Printer driver and image formation device

Abstract

To prevent orientation of a medium from being incorrect when the medium is set.SOLUTION: There is provided a printer driver for controlling an image formation device having a manual double-sided printing function that performs first printing on a first side of a medium, ejects the medium, and then performs second printing on a second side of the medium that has been reset by a user, the second side being opposite to the first side. The printer driver is installed in an information processor and causes the information processor to function as: a print data generation unit that generates print data including first-side data for forming a first-side image on the first side of the medium and a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the medium in the image formation device, and second-side data for forming a second-side image on the second side of the medium; and a transmitter that transmits the print data to the image formation device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer driver and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image forming devices, such as printers, have a manual double-sided printing function. The manual double-sided printing function allows a user to reset a medium, such as paper, that has been printed on one side (i.e., the front side) and ejected by the image forming device, by turning it over, and then the image forming device prints on the other side (i.e., the back side) of the reset medium, thereby achieving double-sided printing.

[0003] With such a manual double-sided printing function, if the user resets the medium in the wrong orientation, the printing orientation on the front and back sides of the medium will not be aligned, which is a problem.

[0004] Therefore, in the past, a display unit of a host computer connected to an image forming device with a manual double-sided printing function was designed to display a guide indicating the orientation of the medium when re-setting the medium in the image forming device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-020272 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, since the image forming device and the host computer are often located far apart, and the guide displayed on the host computer differs from the actual media (i.e., the media that has actually been printed and ejected), it is possible to make a mistake in the orientation of the media when resetting it in the image forming device.

[0007] The present invention takes the above points into consideration and aims to propose a printer driver and an image forming device that make it less likely that the orientation of the medium will be incorrect when setting the medium in the image forming device, compared to conventional methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The printer driver of the present invention is a printer driver for controlling an image forming device having a manual double-sided printing function that performs a first print on the first side of a medium, ejects the medium, and then performs a second print on the second side of the medium, which is the opposite side to the first side, when the medium is reset by the user.The printer driver is installed on an information processing device and causes the information processing device to function as a print data generation unit that generates print data including first-side data for forming a first-side image on the first side of the medium and a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the medium in the image forming device, and second-side data for forming a second-side image on the second side of the medium, and a transmission unit that transmits the print data to the image forming device.

[0009] The image forming device of the present invention is also an image forming device with a manual double-sided printing function that performs a first print on a first side of a medium, ejects the medium, and then performs a second print on a second side of the medium that is reset by a user, on the opposite side to the first side.The image forming device is equipped with a receiving unit that receives print data including first-side data for forming an image for the first side on the first side of the medium and second-side data for forming an image for the second side on the second side of the medium, a medium feeding unit that feeds the set medium, and an image forming unit that forms, based on the received print data, the image for the first side on the first side of the medium fed from the medium feeding unit and a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the medium in the medium feeding unit, and forms the image for the second side on the second side of the medium that has been reset and fed in the medium feeding unit.

[0010] This allows the user to view the guide image printed on the first side of the medium ejected from the image forming device and reset the medium in the image forming device in the appropriate orientation for printing on the second side of the medium. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a printer driver and an image forming device that are less likely to cause a medium to be set in the wrong orientation when the medium is set in the image forming device, compared to the prior art. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing mechanism of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a paper feed tray of the image forming apparatus is pulled out. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of an ID unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a host computer. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example (1) of a printed guide mark. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the printer driver during printing. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of a printing order determination process. [Figure 9] 10 is a table showing conditions (1) when determining a printing order in the printing order determination process. [Figure 10] 10 is a table showing conditions (2) when determining the print order in the print order determination process. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a printed example (2) of a guide mark. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a printed example (3) of a guide mark. [Figure 13] 10 is a table showing conditions (3) when determining the print order in the print order determination process. [Figure 14] 10 is a table showing conditions (4) when determining the print order in the print order determination process. [Figure 15]10 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure of a guide mark adding process. [Figure 16] 10 is a table showing conditions for adding a guide mark in the guide mark adding process. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing a specific procedure for manual double-sided printing processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [1. Configuration of image forming device] [1-1. Configuration of the printing mechanism of the image forming device] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the printing mechanism of an image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is an electrophotographic printer equipped with a manual double-sided printing function. The image forming apparatus 1 has a roughly box-shaped apparatus housing 1c. Here, the right side of the apparatus housing 1c in the drawing is the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, the left side is the rear side of the image forming apparatus 1, the front side is the left side of the image forming apparatus 1, the back side is the right side of the image forming apparatus 1, the top side is the upper side of the image forming apparatus 1, and the bottom side is the lower side of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0015] Inside the device housing 1c, there are provided image drum (hereinafter abbreviated as ID) units 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y), a transfer belt 3, LED heads 4 (4K, 4C, 4M, 4Y) as exposure devices, transfer rollers 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y), paper feed rollers 6, conveying rollers 7, a paper feed tray 8, a paper feed sensor 9, registration rollers 10, a write sensor 11, a fixing device 12, a discharge sensor 13, and a discharge roller 14.

[0016] The paper feed tray 8 is provided at the bottom of the device housing 1c and is configured to store multiple sheets of paper P stacked vertically. As shown in FIG. 2, a top view of the image forming device 1 as viewed from above, the paper feed tray 8 can be pulled out forward from the device housing 1c. In the image forming device 1, the user can load paper P onto the paper feed tray 8 pulled out from the device housing 1c and then push the paper feed tray 8 back into the device housing 1c, thereby setting the paper P. Note that the image forming device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example in which an optional paper feeder 15 is added below the paper feed tray 8. The optional paper feeder 15 is similar to the paper feed tray 8, so a description of the optional paper feeder 15 will be omitted.

[0017] A stacker 16 for discharging paper P is provided at the rear of the top surface of the device housing 1c. An operation display unit 17 is provided at the front of the top surface of the device housing 1c, and functions as an operation unit for accepting operations by the user and a display unit for displaying various information.

[0018] Inside the device housing 1c, a transport path R is provided connecting the paper feed tray 8 and the stacker 16, and along this transport path R, in order from the upstream side in the paper transport direction (the side closer to the paper feed tray 8), there are provided a paper feed roller 6, a transport roller 7, a paper feed sensor 9, a registration roller 10, a write sensor 11, a transfer belt 3, an ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y), an LED head 4 (4K, 4C, 4M, 4Y), transfer rollers 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y), a fixing device 12, a discharge sensor 13, and a discharge roller 14.

[0019] The paper feed roller 6 feeds the paper P stored in the paper feed tray 8 one sheet at a time onto the transport path R. The transport roller 7 transports the paper P fed from the paper feed tray 8 along the transport path R. The paper feed sensor 9 detects the paper P fed onto the transport path R.

[0020] The registration rollers 10 convey the paper P along the conveying path R while correcting the skew of the paper P. The writing sensor 11 detects the leading edge of the paper P in order to adjust the position and timing for forming a toner image on the paper P being conveyed.

[0021] The ID units 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) are units that form images using black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) toner. Each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) has the same configuration except for the toner colors, and as shown in an enlarged view in Figure 3, each ID unit 2 has an image drum 21 as a photosensitive member, a charging roller 22 that uniformly charges the surface of the image drum 21, and a developing roller 23 as a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image drum 21 with toner.

[0022] Returning to FIG. 1, each LED head 4 (4K, 4C, 4M, 4Y) forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the image drum 21 by irradiating the surface of the image drum 21 with light based on print data.

[0023] The transfer belt 3 transports paper P to transfer the toner images formed on the image drums 21 of each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) onto the paper P. The transfer belt 3 is circular and is stretched by belt rollers 24 and 25 so that its upper and lower running portions extend linearly in the front-to-rear direction. Above the upper running portion of the transfer belt 3, the image drums 21 of each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) are provided at regular intervals in the paper transport direction, and below the upper running portion of the transfer belt 3, transfer rollers 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y) are provided so as to face the image drums 21 of each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y).

[0024] Each transfer roller 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y) is applied with a voltage of the opposite polarity to that of the toner, thereby transferring the toner image formed on the image drum 21 of each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) onto the top surface of the paper P being transported by the transfer belt 3.

[0025] The fixing device 12 applies heat and pressure to the paper P, thereby fixing the toner image transferred onto the paper P. The discharge rollers 14 transport the paper P, on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing device 12, to the stacker 16 and discharge the paper onto the stacker 16. The discharge sensor 13 monitors for jams (paper jams) in the fixing device 12 and paper wrapping. The printing mechanism of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as described above.

[0026] Here, we will briefly explain the operation during printing by the image forming apparatus 1. During single-sided printing, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the paper feed roller 6 to feed paper P one sheet at a time from the paper feed tray 8 to the conveyance path R. After the paper P is fed to the conveyance path R, it is corrected for skew by the conveyance roller 7 and the registration roller 10, and then conveyed to the transfer belt 3 with one side facing up.

[0027] The paper P transported to the transfer belt 3 is transported while being sandwiched between the image drum 21 of each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) and each transfer roller 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y), and at this time the toner image formed on the image drum 21 of each ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) is transferred to one side of the paper P.

[0028] The paper P onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fixing device 12, where it is heated and pressurized. As a result, the toner image transferred onto the paper P is fixed to the paper P. At this point, the image is printed on one side of the paper P. The paper P onto which the toner image has been fixed (i.e., the paper P with the image printed on one side) is discharged by the discharge rollers 14 into the stacker 16. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 performs single-sided printing.

[0029] Image forming apparatus 1 also has a manual double-sided printing function, and during manual double-sided printing, an image is printed on one side of paper P in the same manner as during single-sided printing, and the paper P is ejected to stacker 16. At this time, the paper P ejected to stacker 16 is accumulated on stacker 16 with the printed side facing downwards. Here, the user, following instructions displayed on operation display unit 17, for example, removes paper P ejected to stacker 16 from stacker 16, turns paper P over so that the printed side faces upwards, and resets paper P in paper feed tray 8, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] When the paper P is reset in the paper feed tray 8 in this way, the image forming apparatus 1 prints an image on one side of the paper P and ejects it to the stacker 16. At this time, since the paper P has been reset in the paper feed tray 8 upside down, the image is printed on the side opposite to the side printed during the previous single-sided printing. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 performs manual double-sided printing.

[0031] [1-2. Configuration of the control system of the image forming device] Next, the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in Fig. 4. The image forming apparatus 1 has, as its control system, a controller unit (hereinafter abbreviated as CU) 30 and a print engine unit (hereinafter abbreviated as PU) 40.

[0032] The CU 30 and the PU 40 are connected by a video interface (hereinafter abbreviated as video I / F) 57 and a communication interface (hereinafter abbreviated as communication I / F) 58.

[0033] The CU 30 converts print data acquired from a host computer 60 serving as a higher-level device into image data, and transfers the converted image data to the PU 40 via a video I / F 57. The CU 30 and the PU 40 also transmit and receive commands and various information via a communication I / F 58.

[0034] The CU 30 includes a CPU 31 as an arithmetic processing unit, a ROM 32, a RAM 33 as a work area, an EEPROM 34 as a nonvolatile memory, and a host interface (hereinafter abbreviated as host I / F) 35.

[0035] The CPU 31 reads out the program stored in the ROM 32 and executes the program using the necessary information, using the RAM 33 as a work area. Specifically, the CPU 31 converts print data acquired from the host computer 60 via the host I / F 35 into image data expanded into bitmap data, transfers the converted image data to the PU 40, and issues a print instruction to the PU 40. The EEPROM 34 stores adjustment values ​​and the like required for various processes.

[0036] On the other hand, the PU 40 has a CPU 41 as an arithmetic processing unit, a ROM 42, a RAM 43 as a work area, an EEPROM 44 as a nonvolatile memory, an image processing unit 45, and a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) 46.

[0037] In accordance with commands from CU 30, CPU 41 monitors sensor information from various sensors (paper feed sensor 9, write sensor 11, discharge sensor 13, temperature and humidity sensor 56, ID up / down sensor 70, ID coupling sensor 71, etc.) and controls the driving of various motors (paper feed motor 61, fixing motor 62, ID motor 63, belt motor 64).

[0038] The belt motor 64 drives the transfer belt 3 and transfer rollers 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y) shown in Fig. 1. The ID motor 63 drives the image drum 21 of the ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) and the like.

[0039] The paper feed motor 61 drives the conveying roller 7. The paper feed motor 61 also drives the paper feed roller 6 by turning on the paper feed roller clutch 52, and drives the registration roller 10 by turning on the registration roller clutch 53. The paper feed motor 61 also drives the ID coupling mechanism by turning on the ID coupling clutch 73. The ID coupling mechanism is a mechanism for transmitting or releasing the driving force of the ID motor 63 to the ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y).

[0040] The fixing motor 62 drives the fixing device 12. The fixing motor 62 also turns on an ID up / down clutch 72 to raise (move away from the transfer belt 3) or lower (contact with the transfer belt 3) the color ID units 2C, 2M, and 2Y.

[0041] The image processing unit 45 processes the image data acquired from the CU 30 to match the interface of the LED head 4 (4K, 4C, 4M, 4Y), and transfers the processed image data to the LED head 4 (4K, 4C, 4M, 4Y).

[0042] Under the control of the CPU 41, the UART 46 transmits commands to the optional paper feeder 15 and acquires status information from the optional paper feeder 15. The control system of the image forming apparatus 1 is configured as described above.

[0043] Incidentally, when performing manual double-sided printing, the image forming device 1 requires the user to reset the paper P that has been printed on one side and ejected. However, if the user resets the paper P in the wrong direction (i.e., the direction in which it is inserted into the paper feed tray 8), a problem occurs in which the printing directions on the front and back sides of the paper P do not align.

[0044] For this reason, in this embodiment, as will be described in more detail later, a printer driver installed in the host computer 60 prints guide marks on the paper P indicating the orientation in which the paper P should be re-set.

[0045] [2. Functional configuration of the host computer] Next, the functional configuration of the host computer 60 will be described using the block diagram shown in Fig. 5. The host computer 60 has a printer driver 100 installed therein for controlling the image forming apparatus 1, and the functional configuration of the printer driver 100 will be described here.

[0046] The host computer 60 is a general computer having a CPU, RAM, a storage device, a network interface, etc. (not shown), and is connected to a display device such as a liquid crystal display and operation input devices such as a mouse and keyboard.

[0047] The host computer 60 is capable of controlling the image forming apparatus 1 by having the CPU read and execute the printer driver 100 installed in the storage device, thereby realizing the functions of the printer driver 100.

[0048] Specifically, the printer driver 100 functions as a control unit 101, a print data generation unit 102, a print setting storage unit 103, a transmission unit 104, an operation unit 105, and a display unit 106.

[0049] The control unit 101 controls each unit to control the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, when an instruction to print application data is issued on an application running on the host computer 60, the control unit 101 instructs the print data generation unit 102 to generate print data based on the application data generated on the application, for printing an image based on the application data (hereinafter referred to as an AP image) on the image forming apparatus 1.

[0050] The print data generation unit 102 generates print data in accordance with instructions from the control unit 101. The print setting storage unit 103 stores setting values ​​indicating the current print settings (i.e., printing conditions) set on the screen of the printer driver 100 via the operation unit 105. The transmission unit 104 transmits the print data generated by the print data generation unit 102 to the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 105 accepts operations input by the user via an operation input device. The display unit 106 displays various information on a display device.

[0051] Here, when manual double-sided printing is instructed, the print data generation unit 102 generates front print data for printing AP images on the front side of the paper P (specifically, data for printing AP images on odd-numbered pages such as 1p, 3p, 5p, etc.) and back print data for printing AP images on the back side of the paper P (specifically, data for printing AP images on even-numbered pages such as 2p, 4p, 6p, etc.).

[0052] In the image forming device 1, when performing manual double-sided printing, based on the print data, the back side of the paper P is printed first (i.e., even-numbered pages are printed first) and then the front side (i.e., odd-numbered pages are printed), or the front side of the paper P is printed first and then the back side is printed.

[0053] For example, when manually double-sided printing 10 pages of print data in the order of back and front of paper P, the print order is as follows: in the first print run, 5 pages of print data for the back side are used to print in the normal order from the first even-numbered page 2p, 4p, 6p, 8p, 10p, and in the second print run, 5 pages of print data for the front side are used to print in the normal order from the first odd-numbered page 1p, 3p, 5p, 7p, 9p. The print order in this case is called the normal print order.

[0054] On the other hand, for example, when manually double-sided printing 10 pages of print data on the front and back of paper P, the print order is as follows: in the first print run, 5 pages of print data for the front side are used to print in reverse order, starting with 9p, which is the last odd-numbered page, followed by 7p, 5p, 3p, and 1p; in the second print run, 5 pages of print data for the back side are used to print in reverse order, starting with 10p, which is the last even-numbered page, followed by 8p, 6p, 4p, and 2p. This print order is called the reverse print order.

[0055] In either case, the user must turn over the stack of sheets P discharged into the stacker 16 in the first printing run and set it back into the paper feed tray 8.

[0056] The print data includes print setting information, which indicates whether the paper P is to be printed in normal order or reverse order (i.e., the page print order). Note that, as will be described in detail later, the print data generation unit 102 selects either the normal order print order or the reverse order print order based on the print settings (print conditions) for manual double-sided printing.

[0057] Print settings include, for example, paper feed direction settings such as SEF (Short Edge Feed) and LEF (Long Edge Feed), image orientation settings such as portrait and landscape, writing direction settings such as vertical writing and horizontal writing, and binding position settings such as long edge binding and short edge binding. In addition, in the case of SEF landscape and LEF portrait, the AP image is rotated 90 degrees before printing, and the rotation direction settings for this include 90 degrees left and 90 degrees right. In the image forming apparatus 1, the rotation direction setting is fixed to one of 90 degrees left and 90 degrees right.

[0058] The print data generating unit 102 also adds guide mark print data to the print data to be printed first out of the front print data and the back print data, for printing a guide mark indicating the appropriate orientation of the paper P when the paper P is reset.

[0059] Specifically, when manual double-sided printing is performed on the back side and then the front side of the paper P (i.e., when manual double-sided printing is performed in normal printing order), the print data generation unit 102 adds guide mark print data to the print data for the first page of the first print run (i.e., 2p). As a result, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 6(B) and 6(C), guide marks Mk are printed along with the AP image Pi on the 2p paper P ejected from the image forming apparatus 1. Note that FIG. 6(B) is a print example when the print settings are portrait, SEF, with a binding margin, and short-edge binding. Also, FIG. 6(C) is a print example when the print settings are landscape, LEF, with a binding margin, and long-edge binding.

[0060] On the other hand, when manual double-sided printing is performed on the front and back sides of the paper P (i.e., when manual double-sided printing is performed in reverse printing order), the print data generation unit 102 adds guide mark print data to the print data for the first page of the first print run (i.e., 9p). As a result, as shown in Fig. 6(D), for example, guide marks Mk are printed together with the AP image Pi on the 9p paper P ejected from the image forming device 1. Note that Fig. 6(D) is a print example when the print settings are portrait, SEF, with binding margin, and long-edge binding.

[0061] In both the normal printing order and the reverse printing order, when the stack of sheets P discharged into the stacker 16 in the first printing is turned over, a guide mark Mk is printed on the topmost sheet P.

[0062] Here, the guide mark Mk is a combination of an arrow indicating the paper feed direction in the image forming apparatus 1 and the character "long" or "short." When long-edge binding is selected as the print setting for manual double-sided printing, this guide mark Mk is a combination of an arrow indicating the paper feed direction and "long," which indicates long-edge binding, and when short-edge binding is selected as the print setting, this guide mark Mk is a combination of an arrow indicating the paper feed direction and "short," which indicates short-edge binding.

[0063] The guide marks Mk are printed within the binding margin Ar set on the paper P.

[0064] 2, after the first printing is completed, the user resets the stack of sheets P in the paper feed tray 8 so that the direction of the arrow of the guide mark Mk printed on the sheets P discharged into the stacker 16 matches the paper feed direction of the image forming apparatus 1 (the direction indicated by the arrow X pointing from the rear to the front of the image forming apparatus 1) and the guide mark Mk faces forward as seen from the user. In this way, the user can reset the sheets P after the first printing in the image forming apparatus 1 in the appropriate orientation.

[0065] Furthermore, since the guide marks Mk are printed on the binding margin Ar of the paper P, they are inconspicuous when the paper P is bound after double-sided printing.

[0066] In the print settings, the presence or absence of a binding margin can be selected as the binding margin setting, and when no binding margin is selected, the print data generation unit 102 adds guide mark print data for printing guide marks Mk (Mk1, Mk2) on one end and the other end in the paper feed direction, as shown in Fig. 6(A). Fig. 6(A) is an example of printing when the print settings are portrait, SEF, and no binding margin, in which guide mark Mk1, which combines an arrow indicating the paper feed direction and the letter "short" indicating short-edge binding, is printed on one end in the paper feed direction, and guide mark Mk2, which combines an arrow indicating the paper feed direction (in the opposite direction to the arrow of guide mark Mk1) and the letter "long" indicating long-edge binding, is printed on the other end in the paper feed direction.

[0067] In this case, the user has set the print settings to no binding margin, but can perform the second print in an orientation suitable for short-edge binding by resetting the stack of sheets P in the paper feed tray 8 so that the direction of the arrow of guide mark Mk1 matches the paper feed direction of image forming apparatus 1, and can perform the second print in an orientation suitable for long-edge binding by resetting the stack of sheets P in the paper feed tray 8 so that the direction of the arrow of guide mark Mk2 matches the paper feed direction of image forming apparatus 1. The functional configuration of host computer 60 is as described above.

[0068] [3. Printer driver operation] Next, the operation of the printer driver 100 installed in the host computer 60 will be described.

[0069] [3-1. Printer driver operation overview] First, an overview of the operation of printer driver 100 during printing will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 7. In the first step SP101, control unit 101 of printer driver 100 executes predetermined initial processing. In the following step SP102, control unit 101 acquires, for example, application data instructed to be printed from an application.

[0070] In the next step SP103, the control unit 101 determines whether the current printing is manual double-sided printing. If manual double-sided printing has been selected on the screen of the printer driver 100, the control unit 101 obtains a positive result in step SP103 and proceeds to step SP104.

[0071] In step SP104, the control unit 101 instructs the print data generation unit 102 to generate print data for manual double-sided printing based on the application data. The print data generation unit 102 executes a process to determine the print order based on the current print settings (print conditions) in accordance with the instruction from the control unit 101. The print order determination process at this time will be described in detail later.

[0072] In the next step SP105, the print data generation unit 102 generates print data for the front side and print data for the back side based on the application data and the print order (forward print order or reverse print order) determined in the print order determination process, and also executes a process to add guide mark print data to the print data to be printed first (i.e., the data to be printed first). The guide mark addition process at this time will be described in detail later.

[0073] In the next step SP106, the control unit 101 transmits the print data (print data for the front side, print data for the back side, and data including print settings) generated by the print data generation unit 102 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the transmission unit 104, executes the manual double-sided printing process, and ends the series of operations. The manual double-sided printing process at this time will be described in detail later.

[0074] On the other hand, if single-sided printing is selected on the screen of the printer driver 100, the control unit 101 obtains a negative result in step SP103 and proceeds to step SP107. In step SP107, the control unit 101 executes single-sided printing processing and ends the series of operations. The single-sided printing processing is an existing process and will not be described in detail here, but it is a process in which the print data generation unit 102 generates print data for single-sided printing based on application data and transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0075] [3-2. Printing order determination process] Next, the print order determination process executed in step SP104 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in Fig. 8. When the print order determination process starts, the print data generation unit 102 acquires the print settings (i.e., printing conditions) for this manual double-sided printing from the print setting storage unit 103 in the first step SP201.

[0076] The print settings acquired at this time include guide mark settings, paper feed direction settings, image orientation settings, binding margin settings, binding position settings, writing direction settings, and rotation direction settings.

[0077] Among these, the guide mark setting is a print setting that indicates whether or not to print guide marks; if it is set to "none," it means that guide marks will not be printed, and if it is set to "yes," it means that guide marks will be printed.

[0078] The paper feed direction setting is a print setting that indicates the paper feed direction; if it is set to "SEF," it means that the paper is fed vertically, and if it is set to "LEF," it means that the paper is fed horizontally.

[0079] The image orientation setting indicates the printing direction of the image; if it is set to "portrait," it means that the image will be printed in a vertical orientation, and if it is set to "landscape," it means that the image will be printed in a horizontal orientation.

[0080] The binding margin setting is a print setting that indicates whether or not there is a binding margin. If it is set to "none," it means that printing will be done without a binding margin, and if it is set to "yes," it means that printing will be done with a binding margin.

[0081] The binding position setting is a print setting that indicates the position of the binding margin, and is set only when the binding margin setting is "Yes." Specifically, if the binding position setting is set to "long edge binding," the binding margin is set on the long edge of the paper P, and if it is set to "short edge binding," the binding margin is set on the short edge of the paper P.

[0082] The writing direction setting is a print setting that indicates the direction in which characters are written. If it is set to "horizontal writing," it means that the characters are written horizontally, and if it is set to "vertical writing," it means that the characters are written vertically.

[0083] The rotation direction setting is a print setting required for SEF landscape or LEF portrait, and indicates the direction of rotation when rotating and printing an image. If this rotation direction setting is set to "left 90°," the image is rotated 90° to the left, and if it is set to "right 90°," the image is rotated 90° to the right. In the image forming apparatus 1, the rotation direction setting is fixed to either "left 90°" or "right 90°." These print settings are set, for example, on the screen of the printer driver 100 via the operation unit 105 and are stored in the print setting storage unit 103.

[0084] After acquiring these print settings, the print data generation unit 102 proceeds to step SP202. In step SP202, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the guide mark settings and binding margin settings included in the acquired print settings. Note that, as a premise, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order to be reverse print order, and prints the guide marks Mk on the last odd-numbered page so that the guide marks Mk are not noticeable. On the other hand, there may be a case where there is a binding margin, but the binding margin is not in the position where the guide marks Mk should be printed on the last odd-numbered page, and the guide marks Mk cannot be printed on the binding margin of the last odd-numbered page. In this case, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order to be forward print order, and prints the guide marks on the binding margin of 2p.

[0085] Taking this into consideration, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the guide mark setting and binding margin setting in accordance with the conditions shown in the table of Fig. 9. That is, if the guide mark setting is "none," the print data generation unit 102 does not print the guide mark Mk, and therefore determines the print order to be the normal print order.

[0086] If the guide mark setting is "Yes" and the binding margin setting is "No," the printing order is determined to be reverse order. In this case, the page on which the guide mark Mk is printed is set to the last odd-numbered page so that it is not noticeable.

[0087] On the other hand, if the guide mark setting is "Yes" and the binding margin setting is "Yes", there will be cases where the guide mark Mk can be printed on the binding margin of the last odd-numbered page and cases where it cannot, so the printing order cannot be determined at this point.

[0088] In the next step SP203, the print data generation unit 102 determines whether or not the print order has been determined. If the print order has been determined, the print data generation unit 102 obtains a positive result in step SP203 and ends the print order determination process.

[0089] On the other hand, if the print order has not been determined, the print data generation unit 102 obtains a negative result in step SP203 and proceeds to step SP204. In step SP204, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the paper feed direction setting, image orientation setting, and binding position setting included in the acquired print settings.

[0090] Specifically, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the paper feed direction setting, image orientation setting, and binding position setting, in accordance with the conditions shown in the table in Fig. 10. At this point, the guide mark setting is "Yes" and the binding margin setting is also "Yes." That is, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order to be reverse print order when the guide mark setting is "Yes" and the binding margin setting is "Yes," and further when the paper feed direction setting is "SEF" and the binding position setting is "long edge binding," or when the paper feed direction setting is "LEF" and the binding position setting is "short edge binding."

[0091] In this case, the page on which the guide mark Mk is printed is set to be the last odd-numbered page so that it does not stand out. Print examples at this time are shown in Figures 6(D), 6(E), 12(B), and 12(C). As shown in Figures 6(D), 6(E), 12(B), and 12(C), the guide mark Mk is printed within the binding margin Ar of the last odd-numbered page.

[0092] Furthermore, when the guide mark setting is "Yes" and the binding margin setting is "Yes," and the image orientation setting is "Portrait," the paper feed direction setting is "SEF," and the binding position setting is "Short edge binding," or when the image orientation setting is "Landscape," the paper feed direction setting is "LEF," and the binding position setting is "Long edge binding," the print data generation unit 102 determines the printing order to be normal printing order because there is no binding margin where the guide mark Mk should be printed on the last odd-numbered page. Examples of printing in this case are shown in Figures 6(B) and 6(C). As shown in Figures 6(B) and 6(C), the guide mark Mk is printed within the binding margin Ar of page 2.

[0093] On the other hand, if the guide mark setting is "Yes" and the binding margin setting is also "Yes", and the image orientation setting is "Portrait", the paper feed direction setting is "LEF" and the binding position setting is "Long edge binding", or if the image orientation setting is "Landscape", the paper feed direction setting is "SEF" and the binding position setting is "Short edge binding", there will be a mixture of cases where the guide mark Mk can be printed on the binding margin of the last odd-numbered page and cases where it cannot. Therefore, the print order cannot be determined at this point.

[0094] In the next step SP205, the print data generation unit 102 determines whether or not the print order has been determined. If the print order has been determined, the print data generation unit 102 obtains a positive result in step SP205 and ends the print order determination process.

[0095] On the other hand, if the print order has not been determined, the print data generation unit 102 obtains a negative result in step SP205 and proceeds to step SP206. In step SP206, the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the writing direction setting and the rotation direction setting included in the acquired print settings.

[0096] Specifically, if the image orientation setting at this point is "landscape," the paper feed direction setting is "SEF," and the binding position setting is "short edge binding," the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the writing direction setting and the rotation direction setting in accordance with the conditions shown in the table in Fig. 13. Note that at this point, the guide mark setting is "enabled," and the binding margin setting is also "enabled."

[0097] That is, when the guide mark setting is "Yes," the binding margin setting is "Yes," the image orientation setting is "Landscape," the paper feed direction setting is "SEF," and the binding position setting is "Short Edge Binding," and the writing orientation setting is "Vertical Writing" and the rotation setting is "Left 90°," or when the writing orientation setting is "Horizontal Writing" and the rotation setting is "Right 90°," the print data generation unit 102 determines the printing order to be forward order because there is no binding margin where the guide mark Mk should be printed on the last odd-numbered page. Examples of printing in this case are shown in FIGS. 6(F) and 11(C). As shown in FIGS. 6(F) and 11(C), the guide mark Mk is printed within the binding margin Ar of page 2.

[0098] The print data generation unit 102 also determines the print order to be reverse when the guide mark setting is "Yes," the binding margin setting is "Yes," the image orientation setting is "Landscape," the paper feed direction setting is "SEF," and the binding position setting is "Short Edge Binding," and further when the writing orientation setting is "Vertical Writing" and the rotation direction setting is "90° Right," or when the writing orientation setting is "Horizontal Writing" and the rotation direction setting is "90° Left." Examples of printing in this case are shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(B). As shown in Figures 11(A) and 11(B), the guide mark Mk is printed within the binding margin Ar of the last odd-numbered page.

[0099] On the other hand, if the image orientation setting at this point is "portrait," the paper feed direction setting is "LEF," and the binding position setting is "long edge binding," the print data generation unit 102 determines the print order based on the writing direction setting and the rotation direction setting in accordance with the conditions shown in the table of FIG. 14.

[0100] That is, when the guide mark setting is "Yes," the binding margin setting is "Yes," the image orientation setting is "Portrait," the paper feed direction setting is "LEF," and the binding position setting is "Long Edge Binding," and the writing orientation setting is "Vertical Writing" and the rotation direction setting is "Left 90°," or when the writing orientation setting is "Horizontal Writing" and the rotation direction setting is "Right 90°," the print data generation unit 102 determines the printing order to be forward order because there is no binding margin where the guide mark Mk should be printed on the last odd-numbered page. Examples of printing in this case are shown in FIGS. 11(D) and 12(A). As shown in FIGS. 11(D) and 12(A), the guide mark Mk is printed within the binding margin Ar of page 2.

[0101] The print data generation unit 102 also determines the print order to be reverse when the guide mark setting is "Yes," the binding margin setting is "Yes," the image orientation setting is "Portrait," the paper feed direction setting is "LEF," and the binding position setting is "Long Edge Binding," and when the writing orientation setting is "Vertical Writing" and the rotation direction setting is "90° Right," or when the writing orientation setting is "Horizontal Writing" and the rotation direction setting is "90° Left." Examples of printing in this case are shown in Figures 11(E) and (F). As shown in Figures 11(E) and 11(F), the guide mark Mk is printed within the binding margin Ar of the last odd-numbered page.

[0102] At this point, the printing order has been determined with certainty, and the print data generating unit 102 ends the printing order determination process.

[0103] [3-3. Adding guide marks] Next, the guide mark addition process executed in step SP105 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in Fig. 15. When the print data generation unit 102 starts the guide mark addition process, in the first step SP301, it determines whether the guide mark setting included in the print settings is "present." If the guide mark setting is "absent," the print data generation unit 102 obtains a negative result in step SP301 and ends the guide mark addition process. In this case, guide mark print data is not added to either the front print data or the back print data.

[0104] On the other hand, if the guide mark setting is "Yes", the print data generation unit 102 obtains a positive result in step SP301 and proceeds to step SP302. In step SP302, the print data generation unit 102 determines whether the binding margin setting included in the print settings is "Yes".

[0105] If the binding margin setting is "none," the print data generation unit 102 obtains a negative result in step SP302 and proceeds to step SP303. In step SP303, the print data generation unit 102 adds guide mark print data to the print data for the last odd-numbered page (print data for the front side) based on the paper feed direction setting, image orientation setting, and rotation direction setting in accordance with the conditions shown in the table in Fig. 16, and ends the guide mark addition process. In this case, the print data generation unit 102 adds guide mark print data for printing guide marks Mk (Mk1, Mk2) on one end and the other end of the last odd-numbered page in the paper feed direction.

[0106] On the other hand, if the binding margin setting is "YES", the print data generation unit 102 obtains a positive result in step SP302 and proceeds to step SP304. In step SP304, the print data generation unit 102 determines whether the 2p Alternatively, the guide mark printing data is added to the printing data for the last odd-numbered page (printing data for the back side or printing data for the front side), and the guide mark adding process is terminated. In this case, the print data generating unit 102 adds guide mark printing data for printing guide marks Mk within the binding margin Ar of 2p or the last odd-numbered page.

[0107] At this time, the print data generation unit 102 determines the formation position of the guide mark Mk within the page (i.e., the formation position within the binding margin Ar) and the orientation (the orientation of the arrow and characters) according to the print settings at that time (for example, the combination pattern of the paper feed direction setting, image orientation setting, binding position setting, writing direction setting, and rotation direction set). Specifically, for example, a table indicating the formation position and orientation of the guide mark Mk within the page for each print setting is stored in the print setting storage unit 103, and the print data generation unit 102 acquires the formation position and orientation of the guide mark Mk within the page according to the current print setting from this table.

[0108] [3-4. Manual double-sided printing process] Next, the manual double-sided printing process executed in step SP106 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 will be described in detail using the flowchart shown in Fig. 17. When control unit 101 of printer driver 100 starts the manual double-sided printing process by sending print data (print data for the front side, print data for the back side, and data including print settings) generated by print data generation unit 102 to image forming apparatus 1, in the first step SP401, display unit 106 displays on the screen of printer driver 100 that the first printing will be performed. At this time, CU 30 also displays on operation display unit 17 on the image forming apparatus 1 side that has received the print data that the first printing will be performed.

[0109] In the next step SP402, the control unit 101 of the printer driver 100 waits for the user to perform an operation to start the first print via the operation unit 105 of the printer driver 100 or an operation to start the first print via the operation display unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 1, and when it recognizes that an operation to start the first print has been performed, it proceeds to the next step SP403.

[0110] In step SP403, the control unit 101 of the printer driver 100 executes the first printing process for manual double-sided printing in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 1. Here, the control unit 101 of the printer driver 100 executes the first printing process based on the printing order determined in the printing order determination process described above.

[0111] In the next step SP404, control unit 101 of printer driver 100 causes display unit 106 to display on the screen of printer driver 100 a message that a second printing will be performed and a guide urging the user to turn over paper P according to the guide mark Mk printed on the paper P discharged in the first printing and reset it in paper feed tray 8. At this time, CU 30 on the image forming apparatus 1 side also displays on operation display unit 17 a message that a second printing will be performed and a guide urging the user to turn over paper P according to the guide mark Mk printed on the paper P discharged in the first printing and reset it in paper feed tray 8.

[0112] In the next step SP405, the control unit 101 of the printer driver 100 waits for the user to perform an operation to start the second printing via the operation unit 105 of the printer driver 100 or an operation to start the second printing via the operation display unit 17 of the image forming apparatus 1, and when it recognizes that an operation to start the second printing has been performed, it proceeds to the next step SP406.

[0113] In step SP406, the control unit 101 of the printer driver 100 executes the second printing process in the manual double-sided printing in cooperation with the image forming apparatus 1. Here, the control unit 101 of the printer driver 100 executes the second printing process based on the printing order determined in the printing order determination process described above, and ends the manual double-sided printing process.

[0114] [4. Summary and Effects] As described above, in this embodiment, a printer driver 100 is installed in a host computer 60, which is an example of an information processing device, to control an image forming device 1 having a manual double-sided printing function that performs a first print on a first side (either the front or back side) of a sheet of paper P, which is an example of a medium, and ejects the sheet of paper P, and then performs a second print on a second side (the other side) of the sheet of paper P, which is reset by the user, on the opposite side to the first side.

[0115] The printer driver 100 causes the host computer 60 to function as a print data generation unit 102 that generates print data including first-side data (one of the front-side print data and the back-side print data) for forming an AP image Pi, which is an example of an image for the first side, on the first side of the paper P and a guide mark Mk, which is an example of a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the paper P in the image forming device 1, and second-side data (the other of the front-side print data and the back-side print data) for forming an AP image Pi, which is an example of an image for the second side, on the second side of the paper P, and a transmission unit 104 that transmits the print data to the image forming device 1.

[0116] This allows the user to look at the guide mark Mk printed on the first side of the paper P ejected from the image forming apparatus 1 and reset the paper P in the image forming apparatus 1 in the appropriate orientation for printing on the second side of the paper P. Thus, the printer driver 100 of this embodiment makes it less likely that the orientation of the paper P will be incorrect when resetting the paper P in the image forming apparatus 1 compared to conventional methods.

[0117] The printer driver 100 also causes the host computer 60 to function as a print setting storage unit 103, which is an example of a print setting unit that sets whether or not to form guide marks Mk (i.e., whether or not to print them), and an operation unit 105. When it is set to form guide marks Mk (i.e., when the guide mark setting is set to "yes"), the print data generation unit 102 generates data for the first side (one of the front print data and the back print data) that includes guide mark print data, which is an example of guide image data. When it is set not to form guide marks Mk (i.e., when the guide mark setting is set to "no"), the print data generation unit 102 generates data for the first side (one of the front print data and the back print data) that does not include guide mark print data. This allows the printer driver 100 to print guide marks Mk on paper P only when the user requires it.

[0118] Furthermore, when a binding margin is set as a print setting, the printer driver 100 prints guide marks Mk within the binding margin. This makes it possible to make the guide marks Mk less noticeable when double-sided printed sheets P are bound.

[0119] Furthermore, the printer driver 100 is configured to print a guide mark Mk on the top page (page 2 in the case of normal printing order, or the last odd-numbered page in the case of reverse printing order) when the stack of sheets P discharged from the image forming apparatus 1 in the first printing run is turned over. This allows the user to easily and reliably check the guide mark Mk when turning over the stack of sheets P and resetting it in the image forming apparatus 1.

[0120] Furthermore, the printer driver 100 prints multiple pages of print data in reverse order and prints guide marks Mk on the last odd-numbered page, making the guide marks Mk less noticeable.

[0121] 5. Other Embodiments [5-1. Other embodiment 1] In the above-described embodiment, the printer driver 100 installed in the host computer 60 has the functions of a control unit 101, a print data generation unit 102, a print setting storage unit 103, a transmission unit 104, an operation unit 105, and a display unit 106.

[0122] Without being limited to this, the image forming device 1 may be provided with functions equivalent to those of the control unit 101, print data generation unit 102, print setting storage unit 103, operation unit 105, and display unit 106.

[0123] In this case, for example, firmware having functions equivalent to those of the control unit 101, print data generation unit 102, print setting storage unit 103, operation unit 105, and display unit 106 is stored in the EEPROM 34 of the CU 30. Then, the CPU 31 of the CU 30 reads and executes this firmware, thereby functioning equivalently to the control unit 101, print data generation unit 102, print setting storage unit 103, operation unit 105, and display unit 106.

[0124] As a result, when the CU 30 receives print data from the host computer 60, it determines the print order based on the print settings included in the print data, adds guide mark print data to one of the front print data and back print data included in the print data, and then performs manual double-sided printing.

[0125] In this case, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a host I / F 35 as an example of a receiving unit that receives print data including first-side data (one of front-side print data and back-side print data) for forming an AP image Pi, which is an example of an image for the first side, on a first side (one of the front side and the back side) of the paper P, and second-side data (one of front-side print data and back-side print data) for forming an AP image Pi, which is an example of an image for the second side, on a second side (the other of the front side and the back side) of the paper P; a paper feed tray 8 as an example of a medium feed unit that feeds the set paper P; and a feed unit that feeds the paper P based on the received print data. The printer is equipped with ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) and transfer rollers 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y) which are examples of an image forming unit that form an AP image Pi on the first side of paper P fed from paper tray 8 and a guide mark Mk which is an example of a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the paper P in paper feed tray 8, and form an AP image Pi on the second side of paper P that has been reset in paper feed tray 8 and fed, and discharge rollers 14 which are an example of a discharge unit that discharges paper P on which an image has been formed by ID unit 2 (2K, 2C, 2M, 2Y) and transfer rollers 5 (5K, 5C, 5M, 5Y).

[0126] [5-2. Other embodiment 2] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, a guide mark Mk is printed on the paper P, which combines an arrow indicating the paper feed direction and the character "long" indicating long edge binding or the character "short" indicating short edge binding.

[0127] 12(D), a guide mark MkX that combines a mark other than an arrow (for example, a black circle) with the character "long" indicating long-side binding or the character "short" indicating short-side binding may be printed on the paper P. Also, a guide mark MkY that is only a mark other than an arrow (for example, a star) may be printed on the paper P as shown in FIG.

[0128] Although not shown, other guide marks such as an arrow indicating the paper feed direction may also be printed on the paper P. In other words, various types of guide marks can be used as long as they allow the user to visually confirm the orientation of the paper P when resetting it in the paper feed tray 8 before performing the second print in manual double-sided printing.

[0129] [5-3. Other embodiment 3] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the print setting is set to include a binding margin, the guide marks Mk are printed within the binding margin Ar. However, this is not limiting, and for example, when the print setting is set to include a header or a footer, the guide marks Mk may be printed in the header or the footer.

[0130] On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, when the print setting is set to "no binding margin," the guide mark Mk1 and the guide mark Mk2 are printed on one end and the other end in the paper feed direction of the paper P. However, this is not limited to this, and when the print setting is set to "no binding margin," the binding position may be set to "short edge binding" and the guide mark Mk1 for short edge binding may be printed on one end in the paper feed direction of the paper P, or the binding position may be set to "long edge binding" and the guide mark Mk2 for long edge binding may be printed on the other end in the paper feed direction of the paper P. Note that the setting of the binding position and the addition of guide mark print data for printing either the guide mark Mk1 or the guide mark Mk2 may be performed by the print data generation unit 102 of the printer driver 100.

[0131] [5-4. Other embodiment 4] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, guide mark print data is added to the print data (front-side print data or back-side print data) of a predetermined page to print the guide mark Mk on the predetermined page. However, this is not limiting. For example, the print data generation unit 102 may create guide mark print data (guide image data) for one page on which only the guide mark Mk is printed, separate from the front-side print data and back-side print data for multiple pages (i.e., the print data for the page on which the AP image Pi is printed), and generate print data including these to add a page on which only the guide mark Mk is printed. In this case, the page with only the guide mark Mk may be printed first in the first printing run. Note that nothing may be printed on the page with only the guide mark Mk in the second printing run. Furthermore, a guide may be printed on the page with only the guide mark Mk, urging the user to turn over the paper P according to the guide mark Mk and reset it in the paper feed tray 8. Furthermore, a page with only the guide mark Mk may be added only when the binding margin setting is "none."

[0132] [5-5. Other Embodiment 5] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus 1 that has a manual double-sided printing function but does not have an automatic double-sided printing function. However, even in an image forming apparatus that has an automatic double-sided printing function, there are cases where the automatic double-sided printing function cannot be used depending on the type of paper, and the manual double-sided printing function must be used. For this reason, the present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that has an automatic double-sided printing function.

[0133] [5-6. Other Embodiment 6] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to printer driver 100 installed in host computer 60, which is an example of an information processing device, but is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to printer drivers installed in various information processing devices other than host computer 60. Also, the functional configuration of printer driver 100 shown in Figure 5 is one example, and printer driver 100 may have a functional configuration different from that shown in Figure 5 as long as it performs the same function.

[0134] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 1, which is an electrophotographic printer, but is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to image forming apparatuses of various printing methods, not limited to electrophotographic printers, as long as they have a manual double-sided printing function, and can also be applied to image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals. Furthermore, the configuration of the printing mechanism of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 and the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in Figure 4 are examples, and the image forming apparatus may have a configuration different from that shown in Figure 1 or 4 as long as it functions equivalently.

[0135] [5-7. Other Embodiments 7] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which some or all of the above-described embodiments are combined in any manner, or embodiments in which only some of the embodiments are extracted. [Industrial Applicability]

[0136] The present invention can be widely used in, for example, printers having a manual double-sided printing function. [Explanation of symbols]

[0137] 1...image forming apparatus, 1c...apparatus housing, 2...ID unit, 3...transfer belt, 4...LED head, 5...transfer roller, 6...paper feed roller, 7...conveyor roller, 8...paper feed tray, 9...paper feed sensor, 10...registration roller, 11...write sensor, 12...fixing device, 13...discharge sensor, 14...discharge roller, 16...stacker, 17...operation display unit, CU...30, 35...host I / F, PU...40, 45...image processing unit, 60...host computer, 100...printer driver, 101...control unit, 102...print data generation unit, 103...print setting memory unit, 104...transmission unit, 105...operation unit, 106...display unit, Ar...binding margin, Mk...guide mark, P...paper, Pi...AP image, R...conveyor path

Claims

1. a printer driver for controlling an image forming apparatus having a manual double-sided printing function that performs a first printing on a first side of a medium, ejects the medium, and then performs a second printing on a second side of the medium that is reset by a user, the second side being opposite to the first side; The information processing device is installed in the information processing device. a print data generating unit that generates print data including first-side data for forming a first-side image on the first side of the medium and a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the medium in the image forming device, and second-side data for forming a second-side image on the second side of the medium; a transmission unit that transmits the print data to the image forming apparatus; The printer driver that makes it function as a printer.

2. The information processing device a print setting unit that sets whether or not the guide image is to be formed; The print data generation unit When the print setting unit is set to form the guide image, print data including the first-side data including the guide image data and the second-side data is generated, and when the print setting unit is set to not form the guide image, print data including the first-side data not including the guide image data and the second-side data is generated.

2. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is configured to operate in accordance with the instructions of the user.

3. the print data includes the first-side data and the second-side data for a plurality of pages; The print data generation unit The data of the guide image is added to the first-side data of a predetermined page among the first-side data for a plurality of pages.

3. The printer driver according to claim 2, wherein the printer driver is operated.

4. the print data includes the first-side data and the second-side data for a plurality of pages, and a printing order of the pages; The print data generation unit When the print setting unit is set to form the guide image, the print order of the pages is changed.

4. The printer driver according to claim 2, wherein the printer driver is operated.

5. The print data generation unit When the print setting unit is set to form the guide image, the page print order is changed to a reverse print order in which odd-numbered pages are printed in reverse order starting from the last odd-numbered page in the first print run, and even-numbered pages are printed in reverse order starting from the last even-numbered page in the second print run.

5. The printer driver according to claim 4, wherein the printer driver is operated.

6. The print data generation unit The data of the guide image is added to the data for the first side of the last odd-numbered page that is printed first in the first printing.

6. The printer driver according to claim 5,

7. The print data generation unit When a stack of media discharged from the image forming apparatus is turned over in the first printing, the data of the guide image is added to the data for the first side of the page located at the top.

4. The printer driver according to claim 3, wherein the printer driver is operated.

8. The print data generation unit When a binding margin is set on the medium, the formation position of the guide image is determined within the binding margin.

3. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is operated.

9. The guide image includes an arrow indicating the paper feed direction of the image forming apparatus.

3. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is a computer.

10. The print data generation unit and generating print data including first-side data for a plurality of pages for forming an image for the first side on the first side of the medium, second-side data for a plurality of pages for forming an image for the second side on the second side of the medium, and guide image data for one page for forming the guide image on the first side of the medium.

2. The printer driver according to claim 1, wherein the printer driver is configured to operate in accordance with the instructions of the user.

11. an image forming apparatus having a manual double-sided printing function that performs a first printing on a first side of a medium, ejects the medium, and then performs a second printing on a second side of the medium that is reset by a user and is opposite to the first side; a receiving unit that receives print data including first-side data for forming a first-side image on the first side of the medium and second-side data for forming a second-side image on the second side of the medium; a medium feeding unit that feeds the set medium; an image forming unit that forms, on the first side of a medium fed from the medium feeding unit based on the received print data, an image for the first side and a guide image that serves as a guide when resetting the medium to the medium feeding unit, and forms an image for the second side on the second side of the medium that has been reset and fed to the medium feeding unit; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images