Program, control method and information processing device

Abstract

To provide a control program, information processing device, printer and control method which can switch, as needed, manners of aligning a sheet discharge direction in the printer in a two-sided printing setting state between a face-up sheet discharge manner and a face-down sheet discharge manner.SOLUTION: A control program controls printing operation on a sheet-shaped recording medium. The control program includes a selection step of allowing a user to select a face-up sheet discharge manner of discharging each sheet with one surface on which printing is performed facing upwards, or a face-down sheet discharge manner of discharging each sheet with the one surface on which printing is performed facing downward when printing on only one surface of both surfaces of the recording medium in a state of being set with two-sided printing that can perform printing on both surfaces of the recording medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a control program, an information processing device, a printing device, and a control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Some conventional inkjet print processing devices are capable of both single-sided printing and double-sided printing. Some print processing devices are known to print on the front side of the print paper and then eject the paper without reversing it if it is determined that there is no print data to be printed on the back side (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the device described in Patent Document 1, even if the print job is set for double-sided printing, if the back side is not printed, that is, for example, if there is only a one-page print job, the device can print only on the front side and eject the paper. This omits the reversing process and shortens the time until printing is completed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-12982 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, if a two-page double-sided print job and a one-page single-sided print job are executed consecutively, the two-page print job will be ejected face-down, and the one-page print job will be ejected face-up. With this type of ejection, the ejection direction (ejected side) will not be aligned, and the user will have to realign the ejection direction after printing is completed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control program that can switch the paper ejection direction in a printing device in a double-sided printing setting state between face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection as necessary. Similarly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing device printing device and control method that can switch the paper ejection direction in a printing device in a double-sided printing setting state between face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection as necessary. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the control program of the present invention is a control program that controls a printing device capable of printing on a sheet-shaped recording medium having a first side and a second side behind the first side, and is characterized in that when double-sided printing is set, allowing printing on both the first side and the second side, and printing is to be performed on only one of the first side and the second side, the control program has a selection step that allows the user to select whether to eject the paper in a face-up manner, in which the side on which the printing has been performed faces upward, or to eject the paper in a face-down manner, in which the side on which the printing has been performed faces downward. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the paper ejection direction in a printing device in a double-sided printing setting can be switched as necessary between face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the printing system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of software stored in an external storage device of a PC. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen displayed by a UI module of a PC. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a print queue in Microsoft Windows. [Diagram 5] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a print queue in Microsoft Windows. [Figure 7] 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dialog. [Figure 9] 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 10] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print setting screen displayed by a UI module of a PC. [Figure 12] 12 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper ejection operation setting screen that is displayed when a predetermined operation is performed on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 13] 11 is a flowchart showing a print job generation process performed by a graphics driver of a PC. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper ejection operation setting screen displayed by a UI module in the second embodiment. [Figure 15] 11 is a flowchart showing a process for returning print setting information during printing when the printer receives a request to return print information. [Figure 16] 11 is a flowchart showing a print job generation process performed by a graphics driver of a PC. [Figure 17] 16 is a flowchart showing the print setting information determination process in step S1603, which is a subroutine of FIG. [Figure 18]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper ejection operation setting screen displayed by a UI module in the third embodiment. [Figure 19] 11 is a flowchart showing a process for registering a print history when a printer receives a print job and performs printing. [Figure 20] 11 is a table showing an example of a print history. [Figure 21] 11 is a flowchart showing a process for returning a print history when the printer is requested to return the print history. [Figure 22] 10 is a flowchart showing a process in which the printer deletes a print history. [Figure 23] 11 is a flowchart showing a print job generation process performed by a graphics driver of a PC. [Figure 24] 13 is a flowchart showing a printing process executed by a printer in a fourth embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper ejection operation setting screen displayed on a printer in the fifth embodiment. [Figure 26] 6 is a flowchart showing a process for holding a print job when the printer receives the print job. [Figure 27] 27 is a table showing an example of print standby information registered in the print job holding process shown in FIG. 26. [Figure 28] 4 is a flowchart showing a printing process executed by the printer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations described in each of the following embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the configurations described in each embodiment. For example, each part constituting the present invention can be replaced with any configuration that can exert a similar function. In addition, any configuration may be added. In addition, any two or more configurations (features) of each embodiment can be combined.

[0010] First Embodiment A first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a printing system. A printing system 1000 shown in FIG. 1 has a PC (personal computer) 110 as an information processing device, and a printer (printing device) 120 that performs printing. The PC 110 is communicably connected to the printer 120 and can operate the printer 120. Note that the information processing device is the PC 110 in this embodiment, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, various mobile terminals such as smartphones, notebook PCs, tablet terminals, or other image processing devices. The printer 120 is a device that prints on a sheet-like recording medium having a first surface on the front side and a second surface on the back side of the first surface, that is, on printing paper, and is an inkjet printer in this embodiment. The printer 120 may be a full-color printer or a monochrome printer. An external device connected to the information processing device is not limited to the printer 120, and may be, for example, an image processing device such as a laser beam printer, a copier, or a facsimile machine. The image processing device may be a multifunction or single function. 1, the printing system 1000 has one PC 110, but the present invention is not limited to this and may have a plurality of PCs 110. When there are a plurality of PCs 110, each PC 110 is connected to a printer 120.

[0011] The printer 120 of this embodiment is capable of single-sided printing and double-sided printing. In the printer 120 of this embodiment, a printing means having an ink ejection mechanism (head) that ejects ink is provided in the middle of the printing path through which the printing paper passes. When the printing paper passes directly below it, the ink ejection mechanism ejects ink onto the surface of the printing paper to perform printing. In single-sided printing, the printer 120 prints on the surface of the printing paper and discharges it as it is, face-up, that is, with the surface facing up. In double-sided printing, the printer 120 has a circulation path that turns the printing paper over and then returns the printing paper to the printing path. That is, in the case of double-sided printing, the printer 120 prints on the surface of the printing paper in the same way as single-sided printing, then turns the printing paper over in the circulation path and returns it to the printing path again. Then, the printing paper prints on the back side and is discharged as it is, face-down, that is, with the surface facing down. This type of double-sided printing is called "automatic double-sided printing." The front side is the side that is printed in single-sided printing, and the side that is printed first in double-sided printing. The back side is the side that is not printed in single-sided printing, and the side that is printed last in double-sided printing. The printer 120 may be configured to reduce the time required for double-sided printing. In this configuration, first, print data for multiple pages with a double-sided printing range specified is input from the outside to the printer 120. Then, the printer 120 prints only on the front side of the maximum number of print sheets that can be circulated in advance. After that, the printer 120 accepts a re-feed operation to the printer 120 for each print sheet that has been printed only on the front side from the user, and repeats printing on the back side of each print sheet that has been printed only on the front side in order. This enables double-sided printing with reduced time required. This type of double-sided printing is called "manual double-sided printing".

[0012] Also, a print job can be sent to the printer 120 by an information processing device such as the PC 110. In this case, the printer 120 can print based on a print job from the PC 110. In the case of single-sided printing, the PC 110 generates a print job for single-sided printing and sends the print job to the printer 120. This allows the printer 120 to perform single-sided printing. At that time, the printer 120 prints on one side (front side) of the print paper and then discharges the paper face-up. In the case of automatic double-sided printing, the PC 110 generates a print job for double-sided printing and sends the print job to the printer 120. This allows the printer 120 to perform automatic double-sided printing. At that time, the printer 120 prints on the front side of the print paper, turns over the print paper, prints on the back side, and discharges the paper face-down. In addition, when there is no print data to be printed on the back side in automatic double-sided printing, the printer 120 prints on the front side of the print paper, turns over the print paper, and then discharges the paper without printing on the back side.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the PC 110 includes an input I / F 111, a CPU 112, a ROM 113, an output I / F 114, an external storage device 115, a RAM 116, an input device 117, an output device 118, and an input / output I / F 119. The CPU 112 is a system control unit, and controls the entire PC 110. The ROM 113 stores fixed data such as a control program executed by the CPU 112 and a data table. The control program includes, for example, a program for causing a computer to execute each unit and means (control method) of the print control device 100 described later. The external storage device 115 stores an operating system (hereinafter referred to as "OS"), a printer driver, and various other data and software. In this embodiment, as an example, it is assumed that Windows (registered trademark) is used as the OS. The RAM 116 is composed of a static random access memory (SRAM) that requires a backup power source, and data is held by a primary battery for data backup (not shown). In addition, data that is prohibited from being erased, such as program control variables, is stored in the RAM 116. Furthermore, RAM 116 is used as a work memory by various programs stored in ROM 113 and external storage device 115. Furthermore, in this embodiment, CPU 112, ROM 113, external storage device 115, and RAM 116 constitute a print control device 100 that controls a print operation on a recording medium. The "print operation" refers to an operation (print job) performed by printer 120, and includes, for example, at least the paper discharge operation among the operations from paper feeding, through printing, to paper discharge.

[0014] The input device 117 functions as an operation unit that accepts operations from a user, and is composed of, for example, keys such as numeric input keys, mode setting keys, a decision key, a cancel key, and a power key. The input I / F 111 is connected to the input device 117. As a result, the input I / F 111 becomes an interface for accepting data input and operation instructions from the user via the input device 117. The output device 118 functions as a display unit that displays data and the status of the PC 110, and is composed of, for example, an LED (light emitting diode) and an LCD (liquid crystal display). The output device 118 is connected to the output I / F 114. As a result, the output I / F 114 becomes an interface that controls the output device 118 to display data and notify the status of the PC 110. The input device 117 and the output device 118 may be composed of one device. As a result, it is possible to display information and accept operations with one device. The input / output I / F 119 is connected to the input / output I / F 125 of the printer 120 via the connection interface 130. This connection enables the PC 110 and the printer 120 to communicate with each other. The input / output I / F 119 corresponds to a port of the PC 110. The "port" is a port that allows devices having ports to communicate with each other by connecting the ports to each other via the connection interface 130. Types of ports include, for example, a network port for connection via a network, and a USB port for connection with the printer 120 via USB. The network port may be directly connected by wireless connection, or may be connected via an access point installed on a wired network. The connection via the network is performed by, for example, a wired LAN or a Wireless LAN. Examples of communication methods for connection include Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and NFC (Near Field Communication; ISO / IEC IS 18092). A plurality of types of network ports may be prepared according to the communication method and connection method. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the PC 110 is connected to the printer 120 using port 1.

[0015] The connection interface 130 is, for example, a USB, a LAN, etc., but is not limited thereto. Note that the communication via the connection interface 130 may be a direct communication by wireless communication, or may be a communication via an access point installed on a wired network. Examples of the communication method include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 120 includes a RAM 121, a ROM 122, a print engine 123, a CPU 124, an input / output I / F 125, and a sensor 126. The CPU 124 is a system control unit that controls the printer 120 as a whole. The ROM 122 stores fixed data such as a control program executed by the CPU 124 and a data table. The printer 120 also includes a sensor 126 at the paper outlet that can determine whether or not there is a printed sheet that has been printed. When the sensor 126 determines that there is a printed sheet that has been printed, the ROM 122 stores the print information of the target print job as a print history. The RAM 121 is composed of a static random access memory (SRAM) that requires a backup power source, and data is stored in a primary battery for data backup (not shown). The RAM 121 stores data that is prohibited from being erased, such as program control variables. The RAM 121 is also used as a work memory for the CPU 124, and is also used as a buffer for temporarily storing received data. The print engine 123 forms an image on a recording medium such as paper using a recording agent such as ink, based on the data stored in the RAM 121 and the print job received from the PC 110, and outputs the print result. The input / output I / F 125 is connected to the input / output I / F 119 via the connection interface 130.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of software stored in an external storage device of a PC. The components of the software shown in FIG. 2 include an application 201, a print support function 202 of the OS, a UI module 203, a spooler 204, a graphics driver 207, and a language monitor 208. The spooler 204 also includes a print queue 205 and spool data 206. The print support function 202, the spooler 204, and the spool data 206 are a module 209 of the OS. The UI module 203, the graphics driver 207, and the language monitor 208 are a module 210 of the printer driver. The configuration of the modules 209 and 210 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 2. The processes executed by each component are realized by the CPU 112 reading out a program corresponding to each component from the external storage device 115, loading it into the RAM 116, and executing the program. The application 201 creates print data that is stored in the external storage device 115 and includes image information such as image data and character information of paid content to be printed, and print setting information such as media, paper size, and layout. The print data created by the application 201 is added with print setting information returned from the UI module 203 via the print support function 202 of the OS. In addition, this print data is temporarily saved as spool data 206 in the print queue 205 of the spooler 204. The spooler 204 has a job management function, and holds and manages the spool data 206 until it is recognized that the transmission of the print job corresponding to the spool data 206 has been completed. Specifically, the spooler 204 manages the size, job name, and the like of the print job for each printer, for example. The spooler 204 transmits the managed information to a status display application, thereby displaying the information on the output device 118 or the like. The information of the spool data 206 stored in the print queue 205 can be referenced by using a predetermined interface function via, for example, the graphics driver 207, the UI module 203, the application 201, and the like.The spool data 206 is converted by the graphics driver 207 into a print command that can be interpreted by the printer 120, and a print job is generated. This print job is transmitted from the spooler 204 to the language monitor 208. The language monitor 208 divides the print job into packets of a specific size, and transmits them one by one to the printer 120 via the input / output I / F 119 and the input / output I / F 125. At this time, the size of data to be transmitted at one time is instructed by the spooler 204. The spooler 204 executes this instruction by the application 201 or the UI module 203. The language monitor 208 also has a function of acquiring information on the status of the printer 120 or a job input to the printer 120. The "job" is, for example, a print job, a scan job, a maintenance job, etc. By transmitting a job to the printer 120, the PC 110 causes the printer 120 to execute processing such as printing, scanning, and maintenance according to the job.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed by a UI module of a PC. A print setting screen 301 shown in FIG. 3 is called from an application 201 via a print support function 202 of the OS. The print setting screen 301 includes a media setting combo box 302, a paper size setting combo box 303, and a double-sided setting combo box 304. In the media setting combo box 302, for example, media types such as plain paper, photo paper, and postcards that can be printed by the printer 120 are listed as options. A user can specify a desired media from the media setting combo box 302. In the paper size setting combo box 303, paper sizes (media sizes) such as A4, B5, and postcards that can be printed by the printer 120 are listed as options. A user can specify a desired paper size from the paper size setting combo box 303.

[0019] The duplex setting combo box 304 lists duplex settings that the printer 120 can print on as options. The duplex settings include duplex printing and single-sided printing. Duplex printing is a setting that allows printing on both the front and back sides of a medium, i.e., both sides. Single-sided printing is a setting that allows printing on the front (or back) side of a medium. As described above, duplex printing includes automatic duplex printing (first double-sided printing) and manual duplex printing (second double-sided printing). "Automatic duplex printing" refers to a printing operation in which one of the front and back sides of each medium is printed per print job, the printer 120 inverts the media, and then the other side is printed, and this is repeated. "Manual duplex printing" refers to a printing operation in which one of the front and back sides of all media is printed in advance per print job, the media is re-set by the user by turning it over, and then the other side of all media is printed. The user can specify the desired duplex setting from the duplex setting combo box 304. The print settings specified by the UI module 203 are added to the print data created by the application 201 via the OS print support function 202. The print settings are temporarily stored as spool data 206 in a print queue 205 of a spooler 204.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a print queue in Microsoft Windows. The print queue 205 shown in FIG. 4 is a graphical user interface that holds and manages the spool data 206 passed to the spooler 204 until it is recognized that the transmission of the print job corresponding to the spool data 206 has been completed. The print queue 205 displays information on the processing status of the spool data 206 and the print job generated by the graphics driver 207. The print queue 205 includes a printer name display section 401, a document name display section 402, a status display section 403, an owner display section 404, and a page number display section 405. The printer name display section 401 displays the printer name. The document name display section 402 displays the name of the print job generated by the spool data 206 and the graphics driver 207. The status display section 403 displays the status of the print job generated by the spool data 206 and the graphics driver 207. For example, when the status display section 403 displays "printing", this indicates that the printer 120 is executing the print process. Moreover, when nothing is displayed in the status display section 403, it indicates that the spool data 206 is waiting without the generation process or transmission process of the print job being performed. In the following, the spool data 206 that is waiting without the generation process or transmission process of the print job being performed may be referred to as a "waiting print job". The owner display section 404 displays the owner of the spool data 206 and the print job generated by the graphics driver 207, that is, the name of the user who executed the print process. The page number display section 405 displays the number of pages of the print job generated by the spool data 206 and the graphics driver 207. The print queue 205 shown in FIG. 4 is owned by user A and indicates that job A with one page is being printed.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, a StartJob command indicating the start of printing is stored. In this StartJob command, print setting information is configured. As this print setting information, for example, the print settings set in the graphical user interface displayed by the UI module 203. Here, "media: plain paper", "paper size: A4", and "double-sided (double-sided setting): single-sided printing" are stored as print settings. Print settings other than the media, paper size, and double-sided printing may also be stored. In addition, image data information is configured in the StartJob command. As the image data information, data generated in an image format supported by the printer 120 is stored. In the case of job A in FIG. 4, data generated in an image format for one page is stored. By transmitting the print job shown in FIG. 5 to the printer 120, the printer 120 prints according to the print job, that is, prints one page with the settings of "media: plain paper", "paper size: A4", and "double-sided (double-sided setting): single-sided printing". Specifically, after receiving the print job, the printer 120 passes the print paper under an ink ejection mechanism that ejects ink. This causes printing to be performed on the front side of the printing paper. The printing paper is then discharged face-up with the printed side facing up.

[0022] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print queue in Microsoft Windows. The print queue 205 shown in Fig. 6 is owned by a user A and indicates that a job A having two pages is being printed.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 6. The difference between FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 is that while “Double-sided: single-sided printing” is used in FIG. 5, “Double-sided: manual double-sided printing” is used in FIG. 7. Also, in FIG. 7, data generated in a two-page image format is stored as image data information. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a dialog. By transmitting the print job shown in FIG. 7 to the printer 120, the printer 120 prints two pages according to the print job, that is, with the settings of “media: plain paper”, “paper size: A4”, and “double-sided: manual double-sided printing”. Specifically, after receiving the print job, the printer 120 passes the print paper under the ink ejection mechanism. As a result, printing is performed on the front side of the print paper, that is, the first page is printed. After that, the language monitor 208 displays the dialog shown in FIG. 8. The dialog 801 shown in FIG. 8 displays a message to the effect that “remind the user to turn over the discharged paper and set it in the printer’s paper feed slot”. The user can confirm this message, turn the ejected print paper over, and set it in the paper feed slot of printer 120. After setting the print paper, the user operates the print resume button. This causes printer 120 to print on the back side of the print paper, i.e., print the second page. The print paper is then ejected face-down with the front side (first page) printed above facing down.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 6. The difference between FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 is that while "Double-sided: manual double-sided printing" is used in FIG. 7, "Double-sided: automatic double-sided printing" is used in FIG. 9. By transmitting the print job shown in FIG. 9 to the printer 120, the printer 120 prints two pages according to the print job, that is, with the settings of "media: plain paper", "paper size: A4", and "double-sided: automatic double-sided printing". Specifically, after receiving the print job, the printer 120 prints on the front side of the print paper in the same manner as in single-sided printing, and then conveys the print paper to the circulation path and inverts it. After that, the printer 120 conveys the print paper to the print path again and prints on the back side. The print paper is discharged face-down with the first page facing down.

[0025] As described above, in the printer 120, when single-sided printing is set and the number of pages is one, the paper is ejected face-up. On the other hand, when double-sided printing is set to manual double-sided printing or automatic double-sided printing and the number of pages is two or more, the paper is ejected face-down.

[0026] Next, a case where the duplex setting is set to automatic duplex printing and the number of pages is one will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a print job generated by a graphics driver in the print queue shown in FIG. 4. The difference between FIG. 5 and FIG. 10 is that "duplex: single-sided printing" is used in FIG. 5, but "duplex: automatic duplex printing" is used in FIG. 10. By transmitting the print job shown in FIG. 10 to the printer 120, the printer 120 prints one page according to the print job, that is, with the settings of "media: plain paper", "paper size: A4", and "duplex: automatic duplex printing". Specifically, after receiving the print job, the printer 120 first prints the first page on the front side (one side) of the print paper. After that, the printer 120 can perform two operations. In the first operation, since there is no image data to be printed on the back side, the print paper is not inverted and is discharged face-up. The second operation is an operation in which the print paper is inverted even if there is no image data to be printed on the back side, and the back side is discharged face-down. Which of these two operations is appropriate depends on various conditions. For example, the first operation has the advantage that the time to complete printing is shorter than the second operation because the paper is discharged as is without being inverted. On the other hand, for example, if a print job with automatic double-sided printing and multiple pages is performed before or after the print job of the first operation, the print job of the first operation will be face-up discharged, and the print job of automatic double-sided printing and multiple pages will be face-down discharged. As a result, the discharge direction of the print paper at the paper discharge outlet will be a mixture of face-up discharge and face-down discharge, which makes it cumbersome for the user to align the discharge directions. Therefore, the print job that performs the second operation has the advantage that all print paper will be face-down discharged and the discharge directions will be aligned even if a print job with automatic double-sided printing and multiple pages is performed before or after the print job. As such, whether it is more appropriate to perform the first or second action depends on various conditions.

[0027] Next, a description will be given of switching between face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection as appropriate for the user. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a print setting screen displayed by a UI module of a PC. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper ejection operation setting screen displayed when a predetermined operation is performed on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 11. The difference between FIG. 3 and FIG. 11 is that a one-page paper ejection operation setting button 1101 is arranged on the left side of a two-sided setting combo box 304 in FIG. 11. Then, when automatic two-sided printing (two-sided printing) is set in the two-sided setting combo box 304, a one-page paper ejection operation setting screen 1201 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed by pressing the one-page paper ejection operation setting button 1101. The one-page paper ejection operation setting screen 1201 includes a check box 1202 and an OK button 1203.

[0028] The check box 1202 is an item (screen) that allows the user to select whether to perform face-up paper ejection or face-down paper ejection. When printing is performed on only one of the front and back sides in automatic double-sided printing, in the face-up paper ejection, the printed side is ejected facing upward, and in the face-down paper ejection, the printed side is ejected facing downward. That is, in the case of a one-page print job in automatic double-sided printing, the check box 1202 is an item that sets whether to perform face-up paper ejection without paper inversion processing, or to perform face-down paper ejection in which the back side is ejected blank after paper inversion processing. The display of the check box 1202 on the output device 118 is performed by the UI module 203 (CPU 112) of the PC 110. Therefore, in this embodiment, the UI module 203 functions as a selection unit that allows the user to select whether to perform face-up paper ejection or face-down paper ejection in the case of a print job with one page in which automatic double-sided printing is set (selection process).

[0029] 12, if check box 1202 is checked, the paper will be ejected face down, and if check box 1202 is not checked, the paper will be ejected face up. The user can specify whether or not to check check box 1202 and press OK button 1203. This completes the settings according to this specification, and closes 1-page paper ejection operation setting screen 1201. Then, by executing printing, printing is performed according to the operation specified on 1-page paper ejection operation setting screen 1201.

[0030] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a print job generation process performed by a graphics driver of a PC. Specifically, the CPU 112 loads a program such as the graphics driver 207 stored in the ROM 113 or the like into the RAM 116 and executes the process of this flowchart. That is, the process described below as a process executed by the graphics driver 207 is actually a process executed by the CPU 112 using the graphics driver 207. Note that in this embodiment, the process described as a process executed by the graphics driver 207 may be realized by another program other than the graphics driver 207. The other program may be, for example, a printing application program, another module included in the printer driver, or an OS-standard printer driver other than the printer driver including the graphics driver 207. As shown in FIG. 13, in step S1301, the graphics driver 207 refers to the print setting information designated by the UI module 203 from the spool data 206 when generating a print job. Then, the graphics driver 207 determines whether the duplex setting of the print setting information is designated as automatic duplex printing. If it is determined in step S1301 that automatic double-sided printing has been specified, the process proceeds to step S1302. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1301 that automatic double-sided printing has not been specified, the process proceeds to step S1305.

[0031] In step S1302, the graphics driver 207 determines whether the number of pages on the final print sheet of the print job is 1. If it is determined in step S1302 that the number of pages is 1, the process proceeds to step S1303. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1302 that the number of pages is not 1, the process proceeds to step S1305.

[0032] In step S1303, the graphics driver 207 determines whether or not the check box 1202 on the one-page paper ejection operation setting screen 1201 shown in Fig. 12 is checked. If it is determined in step S1303 that the check box is not checked, the process proceeds to step S1304. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1303 that the check box is checked, the process proceeds to step S1305.

[0033] In step S1304, the graphics driver 207 changes the duplex setting in the print settings from automatic duplex printing to single-sided printing and generates print data. This generation of print data enables the printer 120 to eject the print paper face-up without reversing the paper.

[0034] In step S1305, the graphics driver 207 generates print data without changing the print settings. That is, if the determination in S1302 is NO or if the determination in step S1303 is NO, the graphics driver 207 generates print data with the double-sided setting remaining as automatic double-sided printing. By sending this print data to the printer 120, the printer 120 can perform a process of inverting the print paper and perform face-down paper ejection in which the back side is blank.

[0035] As described above, in this embodiment, the paper ejection direction in the printer 120 in the double-sided printing setting can be switched between face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection according to the user's desire (user's need). This allows the user to appropriately switch between face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection. It is also possible to select face-down paper ejection regardless of whether automatic double-sided printing or manual double-sided printing is selected. This allows paper ejection according to the needs of each individual user.

[0036] <Second embodiment> The second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 14 to 17, focusing on the differences from the above-mentioned embodiment, and the description of similar matters will be omitted. In the first embodiment, the process of appropriately switching the paper ejection operation by having the user set whether to perform face-up paper ejection or face-down paper ejection in the case of a print job in which the duplex setting is automatic duplex printing and the number of pages is one has been described.

[0037] However, in this process, when a print job with automatic double-sided printing and one page is executed, if there is already a print job being printed and the print job is face-down discharge, the following problem may occur. This problem is that if the print job is automatic double-sided printing and the number of pages is one, and the check box 1202 is not checked, the paper will be discharged face-up, and the discharge direction will not match with the face-down discharge of the print job already being printed. For example, consider a case where the graphics driver 207 performs a process to generate a print job of the next job B (print job B) while the printer 120 is receiving and printing a print job of job A (print job A). In this case, if the paper discharge direction of job B is not determined depending on whether the job A being printed by the printer 120 is face-up or face-down discharge, the paper discharge direction of job B may not match with the paper discharge direction of job A. For this reason, it is preferable that the PC 110 determines the paper discharge direction of job B by referring to the double-sided setting of the job A being printed. In this embodiment, this process will be described.

[0038] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper discharge operation setting screen displayed by the UI module in the second embodiment. The one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 1401 shown in FIG. 14 is a setting screen displayed by pressing the one-page paper discharge operation setting button 1101 shown in FIG. 11. The one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 1401 includes a check box 1402 and an OK button 1403. The check box 1402 is an item for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform face-down paper discharge when a print job with automatic double-sided printing and one page is executed and the print job being printed is face-down paper discharge. When the print job being printed is face-down paper discharge, the check box 1402 can be checked when face-down paper discharge is desired in accordance with the paper discharge. On the other hand, when face-up paper discharge is desired without matching the face-down paper discharge of the print job being printed, the check box 1402 can be unchecked. Then, by pressing the OK button 1403 with the check box 1402 checked, the setting for face-down paper ejection is completed. Also, by pressing the OK button 1403 with the check box 1402 not checked, the setting for face-up paper ejection is completed.

[0039] 15 is a flowchart showing a process for returning print setting information during printing when the printer receives a request to return print information. Specifically, the CPU 124 loads a program stored in the ROM 122 or the like into the RAM 121 and executes the program, thereby executing the process of this flowchart.

[0040] 15, in step S1501, CPU 124 of printer 120 determines whether a print setting information return request has been received from PC 110 (CPU 112). If it is determined in step S1501 that a print setting information return request has been received, processing proceeds to step S1502. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1501 that a print setting information return request has not been received, processing ends.

[0041] In step S1502, CPU 124 determines whether printer 120 is printing. If it is determined in step S1502 that printer 120 is printing, the process proceeds to step S1503. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1502 that printer 120 is not printing, the process ends.

[0042] In step S1503, CPU 124 returns the print setting information during printing to PC 110. This allows PC 110 to acquire the print setting information during printing. Note that the print setting information is print setting information received in the print job, and includes information such as media type, media size, double-sided setting, and number of pages.

[0043] FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a print job generation process performed by a graphics driver of a PC. Specifically, the CPU 112 loads a program such as the graphics driver 207 stored in the ROM 113 or the like into the RAM 116 and executes it to execute the process of this flowchart. That is, the process described below as a process executed by the graphics driver 207 is actually a process executed by the CPU 112 using the graphics driver 207. Note that the process described as a process executed by the graphics driver 207 may be realized by another program. Note that steps S1301, S1302, S1304, and S1305 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 16 are the same processes as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 13, so that the description thereof will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 16, in step S1601 after execution of step S1302, the graphics driver 207 (CPU 112) judges whether or not the check box 1402 of the 1-page paper discharge operation setting screen 1401 shown in FIG. 14 is checked. If it is judged that the check box is not checked as a result of the judgment in step S1601, the process proceeds to 1304. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1601 that the box is checked, the process proceeds to step S1602.

[0044] In step S1602, the graphics driver 207 acquires print setting information for the current printing state from the printer 120. This print setting information for the current printing state is the print setting information for the current printing state returned from the printer 120 (CPU 124) to the PC 110 in step S1503.

[0045] In step S1603, the graphics driver 207 performs a print setting information determination process to determine whether or not face-down paper ejection is to be performed based on the print setting information acquired from the printer 120.

[0046] Fig. 17 is a flowchart showing the print setting information determination process in step S1603, which is a subroutine in Fig. 16. The print setting information determination process is a process for determining whether or not the print job being printed is face-down paper discharge based on the print setting information acquired by the graphics driver 207 from the printer 120, and is executed by the graphics driver 207. As shown in Fig. 17, in step S1701, the graphics driver 207 determines whether or not the print setting information could be acquired from the printer 120. If it is determined in step S1701 that the print setting information could not be acquired, the process proceeds to step S1702. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1701 that the print setting information could be acquired, the process proceeds to step S1703.

[0047] In step S1702, the graphics driver 207 determines that no print job is currently being printed.

[0048] In step S1703, the graphics driver 207 determines whether the double-sided setting is single-sided printing based on the print setting information acquired in step S1701. If the result of the determination in step S1703 is that the double-sided setting is single-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1704. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S1703 is that the double-sided setting is not single-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1705.

[0049] In step S1704, the graphics driver 207 determines that the paper ejection for the print job being printed is face-up ejection.

[0050] In step S1705, the graphics driver 207 determines whether the double-sided setting is automatic double-sided printing. If it is determined in step S1705 that the double-sided setting is automatic double-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1706. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1705 that the double-sided setting is not automatic double-sided printing, the process proceeds to step S1707.

[0051] In step S1706, the graphics driver 207 determines that the paper discharge for the print job being printed is face-down discharge.

[0052] In step S1707, the graphics driver 207 determines whether the number of pages on the final print sheet is 1, assuming that the duplex setting is manual duplex printing. If the number of pages is 1 as a result of the determination in step S1707, the process proceeds to step S1708. On the other hand, if the number of pages is not 1, that is, if the number of pages is 2 or more, the process proceeds to step S1706.

[0053] In step S1708, the graphics driver 207 determines that the paper ejection for the print job being printed is face-up ejection.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 16, in step S1604 after step S1603, the graphics driver 207 judges whether a print job being printed exists and whether the print job is face-down discharge. This judgment is made according to any of steps S1702, S1704, S1706, and S1708 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 17. If it is judged that the print job is face-down discharge as a result of the judgment in step S1604, the process proceeds to step S1305. In step S1305, the printer 120 can perform face-down discharge by inverting the print paper and discharging the paper with the back side blank. On the other hand, if it is judged that the print job is not face-down discharge as a result of the judgment in step S1604, the process proceeds to step S1304. In step S1304, the printer 120 can directly discharge the print paper face-up without inverting the print paper.

[0055] As described above, in this embodiment, when job A (first print job) and job B (second print job) are executed after job A, the following selection is possible. If job A is being executed and the paper discharge in job A is face-down paper discharge, it is possible to select the paper discharge in job B to be face-down paper discharge. Also, if job A is being executed and the paper discharge in job A is face-up paper discharge, it is possible to select the paper discharge in job B to be face-up paper discharge. By such a selection, the paper discharge direction of job A and the paper discharge direction of job B can be aligned. Also, in a state where automatic double-sided printing is set in job A, it is preferable to select the paper discharge in job B to be face-down paper discharge. This is because, since the paper discharge in job A is usually face-down paper discharge in a state where automatic double-sided printing is set, it is preferable to also match the paper discharge in job B to be face-down paper discharge. In a state where manual double-sided printing is set in job A, it is preferable to select the paper discharge in job B to be face-up paper discharge. This is because when manual double-sided printing is set for job A, the paper is usually ejected face-up with the final printed side facing up, so it is preferable to also eject paper for job B face-up.

[0056] <Third embodiment> The third embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 18 to 23, focusing on the differences from the previously described embodiment, and a description of similar matters will be omitted. In the second embodiment, a process was described for determining whether the next print job to be executed will be face-up or face-down ejection depending on whether the currently printing print job is face-up or face-down ejection, when a print job is currently being printed.

[0057] However, the next print job is not necessarily executed while the previous print job is being executed (printed). For example, the next print job may be executed after the previous print job is completed. For example, consider a case where the printer 120 executes job A when the graphics driver 207 generates job B, but the print job has already been completed. In this case, if a printed sheet of paper (hereinafter referred to as "paper A" in this embodiment) by job A remains on the paper output tray of the printer 120, a printed sheet of paper (hereinafter referred to as "paper B" in this embodiment) by job B overlaps with the printed sheet. On the paper output tray, depending on the paper output direction of paper A, the paper output direction of paper A and the paper output direction of paper B may not be aligned. Therefore, when the previous print job is completed and the printed sheet obtained by the previous print job remains on the printer 120, it is preferable to determine the paper output operation of the next print job based on the paper output direction of the paper. In this embodiment, this process will be described.

[0058] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper discharge operation setting screen displayed by the UI module in the third embodiment. The one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 1801 shown in FIG. 18 is a setting screen displayed by pressing the one-page paper discharge operation setting button 1101 shown in FIG. 11. The one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 1801 includes a check box 1802 and an OK button 1803. The check box 1802 is an item that allows the user to select whether or not to perform face-down paper discharge when a print job with automatic double-sided printing and one page is executed and printed paper remains in the printer 120 without being picked up. The selection of whether or not to perform face-down paper discharge depends on whether all printed paper is face-down paper discharge. If all printed paper is face-down paper discharge, it is preferable to check the check box 1802 and select face-down paper discharge. Then, by pressing the OK button 1803 with the check box 1802 checked, the setting for face-down paper discharge is completed. On the other hand, by pressing an OK button 1803 with the check box 1802 unchecked, the setting for face-up paper ejection is completed.

[0059] Fig. 19 is a flowchart showing a process for registering a print history when the printer receives a print job and performs printing. Fig. 20 is a table showing an example of the print history. As shown in Fig. 19, in step S1901, the CPU 124 of the printer 120 receives a print job from the PC 110 (CPU 112).

[0060] In step S1902, CPU 124 saves print information of the print job as a print history in ROM 122. As shown in Fig. 20, the print history includes media (media type), size (media size), double-sided setting, number of pages, and paper discharge operation. Although the paper discharge operation can be determined based on the double-sided setting and the number of pages, in this embodiment, it is saved as one element of the print history for ease of understanding.

[0061] In step S1903, the CPU 124 starts printing.

[0062] Fig. 21 is a flowchart showing the process of returning the print history when the printer is requested to return the print history. As shown in Fig. 21, in step S2101, CPU 124 of printer 120 receives a request to return the print history from PC 110 (CPU 112). In step S2102, CPU 124 returns the print history saved in step S1902 to PC 110. This allows PC 110 to obtain the print history.

[0063] FIG. 22 is a flow chart showing the process of the printer deleting the print history. As shown in FIG. 22, in step S2201, the CPU 124 of the printer 120 judges whether or not the print paper on which printing has been completed has been picked up from the paper discharge tray (paper discharge port) of the printer 120. This judgment is made based on the detection result of the sensor 126 that detects the presence or absence of the print paper on which printing has been completed. If it is judged as a result of the judgment in step S2201 that it has been picked up, the process proceeds to step S2202. On the other hand, if it is judged as a result of the judgment in step S2201 that it has not been picked up, the process ends. As a result, the print history is held in the ROM 122 as it is. In step S2202, the CPU 124 deletes the print history from the ROM 122.

[0064] Fig. 23 is a flowchart showing print job generation processing performed by a graphics driver of a PC. Note that steps S1301, S1302, S1304, and S1305 in the flowchart shown in Fig. 23 are the same as those in the flowchart shown in Fig. 13, and therefore their description will be omitted. As shown in Fig. 23, in step S2301 after step S1302 is executed, the graphics driver 207 (CPU 112) judges whether or not the check box 1802 in the one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 1801 shown in Fig. 18 is checked. If it is judged that the check box is not checked as a result of the judgment in step S2301, the process proceeds to 1304. On the other hand, if it is judged that the check box is checked as a result of the judgment in step S2301, the process proceeds to step S2302.

[0065] In step S2302, the graphics driver 207 acquires the print history from the printer 120. This print history is the print history returned from the printer 120 (CPU 124) to the PC 110 in step S2102.

[0066] In step S2303, the graphics driver 207 determines whether or not all print jobs for obtaining print paper that has been printed and is still remaining in the printer 120 are face-down discharge based on the print history acquired in step S2302. If it is determined in step S2303 that all print jobs are face-down discharge, the process proceeds to step S1305. In step S1305, the printer 120 can perform face-down discharge. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2303 that all print jobs are not face-down discharge, that is, if there is at least one print job that is face-up discharge, the process proceeds to step S1304. If there is at least one print job that is face-up discharge, there is no need to align the discharge direction to face-down discharge. Therefore, in step S1304, the printer 120 performs face-up discharge without performing inversion processing of the print paper.

[0067] As described above, in this embodiment, when job A (first print job) and job B (second print job) are executed following the first print job, the following selection is possible. If job A is completed and all the paper discharged in job A remains in face-down paper discharge, it is possible to select to match the paper discharge in job B to face-down paper discharge. Also, if job A is completed and all the paper discharged in job A remains in face-up paper discharge, it is possible to select to match the paper discharge in job B to face-up paper discharge. By such a selection, it is possible to align the paper discharge direction of job A and the paper discharge direction of job B. Note that, in this embodiment, the determination in step S2201 is made based on the detection result of the sensor 126, but is not limited thereto. For example, the print time may be stored in the print history, and the determination in step S2201 may be made based on the print time (for example, only jobs executed within one minute).

[0068] <Fourth embodiment> Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 24, focusing on the differences from the above-mentioned embodiments, and the description of the similar matters will be omitted. In the third embodiment, the PC 110 has the print control device 100 and is configured to determine whether to perform face-up or face-down paper ejection. In contrast, in this embodiment, the printer 120 has the print control device 100 and is configured to determine whether to perform face-up or face-down paper ejection. As described above, the printer 120 has a RAM 121, a ROM 122, a print engine 123, a CPU 124, an input / output I / F 125, and a sensor 126 (see FIG. 1). In this embodiment, the print control device 100 is configured with the RAM 121, the ROM 122, and the CPU 124.

[0069] Fig. 24 is a flowchart showing the print processing executed by the printer in the fourth embodiment. The flowchart shown in Fig. 24 includes a process for determining whether to perform face-up or face-down paper ejection. As shown in Fig. 24, in step S2401, the CPU 124 of the printer 120 receives a print job from the PC 110. This print job is a print job by the PC 110, and does not include a process for determining whether to perform face-up or face-down paper ejection.

[0070] In step S2402, CPU 124 determines whether the duplex setting of the print job received in step S2401 is automatic duplex printing. If it is determined in step S2402 that automatic duplex printing is enabled, the process proceeds to step S2403. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2402 that automatic duplex printing is not enabled, the process proceeds to step S2408.

[0071] In step S2403, CPU 124 determines whether the number of pages on the final print sheet of the print job is 1. If the result of the determination in step S2403 is that the number of pages is 1, the process proceeds to step S2404. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S2403 is that the number of pages is not 1, that is, that the number is not 1 but multiple pages (2 or more), the process proceeds to step S2408.

[0072] In step S2404, CPU 124 determines whether check box 1802 on one-page paper ejection operation setting screen 1801 shown in Fig. 18 is checked. If it is determined in step S2404 that the check box is not checked, the process proceeds to step S2407. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2404 that the check box is checked, the process proceeds to step S2405.

[0073] In step S2405, the CPU 124 refers to the print history stored in the ROM 122. This print history is information managed by the registration process in step S2408 and the deletion process shown in FIG.

[0074] In step S2406, CPU 124 determines, based on the print history referenced in step S2405, whether or not all print jobs for obtaining print paper that has been printed and is still remaining in printer 120 are face-down discharge. If the result of the determination in step S2406 is that all are face-down discharge, processing proceeds to step S2408. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S2406 is that all are not face-down discharge, that is, if there is at least one print job that is face-up discharge, processing proceeds to step S2407.

[0075] In step S2407, CPU 124 changes the duplex setting of the print settings from automatic duplex printing to single-sided printing and performs printing. This printing enables printer 120 to perform face-up paper ejection without reversing the print paper. After step S2407 is executed, the process proceeds to step S2409.

[0076] In step S2408, the CPU 124 performs printing without changing the print settings. This printing enables the printer 120 to perform a process of inverting the print paper and perform face-down ejection in which the back side is blank. After step S2408 is executed, the process proceeds to step S2409.

[0077] In step S2409, the CPU 124 registers the print setting information of the current printing as a print history in the ROM 122. This print setting information is the same as the print history shown in FIG.

[0078] As described above, in this embodiment, as in the third embodiment, face-up paper ejection and face-down paper ejection can be switched (selected) appropriately. This allows the paper ejection direction of a print job after execution to be aligned with the paper ejection direction of a print job executed after the print job. Note that the processes in the first and second embodiments can also be performed by the printer 120 in the same manner as in this embodiment.

[0079] <Fifth embodiment> Hereinafter, the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 25 to 28, but the differences from the above-mentioned embodiments will be mainly described, and the description of the similar matters will be omitted. In the second to fourth embodiments, the process of determining the paper discharge operation of a print job executed after a print job based on the paper discharge operation of the print job being printed and the paper discharge operation of the print job that has completed printing has been described. In this process, the determination when there is a print job waiting is not taken into consideration. In this embodiment, the process of determining whether to perform face-up paper discharge or face-down paper discharge based on the print setting information of a print job waiting when there is a print job will be described. Note that the printer 120 has a function of holding multiple print jobs in the ROM 122.

[0080] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a one-page paper discharge operation setting screen displayed on the printer in the fifth embodiment. The one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 2501 shown in FIG. 25 is a setting screen displayed on a display panel mounted on the printer 120. The one-page paper discharge operation setting screen 2501 includes a check box 2502 and an OK button 2503. The check box 2502 is an item for allowing the user to select whether or not to perform face-down paper discharge when a print job with automatic double-sided printing and one page number is executed and there is a print job waiting in the printer 120. The selection of whether or not to perform face-down paper discharge depends on whether all the waiting print jobs are face-down paper discharge. If all the waiting print jobs are face-down paper discharge, it is preferable to check the check box 2502 and select face-down paper discharge. Then, by pressing the OK button 2503 with the check box 2502 checked, the setting for face-down paper discharge is completed. On the other hand, by pressing an OK button 2503 without checking the check box 2502, the setting for face-up paper ejection is completed.

[0081] Fig. 26 is a flow chart showing a process for holding a print job when the printer receives the print job. As shown in Fig. 26, in step S2601, CPU 124 of printer 120 receives a print job from PC 110. In step S2602, CPU 124 stores the print job received in step S2601 in ROM 122. In step S2603, CPU 124 registers this print job in ROM 122 as print waiting information.

[0082] Fig. 27 is a table showing an example of print waiting information registered in the print job holding process shown in Fig. 26. As shown in Fig. 27, information saved as print waiting information includes the document name of the print job, the media, size, double-sided setting, and number of pages of the print job in the print setting information. The print waiting information is registered in the order in which the print jobs are received. Printer 120 performs printing in this order of registration.

[0083] Fig. 28 is a flow chart showing the print processing executed by the printer. As shown in Fig. 28, in step S2801, CPU 124 of printer 120 refers to print standby information stored in ROM 122 to determine whether or not there is a print job waiting. This print standby information is the same as the print standby information shown in Fig. 27. If it is determined in step S2801 that there is a print job waiting, the process proceeds to step S2801. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2801 that there is no print job waiting, the process remains waiting in step S2801, that is, step S2801 is repeated.

[0084] In step S2802, CPU 124 performs printing in the order of registration, and determines whether the duplex setting of the print job whose turn it is to print in the registration order is automatic duplex printing. If it is determined in step S2802 that automatic duplex printing is the setting, the process proceeds to step S2803. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2802 that automatic duplex printing is not the setting, the process proceeds to step S2808.

[0085] In step S2803, CPU 124 determines whether the number of pages on the final print sheet of the print job is 1. If the result of the determination in step S2803 is that the number of pages is 1, processing proceeds to step S2804. On the other hand, if the result of the determination in step S2803 is that the number of pages is not 1, that is, that the number is not 1 but multiple pages (2 or more), processing proceeds to step S2808.

[0086] In step S2804, CPU 124 determines whether check box 2502 on 1-page paper ejection operation setting screen 2501 shown in Fig. 25 is checked. If it is determined in step S2804 that the check box is not checked, the process proceeds to step S2807. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2804 that the check box is checked, the process proceeds to step S2805.

[0087] In step S 2805 , the CPU 124 refers to the print standby information stored in the ROM 122 .

[0088] In step S2806, CPU 124 determines based on the print standby information referenced in step S2805 whether there are standby print jobs and whether the duplex settings of the standby print jobs are all automatic duplex printing (face-down paper output). If it is determined in step S2806 that all print jobs are face-down paper output, the process proceeds to step S2808. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S2806 that all print jobs are not face-down paper output, that is, if there is at least one print job with face-up paper output, the process proceeds to step S2807.

[0089] In step S2807, the CPU 124 changes the double-sided setting of the print settings from automatic double-sided printing to single-sided printing and performs printing. This printing enables the printer 120 to perform face-up paper ejection without reversing the print paper.

[0090] In step S2808, CPU 124 performs printing without changing the print settings. This printing enables printer 120 to perform face-down paper ejection. In addition, in both cases where printing is completed in step S2807 and where printing is completed in step S2808, the print queue information is referenced to see if there are any waiting print jobs, and the process of the flowchart shown in FIG. 28 is repeated.

[0091] As described above, in this embodiment, when job A (first print job) and job B (second print job) are executed after job A, if job A is waiting to be executed and its paper output is face-down output, the paper output in job B can be adjusted to face-down output. Also, if job A is waiting to be executed and its paper output is face-up output, the paper output in job B can be adjusted to face-up output. By such selection, face-up output and face-down output can be switched appropriately. This makes it possible to align the paper output direction of job A and the paper output direction of job B. Note that this embodiment can also be combined with the process of determining the paper output operation of a print job generated from the paper output operation of a print job being printed or the paper output operation of a print job that has completed printing, in the second, third, and fourth embodiments.

[0092] The disclosure of each embodiment includes the following configurations and methods. (Configuration 1) A control program for controlling a printing device capable of printing on a sheet-like recording medium having a first surface and a second surface on the reverse side of the first surface, comprising: A control program characterized by having a selection process that allows the user to select whether to eject the paper face-up, in which the printed side is facing upward, or to eject the paper face-down, in which the printed side is facing downward, when double-sided printing is set, which allows printing on both the first side and the second side, and when printing is to be performed on only one of the first side and the second side. (Configuration 2) The control program according to configuration 1, wherein the selection step displays a screen for allowing the user to select whether to perform the face-up paper ejection or the face-down paper ejection. (Configuration 3) The double-sided printing includes a first double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides and then printing on the other side is repeated, and a second double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides in advance and then printing on the other sides of all of the recording media, 3. The control program according to claim 1, wherein the selection step enables selection of the face-down paper discharge regardless of whether the first double-sided printing or the second double-sided printing is performed. (Configuration 4) A control program according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that in the selection process, when a first print job and a second print job are executed following the first print job, if the first print job is being executed and the paper output for the first print job is face-up output, it is possible to select whether the paper output for the second print job is to be matched with the face-up output, and if the first print job is being executed and the paper output for the first print job is face-down output, it is possible to select whether the paper output for the second print job is to be matched with the face-down output. (Configuration 5) The double-sided printing includes a first double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides and then printing on the other side is repeated, and a second double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides in advance and then printing on the other sides of all of the recording media, The control program according to configuration 4, characterized in that in the selection process, when the first double-sided printing is set in the first print job, face-down paper output can be selected for paper output in the second print job. (Configuration 6) The control program according to configuration 5, characterized in that in the selection process, when the second double-sided printing is set in the first print job, face-up paper output can be selected for paper output in the second print job. (Configuration 7) A control program according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that in the selection process, when a first print job and then a second print job are executed, if the first print job has been completed and the paper output for the first print job remains in the face-up output, it is possible to select to match the paper output for the second print job to the face-up output, and if the first print job has been completed and the paper output for the first print job remains in the face-down output, it is possible to select to match the paper output for the second print job to the face-down output. (Configuration 8) The double-sided printing includes a first double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides and then printing on the other side is repeated, and a second double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides in advance and then printing on the other sides of all of the recording media, The control program described in configuration 7, characterized in that in the selection process, when the first double-sided printing is set in the first print job, face-down paper output can be selected for paper output in the second print job. (Configuration 9) The control program according to configuration 8, characterized in that in the selection process, when the second double-sided printing is set in the first print job, face-up paper output can be selected for paper output in the second print job. (Configuration 10) A control program according to any one of configurations 1 to 3, characterized in that in the selection process, when a first print job and a second print job are executed following the first print job, if the first print job is waiting to be executed and the paper output for the first print job is face-up output, it is possible to select whether the paper output for the second print job is to be matched with the face-up output, and if the first print job is waiting to be executed and the paper output for the first print job is face-down output, it is possible to select whether the paper output for the second print job is to be matched with the face-down output. (Configuration 11) The double-sided printing includes a first double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides and then printing on the other side is repeated, and a second double-sided printing in which, for each of the recording media, printing is performed on one of the first and second sides in advance and then printing on the other sides of all of the recording media, The control program described in configuration 10, characterized in that in the selection process, when the first double-sided printing is set in the first print job, face-down paper output can be selected for paper output in the second print job. (Configuration 12) The control program according to configuration 11, characterized in that in the selection process, when the second double-sided printing is set in the first print job, face-up paper output can be selected for paper output in the second print job. (Configuration 13) An information processing device that is communicably connected to a printing device that performs printing and can operate the printing device, the information processing device comprising the control program according to any one of configurations 1 to 12. (Configuration 14) A printing device comprising the control program according to any one of configurations 1 to 12. (Method 1) A method for controlling a printing device capable of printing on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side behind the first side, comprising: A control method characterized by having a selection process that allows the user to select whether to eject the paper face-up, in which the printed side is facing upward, or to eject the paper face-down, in which the printed side is facing downward, when double-sided printing is set, allowing printing on both the first side and the second side, and printing is to be performed on only one of the first side and the second side.

[0093] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors of a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. In the present invention, a recording medium on which a software program code that realizes one or more functions of the above-mentioned embodiments is recorded can be supplied to a system or device. The computer (CPU, MPU) of this system or device can also realize the above-mentioned functions by reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the storage medium on which the program code is stored constitutes the present invention.

[0094] Examples of storage media for supplying the program code include flexible disks, hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, DVDs, and the like. In addition, the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are not only realized by the computer executing the program code read out. For example, the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments are realized by the processing of an operating system (OS) or the like running on the computer, which performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code. In addition, the program code read out 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. Then, based on the instructions of the program code, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, which realizes the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiments, a configuration using a printer driver has been described as software for transmitting a print job to a printer, but this is not limited thereto. The software may be, for example, a printer driver that does not constitute a graphics driver or a language monitor, or may be a standard class driver for Windows (registered trademark) or an application for extending functions associated with that driver. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 100 Printing control device 110 PC (Personal Computer) 112 CPU 113 ROM 115 External storage device 116 RAM 120 Printer (printing device) 301 Print setting screen 1101 1-page paper ejection setting button 1201 1-page paper ejection setting screen

Claims

1. A program for controlling a printing device capable of printing on a sheet-like recording medium having a first side and a second side behind the first side, a setting step of setting a double-sided printing setting for printing on both the first side and the second side, or a single-sided printing setting for printing on only one of the first side and the second side, as a printing setting for executing a first printing process; and a control step of controlling whether to execute control to eject a recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up or to eject a recording medium printed by the first printing process face-down, based on at least one of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as a print setting for executing the first printing process and the first printing process is a print process for printing one page, and whether the double-sided printing setting is set as a print setting for executing a second printing process executed in the printing device before the first printing process, and whether the second printing process is a print process for printing multiple pages.

2. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face down, based on the fact that the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the first printing process, and the first printing process is a printing process for printing one page, and the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the second printing process, and the second printing process is a printing process for printing multiple pages.

3. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up, based on the fact that the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the first printing process, and the first printing process is a printing process for printing one page, and the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the second printing process, and the second printing process is a printing process for printing one page.

4. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up based on the fact that the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the first printing process, the first printing process is a printing process for printing one page, and the single-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the second printing process.

5. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that the control for discharging the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up is control for changing the printing setting for executing the first printing process from the double-sided printing setting to the single-sided printing setting, and generating print data for causing the printing device to execute the first printing process.

6. The program described in claim 1, characterized in that the control for ejecting the recording medium printed by the first printing process face down is control for generating print data for causing the printing device to execute the first printing process without changing the print settings for executing the first printing process from the double-sided printing settings.

7. The program described in Claim 1, further characterized in that it has a control step that executes control to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up based on the fact that the single-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the first printing process.

8. The program described in Claim 7, characterized in that when the single-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the first printing process, control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up, regardless of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the second printing process and whether the second printing process is a printing process for printing multiple pages.

9. The program described in Claim 1, further comprising a control step that executes control to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face down, based on the fact that the double-sided printing setting is set as the printing setting for executing the first printing process and the first printing process is a printing process for printing multiple pages.

10. The program described in Claim 9, characterized in that when the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process and the first printing process is a print process for printing multiple pages, control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face down, regardless of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the second printing process and whether the second printing process is a print process for printing multiple pages.

11. The program described in Claim 1, characterized in that the second printing process is a printing process currently being executed on the printing device.

12. The program described in Claim 11, characterized in that the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process, and the first printing process is a print process for printing one page, but if there is no print process currently being executed on the printing device, control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up.

13. The method further includes an acquisition step of acquiring print setting information regarding print settings for executing the second print process from the printing device, The program described in claim 1, characterized in that when the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process and the first printing process is a print process for printing one page, based on the acquired print setting information, it is controlled whether to perform control for ejecting the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up or control for ejecting the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-down.

14. The program described in Claim 1, further comprising a sending step of sending print data to the printing device to cause the printing device to execute the first printing process.

15. The program described in Claim 1, characterized in that the control for discharging the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up and the control for discharging the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-down are executed by a printer driver possessed by an information processing device in which the program is installed.

16. The method further comprises a receiving step of receiving a predetermined input from a user, when the predetermined input is accepted, and the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process, and the first printing process is a print process for printing one page, whether to execute control for ejecting the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up or control for ejecting the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-down is controlled based on at least one of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the second printing process and whether the second printing process is a print process for printing multiple pages; The program of claim 1, characterized in that if the specified input is not accepted, the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process, and the first printing process is a print process for printing one page, control is executed to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up, regardless of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the second printing process and whether the second printing process is a print process for printing multiple pages.

17. The program described in Claim 1, characterized in that the printing device is an inkjet printing device.

18. A control method for an information processing device that controls a printing device capable of printing on a sheet-like recording medium having a first surface and a second surface behind the first surface, comprising: a setting step of setting a double-sided printing setting for printing on both the first side and the second side, or a single-sided printing setting for printing on only one of the first side and the second side, as a printing setting for executing a first printing process; and a control step of controlling whether to execute control to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up or to eject the recording medium printed by the first printing process face-down, based on at least one of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process and the first printing process is a printing process for printing one page, and whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing a second printing process that is executed in the printing device before the first printing process, and whether the second printing process is a printing process for printing multiple pages.

19. An information processing device that controls a printing device capable of printing on a sheet-like recording medium having a first surface and a second surface behind the first surface, a setting means for setting a double-sided printing setting for printing on both the first side and the second side, or a single-sided printing setting for printing on only one of the first side and the second side, as a printing setting for executing a first printing process; and a control means for controlling whether to execute control for ejecting a recording medium printed by the first printing process face-up or ejecting a recording medium printed by the first printing process face-down, based on at least one of whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing the first printing process and whether the first printing process is a print process for printing one page, and whether the double-sided printing setting is set as the print setting for executing a second printing process executed in the printing device before the first printing process, and whether the second printing process is a print process for printing multiple pages.

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