Patent ID: 8976397
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a print engine configured to perform printing on a recording medium; a job issuing unit configured to issue a print job for printing by the print engine; two print control units configured to control the print engine in accordance with the print job issued by the job issuing unit; and a job allocating unit configured to allocate the print job to an appropriate print control unit, among the two print control units, wherein, if a last print job is for a first print control unit, among the two print control units, the control of the print engine by the first print control unit in accordance with the last print job allocated to the first print control unit is not completed, and a next print job is for a second print control unit, among of the two print control units, the job allocating unit is further configured to place on standby the allocation of the next print job to the second print control unit, wherein, if the last print job is for the first print control unit, the control of the print engine by the first print control unit in accordance with the last print job allocated to the first print control unit is not completed, and the next print job issued by the job issuing unit is for the first print control unit, the job allocating unit is further configured to allocate the next print job to the first print control unit, wherein the two print control units are different from each other in at least part of the content of control capable of being performed for the print engine, wherein the first print control unit and the second print control unit instruct the print engine to perform a post-process, and wherein the first print control unit sets a stapling for one print job, while the second print control unit sets the stapling for a collection of recording media of an arbitrary number on which the printing is continuously performed in one print job.