Image forming apparatus and program

Abstract

To enable an image for prior check of a printing result to be generated even when printing processing cannot be executed unless setting contents designated in a printing instruction are changed in a partial image formation apparatus when executing printing processing by the plurality of image formation apparatuses to one printing instruction.SOLUTION: A control unit 35 generates a preview image corresponding to an image when executing printing processing in such a state that setting contents designated in a received printing job are changed to the setting contents that can be executed in the own apparatus and transmits the preview image to a terminal device 40 that has transmitted the printing job in a case where the printing processing according to the setting contents designated in the printing job cannot be executed in the own apparatus when the printing job of additional printing is received from the terminal device 40 and the preview image is requested. Then, the control unit 35 changes the setting contents of the received printing job to the setting contents that can be executed in the own apparatus and transmits the setting contents to an image formation apparatus 20 being another image formation apparatus that executes the next printing processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a print control device that prevents erroneous printing in a printing device that performs overprinting using a plurality of types of paint.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a job management device that can issue instructions for printing in an appropriate order without complicating the user's work, even for jobs that require additional printing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-078846 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-201548 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a single print instruction cannot be executed by a single image forming apparatus, it may be executed by multiple image forming apparatuses. In such cases, to obtain a preview image of the print result for pre-checking, the terminal apparatus that transmits the print instruction must composite multiple preview images. Here, the print instruction from the terminal apparatus is transferred and shared between image forming apparatuses in the order of processing, for example, in a series of image forming apparatuses. Each image forming apparatus generates a preview image that reflects the processing it is responsible for and will execute.

[0006] However, not all image forming devices can execute the process according to the settings in the print instruction. If the process cannot be executed according to the settings in the print instruction, the image forming device may change the settings in the print instruction to something that can be executed on the device itself and then execute the process. In this case, the image forming device generates a pre-check image based on the settings that can be executed on the device itself. If a series of image forming devices generate a pre-check image according to the settings in the original print instruction or generate a pre-check image after changing the settings, inconsistencies may occur between the pre-check images, making it impossible to combine them.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming device and a program that can generate an image for pre-checking the print result when multiple image forming devices are used to perform printing processing in response to one printing instruction, even if some of the image forming devices cannot perform the printing processing unless the settings specified in the printing instruction are changed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a processor, wherein when a print instruction for forming an image by a plurality of image forming apparatuses is received from a terminal device and a pre-check image of the print result is requested, if the image forming apparatus is unable to execute the print process according to the settings specified in the print instruction, the processor generates a pre-check image corresponding to an image that would be obtained if the settings specified in the received print instruction were changed to settings that can be executed on the image forming apparatus, and transmits the pre-check image to the terminal device that transmitted the print instruction; The setting contents of the received print instruction are changed to setting contents that can be executed by the image forming apparatus, and then transmitted to another image forming apparatus that will execute the next print process.

[0009] In a second aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, if the paper size specified in the print instruction received from the terminal device is not set on the image forming apparatus itself, the processor generates a pre-confirmation image of the print result when paper of a size closest to the specified paper size is used from the papers set on the image forming apparatus itself, and sends the image to the terminal device that sent the print instruction, and also changes the paper size specified in the received print instruction to the paper size when the pre-confirmation image was generated, and sends the image to another image forming apparatus that will perform the next print process.

[0010] In a third aspect of the image forming device of the present invention, in the image forming device of the second aspect, if paper of the paper size specified in the print instruction is not set on the image forming device itself, the processor turns off an alternative paper selection function, which is a function that selects paper of the set paper size that is closest to the specified paper size and executes the print process, and sends the print instruction received from the terminal device to another image forming device that will execute the next print process.

[0011] An image forming apparatus of a fourth aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the paper size specification in the print instruction includes not only a specification of the paper shape but also a specification of the paper orientation.

[0012] In a fifth aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, when the processor receives a print instruction from a terminal device to form an image using multiple image forming devices, if the processor can execute the print processing according to the settings specified in the print instruction on the terminal device, it generates a pre-confirmation image of the print result corresponding to the image for which the print processing will be executed based on the received print instruction and sends it to the terminal device that sent the print instruction.

[0013] In a sixth aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, if the processor is unable to execute the print processing according to the settings specified in the print instruction on the image forming apparatus itself, the processor sends the print instruction received from the terminal device to another image forming apparatus that will execute the next print processing without changing the setting state of an alternative setting selection function that changes the settings specified in the print instruction to enable the print processing to be executed on the image forming apparatus itself.

[0014] An image forming apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, further comprising a print processing unit that executes a print process using normal color materials consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, The processor transmits the print instruction received from the terminal device to an image forming device that executes a print process using color materials of special colors other than the normal colors.

[0015] A program according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: when a print instruction for forming an image by a plurality of image forming apparatuses is received from a terminal apparatus and a pre-check image of the print result is requested, if the terminal apparatus is unable to execute the print process according to the settings specified in the print instruction, generating a pre-check image corresponding to the image that would be obtained if the settings specified in the received print instruction were changed to settings that can be executed on the terminal apparatus and the print process was executed; and transmitting the pre-check image to the terminal apparatus that sent the print instruction; The computer executes a step of changing the setting contents of the received print instruction to setting contents that can be executed in the image forming apparatus, and transmitting the setting contents to another image forming apparatus that will execute the next print process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the image forming device of the first aspect of the present invention, when a printing process is performed by multiple image forming devices in response to one printing instruction, even if some of the image forming devices cannot perform the printing process without changing the settings specified in the printing instruction, it is possible to generate an image for pre-checking the printing result on the terminal device that sent the printing instruction.

[0017] According to the image forming device of the second aspect of the present invention, when printing processing is performed by multiple image forming devices in response to one print instruction, even if the image forming device that performs printing first does not have paper of the paper size specified in the print instruction set, it is possible to generate a pre-confirmation image of the print result on the terminal device that sent the print instruction.

[0018] According to the third aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus that performs the second or subsequent printing from generating a pre-confirmation image using a paper size other than the paper size specified in the print instruction.

[0019] According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the two pre-confirmation images cannot be combined unless one of them is rotated on the terminal device.

[0020] According to the fifth aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, if the print instruction received from the terminal device can be executed on the device itself without changing the settings, it becomes possible to generate a pre-confirmation image of the print result in accordance with the specified settings on the terminal device.

[0021] According to the sixth aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the image forming apparatus that performs printing second or subsequent times from generating a pre-confirmation image that has changed the settings specified in the print instruction.

[0022] According to the seventh aspect of the image forming device of the present invention, when a printing process is performed in response to one printing instruction using an image forming device that prints in normal colors and an image forming device that prints in special colors, even if the printing process cannot be performed unless the settings specified in the printing instruction are changed in the image forming device that prints first, it is possible to generate an image for pre-checking the printing result on the terminal device that sent the printing instruction.

[0023] According to the program of the eighth aspect of the present invention, when a printing process is performed by multiple image forming devices in response to one printing instruction, even if some of the image forming devices cannot perform the printing process unless the settings specified in the printing instruction are changed, it is possible to generate an image for pre-checking the printing result on the terminal device that sent the printing instruction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of images printed by overprinting. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of images that are printed when a print job for printing by overprinting is sent to the image forming apparatus 10 and printed. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image after printing by the image forming apparatus 20 when a sheet of paper on which the image shown in FIG. 3 is printed is set in the image forming apparatus 20. FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention when a preview image is displayed on a terminal device 40. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention when a preview image is displayed on a terminal device 40. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is a sequence chart for explaining how data is transmitted and received between the terminal device 40 and the image forming devices 10 and 20 when a preview image is displayed on the terminal device 40. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram specifically illustrating the operation when two preview images acquired by terminal device 40 cannot be combined. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram specifically illustrating the operation when two preview images acquired by terminal device 40 cannot be combined. [Figure 10]1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 10 is a sequence chart for explaining how data is transmitted and received between a terminal device 40 and image forming apparatuses 10 and 20 when control is performed in the image forming apparatus 10 to change the settings of a print job. [Figure 13] This figure specifically explains the operation of an image forming system of one embodiment of the present invention when the paper sizes of the paper set in image forming device 10 and image forming device 20 are different and the settings of the print job are changed to image forming device 10. [Figure 14] This figure specifically explains the operation of an image forming system of one embodiment of the present invention when the paper sizes of the paper set in image forming device 10 and image forming device 20 are different and the settings of the print job are changed to image forming device 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] 1, an image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured with image forming apparatuses 10 and 20, and a terminal apparatus 40, which are interconnected via a network 30. The terminal apparatus 40 generates a print job, which is a print instruction, and transmits the generated print job to the image forming apparatus 10 via the network 30.

[0028] The image forming apparatuses 10 and 20 are so-called multifunction devices that have multiple functions such as a printing function, a scanning function, a copying function, and a facsimile function.

[0029] The image forming device 10 is loaded with CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) toners and is configured to output images in normal colors using these CMYK toners on paper. The image forming device 20 is a printer configured to be able to form images in special colors other than the normal CMYK colors on paper. Special colors include various colors other than YMCK, such as metallic gloss colors like silver (Si) and gold (G), white (W), and transparency (clear). For example, the following embodiment will be described using a case where the image forming device 20 is configured to be able to form images in three special colors: gold (G), silver (Si), and white (W).

[0030] Here, when one print job cannot be executed by only one image forming apparatus, one print job may be executed by multiple image forming apparatuses. For example, an image forming apparatus capable of printing images in normal CMYK colors and an image forming apparatus capable of printing images in special colors other than normal colors, such as silver and gold, may be used to perform overprinting to print an image containing not only CMYK colors but also special colors. For example, in the image forming system of this embodiment, by performing overprinting using two image forming apparatuses 10 and 20, it is possible to print not only images in normal colors but also images in special colors on a single sheet of paper.

[0031] Here, overprinting refers to a printing method in which, for a print job from terminal device 40, an image is first formed using an image forming device for pre-printing, and then an image is formed on top of the paper on which the image has been formed using the image forming device for pre-printing using an image forming device for post-printing.

[0032] In the image forming system of this embodiment, the image forming device 10 that prints normal colors is the image forming device for pre-printing, and the image forming device 20 that prints special colors is the image forming device for post-printing.

[0033] The image forming apparatus 10 receives a print job sent from the terminal apparatus 40, ignores the special color instruction in the received print job, and prints an image on paper using only normal colors. The image forming apparatus 10 is pre-registered with the image forming apparatus 20 that will perform post-printing, and the image forming apparatus 10 transfers the print job from the terminal apparatus 40 to the image forming apparatus 20.

[0034] Then, when the paper on which the image has been formed in the image forming device 10 is carried by the user to the image forming device 20 and set in the paper tray, the image forming device 20 prints an image using only the special colors in the print job received from the image forming device 10 on the paper set in the paper tray.

[0035] As a result, the image forming device 20 will eject a sheet on which both the normal color image and the special color image are printed.

[0036] An example of an image printed by such overprinting is shown in FIG.

[0037] In the example image shown in Figure 2, it can be seen that the printable images are not only red and brown but also gold images, using a combination of CMYK colors. Note that in this example image, the text notations such as red, brown, and gold indicate that the image to which the text is attached is red, brown, and gold, but do not mean that the text red, brown, and gold will be printed.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an example of an image that is printed when a print job for printing such an image is generated in terminal device 40 and transmitted to image forming device 10 for printing.

[0039] In the example image shown in Figure 3, it can be seen that of the images included in the print job from terminal device 40, only the red image and brown image specified in CMYK colors are printed on the paper, and the gold image is not printed.

[0040] Then, a sheet of paper on which an image such as that shown in FIG. 3 has been printed is set in the image forming apparatus 20, and an example of the image after printing by the image forming apparatus 20 is shown in FIG.

[0041] In the example image shown in FIG. 4, it can be seen that in addition to the red image and brown image printed by the image forming device 10, a gold image 51 has been printed by the image forming device 20.

[0042] Even when overprinting is performed using two image forming devices 10 and 20 in this way, there may be cases where it is desired to display a preview image, which is a pre-check image for checking the print result in advance on terminal device 40 before executing the printing process, to confirm that the printing process is being performed correctly.

[0043] Next, the operation of the image forming system of this embodiment when such a preview image is displayed on the terminal device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0044] (1) First, as shown in FIG. 5, when obtaining a preview image for checking the print result of a print job that performs overprinting, the terminal device 40 sends the print job to the image forming device 10 for pre-printing along with an instruction to generate the preview image.

[0045] (2) Then, the image forming device 10 receives the print job from the terminal device 40, generates a preview image 61 based on the image specified in the CMYK colors of the print job, ignoring the special color specification, and transmits the preview image 61 to the terminal device 40.

[0046] (3) Then, the image forming apparatus 10 transfers the print job received from the terminal device 40 to the image forming apparatus 20 for post-printing.

[0047] (4) Upon receiving the print job from the image forming apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 20 generates a preview image 62 based on the designation of the special color in the received print job and transmits it to the terminal apparatus 40.

[0048] (5) Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal device 40 receives the preview image 61 from the image forming device 10 and the preview image 62 from the image forming device 20, and by combining these two preview images 61 and 62, obtains a preview image 63 for the generated print job and displays it on a screen, etc.

[0049] Next, the transmission and reception of data between the terminal device 40 and the image forming devices 10 and 20 when the preview image described above is displayed on the terminal device 40 will be described with reference to the sequence chart of FIG.

[0050] First, in step S101, the terminal device 40 transmits a print job together with an instruction to generate a preview image to the image forming device 10 for pre-printing.

[0051] When the image forming apparatus 10 receives the print job from the terminal device 40, it generates a preview image based on the image specified in the CMYK colors of the print job, ignoring the special color specification, in step S102. Then, in step S103, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the generated preview image to the terminal device 40.

[0052] Then, in step S104, the image forming apparatus 10 transfers the print job received from the terminal apparatus 40 to the image forming apparatus 20 for post-printing.

[0053] In step S105, image forming apparatus 20 receives the print job from image forming apparatus 10 and generates a preview image 62 based on the designation of the special color in the received print job. Then, in step S106, image forming apparatus 20 transmits the generated preview image to terminal apparatus 40.

[0054] Finally, in step S107, the terminal device 40 receives the preview image from the image forming device 10 and the preview image from the image forming device 20, and generates a preview image for the generated print job by combining the two received preview images.

[0055] By following the flow described above, the terminal device 40 is able to generate a preview image for the overprinting print job that is about to be executed and display it on the screen.

[0056] Here, each of the image forming devices 10 and 20 generates a preview image reflecting the processing it will handle and transmits it to the terminal device 40. However, both the image forming devices 10 and 20 may not always be able to execute the print processing according to the print job settings. If the processing cannot be executed according to the print job settings, the image forming devices 10 and 20 may change the print job settings to ones that can be executed on their own devices and then execute the print job. As a result, if the image forming devices 10 and 20 generate preview images according to the original print job settings or generate preview images after changing the settings, inconsistencies may occur between the preview images, making it impossible to combine them. For example, if the image forming device 10 cannot process the A4-size paper specified in the print job and instead generates a preview image for the closest size it can process, such as letter size, while the image forming device 20 generates an A4-size preview image, the terminal device 40 may not be able to combine the two preview images.

[0057] Next, the operation when two preview images acquired by terminal device 40 as described above cannot be combined will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

[0058] First, in FIG. 8, it is assumed that letter-sized paper is set in image forming apparatus 10, and A4-sized paper is set in image forming apparatus 20.

[0059] (1) First, when obtaining a preview image for checking the print result of a print job that performs overprinting, the terminal device 40 sends the print job to the image forming device 10 for pre-printing together with an instruction to generate a preview image. In Fig. 8, the terminal device 40 is described as specifying A4 as the paper size and sending a print job with the SPS function turned on to the image forming device 10.

[0060] Here, the SPS function refers to an alternative paper selection function, which, if paper of the paper size specified in the print job is not set, selects and prints on paper of the size closest to the specified paper size from the paper sizes set.

[0061] In other words, when the SPS function is turned on, even if the paper size specified in the print job is A4, if A4 size (210 x 297 mm) paper is not set in the image forming device, the print process will be performed by selecting paper of the size closest to A4 size, for example, letter size (215.9 x 279.4 mm).

[0062] (2) Then, image forming apparatus 10 receives the print job from terminal device 40, generates a preview image 71 based on an image specified in CMYK colors, ignoring the special color specification of this print job, and transmits the preview image 71 to terminal device 40. In FIG. 8, A4-size paper is not loaded in image forming apparatus 10. However, since the SPS function is turned on for the print job from terminal device 40, image forming apparatus 10 searches for the paper size closest to A4 size among the paper sizes loaded in the image forming apparatus 10. Here, because letter-size paper is loaded in image forming apparatus 10, letter size is selected as the paper size closest to A4 size. Therefore, image forming apparatus 10 generates a preview image 71 of what the image would look like if it were printed on letter-size paper.

[0063] (3) Then, the image forming apparatus 10 transfers the print job received from the terminal apparatus 40 to the image forming apparatus 20 for post-printing. Here, if the image forming apparatus 10 transfers the print job received from the terminal apparatus 40 to the image forming apparatus 20 without changing the settings, the settings of the transferred print job will be A4 paper size and the SPS function will be on.

[0064] (4) Upon receiving the print job from this image forming apparatus 10, image forming apparatus 20 generates a preview image 72 based on the designation of the special color in the received print job and transmits it to terminal device 40. Here, since A4 size paper is set in image forming apparatus 10, preview image 72 is generated as if the image were printed on A4 size paper.

[0065] (5) Then, as shown in Fig. 9, terminal device 40 receives preview image 71 from image forming device 10 and preview image 72 from image forming device 20, and attempts to obtain a preview image for the generated print job by combining these two preview images 71 and 72. However, preview image 71 is generated based on letter size, and preview image 72 is generated based on A4 size. As a result, terminal device 40 is unable to combine the two preview images 71 and 72, and is therefore unable to obtain a preview image for the generated print job.

[0066] Therefore, in the image forming system of this embodiment, when printing processing is performed for one print job using multiple image forming devices, even if some of the image forming devices cannot perform the printing processing unless the settings specified in the print job are changed, a preview image of the print result can be generated by performing the control described below.

[0067] Next, the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 in the image forming system of this embodiment is shown in FIG.

[0068] 10, the image forming apparatus 10 has a CPU 11, a memory 12, a storage device 13 such as a hard disk drive, a communication interface (abbreviated as IF) 14 that transmits and receives data to and from external devices via a network 30, a user interface (abbreviated as UI) device 15 that includes a touch panel or liquid crystal display and a keyboard, a scan unit 16, and an image forming unit 17. These components are connected to one another via a control bus 18.

[0069] The image forming unit 17 prints an image on a recording medium such as printing paper through processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing.

[0070] The CPU 11 is a processor that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 by executing predetermined processes based on a control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13. While the present embodiment has been described as the CPU 11 reading and executing the control program stored in the memory 12 or the storage device 13, this is not limiting. The control program may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. The control program may also be obtained from an external device via a communication line connected to the communication interface 14.

[0071] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 realized by executing the above control program.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 11, the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment includes an operation input unit 32, a display unit 33, a data transmission / reception unit 34, a control unit 35, an image reading unit 36, a data storage unit 37, and an image output unit 38.

[0073] The data transmission / reception unit 34 transmits and receives data to and from external devices such as the terminal device 40 and the image forming device 20 .

[0074] The control unit 35 generates print data based on a print job received from the terminal device 40 via the data transmission / reception unit 34, and controls output of the generated print data from the image output unit 38. The data storage unit 37 stores various data such as the print job received from the terminal device 40 and the print data generated by the control unit 35. The control unit 35 also transfers the print job received from the terminal device 40 to the image forming device 20 via the data transmission / reception unit 34.

[0075] The display unit 33 displays various information to the user under the control of the control unit 35. The operation input unit 32 inputs various operation information performed by the user.

[0076] Since the image forming apparatus 10 in this embodiment is an image forming apparatus that prints in normal colors, it is provided with an image output unit 38, which is a print processing unit that executes printing processing using color materials such as toners of normal colors consisting of CMYK. The image output unit 38 outputs an image onto a recording medium such as printing paper based on the control of the control unit 35. The image reading unit 36 ​​reads an original image from a set original based on the control of the control unit 35.

[0077] When overprinting is performed, the control unit 35 transmits the print job received from the terminal device 40 to the image forming device 20, which executes printing processing using color materials of special colors other than normal colors. Note that the image forming device 20 is registered in advance in the image forming device 10 as the image forming device that will perform overprinting, and the destination information of the image forming device 20 is stored in the data storage unit 37.

[0078] Here, when the control unit 35 receives a print job from the terminal device 40 in which an image is formed using multiple image forming devices and is requested to display a preview image of the print result, if the control unit 35 is unable to execute the print process according to the settings specified in the print job on its own device, it generates a preview image corresponding to the image that would be obtained if the print process were executed with the settings specified in the received print job changed to settings that can be executed on its own device, and sends this preview image to the terminal device 40 that sent the print job.

[0079] Thereafter, the control unit 35 changes the settings of the received print job to settings that can be executed in the image forming apparatus 35 itself, and transmits the changed settings to the image forming apparatus 20, which is another image forming apparatus that will execute the next print process.

[0080] Specifically, if the paper size specified in the print job received from terminal device 40 is not set in the control unit 35, the control unit 35 generates a preview image of the print result when paper of the size closest to the specified paper size is used from among the paper sizes set in the control unit 35, and transmits the preview image to the terminal device 40 that transmitted the print job. The control unit 35 then changes the paper size specified in the received print job to the paper size used when the preview image was generated, and transmits the preview image to the image forming device 20 that will execute the next print process.

[0081] In this case, if the paper size specified in the print job is not set on the device itself, the control unit 35 may turn off the alternative paper selection function, i.e., the SPS function, which is a function that selects the paper size closest to the specified paper size from the set papers and executes the print process, and send the print job received from the terminal device 40 to the image forming device 20 that will execute the next print process.

[0082] Note that specifying the paper size for a print job includes not only specifying the paper shape such as A4 or B5, but also specifying the paper orientation such as A4 landscape, postcard portrait, or postcard landscape.

[0083] In addition, when the control unit 35 receives a print job for overprinting, in which an image is formed by multiple image forming devices, from the terminal device 40, if the control unit 35 is able to execute the print processing according to the settings specified in the print job, it generates a preview image of the print result corresponding to the image for which the print processing is executed based on the received print job and sends it to the terminal device 40 that sent the print job.

[0084] In this case, the control unit 35 sends the print job received from the terminal device 40 to the image forming device 20 that will perform the next print process, without changing the setting state of the alternative setting selection function that changes the setting content specified in the print job to enable the print process to be performed on the image forming device 20 if the device itself cannot perform the print process according to the setting content specified in the print job.

[0085] The manner in which data is transmitted and received between the terminal device 40 and the image forming devices 10 and 20 when the above-described control is performed will be described with reference to the sequence chart of Fig. 12. Note that the sequence chart of Fig. 12 differs from the sequence chart shown in Fig. 7 in that only step S201 is added, and the processing contents of the other steps are the same, so descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0086] 12, in step S103, the image forming apparatus 10 transmits the generated preview image to the terminal device 40, and then in step S201, changes the settings of the print job. Specifically, in the image forming apparatus 10, the paper size specification in the print job is changed from A4 to letter size, and the SPS function is changed from on to off.

[0087] Then, in step S104, the image forming apparatus 10 transfers the print job whose settings have been changed in step S201 to the image forming apparatus 20 for post-printing.

[0088] Next, the operation of the image forming system of this embodiment when the paper sizes set in the image forming apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 are different as described above and the settings of the print job are changed to the image forming apparatus 10 will be specifically explained with reference to Figures 13 and 14.

[0089] First, in FIG. 13, it is assumed that letter-sized paper is set in image forming apparatus 10, and A4-sized paper is set in image forming apparatus 20.

[0090] (1) First, when obtaining a preview image for checking the print result of a print job that performs overprinting in advance, the terminal device 40 transmits the print job to the image forming device 10 for pre-printing together with an instruction to generate a preview image. In Fig. 13, the terminal device 40 is described as having transmitted to the image forming device 10 a print job that specifies A4 as the paper size and has the SPS function turned on.

[0091] (2) Then, image forming apparatus 10 receives the print job from terminal device 40, generates preview image 81 based on an image specified in CMYK colors that ignores the special color specification of this print job, and transmits it to terminal device 40. Here, since the SPS function is on for the print job from terminal device 40, image forming apparatus 10 selects letter size as the paper size closest to A4 size among the paper sizes set in its own device, and generates preview image 81 of what the image will look like when printed on letter-size paper. The operations up to this point are the same as those in FIG. 8.

[0092] (3) Then, image forming apparatus 10 changes the settings of the received print job to settings that can be executed on the image forming apparatus 10 itself, and transmits the changed settings to image forming apparatus 20, which will execute the next print process. Specifically, image forming apparatus 10 changes the paper size specified in the print job received from terminal apparatus 40 to letter size, which is the paper size used when preview image 81 was generated, and transmits the changed settings to image forming apparatus 20. At this time, image forming apparatus 10 changes the SPS function in the print job from on to off, and then transfers the print job to image forming apparatus 20.

[0093] The reason why the SPS function is turned off in image forming apparatus 10 before transferring the print job to image forming apparatus 20 is as follows: If a print job with the SPS function still on is transferred to image forming apparatus 20, and if letter-size paper is not loaded in image forming apparatus 20 but A4-size paper is, the specified paper size will be changed from letter size to A4 size before a preview image is generated. If an A4-size preview image is generated in image forming apparatus 20, the two preview images will not be able to be combined on terminal device 40 because the letter-size preview image generated in image forming apparatus 10.

[0094] (4) Next, image forming device 20, which has received the print job from image forming device 10, generates a preview image 82 based on the special color specification in the received print job and transmits it to terminal device 40. Here, A4 size paper is set in image forming device 10, but because the SPS function is turned off, preview image 82 is generated as if the image were printed on letter size paper.

[0095] (5) Then, as shown in Fig. 14, terminal device 40 receives preview image 81 from image forming device 10 and preview image 82 from image forming device 20, and generates preview image 83 for the generated print job by combining these two preview images 81, 82. Here, since both of the two preview images 81, 82 are generated based on letter size, terminal device 40 can easily combine the two preview images 81, 82 to obtain preview image 83 after combination.

[0096] In each of the above embodiments, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0097] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in each of the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0098] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the present invention is described as being applied to the paper size settings in a print job, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to any case in which it becomes impossible to combine two preview images due to differences in the settings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 10 Image forming device 11 CPU 12 Memory 13 Storage device 14 Communication Interface 15 User Interface Device 16 Scan Unit 17 Image forming unit 18 Control Bus 20 Image forming device 30 Network 32 Operation input section 33 Display section 34 Data transmission / reception unit 35 Control Unit 36 Image reading unit 37 Data storage unit 38 Image output unit 40 Terminal Equipment 51 Golden Images 61~63 Preview Images 71, 72 preview images 81~83 Preview Images

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: When a print instruction for forming an image by a plurality of image forming apparatuses is received from a terminal apparatus and a pre-check image of the print result is requested, if the apparatus is unable to execute the print process according to the setting contents specified in the print instruction, a pre-check image corresponding to the image that would be obtained if the setting contents specified in the received print instruction were changed to setting contents that can be executed by the apparatus is generated and sent to the terminal apparatus that sent the print instruction, The setting contents of the received print instruction are changed to setting contents that can be executed in the image forming apparatus, and the changed setting contents are transmitted to another image forming apparatus that will execute the next print process. Image forming device.

2. The processor: If the paper size specified in the print instruction received from the terminal device is not set in the device itself, a pre-check image of the print result when paper of a size closest to the specified paper size is used from among the papers set in the device itself is generated and sent to the terminal device that sent the print instruction, and the paper size specified in the received print instruction is changed to the paper size when the pre-check image was generated and sent to another image forming device that will execute the next print process.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The processor: If the paper of the paper size specified in the print instruction is not set in the image forming device, an alternative paper selection function is turned off, which is a function of selecting paper of the size closest to the specified paper size from the set papers and executing the print processing, and the print instruction received from the terminal device is sent to another image forming device that will execute the next print processing.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper size specification in the print instruction includes specification of not only the paper shape but also the paper orientation.

5. The processor: When a print instruction for forming an image by a plurality of image forming apparatuses is received from a terminal device, if the device itself can execute the print processing according to the setting contents specified in the print instruction, a pre-check image of the print result corresponding to the image for which the print processing is executed based on the received print instruction is generated and sent to the terminal device that sent the print instruction.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

6. The processor: If the image forming apparatus cannot execute the print process according to the setting contents specified in the print instruction, the print instruction received from the terminal apparatus is transmitted to another image forming apparatus that executes the next print process without changing the setting state of an alternative setting selection function that changes the setting contents specified in the print instruction so that the image forming apparatus can execute the print process.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5.

7. a print processing unit that executes a print process using normal color materials consisting of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black; the processor transmits the print instruction received from the terminal device to an image forming device that executes a print process using color materials of special colors other than the normal colors; 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

8. a step of receiving a print instruction from a terminal device to form an image using a plurality of image forming devices and requesting a pre-check image of the print result, if the device itself cannot execute the print process according to the setting contents specified in the print instruction, generating a pre-check image corresponding to the image that would be obtained if the setting contents specified in the received print instruction were changed to setting contents that can be executed on the device itself and the print process were executed, and transmitting the generated pre-check image to the terminal device that sent the print instruction; changing the setting contents of the received print instruction to setting contents that can be executed in the image forming apparatus, and transmitting the changed setting contents to another image forming apparatus that will execute the next print process; A program that causes a computer to execute the following.

Images