Printer

Abstract

To provide a feature capable of suppressing generation of blank paper of a half-size in a printer which performs printing on a sheet and can cut the printed sheet.SOLUTION: When making a plurality of prints on the basis of a print job containing image data of odd-numbered pages, the printer performs printing on a sheet of a regular A4 size and cuts the sheet into a regular A5 size so as to dispose an image based on image data of an odd-numbered last page on the upper half of the sheet of the regular A4 size and then an image based on image data of an even-numbered first page on the lower half of the sheet of the regular A4 size. For even numbered pages, the printer performs printing on the sheet of the regular A4 size and cuts the sheet into the regular A5 size so as to dispose an image based on, among the image data contained in the print job, image data of an even-numbered page on the upper half of the sheet of the regular A4 size and then an image based on image data of an odd-numbered page on the lower half of the sheet of the regular A4 size.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to a printing device that can cut 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 predetermined size using a processing unit. For example, even if a sheet of a standard size specified by a user is not available in the tray of the printing device, printing can be performed using a sheet of another standard size, and then the printed sheet can be cut by a processing unit, allowing the printing device to output the cut printed matter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-186448 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors of the present application have found room for improvement in the printing device with regard to the blank page that is half the size of the sheet that is created when the sheet is cut after printing. For example, when printing on a sheet and cutting the printed sheet to half its size, depending on the number of pages of image data specified in the print job, a blank page that is half the size of the sheet may be created after cutting.

[0005] The present application aims to provide a technology that makes it possible to prevent the generation of blank pages that are half the size of a sheet in a printing device that can print on a sheet and cut the sheet after printing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the printing device of the present application is a printing device comprising a print engine capable of printing on a sheet, 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, and a controller, wherein the combinations of the first standard size and the second standard size 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, and When the acquired print job is to be cut and printed, the controller uses the print engine to print on a sheet of the first standard size so that, among the image data included in the print job, an image based on image data of a predetermined page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on image data of the page following that page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, with the direction along the long side of the sheet being the up-down direction, and transports the sheet to a processing unit, which uses the processing unit to cut it to a second standard size.When the acquired print job is to be cut and printed and multiple copies are to be printed, the controller uses the print engine to print on a sheet of the first standard size so that, among the image data included in the print job, an image based on image data of a predetermined page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on image data of the page following that page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and transports the sheet to a processing unit, which uses the processing unit to cut the sheet to a second standard size. and for odd-numbered copies including the first copy, the print engine is used to print on a first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of odd-numbered pages included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the subsequent even-numbered pages is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the print engine is then transported to the processing unit and cut to a second standard size using the processing unit; when an image based on the image data of the final page included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, the print engine is used to print on a first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the subsequent first page of the even-numbered copies is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the print engine is then transported to the processing unit and cut to a second standard size using the processing unit; and when an image based on the image data of the final page included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, the print engine is used to print on a first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the print engine is then transported to the processing unit and cut to a second standard size using the processing unit;The method is characterized in that a second cut printing is performed by using a print engine to print on a sheet of a first standard size, transporting the sheet to a processing unit, and cutting the sheet to a second standard size using the processing unit; if an even-numbered copy follows the first cut printing, the print engine is used to print on a sheet of the first standard size so that an image based on the image data of even-numbered pages included in the image data of the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of subsequent odd-numbered pages is arranged in the lower half of the sheet; if a second cut printing follows, the print engine is used to print on a sheet of the first standard size so that an image based on the image data of odd-numbered pages included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of subsequent even-numbered pages is arranged in the lower half of the sheet; [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the generation of blank pages that are half the size of a sheet. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an MFP. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the MFP. [Figure 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. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a copy setting screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating print setting information. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing process executed by a controller. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for blank-sheet suppression multiple-copy cutting and printing processing. [Figure 9]10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of sheets output by a multiple copy cutting and printing process. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for single-copy cut printing processing. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a sheet output by a single-copy cut printing process. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of 2-in-1 printing processing. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a printing process according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for blank page suppression multiple job cut printing processing. [Figure 15] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a sheet output by a multiple job cut printing process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The printing device according to this embodiment will be described below using an MFP (abbreviation for Multifunction Peripheral) 1 as an example. The MFP 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 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, all of which are electrically connected to the controller 10. "IF" is an abbreviation for Interface. The MFP 1 is an example of the "printing device" of this application.

[0010] The controller 10 includes a CPU 11 and a memory 12. The CPU 11 executes various processes in accordance with programs read from the memory 12 and based on user operations. Note that the MFP 1 may include, as the controller 10, a single piece of hardware or multiple pieces of hardware corresponding to the respective functions. The memory 12 stores various programs and various data, including an operating system (hereinafter referred to as "OS") 21, a printing program 22, and printing setting information 23. The printing program 22 is a program that cooperates with the OS 21 to cause the MFP 1 to perform various operations. Details of each program and data will be described 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 printing setting information 23 includes information stored in a volatile memory such as RAM and information stored in a non-volatile memory such as NVRAM.

[0011] Note that examples of memory 12 are not limited to ROM, RAM, NVRAM, HDD, etc. built into MFP1, but may also be storage media readable and writable by CPU 11. For example, external memory such as a USB memory or HDD connected to MFP1 via communication IF 14, or a memory or HDD provided in a device connected to MFP1 via communication IF 14, are also examples of memory 12. Note that computer-readable storage media are non-transitory media. In addition to the above examples, non-transitory media also include storage media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. Non-transitory media are also tangible media. On the other hand, electrical signals carrying programs downloaded from a server on the Internet are computer-readable signal media, which is a type of computer-readable medium, but are not included in non-transitory computer-readable storage media.

[0012] The user IF 13 is an interface between the user who operates the MFP 1 and the controller 10, and includes, for example, a touch panel or physical operation 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 scanning an original. The MFP 1 may also be capable of performing a composite operation that combines multiple operations, such as combining an operation to generate scan data with an operation to print. The FAX IF 17 can perform 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.

[0013] Print engine 15 includes a configuration for printing an image on a print medium such as a sheet by electrophotography. In the following description, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, the top and bottom in the figure are the up-down direction, and the left and right in the figure are the front-rear direction, with the right being the front. In MFP1, paper feed trays 31, 32, and 33 that store sheets before printing are provided below print engine 15, and paper output tray 30 that places printed sheets on is provided above print engine 15.

[0014] The slide 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 the user can set a sheet in the MP tray 32 by inserting the sheet into the MP tray 32 in the open state. The additional tray 33 is a tray that is additionally installed in the MFP 1. The controller 10 can change the sheet size allocation settings for each tray via the user IF 13.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the print engine 15 includes a photosensitive drum 51, a charger 52, an exposure unit 53, a development unit 54 including a development roller and a toner container, a transfer roller 56, and a fuser 57. The charger 52, the development unit 54, and the transfer roller 56 are arranged in this order along the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 51 in the direction of rotation of the photosensitive drum 51. Note that while the present embodiment illustrates an MFP 1 that performs monochrome printing, the MFP 1 may also be configured to perform color printing. In this case, the print engine 15 includes photosensitive drums 51, chargers 52, development units 54, and transfer rollers 56 corresponding to each color.

[0016] When the MFP1 executes printing, the photosensitive drum 51 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 around a rotation axis perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. After the charger 52 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 51, the exposure unit 53 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 51 by irradiating it with laser light or the like, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. Furthermore, the developing roller of the developing unit 54 develops the electrostatic latent image using toner contained in the toner container, thereby forming a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 51. Furthermore, the formed toner image is transferred by the transfer roller 56 to a sheet that is transported at the appropriate time. The toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed to the sheet by the fixer 57.

[0017] The MFP 1 has, inside the housing 2, a plurality of conveying 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 conveying sheets.

[0018] The MFP 1 has a function for performing double-sided printing. When performing double-sided printing, the MFP 1 first drives the conveyance rollers to feed a sheet toward the print engine 15. After the print engine 15 forms an image on the first side of the sheet, the sheet is guided by the guide roller 42. The controller 10 controls the rotation of the guide roller 42 to stop the sheet being conveyed or reverse the conveyance direction. The MFP 1 conveys the sheet, whose conveyance direction has been reversed, from back to front through a reversing path provided below the print engine 15 and guides it to the merging roller 41 located 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. The MFP 1 can then use the print engine 15 to print on the second side.

[0019] The MFP 1 is provided with a processing unit 18 downstream of the fixing unit 57 in the conveyance path, and is capable of cutting the printed sheet after printing on the sheet in cut printing, which will be described later. The processing unit 18 has, for example, a rotary blade that moves along the sheet in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction (the depth direction in FIG. 2 ), and a cutter with a receiving blade. When cutting a sheet using the processing unit 18, the MFP 1 operates a flapper 36 to guide the sheet toward the discharge rollers 44. Then, by stopping the sheet conveyance and driving the processing unit 18, the sheet on the conveyance path can be divided into two, front and rear, in the conveyance direction. Cutting a sheet is an example of processing.

[0020] In cut printing, processing unit 18 can process a sheet of a first standard size to cut it into a second standard size that is half the size of the first standard size. Specifically, combinations of first and second standard sizes 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 "A5," and a combination in which the first standard size is "letter" and the second standard size is "half letter." In addition, if MFP 1 is configured to be able to transport A3-sized sheets, combinations that can be set in cut printing may also include a combination in which the first standard size is "A3" and the second standard size is "A4."

[0021] 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 then discharged as two A5 size sheets that are smaller than the A4 size. The processing unit 18 may also be configured to cut by moving a blade extending in the width direction of the sheet in the vertical direction.

[0022] Next, the operation of the MFP 1 will be described with reference to a flowchart. The following processing refers to processing by the CPU 11 in accordance with instructions written in a program. In other words, in the following description, processes such as "determination," "extraction," "selection," "calculation," "decision," "identification," "acquisition," "reception," and "control" refer to processing by the CPU 11. Processing by the CPU 11 also includes hardware control using an OS API. In this specification, the operation of each program will be described without mentioning the OS. In other words, in the following description, a statement to the effect that "program B controls hardware C" may also mean that "program B controls hardware C using the OS API." Furthermore, processing by the CPU 11 in accordance with instructions written in a program may be described in abbreviated terms, such as "performed by the controller 10."

[0023] Note that "acquire" is used as a concept that does not require a request. In other words, the process of CPU 11 receiving data without a request is also included in the concept of "CPU acquiring data." Furthermore, "data" in this specification is represented by a bit string that can be read by a computer. Data with the same substantial meaning but different formats are treated as the same data. The same applies to "information" in this specification. Furthermore, "request" and "instruct" are concepts that indicate outputting information indicating a request or an instruction to the other party. Furthermore, information indicating a request or an instruction is also simply referred to as a "request" or "instruction."

[0024] Furthermore, the process by CPU 11 to determine whether information A indicates event B may be conceptually described as "determining whether event B is present 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 present from information A."

[0025] Next, the 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 referred to as S), the controller 10 causes the user IF 13 to display a home screen. By causing the user IF 13 to display a home screen 60 shown in Fig. 4, the controller 10 becomes able to accept user instructions for the MFP 1 through operations on this home screen 60.

[0026] 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. Note that the sheet assignment is just an example, and A4 sheets may also be assigned to the MP tray 32 or the additional tray 33. 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.

[0027] The home screen 60 includes icons 61, 62, and 63 that display screens for accepting execution instructions for each function of the MFP 1, and a settings icon 64 that displays a screen for accepting 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 screens for accepting execution instructions for each function of the MFP 1. The fax icon 61 is an icon for accepting an instruction to display a screen for accepting 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 accepting an instruction to display a screen for accepting an instruction to execute a copy process in which scan data read by the scanner 16 is printed by the print engine 15. The scan icon 63 is an icon for accepting an instruction to display a screen for accepting an instruction to execute a scan process in which an original is read by the scanner 16, scan data is generated, and the scan data is saved 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 setting changes for the MFP 1 are accepted.

[0028] In S11, the controller 10 determines whether an operation on the setting icon 64 has been accepted. If the controller 10 determines that an operation on the setting icon 64 has been accepted (S11: YES), the controller 10 proceeds to S12 and causes the user IF 13 to display a setting screen. The setting screen is a screen that accepts operations to register or change various setting values ​​that can be set in advance for the MFP 1. The controller 10 can accept selection of setting items and changes to setting values ​​for the selected items through operations on the setting screen. When the controller 10 determines that a setting instruction has been accepted through an operation on the setting screen, the controller 10 stores information corresponding to the accepted setting instruction in the memory 12 in S13. Note that in S12, the controller may accept operations to change setting values ​​for suppressing the generation of blank pages or setting values ​​indicating whether cut printing and 2-in-1 printing are enabled or disabled, similar to a copy setting screen 70 described below. In the processes of S15 to S17, which will be described later, the controller 10 stores setting values ​​related to the copy function in the memory 12 via the copy setting screen 70. In S12, the controller 10 stores setting values ​​to be used for printing a print job accepted in S20, which will be described later, in the memory 12. Note that, as will be described later, setting values ​​included in the print job may be used for printing the print job, rather than setting values ​​stored in the memory 12.

[0029] If 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 an operation to select the copy function has been accepted. If the controller 10 determines that an operation on the copy icon 62 has been accepted (S14: YES), the controller 10 causes the user IF 13 to display the copy setting screen 70 shown in FIG. 5 in S15.

[0030] 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, as well as icons 72 and 73 for accepting instructions to execute optional settings such as cut printing and 2-in-1 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 2-in-1 printing. 2-in-1 printing is a printing method in which scanned data of two original documents read by the scanner 16 is printed on a single sheet. Note that the number of original documents printed on a single sheet may be more than two, for example, four. This printing method is called 4-in-1 printing, but the user may be able to select either 2-in-1 printing or 4-in-1 printing.

[0031] In S16, it is determined whether 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 S16. The controller 10 can also accept operations on icons other than the cut print icon 72, the 2-in-1 print icon 73, and the start button 74 on the currently displayed copy setting screen 70, and accepts setting instructions corresponding to the accepted operation. Furthermore, 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 corresponding to the operated icon on the user IF 13.

[0032] 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 (S16: YES), in S17 the controller 10 stores the setting values ​​related to the copy function designated at that time as the print setting information 23 (see FIG. 1) in the memory 12. The setting values ​​related to the copy function include setting values ​​related to cut printing, 2-in-1 printing, and a setting to suppress the generation of blank pages.

[0033] For example, if the cut print icon 72 is 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 is not 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" is 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" is 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.

[0034] If the 2-in-1 printing icon 73 has been checked, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item “2-in-1 printing” to “enabled” in the print setting information 23. If the 2-in-1 printing icon 73 has not been checked, the controller 10 sets the setting value of the item “2-in-1 printing” to “disabled” in the print setting information 23.

[0035] 6 is a diagram illustrating the setting values ​​for cut printing, 2-in-1 printing, and the setting to suppress the generation of blank sheets, among the print setting information 23. In FIG. 6, the setting value for the item "cut printing" is set to "enabled," while the setting value for the item "2-in-1 printing" is set to "disabled." Furthermore, the setting for the item "setting to suppress the generation of blank sheets" is set to "enabled." Details of the processing related to the "setting to suppress the generation of blank sheets" will be described later.

[0036] 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 the document in S18. The controller 10 also generates a print job including the acquired image data, and in S19 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.

[0037] 7 shows the detailed procedure of the printing process of S19. In FIG. 7, the controller 10 determines whether the setting value of the item "cut printing" in the print setting information 23 is set to "enabled" (S30). In this determination, if the setting value of cut printing is "enabled" (S30: YES), the controller 10 determines whether printing multiple copies has been specified (S31). Printing multiple copies is specified by operating icon 71A. Whether printing multiple copies has been specified is stored in the print setting information 23, so the controller 10 reads it out and uses it in the determination of S31.

[0038] If the determination in S31 indicates that multiple copies are to be printed (S31: YES), the controller 10 determines whether the setting value for the item "setting to suppress creation of blank pages" in the print setting information 23 is set to "enabled" (S32). If the determination indicates that the setting value for suppressing creation of blank pages is "enabled" (S32: YES), the controller 10 executes blank-page suppression multiple-copy cut printing processing (S33), and then ends the printing processing.

[0039] 8 shows the detailed procedure of the blank page suppression multiple copy cut printing process. The cases in which cutting and printing are performed by the blank page suppression multiple copy cut printing process are as follows: Case 1: When cutting and printing even copies based on a print job that includes image data for odd pages, Case 2: When cutting and printing odd-numbered pages based on a print job that includes image data for odd pages, Case 3: When cutting and printing even copies based on a print job that includes image data for even pages, Case 4: When cutting odd pages based on a print job that includes image data for even pages, Below, we will first explain the blank page suppression multiple copy cutting and printing process for Case 1 based on the specific example shown in Figures 9(a), (b), and (c), and then explain Cases 2 to 4, focusing on the differences from Case 1.

[0040] Assume that the user sets the number of copies to 2 (copies) using icon 71A on copy setting screen 70 (see FIG. 5), specifies cut printing using icon 72, and operates start button 74 to copy the document. FIG. 9(a) shows five pages of image data P1 to P5 acquired by having scanner 16 read a document. The five pages of image data may be, for example, image data generated by having scanner 16 read one side of each of five A4 documents. The five pages of image data may be image data generated by having scanner 16 read both sides of the documents. The five pages of image data may be image data generated by having scanner 16 read a document of a size other than A4, for example, an A5 document.

[0041] The controller 10 initializes a counter P that counts the pages of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job and a counter C that counts the number of copies to "1" (S40). The counters P and C may be configured as software counters that use a predetermined area (not shown) on the memory 12 as a counter, for example.

[0042] When the process of S40 is executed, P=1 and C=1, so the controller 10 determines YES in S41 and YES in S42, and proceeds to S43. In S43, the controller 10 determines that the process is not for the final page (NO in S43), and proceeds to S45. The controller 10 may determine which page is the final page of the print job before S43 and determine whether P=final page in S43. For example, if all image data included in the print job has been acquired, the controller 10 can determine which page is the final page. Alternatively, if the print job includes information indicating the total number of pages, the controller 10 can determine which page is the final page. Alternatively, when printing a print job in which the pages to be printed or the number of pages is specified, the controller 10 can determine which page is the final page based on the specification. In addition, controller 10 may determine whether the page being processed in S43 is the last page based on information obtained in a process for acquiring image data included in a print job, which is executed in parallel with the printing process. For example, if printing is started before all documents have been read, controller 10 may determine S43: NO until there are no more documents to read. After there are no more documents to read, controller 10 may determine S43: YES if the image data being processed in S43 is image data based on the last document read, and may otherwise determine S43: NO. Also, in a case where printing is started after receiving a print job specifying image data to be printed from an external device (S20: YES), as will be described later, if printing is started before all image data included in the print job has been received, controller 10 may determine S43: YES if the image data being processed in S43 is the last image data received when reception of the print job has ended, i.e., when there is no more image data to receive for the print job, and may otherwise determine S43: NO.

[0043] In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P1 and stores it in the memory 12. The memory 12 may be provided with, for example, an image data storage area (not shown) for storing image data for processing before sending it to the print engine 15. In S45, the controller 10 stores the created image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet in the image data storage area. Specific examples of image data processing include, if the image data P1 to P5 represent an A4-sized image, reducing the image data to represent an A5-sized image, thinning out the data to make it coarser, or reducing the data volume. While "reducing to data representing an A5-sized image" is used here for convenience, it merely means data representing an image to be printed in an A5-sized area on an A4-sized sheet. Therefore, the data may represent an image slightly smaller than A5. In this case, margins will be provided around the image printed in the A5-sized area on the A4-sized sheet. Alternatively, the data may represent an image in which a certain range from the edge of an A5-sized image has been replaced with white image data.

[0044] In the following S46, the controller 10 determines S46: NO because it is not the processing of the final page, and proceeds to S47. In S47, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" and returns the processing to S41. At this time, P=2 and C=1, so the controller 10 determines S41: YES and S42: NO. Since it is not the processing of the final page, it determines S52: NO and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2 and stores it in the memory 12. As a result, image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). The sheet Sh1 in FIG. 9(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P1 is printed in the upper half and an image based on image data P2 is printed in the lower half.

[0045] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh1 to the processing unit 18, which then cuts the sheet Sh1 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh1a and Sh1b in FIG. 9(c) represent two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh1. Here, "cutting" may refer to the complete cutting of the sheet, or may also refer to processing that does not completely cut the sheet. Processing that does not completely cut the sheet may refer to, for example, cutting the sheet halfway without cutting it, perforating the sheet for cutting, or creating a crease in the sheet for cutting.

[0046] In the following S46, since the controller 10 is not processing the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: NO, proceeds to S47, increments the counter P by "1", and returns to S41. At this time, since P=3 and C=1, the controller 10 proceeds with the process in the same manner as when P=1 and C=1, creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P3, and stores the image data in the memory 12 (S45). Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47), and returns to S41. At this time, since P=4 and C=1, the controller 10 proceeds with the process in the same manner as when P=2 and C=1, creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P4, and stores the image data in the memory 12 (S60). As a result, the image data for one A4 sheet has been completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). Sheet Sh2 in Figure 9(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P3 is printed in the upper half and an image based on image data P4 is printed in the lower half.

[0047] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh2 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh2 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh2a and Sh2b in FIG. 9(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh2.

[0048] In this way, when the controller 10 cuts and prints the acquired print job, it uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet (an example of a "first standard size") so that the direction along the long side of the sheet is the up-down direction, and that an image based on image data P1, P3, and P5 of a specified page of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet, and an image based on image data P2 and P4 of the page following that page is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, then transports the print job to the processing unit 18 and uses the processing unit 18 to cut it to a standard A5 size (an example of a "second standard size").

[0049] Furthermore, in this way, when the controller 10 performs cut printing and printing multiple copies for the acquired print job, for odd-numbered copies including the first copy, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet so that, of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job, images based on the image data P1, P3, and P5 of the odd-numbered pages are placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet, and subsequent images based on the image data P2 and P4 of the even-numbered pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, and then transports the sheets to the processing unit 18, and uses the processing unit 18 to cut them to the standard A5 size.

[0050] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41. At this time, since P=5 and C=1, the controller 10 determines S41: YES, and S42: YES. Since this is the process for the final page, the controller 10 determines S43: YES and proceeds to S44. In S44, the controller 10 determines that this is not the process for the final copy (S44: NO), so the controller 10 proceeds to S45. Note that if the counter C indicates a number that is one more than the number of copies set by the icon 71A on the copy setting screen 70 (see FIG. 5), for example, if the set number of copies is 2 and C=3, the controller 10 may determine that this is the process for the final copy.

[0051] In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P5 and stores it in the memory 12. In S46, since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: YES, proceeds to S48, and increments the counter C by "1". In S49, the controller 10 initializes the counter P to "1", and returns the processing to S41. At this time, since P=1 and C=2, the controller 10 determines S41: NO, S50: YES, and S51: YES. Since this is not the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S52: NO, and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P1 and stores it in the memory 12. As a result, the image data for one A4 sheet has been completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). Sheet Sh3 in Figure 9(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P5 is printed in the upper half and an image based on the second copy of image data P1 is printed in the lower half.

[0052] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh3 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh3 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh3a and Sh3b in FIG. 9(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh3.

[0053] In this way, when an image based on image data P5 of the final page of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job is to be placed in the upper half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 performs a first cut print in which the image based on image data P5 of the final page is printed on a standard A4 size sheet using the print engine 15 so that the image based on image data P5 of the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet, and the image based on image data P1 of the first page of the even-numbered copy is then placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, the image is transported to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 is used to cut the image to the standard A5 size.

[0054] In the following S46, since the process is not for the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: NO, proceeds to S47, increments the counter P by "1", and returns to S41. At this time, since P=2 and C=2, the controller 10 determines S41: NO, S50: YES, and S51: NO. Since the process is not for the final page, the controller 10 determines S43: NO, and proceeds to S45. In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2 and stores it in the memory 12.

[0055] In the next step S46, since the controller 10 is not processing the final page, it determines S46: NO, proceeds to step S47, increments counter P by 1, and returns to step S41. At this time, since P=3 and C=2, the controller 10 proceeds as when P=1 and C=2, creating image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on image data P3 and storing the image data in memory 12 (S60). Since image data for one A4 sheet is now fully stored in the image data storage area, the controller 10 reads the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). Sheet Sh4 in FIG. 9(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P2 for the second copy is printed in the upper half and an image based on image data P3 for the second copy is printed in the lower half.

[0056] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh4 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh4 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh4a and Sh4b in FIG. 9(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh4.

[0057] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41. At this time, since P=4 and C=2, the controller 10 proceeds with the process in the same manner as when P=2 and C=2, creating image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P4 and storing the image data in the memory 12 (S45). Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41. At this time, since P=5 and C=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41, YES in S50, YES in S51, and because this is the processing of the final page, determines YES in S52, and because this is the processing of the final part, determines YES in S53, and proceeds the process to S54. In S54, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P5 and stores the image data in the memory 12. As a result, the image data for one A4 sheet has been completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S55). Sheet Sh5 in Figure 9(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on the image data P4 for the second copy is printed in the upper half and an image based on the image data P5 for the second copy is printed in the lower half.

[0058] In the next step S72, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh5 to the processing unit 18, which then cuts the sheet Sh5 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh5a and Sh5b in FIG. 9C show two A5 sheets created by cutting the sheet Sh5. After executing the process of step S72, the controller 10 ends the blank-page suppression multiple-copy cut printing process.

[0059] In this way, when the even-numbered copies follow the first cut print, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4-size sheet so that, of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job, images based on image data P2 and P4 of the even-numbered pages are placed in the upper half of the standard A4-size sheet, and subsequent images based on image data P3 and P5 of the odd-numbered pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4-size sheet, then transports the sheets to the processing unit 18 and uses the processing unit 18 to cut them to the standard A5 size.

[0060] Below, we will explain each of Cases 2 to 4, focusing on the differences from Case 1. First, we will explain Case 2 using an example of cutting and printing three copies based on the print job used in Case 1, that is, a print job including five pages of image data P1 to P5.

[0061] When the process proceeds to S41, if P=5 and C=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41, YES in S50, YES in S51, and because this is the processing of the final page, determines YES in S52, and because this is not the processing of the final copy, determines NO in S53, and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P5 and stores it in memory 12. At this time, the memory 12 stores image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P4 of the second copy, so that the process of S60 stores all the image data for one A4 sheet in the image data storage area. The controller 10 reads this image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, which cuts the A4 sheet at a cutting position halfway along its length.

[0062] In this way, when an image based on image data P5 of the final page of the image data included in the print job is to be placed in the lower half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 performs a second cut printing in which the print engine 15 is used to print on a standard A4 size sheet so that the image based on image data P4 of the page before the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet and the image based on image data P5 of the final page is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, then the print engine 15 is transported to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 is used to cut the print to the standard A5 size.

[0063] In the following S46, since the controller 10 is processing the final page, it determines S46: YES, proceeds to S48, increments counter C by "1", proceeds to S49, initializes counter P to "1", and then returns to S41. At this time, since P=1 and C=3, the controller 10 proceeds with the process in the same manner as when P=1 and C=1, creates image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet based on the image data P1, and stores it in the memory 12 (S45). In other words, in Case 2, the controller 10 performs the same control process for image data for odd-numbered copies from the third copy onwards as for the image data for the first copy.

[0064] When the process proceeds to S41, if P=5 and C=3, the controller 10 determines YES in S41, YES in S42, and because this is the process for the final page, determines YES in S43, and because this is the process for the final part, determines YES in S44, and proceeds to S70. In S70, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P5 and stores it in the memory 12. In the following S71, the controller 10 reads the image data, i.e., the image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet, from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to be printed on the A4 sheet. In the following S72, the controller 10 transports the printed A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, which cuts the A4 sheet at a cutting position halfway along its length. The printed A4 sheet has an image based on the third copy of image data P5 printed on the upper half and a blank lower half, so one of the two A5 sheets generated by cutting the printed A4 sheet is blank.

[0065] In this way, when the even-numbered copies are to follow the second cut printing, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet so that, of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job, images based on the image data P1, P3, and P5 of the odd-numbered pages are placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet, and subsequent images based on the image data P2 and P4 of the even-numbered pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, then transports the sheets to the processing unit 18 and uses the processing unit 18 to cut them to the standard A5 size.

[0066] Next, Case 3 will be described using an example in which two cut copies are printed based on a print job including four pages of image data P1 to P4. When processing proceeds to S41, if P=4 and C=1, the controller 10 determines YES in S41 and NO in S42. Since this is the final page, the controller 10 determines YES in S52. Since this is not the final copy, the controller 10 determines NO in S53, and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on image data P4 and stores it in memory 12. At this time, the memory 12 stores image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on image data P3. Therefore, by processing S60, the image data storage area will store all of the image data for one A4 sheet. The controller 10 reads this image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15, which prints it on the A4 sheet (S61).

[0067] In the following S62, the controller 10 conveys this A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, which cuts it at a cutting position halfway along the length of the A4 sheet. In the following S46, since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: YES, proceeds to S48, increments counter C by "1", proceeds to S49, initializes counter P to "1", and then returns to S41. At this time, since P = 1 and C = 2, the controller 10 determines S41: NO, S50: NO, and S42: YES. Since this is not the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S43: NO, and proceeds to S45. In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet based on the image data P1 and stores it in the memory 12. That is, in Case 3, for the image data of the same page for the second and subsequent copies, the controller 10 performs the same control processing as for the image data for the first copy.

[0068] Next, Case 4 will be described using an example in which three cut copies are printed based on a print job including four pages of image data P1 to P4. If P=4 and C=2 when processing proceeds to S41, the controller 10 determines NO in S41, NO in S50, and NO in S42. Because this is the processing of the final page, it determines YES in S52. Because this is not the processing of the final copy, it determines NO in S53, and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on image data P4 and stores it in memory 12. At this time, the memory 12 stores image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on image data P3. Therefore, by processing S60, the image data storage area will store all of the image data for one A4 sheet. The controller 10 reads this image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61).

[0069] In the following S62, the controller 10 conveys this A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, which cuts it at a cutting position halfway along the length of the A4 sheet. In the following S46, since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: YES, proceeds to S48, increments counter C by "1", proceeds to S49, initializes counter P to "1", and then returns to S41. At this time, since P = 1 and C = 3, the controller 10 determines S41: YES and S42: YES. Since this is not the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S43: NO, and proceeds to S45. In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet based on the image data P1 and stores it in the memory 12. That is, in Case 4, for image data of the same page for the third and subsequent copies, the controller 10 performs the same control processing as for the image data for the first copy. The control process for the image data of the same page in the second copy is the same as in Case 3, so the controller 10 performs the same control process as for the image data of the first copy.

[0070] 7, if the setting value for suppressing the generation of blank pages is "invalid" in the determination at S32 (S32: NO), the controller 10 executes the blank-page non-suppression multiple-copy cut printing process (S34) and then ends the printing process. The blank-page non-suppression multiple-copy cut printing process can be achieved by repeating the single-copy cut printing process, which will be described next, a number of times corresponding to the number of copies, and therefore this process will be described after the single-copy cut printing process.

[0071] If the determination in S31 indicates that printing multiple copies is not specified (S31: NO), that is, if printing a single copy is specified, the controller 10 executes the single copy cut printing process (S35) and then terminates the printing process.

[0072] Figure 10 shows the detailed steps of the single-copy cut printing process. In the single-copy cut printing process of Figure 10, the same steps as those in the blank-page suppression multiple-copy cut printing process of Figure 8 are given the same reference numerals, and the description of those steps will be omitted as appropriate. Below, this single-copy cut printing process will be explained using the specific example shown in Figure 11(a).

[0073] Figure 11 shows an example of image data used in the single-copy cut printing process and an example of the output sheets. Similar to Figure 9(a), Figure 11(a) shows five pages of image data P1 to P5 obtained by scanning an original document with scanner 16. Figure 11(b) shows the printout printed on A4 sheets when this print job is printed using the single-copy cut printing process. Figure 11(c) shows A5 sheets generated by cutting each A4 sheet in Figure 11(b) with processing unit 18.

[0074] Now, assuming that the controller 10 accepts operation of the start button 74 on the copy setting screen 70 and the single copy cut printing process is started, in Fig. 10, the controller 10 initializes the counter P to "1" (S40'). The process of S40' corresponds to the process of S40 in Fig. 8. In the single copy cut printing process, the counter C that counts the number of copies is not necessary, and is therefore omitted.

[0075] When the processing of S40' is executed, the controller 10 determines S80: NO because it is not the processing of the final page, and determines S81: YES, and creates image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet based on the image data P1 and stores it in the memory 12 (S45).

[0076] In the next S47, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" and returns the process to S80. At this time, since the controller 10 is not processing the final page, it determines NO in S80 and NO in S81, and creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2 and stores it in the memory 12 (S60). As a result, image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, so the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). The sheet Sh1 in FIG. 11(b) shows an A4 sheet on which image data P1 is printed in the upper half and image data P2 is printed in the lower half.

[0077] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh1 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh1 at a cutting position halfway along its longitudinal direction. Sheets Sh1a and Sh1b in FIG. 11(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh1.

[0078] In the following S47, the counter P is incremented by "1" and the process returns to S80. At this time, P=3, so the controller 10 proceeds with the process in the same way as when P=1, creating image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on image data P3 and storing it in memory 12 (S45). Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and the process returns to S80. At this time, P=4, so the controller 10 proceeds with the process in the same way as when P=2, creating image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on image data P4 and storing it in memory 12 (S60). As a result, the image data for one A4 sheet has been completely stored in the image data storage area, so the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). The sheet Sh2 in FIG. 11(b) is an A4 sheet on which image data P3 is printed in the upper half and image data P4 is printed in the lower half.

[0079] Then, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh2 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh1 at a cutting position halfway along the longitudinal direction (S62). Sheets Sh2a and Sh2b in FIG. 11(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh2.

[0080] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S80. At this time, since the controller 10 is processing the final page, the controller 10 determines YES in S80 and YES in S82, and the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P5 and stores it in the memory 12 (S70).

[0081] In the next step S71, the controller 10 reads the image data, i.e., the image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet, from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to be printed on the A4 sheet. The sheet Sh3 in Figure 11(b) shows an A4 sheet with the image data P4 printed on the upper half and the lower half blank.

[0082] In the next step S72, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh3 to the processing unit 18, which cuts the sheet Sh3 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh3a and Sh3b' in FIG. 11(c) show two A5 sheets created by cutting the sheet Sh5. However, sheet Sh3b' is blank. After executing the process of S72, the controller 10 ends the single-copy cut printing process.

[0083] If the final page of the image data included in the print job is an even-numbered page, for example, the fourth page, the controller 10 determines YES in S80 because it is processing the final page, and NO in S82, and the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P4 and stores it in memory 12 (S54). As a result, image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, so the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S55). In the following S72, the controller 10 transports the printed A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts it at a cutting position halfway along the length of the A4 sheet.

[0084] Next, the blank-page non-suppression multiple-copy cut printing process of S34 in Fig. 7 will be described with reference to the specific example shown in Fig. 9(a), (d), and (e). As described above, the blank-page non-suppression multiple-copy cut printing process can be realized by repeating the single-copy cut printing process a number of times corresponding to the number of copies. In the specific example of Fig. 9(a), two copies are printed, so the controller 10 repeats the single-copy cut printing process twice based on the print job.

[0085] FIG. 9(d) shows the printout printed on A4 sheets when two copies are printed using the blank-page-suppression multiple-copy cut printing process. FIG. 9(e) shows A5 sheets generated by cutting each A4 sheet in FIG. 9(d) using the processing unit 18. As shown in FIG. 9(d), the three A4 sheets Sh1 to Sh3 that make up the printout of the first copy and the three A4 sheets Sh4 to Sh6 that make up the printout of the second copy are printed identically. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9(e), the last A5 sheets Sh3b' and Sh6b' of each copy are blank. In contrast, when two copies are printed using the blank-page-suppression multiple-copy cut printing process based on the same print job, no blank A5 sheets are output, as shown in FIG. 9(c).

[0086] In this way, when the acquired print job includes cut printing and printing multiple copies and the setting to suppress the generation of blank pages is not configured, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet (S61) so that, for odd copies, images based on the image data P1 and P3 of odd pages of the image data P1 to P4 included in the print job are placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S45), and subsequent images based on the image data P2 and P4 of even pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S60), and then transports the print job to the processing unit 18, where it cuts the print job to a standard A5 size (S62).

[0087] Then, if an image based on image data P5 of the final page of the image data included in the print job is to be placed in the upper half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 places the image based on image data P5 of the final page in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S70), prints it on a standard A4 size sheet using the print engine 15 so that the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet is blank (S71), transports it to the processing unit 18, and cuts it to the standard A5 size using the processing unit 18 (S72), thereby performing a third cut printing.

[0088] On the other hand, when an image based on image data P4 of the final page of the image data included in the print job is to be placed in the lower half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet (S55) so that an image based on image data P3 of the page before the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S45) and an image based on image data P4 of the final page is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S54), transports the sheet to the processing unit 18, and cuts it to a standard A5 size using the processing unit 18 (S72), thereby performing a second cut printing.

[0089] Then, for the even-numbered copies, whether following the third cut print or the second cut print, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4-size sheet (S61) so that, of the image data P1 to P4 included in the print job, images based on the image data P1 and P3 of odd-numbered pages are placed in the upper half of the standard A4-size sheet (S45), and subsequent images based on the image data P2 and P4 of even-numbered pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4-size sheet (S60), and then transports the print to the processing unit 18, which then cuts the print to the standard A5 size (S62).

[0090] Returning to FIG. 7, if the determination in S30 shows that the setting value for cut printing is "disabled" (S30: NO), the controller 10 determines whether the setting value for the item "2-in-1 printing" in the print setting information 23 is set to "enabled" (S36). If the determination shows that the setting value for 2-in-1 printing is "enabled" (S36: YES), the controller 10 executes 2-in-1 printing processing (S37) and then terminates the printing processing. On the other hand, if the determination shows that the setting value for 2-in-1 printing is "disabled" (S36: NO), the controller 10 executes normal printing processing (S38) and then terminates the printing processing.

[0091] Fig. 12 shows the detailed procedure of the 2-in-1 printing process. In the 2-in-1 printing process of Fig. 12, the same steps as those in the single-copy cut printing process of Fig. 10 are given the same reference numerals, and the description of those steps will be omitted as appropriate.

[0092] In the 2-in-1 printing process, sheets printed based on a print job are output as is without being cut. For this reason, the 2-in-1 printing process in Fig. 12 is configured by removing the process of "transporting printed sheets to the processing unit and cutting" from the single-copy cut printing process in Fig. 10, i.e., the processes of S62 and S72. Therefore, when the 2-in-1 printing process is executed based on a print job including five pages of image data P1 to P5 in Fig. 11(a), the three A4 sheets Sh1 to Sh3 shown in Fig. 11(b) are output as the printing results.

[0093] The controller 10 can also execute the 2-in-1 printing process for multiple copies. In this case, the controller 10 only needs to repeat the 2-in-1 printing process a number of times corresponding to the number of copies.

[0094] In this way, when the controller 10 performs 2-in-1 printing without cutting and printing multiple copies for the acquired print job, for odd copies, the images based on the image data P1, P3, and P5 of the odd pages of the image data P1 to P5 included in the print job are placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S45), and then the images based on the image data P2 and P4 of the even pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S60), and the controller 10 prints the images on the standard A4 size sheet using the print engine 15 (S61), transports the sheets, and does not perform cutting by the processing unit 18. Then, when an image based on image data P5 of the final page of the image data included in the print job is to be placed in the upper half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on the standard A4 size sheet (S71) so that the image based on image data P5 of the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet and the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet is blank (S70), and then transports the sheet, performing a first 2-in-1 printing in which cutting is not performed by the processing unit 18.

[0095] When an image based on image data P4 of the final page of the image data included in the print job is to be placed in the lower half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet (S55) so that an image based on image data P3 of the page before the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S45) and an image based on image data P4 of the final page is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S54), and then transports the sheet, performing a second 2-in-1 printing without cutting by the processing unit 18.

[0096] Then, for the even-numbered copies, whether they follow the first 2-in-1 print or the second 2-in-1 print, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4-size sheet (S61) so that, of the image data included in the print job, images based on the image data P1 and P3 of the odd-numbered pages are placed in the upper half of the standard A4-size sheet (S45), and subsequent images based on the image data P2 and P4 of the even-numbered pages are placed in the lower half of the standard A4-size sheet (S60), and then transports the sheets, without cutting by the processing unit 18.

[0097] 3, when the MFP 1 receives a print job from the PC 3 specifying image data to be printed (S20: YES), the MFP 1 proceeds to S21 and acquires the image data and print setting information included in the print job. That is, when the MFP 1 has accepted the print job specification 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 by determining them based on the print setting information included in the print job. Note that if all or part of the information regarding cut printing and double-sided printing cannot be determined solely from the print setting information included in the print job, the controller 10 acquires the necessary setting values ​​from the memory 12, among the setting values ​​for suppressing the generation of blank pages and setting values ​​indicating whether cut printing and double-sided printing are enabled or disabled, as described above, used in printing the print job.

[0098] In S19, the controller 10 executes a print process using the image data and print setting information included in the print job. The execution result of the print process is the same as the execution result of the copy process already described. For example, if the image data included in the print job received from PC3 is image data for five pages, as in FIG. 9(a), in Case 1, the images are printed as shown in FIG. 9(b). Note that the processes from S20:YES onwards may also be executed when a print job is received from a PC other than PC3 or an external device other than a PC, such as a smartphone or tablet.

[0099] As described above, in the MFP1 of this embodiment, when printing multiple copies based on a print job containing image data for odd pages, the MFP1 prints on standard A4-sized sheets so that an image based on the image data of the last page of each odd-numbered copy (including the first copy) is placed in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the first page of each even-numbered copy is placed in the lower half of the sheet, and then cuts the sheets to standard A5 size. For even-numbered copies, the MFP1 prints on standard A4-sized sheets so that an image based on the image data of the even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job is placed in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the subsequent odd-numbered pages is placed in the lower half of the sheet, and then cuts the sheets to standard A5 size. This makes it possible to reduce the generation of half-sized blank sheets when printing multiple copies based on a print job containing image data for odd pages.

[0100] Furthermore, in the MFP 1 of this embodiment, the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank pages" in the print setting information 23 can be switched between "enabled" and "disabled," so even when printing multiple copies based on a print job that includes image data for an odd number of pages, by setting the setting value of the item "setting to suppress generation of blank pages" to "disabled," multiple copies can be printed without suppressing the generation of half-sized blank pages. In other words, multiple copies can be printed according to the user's wishes.

[0101] Furthermore, in the MFP1 of this embodiment, in addition to cut printing and multiple copy printing, the acquired print job can also be selected to be 2-in-1 printing without cutting and multiple copy printing, thereby broadening the range of options available to the user for multiple copy printing.

[0102] (Other embodiments) Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment differs from the above embodiment only in the printing process executed by the controller 10. Therefore, the description will focus on the different parts and omit the description of other parts as appropriate.

[0103] Figure 13 shows the steps of the printing process executed by the controller 10. The printing process in Figure 13 corresponds to the printing process in Figure 7 in the above embodiment. The printing process in Figure 13 differs from the printing process in Figure 7 in that it is possible to suppress the generation of blank pages when cutting and printing using multiple print jobs in succession. In the printing process in Figure 13, processes that are similar to those in the printing process in Figure 7 are assigned the same reference numerals, and descriptions of those processes will be omitted as appropriate.

[0104] In FIG. 13, in S31′, the controller 10 determines whether multiple-job printing has been specified. Here, multiple-job printing means printing using multiple print jobs in succession. If the determination in S31′ shows that multiple-job printing has been specified (S31′: YES), the controller 10 determines whether the setting value for suppressing blank paper generation is “enabled” (S32). If the setting value for suppressing paper generation is “enabled” (S32: YES), the controller 10 executes blank-paper-suppressing multiple-job-cut printing processing (S33′) and then terminates the printing process. On the other hand, if the setting value for suppressing paper generation is “disabled” (S32: NO), the controller 10 executes blank-paper-non-suppressing multiple-job-cut printing processing (S34′) and then terminates the printing process.

[0105] Fig. 14 shows the detailed procedure of the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process. In the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process of Fig. 14, the same processes as those in the blank page suppression multiple copy cut printing process of Fig. 8 are given the same reference numerals, and the description of those processes will be omitted as appropriate.

[0106] The blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process of Fig. 14 differs from the blank page suppression multiple copy cut printing process of Fig. 8 in that it uses counter J, which counts the number of print jobs, instead of counter C, which counts the number of copies. Therefore, in the blank page suppression multiple copy cut printing process of Fig. 8, the process using counter C, specifically S40, S41, and S48, has been changed to process using counter J. Otherwise, the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process of Fig. 14 is the same as the blank page suppression multiple copy cut printing process of Fig. 8.

[0107] The cases where cut printing is performed by the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process are as follows: Case 11: After cutting and printing based on a first print job that includes image data for odd-numbered pages, subsequently cutting and printing based on a second print job that also includes image data for odd-numbered pages, Case 12: After cutting and printing based on a first print job containing image data for odd-numbered pages, subsequently cutting and printing based on a third print job containing image data for even-numbered pages, Case 13: After cutting and printing based on a fourth print job including image data for even pages, subsequently cutting and printing based on a second print job including image data for odd pages, Case 14: After cutting and printing based on a fourth print job including image data for even pages, when cutting and printing based on a third print job including image data for even pages, Below, first, for case 11, the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process will be explained based on the specific example shown in Figures 15(a), (b), and (c), and then for cases 12 to 14, differences from case 11 will be mainly explained.

[0108] 15(a) shows three pages of image data P1-1 to P3-1 obtained by scanning a document with scanner 16, and three pages of image data P1-2 to P3-2 obtained by scanning a document with scanner 16. The image data P1-1 to P3-1 are included in a first print job, and the image data P1-2 to P3-2 are included in a second print job. Note that the document on which the image data P1-1 to P3-1 are based and the document on which the image data P1-2 to P3-2 are based may be different or the same.

[0109] Now, assuming that the controller 10 accepts operation of the start button 74 and the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process is started, in FIG. 14, the controller 10 initializes a counter P that counts the pages of image data P1-1 to P3-1, P1-2 to P3-2 included in each print job, and a counter J that counts the number of jobs, to "1" (S40").

[0110] When the process of S40" is executed, since P=1 and J=1, the controller 10 judges S41': YES and S42: YES, and since it is not the process of the final page, judges S43: NO, and proceeds to the process of S45. In S45, the controller 10 creates image data of the upper half of the A4 sheet based on the image data P1-1 and stores it in the memory 12. Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47), and returns the process to S41'. At this time, since P=2 and J=1, the controller 10 judges S41': YES and S42: NO, and it is not the process of the final page. Therefore, S52: NO is determined, and the process proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2-1 and stores it in the memory 12. As a result, image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). The sheet Sh1 in Figure 15(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on the image data P1-1 is printed in the upper half and an image based on the image data P2-1 is printed in the lower half.

[0111] Next, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh1 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh1 at a cutting position halfway along its longitudinal direction (S62). Sheets Sh1a and Sh1b in FIG. 15(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh1.

[0112] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41'. At this time, since P=3 and J=1, the controller 10 determines S41': YES, and S42: YES. Since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S43: YES and proceeds to S44'. In S44', the controller 10 determines that this is not the processing of the final job (S44': NO), so proceeds to S45. Note that the controller 10 may determine whether the job being processed in S44' is the final job based on information obtained in a process of acquiring image data included in the print job, which is executed in parallel with the printing process. For example, if printing processing is started before all print jobs have been received from an external device, the controller 10 may determine S44': NO while print jobs are still being received, and after all print jobs have been received, determine S44': YES if the print job being processed in S44' is the last print job received, or determine S44': NO if not. Alternatively, the number of print jobs to be printed may be determined before S43, and in S44', it may be determined whether J = the final job. For example, if all print jobs have been received, the controller 10 can determine which job is the final job. Alternatively, if the number of print jobs to be printed is specified in advance, the controller 10 can determine which job is the final job.

[0113] In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P3-1 and stores it in the memory 12. In S46, since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: YES, proceeds to S48', and increments the counter J by "1". In S49, the controller 10 initializes the counter P to "1", and returns to S41'. At this time, since P=1 and J=2, the controller 10 determines S41': NO, S50': YES, and S51: YES. Since this is not the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S52: NO, and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P1-2 and stores it in the memory 12. As a result, the image data for one A4 sheet has been completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). Sheet Sh2 in Figure 15(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P3-1 is printed in the upper half and an image based on image data P1-2 of the second print job is printed in the lower half.

[0114] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh2 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh2 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh2a and Sh2b in FIG. 15(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh2.

[0115] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41'. At this time, since P=2 and J=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41', YES in S50', and NO in S51. Since this is not the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines NO in S43 and proceeds to S45. In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2-2 and stores it in the memory 12. Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41'. At this time, since P=3 and J=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41', YES in S50', and YES in S51. Since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines YES in S52. Since this is the processing of the final job, the controller 10 determines YES in S53' and proceeds to S54. In S54, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P3-2 and stores it in memory 12. As a result, all of the image data for one A4 sheet is stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S55). Sheet Sh3 in Figure 11(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P2-2 is printed in the upper half and an image based on image data P3-2 is printed in the lower half.

[0116] In the next step S72, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh3 to the processing unit 18, which then cuts the sheet Sh3 at a cutting position halfway along its length. Sheets Sh3a and Sh3b in FIG. 15(c) show two A5 sheets created by cutting the sheet Sh3. After executing the process of step S72, the controller 10 ends the blank-page suppression multiple-job cut printing process.

[0117] In this way, when the controller 10 successively prints the first and second print jobs as the acquired multiple print jobs, if cut printing is performed, the odd-numbered print job (first print job) including the first print job of the multiple print jobs is printed on a standard A4 size sheet using the print engine 15 (S61) so that, of the image data P1-1 to P3-1 included in the first print job, images based on the image data P1-1 and P3-1 of the odd pages are placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S45), and the subsequent image based on the image data of the even page P2-1 is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S60), and the print is then transported to the processing unit 18, and cut to a standard A5 size using the processing unit 18 (S62).

[0118] Then, when an image based on image data P3-1 of the final page of the image data included in the first print job is to be placed in the upper half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet (S61) so that the image based on image data P3-1 of the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet and the image based on image data P1-2 of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered print job (second print job) is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S60), transports the image to the processing unit 18, and cuts it to standard A5 size using the processing unit 18 (S62), thereby performing a fourth cut printing.

[0119] If the second print job continues with the fourth cut print, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet (S55) so that an image based on image data P2-2 of an even page of the image data included in the second print job is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet (S45), and the subsequent image based on image data P3-2 of an odd page is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet (S54), and then transports the sheet to the processing unit 18, and uses the processing unit 18 to cut it to a standard A5 size (S72).

[0120] Below, we will explain each of Cases 12 to 14, focusing on the differences from Case 11. First, we will explain Case 12 using an example of continuous cutting and printing based on the first print job used in Case 11, that is, the first print job including three pages of image data P1-1 to P3-1, and the third print job including two pages of image data P1-2 and P2-2.

[0121] When the process proceeds to S41', if P=2 and J=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41', YES in S50', NO in S51, and because this is the processing of the final page, determines YES in S43, and because this is the processing of the final job, determines YES in S44', and proceeds to S70. In S70, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2-2 and stores it in memory 12. In the following S71, the controller 10 reads the image data, i.e., the image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet, from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to be printed on the A4 sheet. In the following S72, the controller 10 transports the printed A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, which cuts the A4 sheet at a cutting position halfway along its length. The printed A4 sheet has an image based on the image data P2-2 of the second print job printed on the upper half and a blank lower half, so one of the two A5 sheets generated by cutting the printed A4 sheet is blank.

[0122] Next, we will explain case 13 using an example of continuous cut printing based on a fourth print job including two pages of image data P1-1 and P2-1 and the second print job used in case 11, i.e., the second print job including three pages of image data P1-2 to P3-2.

[0123] When the process proceeds to S41', if P=2 and J=1, the controller 10 judges YES in S41', NO in S42, and because this is the processing of the final page, judges YES in S52, and because this is not the processing of the final job, judges NO in S53', and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2-1 and stores it in memory 12. As a result, image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads this image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61). The sheet Sh1 in FIG. 15(b) shows an A4 sheet on which an image based on image data P1-1 is printed in the upper half and an image based on image data P2-1 is printed in the lower half.

[0124] In the next step S62, the controller 10 conveys the sheet Sh1 to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the sheet Sh1 at a cutting position halfway along its longitudinal direction. Sheets Sh1a and Sh1b in FIG. 15(c) show two A5 sheets generated by cutting the sheet Sh1.

[0125] In the following S46, since this is the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S46: YES, proceeds to S48', and increments counter J by "1". In the following S49, the controller 10 initializes counter P to "1", and returns to S41'. At this time, since P=1 and J=2, the controller 10 determines S41': NO, S50': NO, and S42: YES. Since this is not the processing of the final page, the controller 10 determines S43: NO, and proceeds to S45. In S45, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on image data P1-2, and stores the image data in the memory 12.

[0126] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41'. At this time, since P=2 and J=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41', NO in S50', and NO in S42. Since this is not the process for the final page, the controller 10 determines NO in S52 and proceeds to S60. In S60, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2-2 and stores it in the memory 12. As a result, the image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, and the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S61).

[0127] Next, the controller 10 conveys the printed A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the A4 sheet at a cutting position halfway along its length (S62).

[0128] Thereafter, the controller 10 increments the counter P by "1" (S47) and returns the process to S41'. At this time, since P=3 and J=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41', NO in S50', YES in S42, and because this is the processing of the final page, determines YES in S43. Because this is the processing of the final job, determines YES in S44', and proceeds to S70. In S70, the controller 10 creates image data for the upper half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P3-2 and stores it in the memory 12. In the following S71, the controller 10 reads the image data, i.e., the image data for the upper half of the A4 sheet, from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to be printed on the A4 sheet. In the following S72, the controller 10 transports the printed A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, which cuts the A4 sheet at a cutting position halfway along its length. The printed A4 sheet has an image based on the image data P3-2 of the second print job printed on the upper half and a blank lower half, so one of the two A5 sheets generated by cutting the printed A4 sheet is blank.

[0129] In this way, when an image based on image data P2-1 of the final page of the image data included in the fourth print job is to be placed in the lower half of a standard A4 size sheet, the controller 10 performs a fifth cut printing operation in which the print engine 15 is used to print on a standard A4 size sheet so that an image based on image data P1-1 of the page before the final page is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet and an image based on image data P2-1 of the final page is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, the sheet is transported to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 is used to cut the sheet to a standard A5 size.

[0130] Then, when an even-numbered print job (second print job) follows the fifth cut print, the controller 10 uses the print engine 15 to print on a standard A4 size sheet so that, of the image data included in the second print job, an image based on image data P1-2 of odd pages is placed in the upper half of the standard A4 size sheet, and the subsequent image based on image data P2-2 of even pages is placed in the lower half of the standard A4 size sheet, then transports the sheet to the processing unit 18, and uses the processing unit 18 to cut it to standard A5 size.

[0131] Next, case 14 will be described using an example in which continuous cutting and printing is performed based on a fourth print job including two pages of image data P1-1 and P2-1 and a third print job including two pages of image data P1-2 and P2-2.

[0132] When the process proceeds to S41', if P=2 and J=2, the controller 10 determines NO in S41', NO in S50', NO in S42, and because this is the processing of the final page, determines YES in S52, and because this is the processing of the final job, determines YES in S53', and proceeds to S54. In S54, the controller 10 creates image data for the lower half of an A4 sheet based on the image data P2-2 and stores it in memory 12. As a result, image data for one A4 sheet is completely stored in the image data storage area, so the controller 10 reads out the image data for one A4 sheet from the image data storage area and sends it to the print engine 15 to print on the A4 sheet (S55).

[0133] In the following S72, the controller 10 conveys the printed A4 sheet to the processing unit 18, and the processing unit 18 cuts the A4 sheet at a cutting position halfway along its length. After executing the processing of S72, the controller 10 ends the blank page suppression multiple job cut printing process.

[0134] Next, the blank-page non-suppression multiple-job cut printing process will be described with reference to the specific example shown in Figures 15(a), (d), and (e). The blank-page non-suppression multiple-job cut printing process can be realized by executing the single-copy cut printing process described above with reference to Figure 10 while switching between the print jobs included in the multiple jobs one by one.

[0135] FIG. 15(d) shows the printout results printed on A4 sheets when printing is performed continuously based on the first and second print jobs shown in FIG. 15(a) using the blank-sheet-suppression multiple-job cut printing process. FIG. 15(e) shows A5 sheets generated by cutting each A4 sheet shown in FIG. 15(d) using the processing unit 18. As shown in FIG. 15(d), the two A4 sheets Sh1 and Sh2 printed based on the first print job and the two A4 sheets Sh3 and Sh4 printed based on the second print job are printed identically. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15(e), the last A5 sheets Sh2b' and Sh4b' of each set are blank. In contrast, when printing is performed based on the same print job using the blank-sheet-suppression multiple-job cut printing process, no blank A5 sheets are output, as shown in FIG. 15(c).

[0136] As described above, in the MFP1 of this embodiment, when consecutively printing based on a first print job including odd-numbered page image data P1-1 to P3-1 and a second print job including odd-numbered page image data P1-2 to P3-2, if cut printing is performed using the blank paper suppression multiple job cut printing process, it is possible to suppress the generation of half-sized blank paper.

[0137] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0138] (1) In the above embodiment, the MFP is used as the printing device, but this is merely an example. The printing device may be a printer that does not include the scanner 16 or the FAXIF 17.

[0139] (2) In the above-described other embodiment, in the multiple job cut printing process, one copy of each print job is used consecutively for cut printing, but the printing service may be configured to cut printing using multiple copies. In this case, it may be possible to select whether to use multiple copies or a single copy.

[0140] (3) In the above embodiment, the number of copies is, for example, two copies, but the number of copies may be more than two. Also, in the above other embodiment, the first print job and the second print job are used as examples of print jobs used consecutively, but consecutive printing may be performed using more than two print jobs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0141] 1...MFP, 10...controller, 13...user IF, 15...print engine, 18...processing unit.

Claims

1. a print engine capable of printing on sheets; 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 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 To cut and print the acquired print job, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that, with the direction along the long side of the first standard size sheet being the up-down direction, an image based on image data of a predetermined page of image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on image data of a page following that page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If you want to print multiple copies and cut the print job, The odd-numbered parts, including the first part, are printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, a first cut printing is performed in which the printing engine is used to print on the first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copies is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, the sheet is transported to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to the second standard size; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, a second cut printing is performed in which the printing engine is used to print on the sheet of the first standard size so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, the sheet is transported to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to the second standard size; The even-numbered parts are If the first cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and subsequent images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, printing on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; A printing device characterized by:

2. The printing device further comprises: It has memory, The controller If you want to print multiple copies and cut the print job, The odd-numbered parts are Among the image data included in the print job, image data of the page is stored in an area of ​​the memory referenced by the print engine corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, starting from the first page, and image data of the page following that page is stored in an area corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and images based on image data of subsequent even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the first standard size sheet is printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit; When the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is to be stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, The image data of the last page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copy is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copy is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet of the first standard size is printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit, performing the first cut printing; When the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is to be stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, the image data of the page one page before the final page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the final page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet of the first standard size is printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit, The even-numbered parts are If the first cut printing is continued, Among the image data included in the print job, starting from the second page, the image data of the page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the subsequent pages is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that an image based on the image data of an even-numbered page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of a subsequent odd-numbered page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet is printed on the first standard size using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, Among the image data included in the print job, starting from the first page, the image data of that page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the subsequent pages is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that images based on the image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and images based on the image data of subsequent even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheets of the first standard size are printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. The controller If you want to print two copies of a print job without cutting and multiple copies, The odd-numbered parts are printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that an image based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequently, an image based on image data of even-numbered pages is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and conveying the sheet, without cutting by the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, performing a first 2-in-1 printing process in which an image based on the image data of the final page is placed in the upper half of the sheet and the lower half of the sheet is blank, using the print engine to print on the first standard size sheet, and conveying the sheet, without cutting by the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, a second 2-in-1 printing is performed by using the print engine to print on the first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet is transported, and no cutting is performed by the processing unit; The even-numbered parts are Whether it is subsequent to the first 2-in-1 printing or subsequent to the second 2-in-1 printing, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that an image based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequently, an image based on image data of even-numbered pages is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and conveying the sheet, without cutting by the processing unit; If you want to print multiple copies and cut the print job, The odd-numbered parts are printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, performing the first cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copies is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, performing the second cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; The even-numbered parts are If the first cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and subsequent images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, printing on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

4. The controller If the acquired print job includes cut printing and multiple copy printing, and the setting to suppress the generation of blank pages is not configured, The odd-numbered parts are printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, a third cut printing is performed in which an image based on the image data of the final page is printed on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that the upper half of the sheet is arranged based on the image data of the final page and the lower half of the sheet is blank, the sheet is transported to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to the second standard size; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, performing the second cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; The even-numbered parts are Whether following the third cut printing or following the second cut printing, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the acquired print job includes cut printing and multiple copy printing, and the setting to suppress the generation of blank pages is set, The odd-numbered parts, including the first part, are printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, performing the first cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copies is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, performing the second cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; The even-numbered parts are If the first cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and subsequent images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, printing on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

5. The controller When printing multiple acquired print jobs consecutively, if you want to cut the print job, The odd-numbered print jobs, including the first print job of the plurality of print jobs, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, a fourth cut printing is performed in which the print engine is used to print on the first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, the sheet is transported to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to the second standard size; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, a fifth cut printing step of printing onto the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; Even-numbered print jobs are If the fourth cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and subsequent images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the fifth cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If you want to print multiple copies and cut the print job, The odd-numbered parts, including the first part, are printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, performing the first cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copies is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, performing the second cut printing, which prints on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transports the sheet to the processing unit, and cuts the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; The even-numbered parts are If the first cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and subsequent images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, printing on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

6. a print engine capable of printing on sheets; 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 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 To cut and print the acquired print job, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that, with the direction along the long side of the first standard size sheet being the up-down direction, an image based on image data of a predetermined page of image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on image data of a page following that page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When printing multiple acquired print jobs consecutively, if you want to cut the print job, The odd-numbered print jobs, including the first print job of the plurality of print jobs, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, a first cut printing is performed in which the print engine is used to print on the first standard size sheet so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, the sheet is transported to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to the second standard size; When an image based on the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, a second cut printing is performed in which the printing engine is used to print on the sheet of the first standard size so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, the sheet is transported to the processing unit, and the processing unit is used to cut the sheet to the second standard size; Even-numbered print jobs are If the first cut printing is continued, printing on the first standard size sheet using the print engine so that images based on image data of even-numbered pages of the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and subsequent images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, printing on the sheet of the first standard size using the print engine so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages among the image data included in the print job are arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and subsequent images based on image data of even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, transporting the sheet to the processing unit, and cutting the sheet to the second standard size using the processing unit; A printing device characterized by:

7. The printing device further comprises: It has memory, The controller When printing multiple acquired print jobs consecutively, if you want to cut the print job, The odd-numbered print jobs, including the first print job of the plurality of print jobs, Among the image data included in the print job, image data of the page is stored in an area of ​​the memory referenced by the print engine corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, starting from the first page, and image data of the page following that page is stored in an area corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that images based on image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and images based on image data of subsequent even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the first standard size sheet is printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit; When the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is to be stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, The image data of the last page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copy is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that an image based on the image data of the last page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the first page of the subsequent even-numbered copy is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet of the first standard size is printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit, performing the first cut printing; When the image data of the last page of the image data included in the print job is to be stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, the image data of the page one page before the final page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the final page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that an image based on the image data of the page one page before the final page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of the final page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet of the first standard size is printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit, The even-numbered parts are If the first cut printing is continued, Among the image data included in the print job, starting from the second page, the image data of the page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the subsequent pages is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that an image based on the image data of an even-numbered page is arranged in the upper half of the sheet, and an image based on the image data of a subsequent odd-numbered page is arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheet is printed on the first standard size using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit; If the second cut printing is to be continued, Among the image data included in the print job, starting from the first page, the image data of that page is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the upper half of the sheet, and the image data of the subsequent pages is stored in an area of ​​the memory corresponding to the lower half of the sheet, so that images based on the image data of odd-numbered pages are arranged in the upper half of the sheet and images based on the image data of subsequent even-numbered pages are arranged in the lower half of the sheet, and the sheets of the first standard size are printed using the print engine, transported to the processing unit, and cut to the second standard size using the processing unit.

7. The printing device according to claim 6.

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