfer by nipping and transporting the transfer material 2 by contacting a transfer roller 10 described later during image formation. An intermediate transfer member 2 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate transfer member.
And a density sensor 9c for detecting the density of the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer member.

The transfer roller 10 is provided with a transfer charger which is supported so as to be able to contact and separate from the photosensitive drum 15, and is constituted by winding a metal shaft with a medium-resistance foam elastic body.

The transfer roller 10 is separated downward so as not to disturb the color visible image during the multiple transfer of the color visible image onto the intermediate transfer member 9 as shown by a solid line in FIG. After the four color visible images are formed on the intermediate transfer body 9, the transfer roller 10 is moved by a cam member (not shown) in accordance with the timing of transferring the color visible images to the transfer material 2. It is located above indicated by.
As a result, the transfer roller 10 is pressed against the intermediate transfer member 9 with a predetermined pressing force via the transfer material 2 and a bias voltage is applied, so that the color visible image on the intermediate transfer member 9 is transferred to the transfer material 2.
Is transferred to

The fixing section 25 fixes the transferred color visible image while conveying the transfer material 2. The fixing section 25 heats the transfer material 2 and presses the transfer material 2 against the fixing roller 26. And a pressure roller 27. The fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27 are formed in a hollow shape, and have heaters 28 and 29 therein, respectively. That is, the transfer material 2 holding the color visible image is transported by the fixing roller 26 and the pressure roller 27, and the toner is fixed on the surface by applying heat and pressure.

The transfer material 2 after the fixing of the visible image is thereafter discharged to the paper discharge section 37 by the paper discharge rollers 34, 35 and 36, and the image forming operation is completed.

The cleaning means is for cleaning the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 15 and the intermediate transfer member 9, and is provided after the visible image formed by the toner formed on the photosensitive drum 15 is transferred to the intermediate transfer member 9. The waste toner or the waste toner after transferring the four color visible images formed on the intermediate transfer body 9 to the transfer material 2 is transferred to the cleaner container 1.
4

The transfer material (recording paper) 2 to be printed is taken out from the paper feed tray 1 by the paper feed roller 3 and is conveyed so as to be sandwiched between the intermediate transfer body 9 and the transfer roller 10 to be transferred to the color toner image. Is recorded, and the toner image passes through the fixing unit 25 and is fixed. For one-sided printing, guidance 38
Forms a conveyance path so as to guide the recording paper to the upper paper discharge unit, but forms a path to guide the recording paper to the lower duplex unit for double-sided printing paper.

The recording paper guided to the duplex unit is once fed into the lower portion of the tray 1 (the transport path indicated by the two-dot chain line) by the transport rollers 40, and then transported in the opposite direction, and is transported to the duplex tray 39. On the double-sided tray 39, the sheet is turned upside down from the state of being placed on the sheet feed tray 1, and the sheet is turned upside down in the transport direction. By transferring and fixing the toner image again in this state, double-sided printing can be performed. FIG. 4 shows an example of collated printing by a conventional application (FIG. 4A) and an example of an output result obtained by the print control system of this embodiment (FIG. 4B). )). According to a conventional output result, when the total number of pages N of a copy is an odd number, the first page of the second copy is printed on the back surface of the last page of the first copy. As a result, it is no longer possible to divide the output into sets. In addition, the combination of printed pages is different between the front and back of each sheet of the first copy and the second copy. On the other hand, according to the output result of the print control system of the present embodiment, when the total number of pages N of a set is an odd number, blank pages are inserted on the back side so that pages included in another set are the same paper. , It is possible to divide the output into copies, and the combination of pages printed on the front and back of each sheet is the same for all copies.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams showing the state of the print job queue at the time of collating printing. FIG. 11A shows a state of a print job queue when eight print jobs are generated to print eight “Printer Test Pages”. In order to stop or interrupt the printing, it is necessary to instruct the stop or stop for each of the eight print jobs. Another print job “Script.doc” is interrupted between the fifth copy and the sixth copy. Since eight copies are printed by one printer using eight print jobs, such a situation occurs when another print job is sent to the printer almost simultaneously with the print jobs.

On the other hand, FIG. 11B shows an example of a print job queue in the printing system of the present embodiment. FIG. 11B
In, in order to execute printing of a plurality of copies by a single print job, the print jobs are displayed as one job in the print job queue. Further, the suspension or interruption of the printing can be executed by operating the one print job. Further, there is no interruption of another print job and no mixing of different documents.

<Print Control Procedure> Hereinafter, the copy printing process in duplex printing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and 6 show the spool file manager 3
This is a control procedure executed by the control unit 04.

When printing is started from the application 201, the spooler 302 acquires print settings from the printer driver 203 and records the settings in the spool file 303. The spooler 302 is a spool file manager 3
If the printer 04 is not running, the spool file manager is loaded into the RAM 2 and the start of printing is notified to the spool file manager.

The spool file manager 304 reads the print settings recorded in the spool file 303, and if it determines that the print is set collated and uses printer double-sided printing, starts the process of FIG.

In step 500, the designated number of copies is set to N which indicates the number of remaining copies that have not been subjected to the printing process.
In step 501, a "job start" indicating the beginning of a print job is issued to the printer, and the start of one print job is notified to the printer. However, the number of copies specified at the time of printing is one or more.

In step 502, it is checked whether N is 1 or more.
If it is less than 1, it is determined that the designated number of copies has been processed and the process ends. In the case of 1 or more, the printing process for one copy is performed in step 503, and the number of remaining copies is reduced by 1 in step 504.
Return to step 502. In this way, by performing the printing process for one copy in step 503 a specified number of times, printing is performed for each copy. When the specified number of documents have been printed, a "job end" is issued to notify the printer of the end of one print job.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the processing in step 503 of FIG. In step 601, 1 is set to K indicating the page number being processed, and the processing of the first page is started. In step 602, it is checked whether the K-th page exists, and if it exists, the despooler 305 is instructed to print the page (step 60).
3). Then, the process for the Kth page is completed, the value of K is incremented (step 604), and the process returns to step 602 to proceed to the process for the next page. If it is determined in step 602 that the K-th page does not exist, step 60
At 5, it is checked whether K is an even number, that is, whether it is the back side. If K is not an even number (back side), the K-1 page is an even number (back side) and since it is the last page of the copy,
The printing process for one copy is completed as it is. On the other hand, if K is an even number, a blank page is printed as the K-th page because the K-th page corresponds to the back side of the duplex printing and the K-th page does not exist.

As described above, when the number of pages in one copy is an odd number, by inserting a blank page on the back surface of the last sheet of the copy, the output result of the print control system of this embodiment shown in FIG. Can be obtained. In this way, it is possible to output a printed material that has been printed on both sides in copies, regardless of whether the number of pages is even or odd.

Also, by realizing the printing of a plurality of copies in a single print job as described above, printing can be stopped or interrupted in the same manner as in a normal job.
It is possible to prevent another print job from intervening during collated printing. [Second Embodiment] The extended system shown in FIG. 3 can realize a function of reducing a plurality of pages (N pages) and printing them collectively on one page. Hereinafter, this function is called N-up printing. In the case of N-up printing, the present invention can be applied by the following procedure. Hereinafter, the page (number) printed from the application software is referred to as a logical page (number), and the page (number) actually output is referred to as a physical page (number). In N-up printing, N logical pages are reduced and combined into one physical page and printed.

FIG. 7 shows the output result of collated printing by a conventional application when N-up printing is performed by the extended print data generation method shown in FIG. 3, and the output obtained by the print control system of this embodiment. It shows the results. According to the conventional output result, when the total number of physical pages P of one copy is odd, the back surface of the last physical page of the first copy (FIG. 7)
The first physical page of the second copy is printed on the back side of the second sheet in (a). As a result, it is no longer possible to divide the output into copies. In addition, the combination of printed logical pages is different between the front and back of each sheet of the first copy and the second copy.

On the other hand, according to the output result of the print control system of the present embodiment, when the total number of physical pages P of one copy is an odd number, blank pages are inserted on the back surface of the copy to include them in different copies. It is possible to divide output products into sets by preventing logical pages to be placed on the front and back surfaces of the same sheet. The combination of logical pages printed on the front and back of each sheet is the same for all copies.

Hereinafter, the copy printing process for two-sided printing in N-up printing will be described in detail. 5 and 8
Is a control procedure executed by the spool file manager 304.

The spool file manager 304 reads the print settings recorded in the spool file 303, and if it determines that the print is collated and that uses double-sided printing of the printer, the same as in the first embodiment. Then, the processing in FIG. 5 is started. However, in step 503, if N-up printing is specified in the print settings, the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is performed instead of the process of FIG.

At step 801, 1 is set to P indicating the physical page number being processed, and the processing of the first physical page is started. In N, the number N of logical pages to be arranged on each physical page of N-up printing (for example, N = 4 in the case of 4-up in which four pages are reduced to one page) is set.

In step 802, (N (P-1) +
1) Check whether a logical page exists.

(N (P-1)) means the number of logical pages printed by the (P-1) th physical page. Therefore, the value of +1 means the first logical page to be allocated to the P physical page. If this logical page exists, it is necessary to print the P physical page; otherwise, there is no need to print the P physical page, and (P-1)
The physical page is the last page of the copy.

If the result of step 802 is YES, since there is a P physical page, an instruction is given to the despooler 305 to print the P physical page (step 80).
3). Then, the processing of the Pth physical page is completed, the value of P is incremented (Step 804), and Step 802 is performed.
And returns to the processing of the next physical page.

On the other hand, at step 802, (N (P-1) +
1) If it is determined that there is no logical page, it is checked in step 805 whether P is an even number, that is, whether it is the back side. When P is an even number, the Pth page corresponds to the back side of double-sided printing, and the Pth physical page does not exist.
A blank page is printed as the Pth physical page.

As described above, also in the case of N-up printing, when the number of pages of a set is an odd page, an output result shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained by inserting a blank page on the last back surface of the set. . Thus, for example, when repeatedly outputting a print request from a host computer or the like to output a desired number of copies separately by one copy, regardless of the number of pages of one copy, each copy is independent, Each part can obtain a printed matter having the same appearance.

By realizing a plurality of copies in a single job as described above, printing can be stopped or interrupted in the same manner as in a normal job, and another copy can be performed during a copy job. It is possible to prevent a print job from being interrupted.

[0068]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
Or MPU) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, 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, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs 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 instructions of the program code, The case where the CPU of the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When print data of an odd page is output using double-sided printing of the printing apparatus, it is possible to divide the boundaries of each section on the same sheet and to divide them into sets.

Further, even when a function of reducing a plurality of pages to one page and printing the same is used together, it is possible to divide the boundaries of each part on the same sheet and to divide them into sets.

Also, by realizing a plurality of copies in a single job, printing can be stopped or interrupted in the same manner as in a normal job, and another print job can be executed during a copy. It is possible to prevent interruption in the middle.

[0077]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing typical print data generation in a host computer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating print data generation that is an extension of FIG. 2 for generating an intermediate code.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an output example of collated duplex printing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of collated printing.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a print processing procedure of each copy in the copy printing.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an output example in the case where copy-by-copy double-sided printing is performed for N-up printing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process procedure of each unit of the unit printing in N-up printing.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a laser beam printer having a duplex unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection form between a host computer and a printer.

FIG. 11A is a diagram showing a state of a printer queue at the time of collating printing.

FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating a state of a printer queue at the time of collating printing in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 RAM 3 ROM 4 System bus 12 CPU 13 ROM 19 RAM 3000 Host computer 1500 Printer

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuo Mori 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A printing control device connected to a printing device for sequentially printing on each of front and back surfaces of a recording medium, wherein print data for a desired number of copies is sent to the printing device continuously for each copy, and A blank page is inserted on the back surface of the print medium when the last page of the print medium corresponds to the front surface of the recording medium. 2. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pages are reduced and arranged on each surface of the recording medium. 3. The print control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print data for the plurality of copies is sent to a printing apparatus as data of a single print job. 4. A printing control method for controlling a printing apparatus for sequentially printing on each of front and back surfaces of a recording medium, wherein the printing data for a desired number of copies is continuously transmitted to the printing apparatus for each copy, When the last page is the front side of the recording medium, a blank page is inserted on the back side of the recording medium. 5. The print control method according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of pages are arranged in a reduced size on each surface of the recording medium. 6. The print control method according to claim 4, wherein the print data for the plurality of copies is sent to a printing apparatus as data of a single print job. 7. A printing system including a printing device and a printing control device for controlling the printing device, wherein the printing control device sends print data for a desired number of copies to each printing device continuously for each copy, If the last page of each section is the front side, a blank page is inserted on the back side, and the printing apparatus sequentially prints on each of the front and back sides of the recording medium. 8. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the print control device arranges a plurality of pages in a reduced size on each surface of the recording medium. 9. The printing system according to claim 7, wherein the print data for the plurality of copies is sent from a print control device to a printing device as data of a single print job. 10. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a program for controlling printing from a printing apparatus that sequentially prints on both sides of a recording medium, wherein the program stores print data of a desired number of copies for each copy. A storage medium which is continuously sent to the printing apparatus and includes means for inserting a blank page on the back side of the recording medium when the last page of each section is on the front side of the recording medium. 11. The storage medium according to claim 10, wherein said program further includes means for reducing and arranging a plurality of pages on each surface of said recording medium. 12. The storage medium according to claim 10, wherein the print data of the plurality of copies is transmitted to a printing apparatus as data of a single print job by the program.