Printing system, job processing method, and storage medium

• US 20060159480A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Ushiyama, Kazuhiko, Mima, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,440,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/82
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/60 for printing on both faces of the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/00 Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern G03G16/00, G03G17/00 take precedence ; xerographic printers for data processors per se G06K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/235 the image receiving member being preconditioned before transferring the second image, e.g. decurled, or the second image being formed with different operating parameters, e.g. a different fixing temperature

Abstract

In order to build a convenient printing environment which can meet various needs associated with double-sided printing (e.g., a reduction of the load on the operator) from users upon double-sided printing and can cope with the POD environment, a user request associated with a double-sided printing job to be executed by a printing system which includes a printing apparatus that can execute a double-sided printing operation is accepted from the user via a user interface unit. When the user request accepted via the user interface unit is a specific user request, the printing apparatus is controlled to execute a series of double-sided printing operations using a function of adjusting a printing position of data to be printed on one of first side and second side of a printing medium in the double-sided printing job to be processed.

Claims

1. A printing system comprising a printing apparatus which can execute a double-sided printing operation, comprising:

an acceptor adapted to accept a user request associated with a double-sided printing job from a user via a user interface unit; and

a controller adapted to control the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations using a function of adjusting a printing position of data to be printed on one of a first side and second side of a printing medium in the double-sided printing job to be processed when the user request accepted via the user interface unit is a specific user request.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls to process data of the double-sided printing job to shift a printing position of data of one of the first side and second side of the printing medium from a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium in a predetermined direction.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed said on one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said controller allows to select the first mode and second mode for each job to be double-sided printed.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said controller allows the user to determine an operation mode to be executed of the first mode and the second mode via the user interface unit.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said controller allows the user to determine an operation mode to be executed of the first mode and the second mode in advance as an initial setting of the printing apparatus via the user interface unit.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said controller allows to automatically determine an operation mode to be executed of the first mode and the second mode.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said controller controls the printing apparatus to execute double-sided printing processing using print data itself of the job to be processed as the specific double-sided printing operation.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said controller controls the printing apparatus to execute double-sided printing processing using specific data which is different from print data of the job to be processed and is registered in a storage unit as the specific double-sided printing operation.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

said controller allows to select the first mode after double-sided printing processing for a predetermined number of pages of the job to be double-sided printed is executed by the printing apparatus.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

said controller allows the user to select the first mode via the user interface unit after double-sided printing processing for a predetermined number of pages of the job to be double-sided printed is executed by the printing apparatus.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

said controller allows to automatically select the first mode after double-sided printing processing for a predetermined number of pages of the job to be double-sided printed is executed by the printing apparatus.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

when the first mode is executed, said controller controls to print the data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a specific direction based on the user request accepted via the user interface unit as the predetermined direction, and the predetermined shift amount.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

when the first mode is executed, said controller controls to print the data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have the predetermined direction and a specific shift amount based on the user request accepted via the user interface unit as the predetermined shift amount.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller controls the user interface unit to make a display that allows to accept the specific user request, and

said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed when the specific user request is accepted via the display made on the user interface unit.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in a plurality of double-sided printing jobs to be processed.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to continuously execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the plurality of double-sided printing Jobs to be processed.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to continuously execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the plurality of double-sided printing jobs to be processed without a plurality of times of print execution instructions input by the user via the user interface unit.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows to accept a first setting associated with double-sided printing for the printing medium from the user via the user interface unit,

said controller allows to accept, from the user via the user interface unit, a second setting that can change a printing position of data to be printed on the printing medium after the beginning of printing by the printing apparatus, and

said controller allows to accept, from the user via the user interface unit, the change in printing position after completion of a double-sided printing operation for a predetermined number of pages by the printing apparatus when the first setting and the second setting are accepted from the user via the user interface unit.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute a double-sided printing operation for a predetermined number of pages after the change in printing position is accepted via the user interface unit upon completion of the double-sided printing operation for a predetermined number of pages by the printing apparatus, and allows to accept the change in printing position again via the user interface unit.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus, and

said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations based on a specific processing condition that considers a double-sided printing result on the printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation in the double-sided printing job to be processed as the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations including shift processing of an image to be printed on one side of a printing medium required in the job to be processed in the double-sided printing job to be processed as the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein said controller allows to accept the specific processing condition that considers the double-sided printing result from the user via the user interface unit after execution of the specific double-sided printing operation.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein said controller automatically sets the specific processing condition that considers the double-sided printing result on the basis of information from a sensor unit arranged on a convey unit that conveys a printing medium inside the printing apparatus.

26. The system according to claim 22, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations including image shift processing for printing an image obtained by shifting an image to be printed in a specific direction by a specific shift amount on one side of a printing medium required in the job to be processed in the double-sided printing job to be processed as the series of double-sided printing operations using the function, and

said controller allows to accept the specific direction and the specific shift amount from the user via the user interface unit.

27. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus, and

when a position misalignment amount of images printed on a printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation exceeds a position misalignment amount for a predetermined value, said controller controls the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus,

when a position misalignment amount of images printed on a printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation exceeds a position misalignment amount for a predetermined value, said controller controls the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function, and

when the position misalignment amount of the images printed on the printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation does not exceed the position misalignment amount for the predetermined value, said controller inhibits execution of the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller allows the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus,

when a position misalignment amount of images printed on a printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation exceeds a position misalignment amount for a predetermined value, said controller controls the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function, and

when the position misalignment amount of the images printed on the printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation does not exceed the position misalignment amount for the predetermined value, said controller allows to execute a series of double-sided printing operations without using the function.

30. The system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus can print data from at least one of a scanner unit and a computer via a storage unit, and

said controller allows to accept the user request via an operation unit of the printing apparatus as the user interface unit.

31. The system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus can print data from at least one of a scanner unit and a computer via a storage unit, and

said controller allows to accept the user request via a display unit of a computer, on which a printer driver of the printing apparatus is installed, as the user interface unit.

32. A job processing method for a printing system which comprises a printing apparatus that can execute a double-sided printing operation, comprising:

an acceptance step of accepting a user request associated with a double-sided printing job from a user via a user interface unit; and

a controlling step of controlling the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations using a function of adjusting a printing position of data to be printed on one of a first side and second side of a printing medium in the double-sided printing job to be processed when the user request accepted via the user interface unit is a specific user request.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling to process data of the double-sided printing job to shift a printing position of data of one of the first side and second side of the printing medium from a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium in a predetermined direction.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to select the first mode and the second mode for each job to be double-sided printed.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the user to determine an operation mode to be executed of the first mode and the second mode via the user interface unit.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the user to determine an operation mode to be executed of the first mode and the second mode in advance as an initial setting of the printing apparatus via the user interface unit.

38. The method according to claim 34, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to automatically determine an operation mode to be executed of the first mode and the second mode.

39. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the printing apparatus to execute double-sided printing processing using print data itself of the job to be processed as the specific double-sided printing operation.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein the controlling step comprises controlling the printing apparatus to execute double-sided printing processing using specific data which is different from print data of the job to be processed and is registered in a storage unit as the specific double-sided printing operation.

42. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

the controlling step further comprises allowing to select the first mode after double-sided printing processing for a predetermined number of pages of the job to be double-sided printed is executed by the printing apparatus.

43. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

the controlling step further comprises allowing the user to select the first mode via the user interface unit after double-sided printing processing for a predetermined number of pages of the job to be double-sided printed is executed by the printing apparatus.

44. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

the controlling step further comprises allowing to automatically select the first mode after double-sided printing processing for a predetermined number of pages of the job to be double-sided printed is executed by the printing apparatus.

45. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

the controlling step further comprises controlling, when the first mode is executed, to print the data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a specific direction based on the user request accepted via the user interface unit as the predetermined direction, and the predetermined shift amount.

46. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to selectively execute

a first mode of controlling to print data to be printed on one of the first side and second side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have a predetermined direction and a predetermined shift amount with respect to a printing position of data on the other side of the printing medium, and

a second mode of controlling to print data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium irrespective of the predetermined direction and the predetermined shift amount, and

the controlling step further comprises controlling, when the first mode is executed, to print the data to be printed on said one side of the printing medium on said one side of the printing medium to have the predetermined direction and a specific shift amount based on the user request accepted via the user interface unit as the predetermined shift amount.

47. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises:

controlling the user interface unit to make a display that allows to accept the specific user request; and

allowing the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed when the specific user request is accepted via the display made on the user interface unit.

48. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in a plurality of double-sided printing jobs to be processed.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the printing apparatus to continuously execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the plurality of double-sided printing jobs to be processed.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the printing apparatus to continuously execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the plurality of double-sided printing jobs to be processed without a plurality of times of print execution instructions input by the user via the user interface unit.

51. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises:

allowing to accept a first setting associated with double-sided printing for the printing medium from the user via the user interface unit;

allowing to accept, from the user via the user interface unit, a second setting that can change a printing position of data to be printed on the printing medium after the beginning of printing by the printing apparatus; and

allowing to accept, from the user via the user interface unit, the change in printing position after completion of a double-sided printing operation for a predetermined number of pages by the printing apparatus when the first setting and the second setting are accepted from the user via the user interface unit.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the printing apparatus to execute a double-sided printing operation for a predetermined number of pages after the change in printing position is accepted via the user interface unit upon completion of the double-sided printing operation for a predetermined number of pages by the printing apparatus, and allows to accept the change in printing position again via the user interface unit.

53. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises:

allowing the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus; and

allowing the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations based on a specific processing condition that considers a double-sided printing result on the printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation in the double-sided printing job to be processed as the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations including shift processing of an image to be printed on one side of a printing medium required in the job to be processed in the double-sided printing job to be processed as the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

55. The method according to claim 53, wherein the controlling step comprises allowing to accept the specific processing condition that considers the double-sided printing result from the user via the user interface unit after execution of the specific double-sided printing operation.

56. The method according to claim 53, wherein the controlling step comprises automatically setting the specific processing condition that considers the double-sided printing result on the basis of information from a sensor unit arranged on a convey unit that conveys a printing medium inside the printing apparatus.

57. The method according to claim 53, wherein the controlling step comprises:

allowing the printing apparatus to execute a series of double-sided printing operations including image shift processing for printing an image obtained by shifting an image to be printed in a specific direction by a specific shift amount on one side of a printing medium required in the job to be processed in the double-sided printing job to be processed as the series of double-sided printing operations using the function; and

allowing to accept the specific direction and the specific shift amount from the user via the user interface unit.

58. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises:

allowing the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus; and

controlling, when a position misalignment amount of images printed on a printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation exceeds a position misalignment amount for a predetermined value, the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

59. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises:

allowing the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus;

controlling, when a position misalignment amount of images printed on a printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation exceeds a position misalignment amount for a predetermined value, the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function, and

inhibiting, when the position misalignment amount of the images printed on the printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation does not exceed the position misalignment amount for the predetermined value, execution of the series of double-sided printing operations using the function.

60. The method according to claim 32, wherein the controlling step comprises:

allowing the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function in the double-sided printing job to be processed after a specific double-sided printing operation is executed by the printing apparatus,

controlling, when a position misalignment amount of images printed on a printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation exceeds a position misalignment amount for a predetermined value, the printing apparatus to execute the series of double-sided printing operations using the function, and

allowing, when the position misalignment amount of the images printed on the printing medium printed by the printing apparatus by the specific double-sided printing operation does not exceed the position misalignment amount for the predetermined value, to execute a series of double-sided printing operations without using the function.

61. The method according to claim 32, wherein the printing apparatus can print data from at least one of a scanner unit and a computer via a storage unit, and

the controlling step comprises allowing to accept the user request via an operation unit of the printing apparatus as the user interface unit.

62. The method according to claim 32, wherein the printing apparatus can print data from at least one of a scanner unit and a computer via a storage unit, and

the controlling step comprises allowing to accept the user request via a display unit of a computer, on which a printer driver of the printing apparatus is installed, as the user interface unit.

63. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for making a computer implement a job processing method of claim 32.