Printing device

Abstract

To provide a printing device that performs printing using a sheet of a finite size which is different from a specified finite size and can cut and output the printed sheet, which makes an ingenuity in consideration of a sheet in a blank state generated after being cut.SOLUTION: In a cut-printing process, a controller 10 conveys a sheet of an A5L size from a tray allocated with 'A5L size' to a printing engine 15, then prints the image data using the printing engine 15, and does not make a processing unit 18 perform processing to the sheet having the image data printed thereon, in printing the image data that are printed on the sheet of an A5L size, of image data based on an obtained printing job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device technology capable of cutting a printed sheet into a predetermined standard size. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a printing device that can print an image on a sheet and cut the printed sheet to a specified size using a processing unit. For example, even if a sheet of a standard size specified by a user is not present in the tray of the printing device, it is possible to cause the printing device to output a printed matter of the size specified by the user by printing using a sheet of another standard size and then cutting the printed sheet using a processing unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-186448 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors thought that there was room for improvement in cutting of printed sheets in printing devices. For example, when printing on a sheet and cutting the printed sheet to half its size, depending on the number of sheets of image data specified in the print job, blank sheets may be generated after cutting.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a printing device that can print on sheets and cut the sheets after printing, and that is designed to take blank sheets into consideration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the printing device disclosed in this embodiment includes a print engine capable of printing using toner, a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size, a first paper feed tray on which the sheet of the first standard size is placed, a second paper feed tray on which the sheet of the second standard size is placed, and a controller. The combinations of the first and second standard sizes include at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter. The controller is capable of executing a cut printing process that includes printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size using a print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size to a second standard size using a processing unit. In the cut printing process, when printing image data based on an acquired print job to be printed on a sheet of the first standard size, a sheet of the first standard size is transported from a first paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut to the second standard size by the processing unit. When printing image data based on an acquired print job to be printed on a sheet of a second standard size, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from a second paper feed tray to the print engine. The printing device does not have a mechanism for transporting sheets to the second paper feed tray, prints the image data using the print engine, and does not process the printed sheet by the processing unit.

[0007] In the printing device having the above configuration, in the cut printing process, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, the controller conveys a sheet of the first standard size from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, prints the image data using the print engine, and cuts the printed sheet to a second standard size by the processing unit. On the other hand, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of a second standard size, the controller conveys a sheet of the second standard size from the second paper feed tray to the print engine, prints the image data using the print engine, and does not process the printed sheet by the processing unit. In this way, the second standard size sheet is used for image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, thereby preventing blank sheets from being generated, and providing a printing device that takes blank sheets into consideration. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the printing device disclosed in this embodiment, in a printing device that can print using sheets of a standard size different from a specified standard size and cut and output the printed sheets, printing can be performed taking into account the blank sheets after cutting. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an MFP. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the MFP. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a process executed by a controller. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a home screen. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a copy setting screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating print setting information. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S23 in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating single-sided cut printing. [Figure 9]8 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S34 in FIG. 7. [Figure 10] 8 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S38 in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] 11 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S65 in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating double-sided cut printing. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S23 in FIG. 3 in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] 14 is a flowchart illustrating the process in S82 of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a state determination process. [Figure 16] 14 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S88 in FIG. 13. [Figure 17] 14 is a flowchart illustrating the process of S89 in FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The printing device according to this embodiment will be described below using an MFP (abbreviation of Multifunction Peripheral) 1 as an example. The MFP 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 includes a controller 10, a user IF 13, a communication IF 14, a print engine 15, a scanner 16, a FAX IF 17, and a processing unit 18, which are electrically connected to the controller 10. "IF" is an abbreviation of Interface.

[0011] The controller 10 includes a CPU 11 and a memory 12. The CPU 11 executes various processes according to a program read from the memory 12 and based on a user's operation. The MFP 1 may include, as the controller 10, a single piece of hardware, or may include multiple pieces of hardware according to each function. The memory 12 stores various programs and various data, including an operating system (hereinafter referred to as "OS") 21, a print program 22, and print setting information 23. The print program 22 is a program that cooperates with the OS 21 to cause the MFP 1 to perform various operations. The programs and data will be described in detail later. The memory 12 is also used as a work area when various processes are executed. A buffer included in the CPU 11 is also an example of a memory. The print setting information 23 includes information stored in a volatile memory such as a RAM, and information stored in a non-volatile memory such as a NVRAM.

[0012] An example of the memory 12 is not limited to a ROM, RAM, NVRAM, HDD, etc. built in the MFP1, but may be a storage medium readable and writable by the CPU 11. For example, an external memory such as a USB memory or HDD connected to the MFP1 via the communication IF14, or a memory or HDD provided in a device connected to the MFP1 via the communication IF14 is also an example of the memory 12. A computer-readable storage medium is a non-transitory medium. In addition to the above examples, non-transitory media also include storage media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. A non-transitory medium is also a tangible medium. On the other hand, an electrical signal carrying a program downloaded from a server on the Internet is a computer-readable signal medium, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but is not included in the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0013] The user IF 13 is an interface between the user who operates the MFP 1 and the controller 10, and has, for example, a touch panel or operation keys that are physical keys. The communication IF 14 is an interface that connects the MFP 1 to a network. The scanner 16 generates scan data (image data) by reading an original. The MFP 1 may also be capable of executing a composite operation that combines a plurality of operations, such as a combination of an operation of generating scan data and an operation of printing. The FAX IF 17 can execute a FAX reception process that receives FAX data (image data) via the network and causes the print engine 15 to print the FAX data, and a FAX transmission process that transmits the scan data read by the scanner 16 to a predetermined address via the network.

[0014] The print engine 15 includes a configuration for printing an image on a print medium such as a sheet by electrophotography. In the following description, the top and bottom of the figure are the top and bottom directions, and the left and right of the figure are the front and rear directions, with the right being the front, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. In the MFP1, paper feed trays 31, 32, and 33 that store sheets before printing are provided below the print engine 15, and a paper output tray 30 that places printed sheets on is provided above the print engine 15.

[0015] The sliding paper feed tray 31 is a tray that is mainly used in the MFP 1. The MP tray 32 is a tray that can be opened and closed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2, and a user can set a sheet in the MP tray 32 by inserting a sheet into the MP tray 32 in the open state. The additional tray 33 is a tray that is additionally installed with respect to the MFP 1. In this embodiment, the sliding paper feed tray 31 is an example of a first paper feed tray, and the MP tray 32 is an example of a second paper feed tray. The controller 10 can change the allocation setting of the sheet size for each tray via the user IF 13.

[0016] 2, the print engine 15 includes a photoconductor drum 51, a charger 52, an exposure unit 53, a developing unit 54 including a developing roller and a toner container, a transfer roller 56, and a fixing unit 57. The charger 52, the developing unit 54, and the transfer roller 56 are arranged in this order along the circumferential direction of the photoconductor drum 51 with respect to the rotation direction of the photoconductor drum 51. Note that, although the MFP1 that performs monochrome printing is illustrated in this embodiment, the MFP1 may be configured to perform color printing. In this case, the print engine 15 includes the photoconductor drum 51, the charger 52, the developing unit 54, and the transfer roller 56 corresponding to each color.

[0017] When printing is performed by the MFP1, the photoconductor drum 51 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2 around a rotation axis perpendicular to the paper surface. After the charger 52 charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 51, the exposure unit 53 exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 51 by irradiating it with laser light or the like, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 51. Furthermore, the developing roller of the developing unit 54 develops the electrostatic latent image using the toner contained in the toner container, thereby forming a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 51. Furthermore, the formed toner image is transferred by the transfer roller 56 to a sheet that is transported in a timely manner. The toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed to the sheet by the fixing unit 57.

[0018] The MFP 1 has, inside the housing 2, a plurality of transport rollers including a junction roller 41, a guide roller 42, a paper discharge roller 43, and a paper discharge roller 44 as a configuration for transporting a sheet.

[0019] The MFP1 has a function of performing double-sided printing. When performing a process related to double-sided printing, the MFP1 first drives the conveying roller to feed a sheet toward the print engine 15. After an image is formed on the first side of the sheet by the print engine 15, the sheet is guided to the guide roller 42. The controller 10 controls the rotation of the guide roller 42 to stop the sheet being conveyed or reverse the conveying direction. The MFP1 conveys the sheet whose conveying direction has been reversed from the back to the front through a reversing path provided below the print engine 15, and guides it to the merging roller 41 in front of the print engine 15. As a result, the sheet after printing on the first side is conveyed toward the print engine 15 with the second side opposite to the first side facing upward. Then, the MFP1 becomes able to print on the second side by the print engine 15.

[0020] The MFP1 includes a processing unit 18 downstream of the fixing unit 57 in the conveying path, and can cut the printed sheet after printing the sheet in cut printing described later. The processing unit 18 has, for example, a rotary blade that moves along the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction (depth direction in FIG. 2), and a cutter having a receiving blade. When cutting a sheet with the processing unit 18, the MFP1 operates a flapper 36 to guide the sheet toward the discharge roller 44. Then, by stopping the sheet conveyance and driving the processing unit 18, the sheet on the conveying path can be divided into front and rear parts in the conveying direction. Cutting the sheet is an example of processing.

[0021] In cut printing, the processing unit 18 can perform processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size. Specifically, the combinations of the first standard size and the second standard size that can be set in cut printing include at least one of the following: a combination in which the first standard size is "A4" and the second standard size is "A5L" and a combination in which the first standard size is "letter" and the second standard size is "half letter". In addition to this, if the MFP 1 is configured to be able to transport A3-sized sheets, the combinations that can be set in cut printing may include a combination in which the first standard size is "A3" and the second standard size is "A4".

[0022] When using A4 size sheets for cut printing, the A4 size sheets can be conveyed in the longitudinal direction and cut at the center position in the longitudinal direction by the processing unit 18, and discharged as two A5 size sheets that are smaller than A4 size. The processing unit 18 may be configured to cut by moving a blade extending in the width direction of the sheet in the vertical direction.

[0023] Next, the operation of the MFP1 will be described with reference to a flowchart. The following processing indicates the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instructions written in the program. That is, the processing such as "judgment", "extraction", "selection", "calculation", "decision", "identification", "acquisition", "reception", and "control" in the following description indicates the processing of the CPU 11. The processing by the CPU 11 also includes hardware control using the API of the OS. In this specification, the description of the OS will be omitted and the operation of each program will be described. That is, in the following description, a description to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may also mean that "program B controls hardware C using the API of the OS". In addition, the processing of the CPU 11 according to the instructions written in the program may be described in abbreviated terms, that is, "performed by the controller 10".

[0024] Note that "obtaining" is used as a concept that does not require a request. In other words, the process of receiving data without the CPU 11 making a request is also included in the concept of "the CPU obtaining data." In addition, "data" in this specification is represented as a bit string that can be read by a computer. Data that has the same substantial meaning but different formats is treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. In addition, "requesting" and "instructing" are concepts that indicate outputting information indicating a request or information indicating an instruction to the other party. In addition, information indicating a request or information indicating an instruction is also simply referred to as "request" and "instruction."

[0025] Furthermore, the process by CPU 11 to determine whether information A indicates event B may be conceptually described as "determining whether event B is determined from information A." The process by CPU 11 to determine whether information A indicates event B or event C may be conceptually described as "determining whether event B or event C is determined from information A."

[0026] Next, a processing procedure when the MFP 1 prints image data will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The processing shown in Fig. 3 is executed by the controller 10 when the MFP 1 is started up. First, in step 10 (hereinafter, step will also be abbreviated as S), the controller 10 displays a home screen on the user IF 13. By displaying a home screen 60 shown in Fig. 4 on the user IF 13, the controller 10 becomes able to accept user instructions for the MFP 1 by operations on the home screen 60.

[0027] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which standard A4 size sheets (hereinafter referred to as A4 sheets) are assigned to the sliding paper feed tray 31, and standard A5L size sheets (hereinafter referred to as A5L sheets) are assigned to the MP tray 32.

[0028] Note that the sheet allocation is an example, and A5L sheets may be allocated to the additional tray 33 instead of the MP tray 32. In this case, the additional tray 33 is an example of a second paper feed tray. Also, A4 sheets may be allocated to the MP tray 32 or the additional tray 33, and A5L sheets may be allocated to another tray, for example, the sliding paper feed tray 31. In this case, the tray to which the A4 sheets are allocated is an example of a first paper feed tray, and the tray to which the A5L sheets are allocated is an example of a second paper feed tray. Also, the MFP 1 may be configured to include the MP tray 32 but not the additional tray 33. The MFP 1 may be configured to include the additional tray 33 but not the MP tray 32.

[0029] The home screen 60 includes icons 61, 62, and 63 for displaying a screen for receiving execution instructions for each function of the MFP 1, and a setting icon 64 for displaying a screen for receiving setting instructions for the MFP 1. In this embodiment, the home screen 60 includes a FAX icon 61, a copy icon 62, and a scan icon 63 as icons for displaying a screen for receiving execution instructions for each function of the MFP 1. The FAX icon 61 is an icon for receiving an instruction when displaying a screen for receiving an instruction to execute a FAX transmission process or a FAX reception process using the FAXIF 17. The copy icon 62 is an icon for receiving an instruction when displaying a screen for receiving an instruction to execute a copy process for printing scan data read by the scanner 16 using the print engine 15. The scan icon 63 is an icon for receiving an instruction when displaying a screen for receiving an instruction to execute a scan process for generating scan data by reading an original with the scanner 16 and storing the scan data in a specified memory. The setting icon 64 is an icon that is operated when a setting screen (not shown) is displayed on the user IF 13 and various settings of the MFP 1 are to be changed.

[0030] In S11, the controller 10 judges whether or not an operation on the setting icon 64 has been accepted. When the controller 10 judges that an operation on the setting icon 64 has been accepted (S11: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S12 and displays a setting screen on the user IF 13. The setting screen is a screen that accepts an operation to instruct the user to register or change various setting values ​​that can be set in advance in the MFP 1. The controller 10 can accept the selection of an item to be set or the change of the setting value for the selected item by an operation on the setting screen. When the controller 10 judges that a setting instruction has been accepted by an operation on the setting screen, the controller 10 stores information according to the accepted setting instruction in the memory 12 in S13. Note that the controller 10 may accept an operation to instruct the user to change the setting value of the allocation of sheet sizes to each tray described above in S12. The controller may accept an operation to instruct the user to change the setting value of the setting to suppress the generation of blank sheets or the setting value indicating whether cut printing and double-sided printing are enabled or disabled in the same manner as in the copy setting screen 70 described below in S12. In the processes of S15 to S19 described below, the controller 10 stores setting values ​​related to the copy function in the memory 12 via the copy setting screen 70, and in S12, the setting values ​​used for printing a print job accepted in S21 described below are stored in the memory 12. As described below, for printing the print job, setting values ​​included in the print job may be used instead of the setting values ​​stored in the memory 12.

[0031] When the controller 10 determines that an operation on the setting icon 64 has not been accepted (S11: NO), the process proceeds to S14, where it determines whether or not an operation on the copy icon 62 has been accepted, that is, whether or not a selection operation of the copy function has been accepted. When the controller 10 determines that an operation on the copy icon 62 has been accepted (S14: YES), in S15, the controller 10 causes the user IF 13 to display the copy setting screen 70 shown in FIG.

[0032] The copy setting screen 70 includes icons 71A to 71D for accepting settings for the number of copies, print quality, magnification, and color density used in executing the copy process, and icons 72 and 73 for accepting instructions to execute optional settings of cut printing and double-sided printing. The copy process includes a processing option for processing the image to be printed. In this embodiment, the processing options include cut printing and double-sided printing.

[0033] In S18, it is determined whether or not an operation on the start button 74 has been accepted. That is, while the controller 10 is accepting an operation on any button other than the start button 74, the result is NO in S18. The controller 10 can accept operations on icons other than the cut print icon 72, the double-sided print icon 73, and the start button 74 on the currently displayed copy setting screen 70, and accepts setting instructions according to the accepted operation. If an operation to close the currently displayed copy setting screen 70 is accepted without accepting an operation on the start button 74, the controller 10 proceeds to S10 and displays the home screen 60. If the controller 10 accepts an operation on the FAX icon 61 or the scan icon 63 on the home screen 60, the controller 10 displays a setting screen according to the operated icon on the user IF 13.

[0034] When the controller 10 determines that an instruction to execute a process related to the copy function has been received by operating the start button 74 (S18: YES), in S19, the controller 10 stores the setting values ​​related to the copy function designated at that time in the memory 12 as the print setting information 23. The setting values ​​related to the copy function include setting values ​​related to cut printing, double-sided printing, and a setting to suppress the generation of blank pages.

[0035] For example, if the cut print icon 72 has been checked, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item "cut print" to "enabled" in the print setting information 23. If the cut print icon 72 has not been checked, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item "cut print" to "disabled" in the print setting information 23. When the user checks the cut print icon 72, the controller 10 displays a blank sheet setting screen (not shown) and can accept an instruction to "enable" or "disable" the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets. If "enable" has been instructed, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item "setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets" to "enabled" in the print setting information 23, and if "disable" has been instructed, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item "setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets" to "disabled" in the print setting information 23.

[0036] If the double-sided printing icon 73 has been checked, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item “double-sided printing” to “enabled” in the print setting information 23. If the double-sided printing icon 73 has not been checked, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item “double-sided printing” to “disabled” in the print setting information 23.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the setting values ​​of the print setting information 23 for cut printing, double-sided printing, and the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets. In FIG. 6, the setting value of the item "cut printing" is set to "enabled", and it is set that the MFP 1 can perform cut printing. On the other hand, the setting value of the item "double-sided printing" is set to "disabled", and it is set that the MFP 1 cannot perform double-sided printing. Furthermore, the setting of the item "setting for suppressing generation of blank sheets" is set to "enabled", and when the MFP 1 performs cut printing, the sheet feeding mode and the printing mode on the sheets are changed so that blank sheets are not generated as described later. Details of the process related to the "setting for suppressing generation of blank sheets" will be described later.

[0038] If the start button 74 is operated on the copy setting screen 70, the controller 10 acquires image data, which is scan data, by having the scanner 16 read an original document in S20. The controller 10 also generates a print job including the acquired image data, and in S23 executes printing processing using the contents of the print setting information 23 stored in the memory 12 and the print job including the acquired image data.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the printing process executed in S23. The series of processes shown in FIG. 7 are processes executed by controller 10 when the setting value for cut printing is "enabled" and the setting value for double-sided printing is "disabled" in print setting information 23. Note that MFP 1 may be configured in such a way that double-sided printing cannot be "enabled" when cut printing is "enabled". In either configuration, if the setting value for cut printing is "enabled" in print setting information 23, controller 10 executes the process of FIG. 7 in S23.

[0040] In S31, the controller 10 judges whether the A4 sheet to be currently processed is a sheet corresponding to the last page. In this example, when one page of image data remains as unprocessed image data among the image data included in the print job, or when two pages of image data remain, the controller 10 judges that the A4 sheet to be currently processed is a sheet corresponding to the last page. More specifically, the controller 10 analyzes the image data included in the print job, and processes two pages of image data at a time, starting from the image data of the first page. For example, the controller 10 performs processing to arrange two pages of image data in half each of the page memories corresponding to the A4 sheet. When the last image data among the image data included in the print job is processed, the controller 10 judges that the A4 sheet to be currently processed is a sheet corresponding to the last page. That is, in this specific example, the fact that the A4 sheet to be currently processed is a sheet corresponding to the last page may be replaced with the fact that the image data to be currently processed is the last image data among the image data included in the print job. Note that the specific method of judging whether the A4 sheet to be currently processed is a sheet corresponding to the last page is not limited to this. The controller 10 may obtain the total number of pages of the print job in advance so that it can grasp how many pages before the final page the image data to be processed is. In this case, when the controller 10 processes image data including the image data of the final page to be printed on one A4 sheet, it may determine that the A4 sheet currently being processed is the sheet corresponding to the final page. Alternatively, when the controller 10 processes image data including the image data of the page just before the final page, not including the image data of the final page, to be printed on one A4 sheet, it may determine that the A4 sheet currently being processed is the sheet corresponding to the final page when the next A4 sheet is to be processed.

[0041] A description will be given assuming that the print job includes image data for three or more pages. First, the image data for the first page is processed, so the controller 10 determines that it is not an A4 sheet corresponding to the final page (S31: NO). After this, the process proceeds to S32. Since the setting value for cut printing is "enabled" and the setting value for double-sided printing is "disabled," the image data for two pages is processed in S32. Therefore, the image data for the first page is put into a processing standby state, and the image data for the next page, that is, the image data for the second page, out of the image data included in the print job, is made the processing target of S31. The controller 10 determines that it is not an A4 sheet corresponding to the final page (S31: NO), and proceeds to S32. In S32, the image data for the second page and the image data for the first page that was waiting to be processed are made the processing targets, and one-sided cut printing is performed on the A4 sheet. In this example, the setting value of the item "cut printing" in the print setting information 23 is "enabled" and the setting value of the item "double-sided printing" is "disabled", so that the print engine 15 processes the image data of two pages so that the reduced images of two pages are arranged in the upper and lower areas and printed on the first side of the A4 sheet. The controller 10 causes the processing unit 18 to cut the sheet on which the images of two pages are printed based on the image data of two pages included in the print job at the center. In this way, the controller 10 forms a processed sheet on which two pages are printed from one A4 sheet by cutting at the center indicated by the dashed line as shown in FIG. 8. Note that in FIG. 8 and FIG. 12, for convenience, the last page is indicated as the "N" page.

[0042] The controller 10 returns to S31 and judges whether the A4 sheet to be printed is the sheet corresponding to the final page. When printing an image of three or more pages on an A4 sheet, the processes of S31 and S32 are repeated until it is judged that the A4 sheet is the sheet corresponding to the final page. That is, while the image data based on the print job that has not yet been printed is image data of two or more pages, which is an amount sufficient to print on an A4 size sheet, the A4 sheet is conveyed, the image data is printed using the print engine 15, and the printed sheet is cut using the processing unit 18 until an affirmative judgment is made in S31 (S31: YES).

[0043] When the controller 10 determines in S31 that the A4 sheet to be printed is the sheet corresponding to the last page (S31: YES), the process proceeds to S34 and performs a mode determination process for determining the paper feed mode and the print mode for the sheet corresponding to the last page. In this embodiment, if the "setting to suppress blank sheet generation" is set to "enabled" in the mode determination process performed in S34, the controller 10 makes it difficult to generate a blank sheet. Note that the "blank sheet" refers to a sheet on which no image is formed among the cut sheets generated by cutting in the processing unit 18. In FIG. 8(b), no image is arranged and printed in the lower area of ​​the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page, and a blank sheet is formed by cutting this A4 sheet.

[0044] 9 is a flow chart for explaining the procedure of the mode determination process executed by the controller 10 in S34. First, in S50, the controller 10 determines whether or not the printing on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page from now on is a printing in which two pages of images are arranged. Specifically, if the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is the image data of the last page and the image data of the page before that, that is, the image data awaiting processing in S31, the controller 10 proceeds to S53 (S50: YES).

[0045] In S53, the controller 10 sets the value of the status flag to a value indicating “no blank pages remaining.” The status flag is information that is referenced when making a determination in S35, which will be described later.

[0046] When the process of S53 is completed, the controller 10 proceeds to S35 in Fig. 7, and changes the paper feed mode and print mode for the sheet corresponding to the last page according to the setting value of the status flag. In this example, the status flag "no blank sheets remaining" is set, and the controller 10 proceeds to S40.

[0047] In S40, the controller 10 feeds an A4 sheet from a paper feed tray in which the A4 size is set, for example, the sliding paper feed tray 31, and prints two pages of images on the A4 sheet by the same process as in S32. Then, the printed A4 sheet is cut by the processing unit 18 to generate two pages of processed sheets (A5L sheets). That is, in this example, as shown in FIG. 8(a), two pages of images are arranged and printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page, so no blank sheet is formed.

[0048] When the process of S40 ends, the controller 10 returns to S10 in FIG. 3 and causes the user IF 13 to display the home screen 60 already described.

[0049] Next, as shown in Fig. 8(b), the process of the controller 10 will be described when the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is for one page, i.e., when there is only image data for the last page. First, when the controller 10 determines in S50 of the mode determination process shown in Fig. 9 that the process is to arrange and print an image for one page on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page, for example, when it determines that the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is only image data for the last page (S50: NO), the process proceeds to S51.

[0050] In S51, the controller 10 judges whether or not an A5L sheet is set in the paper feed tray. For example, if an A5L sheet is set in the MP tray 32 (S51: YES), the process proceeds to S54, and the value of the status flag is set to a value indicating "not cut". The A5L sheet being set in the paper feed tray refers to a state in which a sensor (not shown) can detect that a sheet is set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned. If the sensor (not shown) is a sensor that can detect the size of the sheet, it may be judged that an A5L sheet is set in the paper feed tray when an A5L size sheet is set in any of the trays. In this case, the tray in which the A5L sheet is set is an example of a second paper feed tray, and an example of a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned. In addition, in the case where the MFP 1 is configured without a sensor, it may be judged that an A5L sheet is set in the paper feed tray when "A5L size" is assigned to any of the trays.

[0051] When the process of S54 is completed, the controller 10 proceeds to S35, where the sheet feeding mode and the printing mode are changed according to the value of the status flag. In this example, the status flag "no cutting" is set, and the controller 10 proceeds to S39. In S39, the controller 10 feeds an A5L sheet from a tray in which an A5L sheet is set, for example, the MP tray 32, and prints an image based on one page of image data on the fed A5L sheet. That is, in this case, since the last page is only one page of image, the controller 10 prints an image on the A5L sheet corresponding to the second standard size, and does not cut the sheet using the processing unit 18 after that. Note that, when an A4 size sheet is actually set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and an A4 sheet is fed in S39, the MFP 1 may print an image based on one page of image data on half of the A4 sheet.

[0052] On the other hand, when the controller 10 determines that the A5L sheet is not set in S51 of the mode determination process shown in FIG. 9 (S51: NO), the process proceeds to S52, where it determines whether the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" in the print setting information 23 is set to "enabled". If the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is set to "enabled" (S52: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S55, where it sets the status flag to "wait without cutting". If the sensor (not shown) is a sensor that can detect the size of the sheet, it may determine that the A5L sheet is not set in the paper feed tray when it cannot detect that the A5L size sheet is set in the tray to which the "A5L size" is assigned. Also, it may determine that the A5L sheet is not set in the paper feed tray when the sensor cannot detect the size of the sheet or cannot detect that the sheet is set in the tray to which the "A5L size" is assigned.

[0053] When the controller 10 finishes the process of S55, it proceeds to S35, and proceeds to S38 because the status flag is set to "wait without cutting." In this example, since an A5L sheet is not set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, for example, the MP tray 32, the controller 10 transitions to a state in S38 in which printing will not start until an A5L sheet is set (printing process after waiting for sheet input). FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the process executed by the controller 10 in S38.

[0054] First, in S60, the controller 10 displays a notification screen that prompts the user IF 13 to set an A5L sheet in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, for example, the MP tray 32. In S61, the controller 10 judges whether an A5L sheet has been set. In this example, when the controller 10 detects that an A5L sheet has been set (S61: YES), the process proceeds to S62. In S62, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to arrange and print one page of image on the newly set A5L sheet. Even in this case, the sheet after printing is not cut by the processing unit 18. Note that, if a sensor capable of detecting the size of a sheet (not shown) is provided, it may be judged that an A5L sheet has been set when it is detected that an A5L size sheet has been set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned. In addition, in the case where a sensor that can detect the setting of a sheet (not shown) but cannot detect the size is provided, when it is detected that a sheet is set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, it may be determined that an A5L sheet is set. In the case where a sensor that can detect the operation of a tray (not shown), for example, the tray is opened or slid, is provided, when it is detected that the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned is operated, it may be determined that an A5L sheet is set. In addition, a configuration may be adopted in which an icon indicating that an A5L sheet is set is included in the notification screen. In this case, it may be determined that an A5L sheet is set in response to the operation of the icon indicating that an A5L sheet is set. In addition, in the case where a sensor that detects whether an A5L sheet is actually set is not provided, when an A4 size sheet is actually set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, the MFP1 may perform printing in which an image based on one page of image data is arranged on half of the A4 sheet.

[0055] Also, even if the "A5L size" is not assigned to the MP tray 32 in S38, the controller 10 may temporarily regard the MP tray 32 as a tray to which the "A5L size" is assigned, display a notification screen, wait for an A5L sheet to be set on the MP tray 32, and proceed to S62 when it is determined that an A5L sheet has been set. In the case of this configuration, for example, when the "A5L size" is not assigned to any tray, it can determine in the above-mentioned S51 that an A5L sheet is not set, and temporarily regard the MP tray 32 as a tray to which the "A5L size" is assigned in S38 and wait for an A5L sheet to be set. Also, for example, even if the "A5L size" is assigned to any tray, when it is determined in the above-mentioned S51 that an A5L sheet is not set, it can temporarily regard the MP tray 32 as a tray to which the "A5L size" is assigned in S38 and wait for an A5L sheet to be set.

[0056] On the other hand, the notification screen displayed by the controller 10 on the user IF 13 in S60 includes a forced print icon for receiving an instruction to print one page of image on an A4 sheet even if an A5L sheet is not set. When the controller 10 detects an operation of the forced print icon on the notification screen displayed on the user IF 13 (S63: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S64, and uses a tray to which "A4 size" is assigned, for example, an A4 sheet set on the slide feed tray 31, to print one page of image arranged on half of the A4 sheet, as already described as the process of S32, and cuts the printed A4 sheet. Therefore, in the process of S64, the processing unit 18 cuts the printed A4 sheet, and a printed A5L sheet and a blank sheet are generated.

[0057] In S65, the controller 10 executes a process for using, for the next printing, a blank sheet (A5L sheet) generated by the cutting process by the processing unit 18 in S64. Fig. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the process executed by the controller 10 in S65.

[0058] First, in S70, the controller 71 discharges the blank sheet resulting from the cutting to the discharge tray 30. In S71, the controller 71 causes the user IF 13 to display a screen informing the user that the blank sheet discharged to the discharge tray 30 should be set in a tray allocated to A5L sheets, for example, the MP tray 32. That is, the controller 10 displays a screen for setting the blank sheet to the user, so that the blank sheet resulting from the cutting can be used in the processes executed in S62 and S39 thereafter. Note that the notification screen displayed on the user IF 13 in S71 may be hidden in response to an operation on a "hidden icon" included in the notification screen, or in response to the controller 10 detecting that the MP tray 32 has been changed to an open state and a sheet has been set.

[0059] If the setting of the print setting information 23 for suppressing the generation of blank sheets is set to "invalid" (S52: NO in FIG. 9), the controller 10 proceeds to S56 and sets the status flag to a value indicating "leave blank sheets". Since the status flag "leave blank sheets" is set in S35, the controller 10 proceeds to S36. In S36, the controller 10 feeds an A4 sheet from a tray to which "A4 size" is assigned, for example, the slide paper feed tray 31, arranges and prints only one page of images on the A4 sheet, and processes the printed A4 sheet by the processing unit 18 to generate one A5L sheet (processed sheet) and one blank sheet. That is, in this example, since the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets is set to "invalid", the controller S38 performs printing in a manner that generates blank sheets.

[0060] In S37, the controller 10 discharges the blank sheets resulting from the cutting to the paper discharge tray (S70), similar to the process in S65 already described. In S71, the controller 10 causes the user IF 13 to display a screen informing the user that the blank sheets discharged to the paper discharge tray 30 should be set in a tray assigned to A5L sheets, for example, the MP tray 32.

[0061] When any one of the processes in S37 to S40 ends, the controller 10 returns to S10 in FIG. 3 and causes the user IF 13 to display the home screen 60 already described.

[0062] Furthermore, when the MFP 1 receives a print job from the PC 3 specifying image data to be printed (S16: YES), the MFP 1 proceeds to S17 and acquires the image data and print setting information included in the print job. That is, when the MFP 1 accepts the specification of a print job from the PC 3, the MFP 1 acquires the above-mentioned setting values ​​for suppressing the generation of blank pages and setting values ​​indicating whether cut printing and double-sided printing are enabled or disabled based on the print setting information included in the print job. Note that, when the print setting information included in the print job alone cannot determine all or part of the information regarding cut printing and double-sided printing, the controller 10 acquires the necessary setting values ​​from the memory 12 by reading them out from the above-mentioned setting values ​​for suppressing the generation of blank pages used in printing the print job and setting values ​​indicating whether cut printing and double-sided printing are enabled or disabled.

[0063] In S23, the controller 10 executes a print process using the image data and print setting information included in the print job. The print process in S23 executed according to the print job from the PC 3 is the same as the print process already described with reference to FIGS. 7, 9, 10, and 11. In this case, too, if the image to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is one page's worth of image, the controller 10 executes a state determination process in S34 and sets the value of the status flag. Then, in S35, the controller 10 executes one of the processes in S36 to S40 depending on the value of the status flag.

[0064] The present embodiment described above can provide the following advantages. The controller 10 of the MFP 1 is capable of executing cut printing, which includes printing image data on an A4 sheet by the print engine 15 and cutting the printed A4 sheet to A5L size by the processing unit 18. In cut printing, when printing image data to be printed on an A5L sheet among image data based on an acquired print job, the controller 10 feeds an A5L sheet from a tray assigned with "A5L size" and prints the image data using the print engine 15, without processing the printed sheet by the processing unit 18. In this way, by supplying an A5L sheet for image data to be printed on an A5L sheet, it is possible to prevent blank sheets from being generated.

[0065] When printing image data to be printed on an A5L sheet among image data based on an acquired print job, the controller 10 displays a notification screen via the user IF 13 to notify the user to set an A5L sheet in the tray assigned with "A5L size". When an A5L sheet is set after the notification, the controller 10 feeds the A5L sheet from the tray assigned with "A5L size" and prints the image data using the print engine 15. This allows the user to set an A5L sheet in the MP tray 32 even if an A5L sheet is not set in the tray assigned with "A5L size", thereby preventing the formation of a blank sheet.

[0066] The controller 10 feeds A5L sheets from a selected tray previously selected by an operation via the user IF 13 to the print engine 15 and prints the image data, thereby avoiding processing by the processing unit 18. This allows the user to select and set in advance a tray in which to set A5L sheets to prevent blank sheets from being generated.

[0067] (Modification of the first embodiment) In the above-described embodiment, in the cut printing of the MFP 1, A4 sheets are cut into A5L sheets by the processing unit 18. Alternatively, in the cut printing of the MFP 1, letter-sized sheets may be processed into half-letter-sized sheets by the processing unit 18. Even in this case, in a scene in which it is assumed that a blank sheet will be formed by cutting the letter-sized sheet corresponding to the last page by the processing unit 18, an image is printed on the A5L sheet by the processes of S38 and S39, thereby suppressing the generation of a blank sheet.

[0068] In the above embodiment, if an A5L sheet is set in the MP tray 32 (S51: YES), the controller 10 sets the status flag to "do not cut" and prints an image on the A5L sheet. Alternatively, even if an A5L sheet is set in the MP tray 32 (S51: YES), if the setting for suppressing blank sheet generation is set to "disabled", the controller 10 may set the status flag to "leave blank sheet", proceed to S36, arrange and print an image on the A4 sheet, and then cut the A4 sheet. That is, in this example, if the setting for suppressing blank sheet generation is set to "disabled", the process for suppressing blank sheet generation is not performed.

[0069] When cut printing is enabled, if the controller 10 determines that there is only one page of image data to be printed on the sheet, it may feed an A5 sheet set in the MP tray 32 and print an image without cutting the sheet. In this case, if the controller 10 determines that there is only one page of image data to be printed on the sheet by the state determination process of S34, it sets the status flag to "do not cut" (S54 in FIG. 9). Also, if there is only one page of image data to be printed on the sheet and an A5L sheet is not set, it sets the status flag to "wait without cutting" (S55). As a result, the controller 10 prints one page of image on the A5L sheet fed from the MP tray 32 by executing the process of S38 or S39 after passing through the process of S35 in FIG. 7.

[0070] Second embodiment In the second embodiment, the configuration different from the first embodiment will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0071] In this embodiment, a case will be described where the setting values ​​of the items "double-sided printing" and "cut printing" in the print setting information 23 are both "enabled." That is, in this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 12(a) and (b), the controller 10 executes double-sided printing in which two pages of images are arranged and printed on the first and second sides of an A4 sheet. Then, the A4 sheet after double-sided printing is cut at the dashed line portion in the figure to form a processed sheet after double-sided printing. Details of the double-sided printing (hereinafter referred to as double-sided cut printing) executed in this embodiment will be described later.

[0072] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the print process executed in S23 of FIG. 3 in the second embodiment.

[0073] A description will be given assuming that the print job includes image data for five or more pages. In S31, the controller 10 determines that the A4 sheet currently being processed is not the sheet corresponding to the final page. First, the image data for the first page is processed, so the controller 10 determines that the number of images printed on the A4 sheet is not the same in either case in S31 (S31: NO). Since the setting value for cut printing is "enabled" and the setting value for double-sided printing is "enabled", in S81, image data for four pages is processed. Therefore, the image data for the first page is put into a processing standby state, and the image data for the next page, i.e., the image data for the second page, among the image data included in the print job, is made the processing target in S31. The controller 10 determines that the A4 sheet does not correspond to the final page (S31: NO), so the image data for the second page is also put into a processing standby state, and the image data for the next page, i.e., the image data for the third page, among the image data included in the print job, is made the processing target in S31. The controller 10 determines that it is not an A4 sheet corresponding to the final page (S31: NO), sets the image data of the third page to a waiting state, and sets the next page, that is, the image data of the fourth page, among the image data included in the print job, to be processed in S31. The controller 10 determines that it is not an A4 sheet corresponding to the final page (S31: NO), and proceeds to S81. In S81, the image data of the fourth page and the image data of the first to third pages that were waiting to be processed are set to be processed, and double-sided cut printing is performed on the A4 sheet fed from a tray assigned to "A4 size," for example, the sliding paper feed tray 31.

[0074] As described above, in this example, since the setting values ​​of the item "cut printing" and the item "double-sided printing" of the print setting information 23 are both "enabled", the controller 10 executes double-sided cut printing. For example, when double-sided cut printing of four pages of images (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pages) is performed on one A4 sheet, the controller 10 first processes image data for two pages so that the image of the first page and the image of the third page are arranged vertically and printed on the first side of the A4 sheet, as shown in FIG. 12(a). Next, the controller 10 turns the A4 sheet in the conveying path, and processes image data for two pages so that the image of the second page and the image of the fourth page are arranged vertically and printed on the second side of the A4 sheet. At this time, the area where the image of the second page is arranged and printed on the sheet is the area on the second side that is located behind the area where the image of the first page is arranged and printed on the first side. The area on the second side where the image of the fourth page is arranged and printed is the area on the back side of the area on the first side where the image of the first page is arranged and printed. Then, the controller 10 causes the processing unit 18 to cut the printed A4 sheet at the center indicated by the dashed line. In this way, the controller 10 forms a processed sheet (A5L sheet) with images printed on both sides, one on the first side and the other on the second side.

[0075] The controller 10 returns to S31 and judges whether the A4 sheet to be printed is the sheet corresponding to the final page. When printing five or more pages of images on an A4 sheet, the processes of S31 and S32 are repeated until it is judged that the A4 sheet is the sheet corresponding to the final page. That is, while the image data based on the print job that has not yet been printed is image data for four or more pages, which is an amount sufficient to print on an A4 size sheet, the A4 sheet is conveyed, the image data is printed on both sides using the print engine 15, and the printed sheet is cut using the processing unit 18 until S31: YES is judged.

[0076] When the controller 10 determines in S31 that the A4 sheet to be printed is a sheet corresponding to the last page (S31: YES), the process proceeds to S82. As shown in FIG. 12(a), when printing one page of image on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page, the controller 10 arranges and prints the one page of image on the first side of the A4 sheet. Also, as shown in FIG. 12(b), when arranging and printing two pages of image on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page, the controller 10 arranges and prints the one page of image on the first side of the A4 sheet, and arranges and prints another one page of image, which is continuous with the image arranged on the first side, on the second side. Therefore, when an image of one page is printed on the A4 sheet as shown in FIG. 12(a) or when an image of two pages is printed on the A4 sheet as shown in FIG. 12(b), a blank sheet will be generated after cutting. As already mentioned, when the controller 10 processes the last image data of the image data included in the print job, it may be determined that the A4 sheet to be currently processed is a sheet corresponding to the last page. The controller 10 may acquire the total number of pages of the print job in advance. In this case, when processing image data including image data of the final page to be printed on one A4 sheet, it may be determined that the A4 sheet currently being processed is the sheet corresponding to the final page. Alternatively, when image data including image data of the page three pages before the final page, not including the image data of the final page, is processed to be printed on one A4 sheet, it may be determined that the A4 sheet currently being processed is the sheet corresponding to the final page when the next A4 sheet is processed.

[0077] The controller 10 proceeds to S82 and performs a mode determination process for selecting a tray for feeding the sheet M on which an image is to be formed. In this embodiment, the controller 10 sets the value of the status flag in S82 according to the setting value of the item "setting for suppressing generation of blank sheets" included in the print setting information 23, the presence or absence of A5L size sheets, and the number of images to be printed on A4 sheets.

[0078] 14 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the process executed in S82 by the controller 10. The controller 10 refers to the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank pages" included in the print setting information 23 in S90.

[0079] In S91, the controller 10 sets the value of the status flag according to the setting value of the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets, the presence or absence of A5L size sheets, and the number of image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the value of the status flag according to the combination of the values ​​in S91. If the setting value of the item "setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets" is "disabled", no A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is one page's worth, that is, only the image data of the last page, the controller 10 sets the status flag to "single-sided printing and cutting". In this case, since the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets is disabled and no A5L sheets are set, priority is not given to not generating blank sheets in double-sided cutting printing.

[0080] The controller 10 sets the status flag to "automatic double-sided printing and cutting" if the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "disabled", no A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheets corresponding to the final page is image data for two pages, consisting of the image data of the final page and the image data of the page before that, i.e., the image data that was awaiting processing in S31. Even in this case, because the setting to suppress generation of blank sheets is set to "disabled" and no A5L sheets are set, no priority is given to not generating blank sheets in double-sided cutting printing.

[0081] If the setting value of the item "Setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "disabled", A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is one page's worth of image data, the controller 10 sets the status flag to "single-sided printing". In this case, the setting to suppress generation of blank sheets is disabled, but since A5L sheets are set, priority is given to not generating blank sheets in double-sided cut printing.

[0082] If the setting value of the item "Setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "disabled", A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is two pages, the controller 10 sets the status flag to "manual double-sided printing". In this case, the setting to suppress generation of blank sheets is disabled, but since A5L sheets are set, priority is given to not cutting and not generating blank sheets in double-sided cut printing.

[0083] If the setting value of the item "Setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "enabled", if no A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and if the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is one page, the controller 10 sets the status flag to "Wait for single-sided printing". In this case, since the setting to suppress generation of blank sheets is enabled, by having the user set an A5L sheet, priority is given to not generating blank sheets in double-sided cut printing.

[0084] If the setting value of the item "Setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "enabled", A5L sheets are not set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheets corresponding to the last page is two pages, the controller 10 sets the status flag to "Wait for manual double-sided printing". In this case, since the setting to suppress generation of blank sheets is enabled, by having the user set A5L sheets, priority is given to not generating blank sheets in double-sided cut printing.

[0085] The controller 10 sets the status flag to "single-sided printing" if the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "enabled", A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is one page. In this case, since blank sheets are not formed in double-sided cutting printing, cutting is not performed either.

[0086] If the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank sheets" is "enabled", A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and the image data to be printed on the A4 sheet corresponding to the last page is two pages, the controller 10 sets the status flag to "manual double-sided printing". In this case, since the setting to suppress generation of blank sheets is enabled, by having the user set the A5L sheets, priority is given to not generating blank sheets in double-sided cut printing.

[0087] When the process of S82 is completed, the controller 10 proceeds to S83, where it proceeds to a step according to the value of the status flag. If the status flag "print one-sided and cut" is set, the controller 10 proceeds to S84, where it performs the same process as S36 already described. That is, it feeds an A4 sheet from a tray to which "A4 size" is assigned, arranges and prints an image on the first side of the A4 sheet, and then cuts the A4 sheet by the processing unit 18. In the process of S84, a blank sheet is generated.

[0088] The controller 10 proceeds to S37, and executes the process for using the A5L sheets resulting from the cutting, as described above. Note that the process executed in S37 has already been described.

[0089] If the status flag "automatic double-sided printing and cutting" is set, the controller 10 proceeds to S86 and performs the same processing as S81 already described. That is, an A4 sheet is fed from a tray to which "A4 size" is assigned, an image is arranged and printed on the first side of the A4 sheet, the A4 sheet is turned over, and an image is arranged and printed on the second side. Then, the printed A4 sheet is cut by the processing unit 18. Since a blank sheet is formed by the processing of S86, the controller 10 proceeds to S37 and performs processing for using the A5L sheet generated by cutting as already described.

[0090] If the controller 10 determines in S83 that the status flag "single-sided printing" is set, it proceeds to S87 and performs the same process as S39 already described. That is, it feeds A5L sheets from the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, and prints an image on the A5L sheets. That is, it prioritizes not generating blank sheets by not cutting the A4 sheets.

[0091] When the controller 10 determines in S83 that the status flag is set to "manual double-sided printing," it executes the process of S88. When the controller 10 executes the process of S88, the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets is "disabled," but since A5L sheets are set in the tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, priority is given to not generating blank sheets. Figure 16 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the process executed by the controller 10 in S88.

[0092] In S100, the controller 10 causes the print engine 15 to feed an A5L sheet set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, for example, the MP tray 32, and causes the print engine 15 to print an image on one side of the A5L sheet. The printed A5L sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 30. In S101, the controller 10 causes the user IF 13 to display a notification screen to prompt the user to set the discharged A5L sheet in the MP tray 32.

[0093] In S102, the controller 10 determines whether or not a printed A5L sheet has been set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, for example, the MP tray 32, in a process similar to that of S61 already described. When the controller 10 determines that a printed A5L sheet has been set (S102: YES), the process proceeds to S103, where the controller 10 again feeds the set printed A5L sheet, causes the print engine 15 to print an image on the second side of the A5L sheet, and discharges the sheet to the discharge tray 30. By executing the process of S88, a blank sheet is used after being cut by manual setting by the user, and the blank sheet can be reused.

[0094] When the controller 10 determines in S83 that either the status flag "Waiting for single-sided printing" or "Waiting for manual double-sided printing" is set, it executes the process of S89. When the controller 10 executes the process of S89, the setting for suppressing the generation of blank sheets is "enabled", but no A5L sheets are set in the MP tray 32, and the controller 10 waits until an A5L sheet is supplied by the user. Figure 17 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the process executed by the controller 10 in S89.

[0095] In S110, the controller 10 displays a notification screen on the user IF 13 to prompt the user to set an A5L sheet in the same manner as in S60 already described. The notification screen displayed on the user IF 13 in S110 is the same as that described in the processing of S60. In S111, the controller 10 determines whether an A5L sheet has been set in a tray to which "A5L size" is assigned, for example, the MP tray 32, in the same manner as in S61 already described. If the controller 10 determines that an A5L sheet has been set (S111: YES), the process proceeds to S112.

[0096] If the controller 10 determines in S112 that the status flag is set to "wait with single-sided printing" (S112: YES), the process proceeds to S113, where an image is printed on one side of the first side of the A5L sheet fed from the MP tray 32 in a process similar to that of S62 already described. On the other hand, if the status flag is set to "wait with manual double-sided printing" (S112: NO), the controller 10 proceeds to S114, where manual double-sided printing is performed using the A5L sheet. Note that the manual double-sided printing performed in S114 is the same process as that of S88 using FIG. 16, and has already been described.

[0097] On the other hand, if the A5L sheet is not set in the tray to which the "A5L size" is assigned (S111: NO), the controller 10 proceeds to S115 and determines whether or not the operation icon for performing forced printing has been operated. As already described, the notification screen displayed on the user IF 13 includes a button for accepting an instruction to forcibly print an image on an A4 sheet even when the A5L sheet is not set. If the user operates the button for instructing forced printing (S115: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S116 and determines whether or not the status flag is set to "wait with single-sided printing". If the controller 10 determines that the status flag is set to "wait with single-sided printing" (S116: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S117, and in the same process as S64 already described, the A4 sheet is fed from the tray to which the "A4 size" is assigned, an image is printed on the first side of the A4 sheet, and the A4 sheet is cut by the processing unit 18. On the other hand, if the status flag is “Waiting for manual double-sided printing” (S116: NO), the controller 10 proceeds to S118, feeds an A4 sheet from the sliding paper feed tray 31, prints images on both sides of the A4 sheet, and then cuts the A4 sheet by the processing unit 18.

[0098] In S119, the controller 10 executes the process for using the remaining A5L sheets already described in S37. Then, when the controller ends any one of the processes of S113, S114, and S119, it causes the user IF 13 to display the home screen 60 shown in FIG.

[0099] The above-described embodiment provides the following advantages. In cut printing, when the image data based on the acquired print job that has not yet been printed reaches one page's worth or two pages' worth of image data that is insufficient to print on an A4 sheet corresponding to the final page, the controller 10 conveys an A4 size sheet from the tray assigned with "A4 size" and prints the image data using the print engine 15. Then, the controller 10 cuts the printed A4 sheet to A5L size using the processing unit 18, and sets the cut A5L sheet, both of whose first and second sides are blank, in the tray assigned with "A5L size," thereby allowing the A5L sheet to be reused in subsequent printing. This makes it possible to prevent blank sheets from being generated after cutting, even in a configuration in which double-sided printing is performed on A4 sheets.

[0100] The controller 10 notifies the user through a notification screen displayed on the user IF 13 to set a sheet in the tray assigned with "A5L size", and then when an instruction to use an A4 sheet for cut printing is given via the user IF 13 by an instruction to execute forced printing, the controller 10 causes the print engine 15 to print an image on an A4 sheet fed from the sliding paper feed tray 31, and cuts the printed sheet to A5L size using the processing unit 18. As a result, when the user instructs the use of an A4 sheet for reasons such as prioritizing the completion of printing, the printing and cutting using the A4 sheet are given priority, improving convenience.

[0101] (Modification of the second embodiment) In the above-described embodiment, in the process of using the remaining A5L sheet in S37 of FIG. 13, the A5L sheet discharged to the discharge tray 30 is set on the MP tray 32 to be used. Alternatively, if the MFP 1 is provided with a DX tray for holding a sheet with an image printed on its first side during double-sided printing, the A5L sheet may be pulled from the DX tray back into the sheet transport path in the housing 2 when printing on the second side of the sheet, thereby forming an image on the second side. In this embodiment, the DX tray is an example of a tray for holding a sheet with a first side printed thereon during double-sided printing so that the second side can be printed by the print engine 15.

[0102] (Other embodiments) The technology disclosed in this specification is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the following modifications are also possible. The MFP has been described as an example of the printing device, and the printing device may be a printer that does not include the scanner 16 or the FAXIF 17. [Explanation of symbols]

[0103] 1...MFP, 10...controller, 13...user IF, 15...print engine, 18...processing unit, 31...slide feed tray, 32...MP tray, 33...additional tray

Claims

1. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first sheet feed tray on which sheets of the first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of the second standard size are placed; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, In printing image data based on the acquired print job, the image data to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size is conveyed from the first paper feed tray to a print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut into a second standard size by the processing unit; A printing device characterized in that, when printing image data based on an acquired print job to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, the sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to a print engine, the printing device does not have a mechanism for transporting a sheet to the second paper feed tray, the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

2. A user interface is provided. The controller, in the cut and print process, 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein, when printing image data based on an acquired print job to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, a notification is sent via the user interface to request that a sheet be placed on the second paper feed tray, and after the notification, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the printing engine, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

3. The controller, in the cut and print process, The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, the second standard size sheet is transported to the printing engine from an additional tray that is a tray different from the first paper feed tray and that is added to the printing device, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

4. A user interface is provided. The controller, in the cut and print process, The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, the sheet of the second standard size is transported to the print engine from a selected tray, which is different from the first paper feed tray and which is pre-selected by an operation via the user interface, the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

5. The controller, in the cut and print process, while the amount of image data based on the acquired print job that has not yet been printed is sufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, the process repeats: conveying a sheet of a first standard size from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, printing the image data using the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet using the processing unit; The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the amount of image data based on an acquired print job that has not yet been printed becomes insufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

6. The controller, in the cut and print process, while the amount of image data based on the acquired print job that has not yet been printed is sufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, the process repeats: conveying a sheet of a first standard size from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, printing the image data using the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet using the processing unit; When the amount of image data that has not yet been printed out of the image data based on the acquired print job becomes insufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, a sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut into a second standard size using a processing unit; conveying a sheet having a blank first and second sides out of the cut sheets of the second standard size to a loading section different from the first paper feed tray; The controller, in the cut and print process, When printing an acquired print job in a state where a sheet having both the first side and the second side thereof is placed on the placement unit, The printing device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the amount of image data based on an acquired print job that has not yet been printed becomes insufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the second standard size is transported from the loading section to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

7. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first sheet feed tray on which sheets of the first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of the second standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, In printing image data based on the acquired print job, the printer conveys a sheet of the first standard size from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, prints the image data using the print engine, and cuts the printed sheet to a second standard size using the processing unit. A printing device characterized in that, when printing image data based on an acquired print job to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, a notification is sent via the user interface to request that a sheet be placed on the second paper feed tray, and after the notification, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the printing engine, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

8. The controller, in the cut and print process, 8. The printing device according to claim 7, wherein, in printing image data based on an acquired print job, to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, a user is notified via the user interface to place a sheet on the second paper feed tray, and then, when an instruction is given via the user interface to use a sheet of a first standard size, a sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut to the second standard size using the processing unit.

9. The controller, in the cut and print process, In printing image data based on the acquired print job, the image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size is When a setting is made to suppress the generation of blank sheets, a notification is given via the user interface to place a sheet on the second paper feed tray, and after the notification, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the processing unit does not process the printed sheet, On the other hand, when the setting to suppress the generation of blank sheets is not set, a sheet of a first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut to a second standard size using the processing unit. This printing device is configured as described in claim 7.

10. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on one side of a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, when the acquired print job is to be printed on one side, In printing image data based on the acquired print job, the printer conveys a sheet of the first standard size from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, prints the image data using the print engine, and cuts the printed sheet to a second standard size using the processing unit. A printing device characterized in that, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of a second standard size, a waiting tray, which is a tray different from the first paper feed tray, transports a sheet of the second standard size to the printing engine, and the waiting tray is a tray where, during double-sided printing, a sheet with printed first side is kept waiting so that the printing engine can print on the second side, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and the printed sheet is not processed by the processing unit.

11. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of a second standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut and print process, when the acquired print job is to be printed on both sides, In printing image data based on the acquired print job, which is to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, a first side of the transported sheet is printed using the print engine, the sheet after the printing of the first side is transported again to the print engine for printing a second side of the sheet, the second side is printed using the print engine, and the processing unit cuts the sheet to a second standard size; In printing the image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, notifying the user via the user interface to place the sheet after the first side has been printed on the second paper feed tray; A printing device characterized by a configuration in which a sheet of a second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to a printing engine, a first side is printed using the printing engine, the sheet after the first side has been printed is transported from the second paper feed tray to the printing engine, a second side is printed using the printing engine, and the printed sheet is not processed by the processing unit.

12. When the acquired print job is to be printed on both sides in the cut and print process, the controller In printing image data based on the acquired print job, which is to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, a first side is printed using the print engine, the sheet after the first side is printed is transported again to the print engine for printing a second side, the second side is printed using the print engine, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to a second standard size; The printing device according to claim 11, characterized in that, when image data based on an acquired print job contains only one image data that has not yet been printed and is to be printed within the second standard size, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the printing engine, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

13. The controller, in the cut and print process, The printing device described in claim 11 is configured such that, when the image data based on the acquired print job contains only two pieces of image data that have not yet been printed and the other piece of image data is to be printed in an area on the second side of the sheet behind the area on the first side of the sheet where one piece of image data has been printed, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the printing engine, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and the printed sheet is not processed by the processing unit.

14. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of a second standard size are placed; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut and print process, when the acquired print job is to be printed on both sides, Among the image data based on the acquired print job, for image data to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, a sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, a first side is printed using the print engine, the sheet after the first side is printed is transported again to the print engine for printing a second side, a second side is printed using the print engine, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to a second standard size; A printing device characterized in that, when, among the image data based on the acquired print job, the only image data that has not yet been printed is image data to be printed within the second standard size, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the print engine, printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

15. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of a second standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, When the acquired print job is to be printed on both sides in the cut and print process, the controller In printing image data based on the acquired print job, which is to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to the print engine, a first side is printed using the print engine, the sheet after the first side is printed is transported again to the print engine for printing a second side, the second side is printed using the print engine, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to a second standard size; A printing device characterized in that, when the image data based on the acquired print job contains only two pieces of image data that have not yet been printed, and when one piece of image data is to be printed in an area on the second side of the sheet behind the area on the first side of the sheet where one piece of image data is printed, the printing device transports a sheet of the second standard size from the second paper feed tray to the printing engine, prints using the printing engine, and does not process the printed sheet using the processing unit.

16. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, When printing the acquired print job, in printing image data based on the acquired print job that is to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to a print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut to a second standard size using the processing unit; A printing device characterized in that, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, the second standard size sheet is transported from an additional tray added to the printer, which is a tray different from the first paper feed tray, to a printing engine, the image data is printed using the printing engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

17. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; A printing device comprising: The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, In printing the image data to be printed on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to a print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut into a second standard size using the processing unit; A printing device characterized in that, when printing image data to be printed on a sheet of the second standard size, a sheet of the second standard size is transported to a print engine from a selected tray, which is different from the first paper feed tray and which is pre-selected by operation via the user interface, and the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

18. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of a second standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; Equipped with The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, while the amount of image data based on the acquired print job that has not yet been printed is sufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, the printer repeats the steps of: transporting a sheet of the first standard size from a first paper feed tray to the print engine for image data to be printed on a sheet of the first standard size, printing the image data using the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet using the processing unit; A printing device characterized in that, when the amount of image data based on an acquired print job that has not yet been printed is insufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, a sheet of the second standard size is transported from the second paper feed tray to the print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

19. a print engine capable of printing using toner; a processing unit capable of performing processing to cut a sheet of a first standard size into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size; a first paper feed tray on which sheets of a first standard size are placed; a second paper feed tray on which sheets of a second standard size are placed; A user interface; A controller; Equipped with The combination of the first standard size and the second standard size includes at least one of a combination in which the first standard size is A4 and the second standard size is A5, and a combination in which the first standard size is letter and the second standard size is half letter; The controller: A cut-and-print process is executed, the cut-and-print process including a process of printing image data based on a print job on a sheet of a first standard size by the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet of the first standard size into the second standard size by the processing unit, In the cut printing process, While the amount of image data based on the acquired print job that has not yet been printed is sufficient to print on a sheet of the first standard size, the process repeats the following steps: transporting a sheet of the first standard size from the first paper feed tray to the print engine for the image data to be printed on the sheet of the first standard size, printing the image data using the print engine, and cutting the printed sheet using the processing unit; When the amount of image data that has not yet been printed out of the image data based on the acquired print job is insufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, the sheet of the first standard size is transported from the first paper feed tray to a print engine, and printed using the print engine, and the printed sheet is cut into a second standard size using a processing unit; conveying the cut second standard size sheets, both of whose first and second sides are blank, to a loading section different from the first paper feed tray; The controller, in the cut and print process, When printing an acquired print job with a sheet having both a first side and a second side blank placed on the second paper feed tray, A printing device characterized in that, when the amount of image data based on an acquired print job that has not yet been printed is insufficient to print on a sheet of a first standard size, a sheet of a second standard size is transported from the loading section to a print engine, the image data is printed using the print engine, and no processing is performed on the printed sheet by the processing unit.

Images