Image Processing Apparatus and Image Processing Program

Abstract

To make it possible to print subsequent image data based on a subsequent print instruction following a preceding print instruction by using an unplanned area, which is an imposition area in which preceding image data is not imposed, among imposition areas in which the preceding image data based on the preceding print instruction can be imposed.SOLUTION: An imposition processing unit 40 imposes preceding image data based on a preceding print job on a part of a plurality of imposition areas 50 defined on a continuous sheet according to the preceding print job. As a result, a planned area 52 on which the preceding image data has been imposed and an unplanned area 54 on which the preceding image data has not been imposed are formed in the plurality of imposition areas 50. The imposition processing unit 40 imposes subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job for the unplanned area 54 according to the subsequent print job following the preceding print job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a roll paper printing apparatus that performs printing on roll paper (continuous paper) based on a printing instruction, and arranges and prints an object of a subsequent printing instruction in a margin area, which is an area on the roll paper other than the object printed based on a previous printing instruction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in an image processing apparatus, in response to a previous printing instruction, a plurality of previous image data based on the previous printing instruction may be page-attached to a plurality of page-attached areas on continuous paper. Here, the page-attached area means an area on the continuous paper where the previous image data based on the previous printing instruction can be page-attached. For example, in response to a previous printing instruction for printing a plurality of physical pages, each previous image data corresponding to each physical page is page-attached to each page-attached area.

[0005] Here, due to the content of the previous printing instruction, user settings, or a combination of a plurality of previous printing instructions, etc., an unplanned area, which is a page-attached area where the previous image data is not page-attached, may occur on the continuous paper. The unplanned area is a concept different from simply a margin area, which is an area other than the previous image data, and is an area where the previous image data could have been page-attached but was not.

[0006] For example, FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a state where leading image data (pages 1 to 5 of job 1, pages 1 to 2 of job 2, and page 1 of job 3) related to jobs 1 to 3 as leading print instructions are imposed on continuous paper. When imposed as shown in FIG. 6, the imposition area indicated by the dashed line is an area where the leading image data could originally be imposed, but in reality, it is an area where the leading image data was not imposed. That is, the imposition area indicated by the dashed line becomes the unplanned area U. On the other hand, an area where the leading image data cannot be imposed (for example, the area between the imposition area and the edge of the continuous paper) becomes the margin M.

[0007] Such an unplanned area U, although it is an area where the leading image data could originally be imposed, becomes a wasted part that is not included in the final product after printing and cutting processes. Such a wasted part is also called "waste paper".

[0008] An object of the present invention is to enable printing of subsequent image data based on a subsequent print instruction following a leading print instruction, using an unplanned area, which is an imposition area where the leading image data cannot be imposed among the imposition areas where the leading image data based on the leading print instruction could be imposed.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0009] The invention according to claim 1 includes a processor, and the processor imposes a plurality of the leading image data on a part of a plurality of imposition areas, which are areas on continuous paper where the leading image data based on the leading print instruction can be imposed, in response to the leading print instruction, and in response to a subsequent print instruction that is the subject of the imposition process after the leading print instruction, the processor imposes the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print instruction on the unplanned area, which is the imposition area where the leading image data was not imposed, among the plurality of imposition areas. The image processing apparatus is characterized by this. The invention according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the unplanned area is an imposition area whose printing order is earlier than the imposition area where the leading image data was imposed. The invention according to claim 3 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the plurality of the prior image data affixed to the plurality of affixing regions includes the prior image data corresponding to a blank physical page. The invention according to claim 4 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the area of the unplanned region is the same as the area of the affixing region to which the prior image data is affixed. The invention according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that when the processor receives the subsequent printing instruction, it determines whether it is possible to affix the subsequent image data to the unplanned region, and when it is impossible to affix the subsequent image data to the unplanned region, it withholds affixing the subsequent image data without affixing the subsequent image data to the unplanned region. The invention according to claim 6 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that an affixable attribute, which is an attribute of image data that can be affixed to the unplanned region, is specified for the unplanned region, and the processor determines that it is possible to affix the subsequent image data based on the subsequent printing instruction to the unplanned region when the attribute of the subsequent printing instruction satisfies the affixable attribute. The invention according to claim 7 is an image processing program, characterized in that a computer causes a plurality of the prior image data to be affixed to a part of a plurality of affixing regions, which are regions on a continuous paper where the prior image data based on the prior printing instruction can be affixed, in accordance with the prior printing instruction, and causes the subsequent image data based on the subsequent printing instruction to be affixed to an unplanned region, which is an affixing region among the plurality of affixing regions where the prior image data has not been affixed, in accordance with the subsequent printing instruction, which is an object of the affixing process after the prior printing instruction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the invention according to claim 1 or 7, it is possible to print subsequent image data based on a subsequent printing instruction following a prior printing instruction by using an unplanned area that is an area where the prior image data is not pasted among the areas where the prior image data based on the prior printing instruction can be pasted. According to the invention according to claim 2, it is possible to paste subsequent image data on an unplanned area that is earlier in the printing order than the prior image data. According to the invention according to claim 3, even if there is a pasted area where prior image data corresponding to a blank physical page is pasted and actually nothing is printed, it is possible not to paste subsequent image data on the pasted area. According to the invention according to claim 4, it is possible to suppress an unplanned area having the same area as the pasted area where the prior image data is pasted from becoming waste paper. According to the invention according to claim 5, when an unplanned area where subsequent image data can be pasted later occurs, it is possible to paste the subsequent image data on the unplanned area. According to the invention according to claim 6, it is possible to paste subsequent image data that satisfies the pasteable attribute specified for the unplanned area on the unplanned area.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing system 10 according to the present embodiment. The image processing system 10 includes one or more user terminals 12 used by one or more users, a controller 14 as an information processing device, and a printing device 16. The user terminal 12, the controller 14, and the printing device 16 are communicably connected to each other via a communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0013] The user terminal 12 may be, for example, a personal computer or a tablet terminal. The user terminal 12 includes, for example, a communication interface such as a network adapter, a display such as a liquid crystal panel, an input interface such as a mouse, a keyboard, or a touch panel, a memory such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), an eMMC (embedded Multi Media Card), a ROM (Read Only Memory), or a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0014] The user terminal 12 transmits a print job as a print instruction to the controller 14. The user terminal 12 can transmit the print job to the controller 14 via the LAN. Also, when the user terminal 12 is remote from the controller 14, the user terminal 12 may transmit the print job to a cloud server 18 once via a communication line such as the Internet, and the print job may be transmitted from the cloud server 18 to the controller 14.

[0015] The controller 14 is a computer that executes various processes related to print processing in the printing device 16. Note that the controller 14 may be a server computer. In that case, the controller 14, the user terminal 12, and the printing device 16 are communicably connected to each other via a communication line such as the Internet or a mobile communication line.

[0016] Based on the print job from the user terminal 12, the controller 14 generates rasterized data (e.g., bitmap data) that can be recognized by the printing device 16. In the image processing system 10, printing processing for continuous paper is performed. Therefore, although it will be described in detail later, the controller 14 first arranges image data based on the print job from the user terminal 12 (when the print job instructs printing on a plurality of physical pages, a plurality of image data) on the continuous paper, and rasterized data is generated based on the arranged image data. In this specification, as described above, the data arranged on the continuous paper by the controller 14 is referred to as "image data", and the data that can be recognized by the printing device 16 and is transmitted to the printing device 16 is referred to as "rasterized data". Details of the controller 14 will be described later.

[0017] The printing device 16 includes a print head, an ink cartridge, a paper feed mechanism, etc., and is a device (so-called printer) that prints the rasterized data from the controller 14 on a printing medium. The printing device 16 according to this embodiment is an inkjet printer, but the printing device 16 may be a laser printer. As described above, the printing device 16 performs printing processing on continuous paper, which is a long strip of paper. Specifically, the printing device 16 prints rasterized data for a plurality of physical pages on the continuous paper, and after the printing processing, the continuous paper is cut for each printed physical page, thereby generating printed sheets for a plurality of physical pages. In this embodiment, the printing device 16 is a production printer (a printer for commercial printing), but the use of the printing device 16 is not limited to this.

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the controller 14.

[0019] The communication interface 30 is configured to include, for example, a network adapter or the like. The communication interface 30 functions to communicate with the user terminal 12 and the printing device 16 via a LAN or the like. The communication interface 30 receives a print job from the user terminal 12. Also, the communication interface 30 transmits rasterized data to the printing device 16.

[0020] The display 32 is configured to include, for example, a liquid crystal panel. Various screens related to print processing, such as a setting screen or a management screen of the input print job, are displayed on the display 24. Note that when the controller 14 is a server computer, the display of the user terminal 12 can serve as the display 32.

[0021] The input interface 34 is configured to include, for example, a touch panel, buttons, or the like. The input interface 34 receives instructions from the user. For example, the user can input an instruction to start the controller 14 (and the printing device 16) or an instruction related to the input print job through the input interface 34. In particular, for example, the user can perform settings related to the imposition of the input print job (details will be described later) by operating the input interface 34. Also, the input interface 34 may include a storage medium reading device such as a CD / DVD drive. The storage medium reading device can read a storage medium storing a print job, and the print job may be input to the controller 14. Note that when the controller 14 is a server computer, the input interface of the user terminal 12 serves as the input interface 34.

[0022] The memory 36 is configured to include, for example, an HDD, an SSD, an eMMC, a ROM, or a RAM. An image processing program for operating each part of the controller 14 is stored in the memory 36. Also, the input print job and rasterized data generated based on the print job are temporarily stored in the memory 36.

[0023] The processor 38 refers to a processor in a broad sense and is configured to include at least one of a general-purpose processor (such as a CPU, etc.) and a dedicated processing device (such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a programmable logic device, etc.). The processor 38 may be constituted not by a single processing device but by the cooperation of a plurality of physically separated processing devices. As shown in FIG. 2, the processor 38 functions as a page layout processing unit 40 and a rasterization processing unit 42 according to the image processing program stored in the memory 36.

[0024] The page layout processing unit 40 executes a page layout process of laying out the image data based on the input print job on continuous paper according to the input print job. The image data based on the print job is data corresponding to the image instructed to be printed in the print job. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a state where the image data based on the print job is laid out on continuous paper. In FIG. 3, the allocation state of the image data from the head (the right end in FIG. 3) to the end (the left end in FIG. 3) of one continuous paper is shown. In FIG. 3, the continuous paper is shown in a simplified manner. Actually, the continuous paper is much longer, and it is possible to layout more image data than shown in FIG. 3 on one continuous paper. Note that laying out the image data on continuous paper means that the page layout processing unit 40 determines the printing position of the image data based on the print job on the continuous paper in the memory 36.

[0025] Specifically, the page layout processing unit 40 lays out the image data based on the print job in the page layout area 50. The page layout area 50 is an area defined on the continuous paper where the image data based on the print job can be laid out. A plurality of page layout areas 50 may be defined on the continuous paper.

[0026] The area of the pasting area 50 is determined by the size of one physical page after cutting. In the printing apparatus 16 that prints physical pages of a specific size, the area of the pasting area 50 may be set in advance, or the area of the pasting area 50 may be determined according to a print job (such as the size of the physical page after cutting set in the print job). In the example of FIG. 3, on continuous paper, a plurality of pasting areas 50 are defined side by side in two columns, and the areas of the respective pasting areas 50 are the same as each other.

[0027] The pasting processing unit 40 can automatically perform pasting processing according to a print job. Further, the pasting processing unit 40 can perform pasting processing according to an instruction from the user. In this case, the user can select a pasting destination for each image data based on the print job from among a plurality of pasting areas 50 defined on the continuous paper.

[0028] In FIG. 3, the pasting area 50 indicated by the solid-line rectangle is the pasting area 50 where the image data based on the print job is pasted. The pasting area 50 where the image data based on the print job is pasted is called the planned area 52. On the other hand, due to the content of the print job, an instruction from the user, or the fact that a plurality of image data based on a plurality of print jobs have been pasted, there may be a pasting area 50 on the continuous paper where the image data is not pasted. In particular, when the pasting areas 50 are arranged in a plurality of columns on the continuous paper as in the present embodiment, a pasting area 50 where the image data is not pasted may occur. In FIG. 3, the pasting area 50 indicated by the broken-line rectangle is the pasting area 50 where the image data was not pasted. The pasting area 50 where the image data based on the print job was not pasted is called the unplanned area 54. If the image data is not pasted as it is, the unplanned area 54 will become a wasteful part called so-called "yare paper" after the printing process.

[0029] In the unplanned area 54, image data based on a subsequent print job can be pasted by the pasting processing unit 40. The pasting processing for the unplanned area 54 will be described later.

[0030] The rasterization processing unit 42 executes rasterization processing to generate rasterization data based on each image data face-attached by the face-attaching processing unit 40. The rasterization processing unit 42 sequentially generates rasterization data for each image data according to the printing order of the face-attached image data. As described above, in FIG. 3, the head of the continuous paper is at the right end of FIG. 3 and the tail is at the left end of FIG. 3, so the direction from the right side to the left side is the printing order. That is, the image data face-attached to the right end is printed first, and then, sequentially, the image data adjacent to the left side is printed. Therefore, the rasterization processing unit 42 first generates rasterization data for two (two arranged vertically in FIG. 3) image data face-attached to the right end and sends it to the printing device 16, and then sequentially repeats the process of generating rasterization data for two image data adjacent to the left side and sending it to the printing device 16. The printing device 16 executes printing processing based on the sequentially transmitted rasterization data.

[0031] Hereinafter, the face-attaching processing of image data to the unplanned area 54 by the face-attaching processing unit 40 will be described.

[0032] As described above, the unplanned area 54 is generated by the face-attaching processing unit 40 face-attaching image data based on a print job. Therefore, image data based on another job subsequent to the print job is face-attached to the unplanned area 54. Here, in this specification, the print job that generates the unplanned area 54 is called a preceding print job as a preceding print instruction, and the print job subsequent to the preceding print instruction, that is, the print job that is the target of face-attaching processing after the preceding print instruction, is called a subsequent print job as a subsequent print instruction. Note that the subsequent print job may be a job input to the controller 14 after the preceding print job, or may be a job input to the controller 14 at the same time as the preceding print job. Also, the image data based on the preceding print job is called preceding image data, and the image data based on the subsequent print job is called subsequent image data.

[0033] The process of laying out subsequent image data in the unplanned area 54 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The state shown in FIG. 3 is a state in which the layout processing unit 40 has laid out the preceding image data based on the preceding print job (there may be a plurality of preceding print jobs) on a part of a plurality of layout areas 50 defined on the continuous paper. The layout area 50 on which the preceding image data has been laid out has become the planned area 52 indicated by the solid line. On the other hand, among the plurality of layout areas 50 defined on the continuous paper, the layout area 50 on which the preceding image data has not been laid out has become the unplanned area 54 indicated by the dashed line.

[0034] As described above, although the unplanned area 54 is an area where the preceding image data could be laid out, in reality, it is an area where the preceding image data has not been laid out. Therefore, the unplanned area 54 is a conceptually different area from an area where the preceding image data cannot be laid out (for example, the margin of the continuous paper (see the margin M in FIG. 6)).

[0035] In particular, the unplanned area 54 has the same area as at least one of the planned areas 52, which are the layout areas 50 on which the preceding image data has been laid out. In the present embodiment, as described above, since the areas of the respective layout areas 50 are the same as each other, inevitably, the areas of the plurality of planned areas 52 and the areas of the plurality of unplanned areas 54 are the same as each other.

[0036] Also, among the preceding image data laid out in the planned area 52, there may be preceding image data having no object (blank paper), in other words, preceding image data corresponding to a blank physical page. The blank physical page can serve, for example, as a back cover or a marker for dividing a lump of physical pages. That is, it is a physical page necessary for the printed product or the printing process. When the blank preceding image data is laid out in the planned area 52, of course, nothing will be printed in the planned area 52. However, this is only the planned area 52 on which the blank preceding image data has been laid out, not the unplanned area 54.

[0037] After the imposition of the preliminary image data based on the preliminary print job is completed, when a subsequent print job is input to the controller 14, first, the imposition processing unit 40 analyzes the subsequent print job and determines whether the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job can be imposed on the unplanned area 54.

[0038] As described above, the rasterization processing unit 42 generates the rasterized data of each image data from the right side to the left side of FIG. 3. The imposition processing unit 40 cannot change the imposition state of the imposition area 50 where the generation process of the rasterized data has ended and the rasterized data has been transmitted to the printing apparatus 16. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the printing process for the preliminary image data imposed on the imposition area 50 at the right end of the continuous paper, that is, at the head of the continuous paper, is being performed by the printing apparatus 16, it is assumed that the generation and transmission of the rasterized data to the printing apparatus 16 for the preliminary image data imposed on the imposition area 50 from there to the position indicated as the imposition changeable boundary have been completed. In this case, the imposition processing unit 40 can impose the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job only on the unplanned area 54 behind the imposition changeable boundary in the printing order (on the left side of the imposition changeable boundary in the example of FIG. 3).

[0039] Whether the subsequent image data can be imposed on the unplanned area 54 is determined by the number of physical pages that are the print result specified by the subsequent print job and the number of available unplanned areas 54. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, there are six available unplanned areas 54, that is, unplanned areas 54a to 54f behind the imposition changeable boundary in the printing order. Therefore, when the subsequent print job requests to output six or fewer physical pages, the imposition processing unit 40 determines that the subsequent image data can be imposed on the unplanned area 54.

[0040] On the other hand, when it is required that a subsequent print job outputs seven or more physical pages, the imposition processing unit 40 determines that it is impossible to impose the subsequent image data on the unplanned area 54. If a part of the plurality of subsequent image data related to the subsequent print job is imposed on the unplanned areas 54a to 54f, only image data for six pages can be imposed on the unplanned areas 54a to 54f, so the remaining subsequent image data has no choice but to be imposed on the next continuous sheet. In the present embodiment, since printing a plurality of image data based on one print job across a plurality of continuous sheets is prohibited, in this case, the imposition processing unit 40 determines that it is impossible to impose the subsequent image data on the unplanned area 54.

[0041] For each unplanned area 54, it may be possible to specify an imposable attribute, which is an attribute of the image data that can be imposed on the unplanned area 54. In this case, when determining whether the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job can be imposed on the unplanned area 54, the imposition processing unit 40 determines that the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job can be imposed on the unplanned area 54 when the attribute of the subsequent print job satisfies the imposable attribute specified for the unplanned area 54.

[0042] The imposable attribute of each unplanned area 54 may be specified by the user. Alternatively, the processor 38 may automatically specify it. When there are a plurality of unplanned areas 54, the imposable attributes of each unplanned area 54 may be different from each other.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the imposable attributes specified for the unplanned area 54. Representative examples of the imposable attributes are print resolution (e.g., 1200 dpi (dots per inch)) and color (e.g., color, black and white, etc.). In the example of FIG. 4, among the six unplanned areas 54, the imposable attributes of the four unplanned areas 54a to 54d are 1200 dpi and color, and the imposable attributes of the remaining two unplanned areas 54e to 54f are 600 dpi and black and white.

[0044] During printing processing, since the printing attributes cannot be changed in the middle of the main scan, the attachable attributes of the unplanned area 54 are the same as the attributes of the preceding print job corresponding to the preceding image data attached to the planned area 52 arranged in the main scan direction of the unplanned area 54 (the vertical direction in the example of FIG. 3). For example, in the example of FIG. 4, when the preceding image data based on the preceding print job that requires output at 1200 dpi and in color is attached to the planned area 52a, the attachable attributes of the unplanned area 54a arranged in the main scan direction of the planned area 52a are the same as the attributes of the preceding print job, which are 1200 dpi and color.

[0045] In the example of FIG. 4, as the attributes of the subsequent print job, when the subsequent print job requires output of 6 or fewer physical pages at 1200 dpi and in color, the attachable attributes (1200 dpi and color) of the unplanned areas 54a to 54d satisfy the attributes of the subsequent print job, but the attachable attributes (600 dpi and black and white) of the unplanned areas 54e to 54f do not satisfy the attributes of the subsequent print job. Therefore, in this case, since the image data related to the subsequent print job cannot be attached to the six unplanned areas 54a to 54f, the attachment processing unit 40 determines that it is impossible to attach the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54.

[0046] When the attachment processing unit 40 determines that it is possible to attach the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job to the unplanned area 54, the attachment processing unit 40 attaches the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54. For example, in the example of FIG. 3, the attachment processing unit 40 attaches the first page of the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54a, the second page of the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54b, the third page of the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54c, the fourth page of the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54d, the fifth page of the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54e, and the sixth page of the subsequent image data to the unplanned area 54f.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 3, the unplanned area 54 may be the pasted area 50 that is printed earlier than at least one planned area 52. When subsequent image data is pasted onto such an unplanned area 54, the subsequent image data will be printed earlier than at least one piece of preceding image data.

[0048] Also, when there are a plurality of unplanned areas 54, the plurality of unplanned areas 54 may not be adjacent to each other. In this case, when a plurality of subsequent image data are pasted onto the plurality of unplanned areas 54 and printed, on the continuous paper, a plurality of physical pages related to one subsequent print job will be printed at non - continuous positions. Therefore, in order to easily gather a plurality of physical pages related to one print job after cutting, the pasting processing unit 40 may include an identifier (such as a barcode) that can identify the corresponding print job, page number, etc. in the subsequent image data (and the preceding image data). Thereby, after printing, a plurality of physical pages related to one print job can be easily gathered by the identifier printed together with the image data.

[0049] When the pasting processing unit 40 determines that it is impossible to paste the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job onto the unplanned area 54, the pasting processing unit 40 does not paste the subsequent image data onto the unplanned area 54 and holds the pasting of the subsequent image data to the pasted area 50. In this case, when another subsequent image data is pasted and an unplanned area 54 where the held subsequent image data can be pasted appears, the pasting processing unit 40 pastes the subsequent image data onto the unplanned area 54. Alternatively, the pasting processing unit 40 may paste the held subsequent image data onto the pasted area 50 further behind the last planned area 52 in the printing order in which the preceding image data is pasted.

[0050] After the subsequent image data is pasted onto the unplanned area 54 by the pasting processing unit 40, the rasterization processing unit 42 generates rasterization data. When the subsequent image data is pasted onto the unplanned area 54 arranged in the main scanning direction of the planned area 52 onto which the preceding image data has been pasted, the rasterization processing unit 42 generates rasterization data including the preceding image data and the subsequent image data, in other words, rasterization data in which the subsequent image data is synthesized with the preceding image data.

[0051] Hereinafter, the processing flow of the controller 14 will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.

[0052] In step S10, the pasting processing unit 40 pastes the preceding image data based on the preceding print job received by the controller 14 onto the pasting area 50 defined on the continuous paper. Here, it is assumed that the preceding image data is pasted onto a part of the plurality of pasting areas 50, and in the plurality of pasting areas 50, a planned area 52 onto which the preceding image data is pasted and an unplanned area 54 onto which the preceding image data is not pasted are formed.

[0053] In step S12, the controller 14 receives a subsequent print job. As described above, the subsequent print job may be any job that is the target of the pasting process after the preceding print job, and the preceding print job and the subsequent print job may be input to the controller 14 at the same time.

[0054] In step S14, the pasting processing unit 40 determines whether the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job received in step S12 can be pasted into the unplanned area 54 formed in step S10. For example, if the number of unplanned areas 54 is equal to or greater than the number of physical pages which is the print result specified by the subsequent print job, it is determined that pasting is possible; if the number of unplanned areas 54 is less than the number of physical pages which is the print result specified by the subsequent print job, it is determined that pasting is not possible. Alternatively, as described above, the pasting processing unit 40 may determine whether the subsequent print job can be pasted into the unplanned area 54 in consideration of the pasteable attribute specified for the unplanned area 54. If it is determined that the subsequent image data can be pasted into the unplanned area 54, the process proceeds to step S18; if it is determined that the subsequent image data cannot be pasted into the unplanned area 54, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0055] In step S16, the pasting processing unit 40 holds the pasting of the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print job. The pasting processing unit 40 monitors whether an unplanned area 54 where the held subsequent image data can be pasted appears due to the pasting of other subsequent image data (step S14 again), and if an unplanned area 54 where the held subsequent image data can be pasted appears, the process proceeds to step S18. As described above, the pasting processing unit 40 may paste the held subsequent image data into the pasting area 50 behind the last planned area 52 in the printing order in which the preceding image data has been pasted.

[0056] In step S18, the pasting processing unit 40 pastes the subsequent image data into the unplanned area 54.

[0057] In step S20, the rasterization processing unit 42 generates rasterization data based on the preceding image data and the subsequent image data pasted by the pasting processing unit 40.

[0058] In step S22, the rasterization processing unit 42 transmits the rasterization data generated in step S20 to the printing apparatus 16. The printing apparatus 16 executes printing processing based on the received rasterization data.

[0059] As described above, the embodiments according to the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 10 Image processing system, 12 User terminal, 14 Controller, 16 Printing apparatus, 18 Cloud server, 30 Communication interface, 32 Display, 34 Input interface, 36 Memory, 38 Processor, 40 Surface attachment processing unit, 42 Rasterization processing unit, 50 Surface attachment area, 52 Planned area, 54 Unplanned area.

Claims

1. A processor is provided, wherein the processor in response to a pre-print instruction, attaches a plurality of the pre-image data to a part of a plurality of attachment areas which are areas on continuous paper where the pre-image data based on the pre-print instruction can be attached; in response to a subsequent print instruction which is a target of an attachment process after the pre-print instruction, attaches subsequent image data based on the subsequent print instruction to an unplanned area which is the attachment area among the plurality of attachment areas where the pre-image data has not been attached; An image processing apparatus characterized by the above.

2. The unplanned area is an attachment area whose printing order is earlier than the attachment area where the pre-image data has been attached. The image processing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The plurality of pre-image data attached to the plurality of attachment areas includes the pre-image data corresponding to a blank physical page. The image processing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The area of the unplanned area is the same as the area of the attachment area where the pre-image data has been attached. The image processing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. The processor when receiving the subsequent print instruction, determines whether it is possible to attach the subsequent image data to the unplanned area; when it is impossible to attach the subsequent image data to the unplanned area, holds off attaching the subsequent image data without attaching the subsequent image data to the unplanned area. The image processing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

6. An attachable attribute which is an attribute of image data attachable to the unplanned area is specified for the unplanned area. The processor when the attribute of the subsequent print instruction satisfies the attachable attribute, determines that it is possible to attach the subsequent image data based on the subsequent print instruction to the unplanned area. The image processing apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized by the above.

7. Causing a computer in response to a pre-print instruction, to attach a plurality of the pre-image data to a part of a plurality of attachment areas which are areas on continuous paper where the pre-image data based on the pre-print instruction can be attached; After the previous printing instruction, in accordance with a subsequent printing instruction that is the target of the pasting process, the subsequent image data based on the subsequent printing instruction is pasted onto an unplanned area, which is a pasting area among the plurality of pasting areas where the previous image data has not been pasted. An image processing program characterized by the above.

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