Printing apparatus and method for controlling printing apparatus

A method for controlling a printing apparatus includes holding a plurality of jobs including a cover job having print data for a cover and a content job having print data for content, which are used in bookbinding processing, and performing control for displaying, on a display, a correspondence relationship between the cover job and the content job.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a method for controlling the printing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional printing apparatus receives an input of a print job to be bound as a book from a host computer or via an operation panel of the printing apparatus. The conventional printing apparatus like this is capable of outputting a bookbound product by executing the received print job. Another type of such a conventional printing apparatus is capable of separately and independently receiving a print job including print data to be printed on a cover sheet and another print job including print data to be printed on sheets as the content, to which the cover sheet is to be attached, as mutually different print jobs during bookbinding processing.

Another conventional printing apparatus includes a function called a “job holding function”. The “job holding function” refers to a function of a printing apparatus for holding a received print job on a memory until a user inputs a print instruction and executing only the print job whose print instruction has been received.

By using the job holding function, the user can input a content print job and a cover print job separately from each other into the printing apparatus to hold the input print jobs on the memory as mutually different print jobs. Furthermore, the user can issue a print instruction for executing the content print job and the cover print job held on the memory at a desired timing and perform bookbinding processing according to the print jobs with the printing apparatus.

However, when the job holding function is used, if a plurality of cover print jobs and a plurality of content print jobs are held on the memory at the same time, then the user cannot easily recognize the correspondence relationship between the cover print job and the content print job. Accordingly, when the user instructs printing of the print job held on the memory, the user may select and instruct printing of a wrong combination of a cover print job and a content print job.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a printing control apparatus includes a holding unit configured to hold a plurality of jobs including a cover job having print data for a cover and a content job having print data for content, which are used in bookbinding processing, and a display control unit configured to perform control for displaying, on a display, a correspondence relationship between the cover job and the content job.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the present invention will now be herein described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It is to be noted that the relative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Now, a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference toFIGS. 1 through 18.FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary configuration of a POD system10000according to the present exemplary embodiment. Note here that the POD system10000described below is a mere example. Accordingly, it is also useful if the POD system10000includes components and units different from those described below.

Referring toFIG. 1, a POD system10000includes a printing system1000, a scanner102, a server computer103(a PC103), and a client computer104(a PC104). The printing system1000, the scanner102, a server computer103(the PC103), and the client computer104(the PC104) are in communication with one another via a network101. Furthermore, the POD system10000includes a paper folding machine107, a cutting machine109, a saddle stitch binding machine110, and a case binding machine108.

The printing system1000, which is an example of a job processing apparatus, includes a plurality of types of apparatuses, such as a printing apparatus100and a sheet processing apparatus200. Note that in the present embodiment, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a plurality of functions, such as a copy function and a printer function, is described as an example of the printing apparatus100. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this. That is, a printing apparatus that has a single function only, such as a copy function or a printer function, can be used as the printing apparatus100. More specifically, any apparatus configured to form an image on a sheet (a recording material or a print paper sheet) can be used as the printing apparatus100.

The PC103manages a data communication performed among various apparatuses connected to the network101. The PC104sends image data to the printing apparatus100and the PC103via the network101.

In addition, the paper folding machine107performs processing for folding sheets that have been printed by the printing apparatus100. The case binding machine108performs processing for case-binding sheets that have been printed by the printing apparatus100.

The cutting machine109performs processing for cutting sheets that have been printed by the printing apparatus100with respect to a sheet stack including a plurality of sheets that has been printed by the printing apparatus100. The saddle stitch binding machine110performs processing for saddle-stitch binding sheets that have been printed by the printing apparatus100.

In utilizing the paper folding machine107, the case binding machine108, the cutting machine109, or the saddle stitch binding machine110, an operator (user) takes out the sheets that have been printed by the printing apparatus100from the printing system1000, sets the sheets on the apparatus that the user desires to utilize (in this case, either the paper folding machine107, the case binding machine108, the cutting machine109, or the saddle stitch binding machine110) to perform the desired processing on the apparatus set by the user to be used. Furthermore, among the plurality of apparatuses included in the POD system10000illustrated inFIG. 1, the apparatuses except the saddle stitch binding machine110are connected to the network101. Thus, the apparatuses other than the saddle stitch binding machine110can perform data communications among them.

An exemplary configuration of the printing system1000is described below with reference to a system block diagram illustrated inFIG. 2.FIG. 2illustrates an example of a configuration of the printing system1000according to the present exemplary embodiment. Components of the printing system1000except the sheet processing apparatus200illustrated inFIG. 2are included in the printing apparatus100.

Referring toFIG. 2, an arbitrary number of sheet processing apparatuses200can be connected to the printing apparatus100. The printing system1000can perform sheet processing on the sheets that have been printed by the printing apparatus100with the sheet processing apparatus200connected to the printing apparatus100.

The sheet processing apparatus200functions as a post-processing apparatus and can communicate with the printing apparatus100. The sheet processing apparatus200can receive an instruction from the printing apparatus100to perform the sheet processing, which will be described in detail below.

The printing apparatus100includes a scanner unit201, an external interface (I/F)202, a printer unit203, an operation unit204, a control unit205, a ROM207, a RAM208, a hard disk drive (HDD)209, and a compression/decompression unit210. The scanner unit201reads an image of an original document, converts the read image into image data, and transfers the converted image to other units.

The external I/F unit202sends and receives data to and from other apparatuses connected to the network101.

The printer unit203prints an image based on the image data input by scanning with the scanner unit201on a sheet.

The operation unit204includes a hard key input unit402(FIG. 7) and a touch panel401(FIG. 7). The operation unit204receives an instruction from the user operating the hard key input unit402and the touch panel401. In addition, the operation unit204displays various types of information on the touch panel401. The operation unit204will be described in detail later below with reference toFIG. 7.

The control unit205controls the printing system1000by controlling the operations of each unit of the printing system1000. Furthermore, the control unit205controls the operations of the printing apparatus100and the sheet processing apparatus200connected to the printing apparatus100.

The ROM207stores various programs to be executed by the control unit205. More specifically, the ROM207stores, for example, a program for performing various processing illustrated in the flow charts, and a display control program for displaying various setting screens, which will be described in detail below.

In addition, the ROM207stores a program for performing an operation by the control unit205for interpreting page description language (PDL) code data received from the PC103or the PC104and rasterizing the PDL code data into raster image data. In addition, the ROM207stores various programs such as a system boot program and various information such as font data.

The RAM208is used as a work area for the control unit205in performing control processing. Furthermore, the RAM208stores information about the sheet processing apparatus200. The information about the sheet processing apparatus200includes various information, such as the number (the number is an integer from 0 to n) of sheet processing apparatuses200that are connected to the printing apparatus100, information about a function of the sheet processing apparatus200, and an order of connecting a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses200to the printing apparatus100, for example.

The HDD209includes components such as a hard disk and a driving unit for reading and writing data from and on the hard disk. The HDD209stores image data that has been input via the scanner unit201or the external I/F unit202and compressed by a compression/decompression unit210and a plurality of print jobs including a print condition for printing the image data (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “job”). The print condition includes the number of prints, the layout for the printing, and setting information for post processing executed by the sheet processing apparatus200or other post-processing apparatuses.

The control unit205can print the image data stored on the HDD209with the printer unit203according to an instruction from the user. In the present exemplary embodiment, the HDD209is used to implement a job holding function. The HDD209includes a hold queue capable of holding image data and a plurality of print jobs including the print condition for the image data. As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the HDD209implements the job holding function. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the job holding function can be implemented by the RAM208.

The compression/decompression unit210performs compression and decompression processing on image data stored in the RAM208and the HDD209based on various compression formats, such as Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group (JBIG) or Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG).

An exemplary configuration of the printing system1000is described below with reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a cross section that illustrates an example of the printing apparatus100and the sheet processing apparatus200according to the present embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 3, the printing apparatus100includes an auto document feeder (ADF)301, a scanner302, a rotating polygonal mirror303, a photosensitive drum304, a transfer drum305, a separation claw306, a pre-fixing conveyance unit307, a fixing device308, a sheet discharge flapper309, a paper discharge roller310, a two-sided conveying unit, a paper re-feed roller315, a registration roller316, paper cassettes317and318, a paper feed deck319, and a manual feed tray320. The ADF301separates a document bundle set on a stacking surface of a document tray page by page from the first page. Then, the ADF301feeds the document onto a document mounting glass to scan the document with the scanner302.

The scanner302reads an image on the document that has been conveyed onto the document mounting glass and converts the read document image into image data with an image sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD).

A ray, such as a laser beam, which has been modulated according to the image data, is made incident on the rotating polygonal mirror303. The ray reflected from the rotating polygonal mirror303then falls on the surface of the photosensitive drum304via a reflection mirror as reflection scanning light to form a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum304.

The latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum304with the ray is then developed with toner. The toner image thus formed is transferred onto the sheet conveyed and attached onto the surface of the transfer drum305.

By serially performing a series of image forming processing on toners of colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), a full color image is formed. After performing four-image forming processing, a sheet on the transfer drum305, onto which a full color image has been formed, is then separated from the transfer drum305by the separation claw306. Then, the separated sheet is conveyed to the fixing device308by the pre-fixing conveyance unit307.

The fixing device308includes rollers and a belt in combination with one another. Furthermore, the fixing device308includes therein a heat source such as a halogen heater. The fixing device308applies heat and pressure to the toner on the sheet having the transferred toner image. Thus, the toner on the sheet having the toner image is fused and fixed.

The sheet discharge flapper309can swing around an axis. The sheet discharge flapper309swings to regulate a direction of conveying a sheet. When the sheet discharge flapper309swings clockwise inFIG. 3, the sheet is conveyed in a straight direction. Then, the sheet is conveyed to the paper discharge roller310and is then discharged out of the printing apparatus100by the paper discharge roller310.

On the other hand, in forming images on both sides of the sheet (two-sided printing), the sheet discharge flapper309swings counterclockwise inFIG. 3to change the path for conveying the sheet to a downward direction. Thus, the sheet is conveyed to a two-sided conveyance unit. The two-sided conveyance unit includes the reversal flapper311, the reversal roller312, the reversal guide313, and the two-sided tray314.

The reversal flapper311swings around an axis and regulates the direction of conveying the sheet. In performing a two-sided print job, the control unit205performs the following control. That is, the control unit205performs control so that the reversal flapper311swings counterclockwise inFIG. 3to convey the sheet, whose first surface has been already printed with the printer unit203, into the reversal guide313via the reversal roller312.

Then, the control unit205temporarily stops the reversal roller312in the state where a trailing edge of the sheet is pinched by the reversal roller312. Then, the control unit205allows the reversal flapper311to swing counterclockwise inFIG. 3. Furthermore, the control unit205allows the reversal roller312to rotate in a reverse direction.

As described above, the control unit205performs control so that the sheet is switched back to be conveyed. The control unit205performs control to guide the sheet to the two-sided tray314in the state where the leading edge and trailing edge of the sheet have been changed in position.

The two-sided tray314temporarily stacks the sheet that has been conveyed thereto as described above. Then, the sheet temporarily stacked on the two-sided tray314is conveyed into the printing apparatus100again to a registration roller316by the paper re-feed roller315. At this time, the sheet is fed with a surface thereof opposite to the first surface used in the transfer processing facing the photosensitive drum304.

Then, the control unit205performs control to form an image on the second surface of the sheet as in the processing described above.

Thus, images are formed on both sides of the sheet. Then, the sheet having the image formed thereon is subjected to fixing processing. After that, the sheet having the image fixed thereon is conveyed to the paper discharge roller310again and discharged to the outside of the printing apparatus100via the paper discharge roller310.

In addition, the printing apparatus100includes a paper feed unit that stacks sheets to be used in the print processing. As the paper feed unit, the paper cassettes317and318, the paper feed deck319, and the manual feed tray320are used in the present embodiment. Each of the paper cassettes317and318can stack five hundred sheets, for example, while the paper feed deck319can stack five thousand sheets, for example.

Here, various types of sheets of different sizes and materials can be respectively set in each paper feed unit on the paper cassettes317and318and the paper feed deck319. Furthermore, in the manual feed tray320, various types of sheets including a special sheet, such as an overhead projector (OHP) sheet, can be set.

Each of the paper feed cassettes317and318, the paper feed deck319, and the manual feed tray320includes a paper feed roller. The sheets stacked on the paper feed unit are serially fed by the paper feed roller sheet by sheet.

Now, the sheet processing apparatus200connected to the printing apparatus100illustrated inFIG. 3will be described below.

An arbitrary number of different types of sheet processing apparatuses200in the printing system1000according to the present embodiment can be connected in tandem as long as sheets can be conveyed from the sheet processing apparatus200on the upstream side to the sheet processing apparatus200on the downstream side via a sheet conveyance path. In this regard, for example, the sheet processing apparatuses200can be connected to the printing apparatus100in order of a large-capacity stacker200-3a, a gluing binding machine200-3b, and a saddle stitch binding machine200-3c, in order of increasing distance from the printing apparatus100, as illustrated inFIG. 3. The large-capacity stacker200-3a, the gluing binding machine200-3b, and the saddle stitch binding machine200-3ccan be selectively used by the printing system1000.

Furthermore, each of the sheet processing apparatus200includes a sheet discharge unit. The operator can take out the sheet that has been already subjected to the above-described sheet processing from the sheet discharge unit of each of the sheet processing apparatuses200.

The control unit205performs the following processing for controlling the sheet processing apparatus200connected to the printing apparatus100according to an instruction from the operator.

For example, if the operator has operated the operation unit204and thus issued an instruction for performing processing for stacking a large number of sheets to perform a print job, the control unit205performs the processing for printing the sheet for the instructed print job with the printing apparatus100. Then, the control unit205stacks a large amount of printed sheets in the large-capacity stacker200-3aconnected to the printing apparatus100.

On the other hand, if the operator has operated the operation unit204and thus issued an instruction for performing case binding processing, the control unit205performs processing for printing on the sheet for the print job with the printing apparatus100. Then, the control unit205performs the case binding processing on the printed sheets with the gluing binding machine200-3bconnected to the printing apparatus100.

Note that the setting for the case binding processing can be performed via a screen displayed on a display unit of the PC103or the PC104. The control unit205performs case binding processing according to the condition set via the screen.

Furthermore, if the operator has operated the operation unit204and issued an instruction for performing top gluing binding processing, then the control unit205performs the processing for printing on the sheet for the print job with the printing apparatus100and then performs the top gluing binding processing on the printed sheet with the gluing binding machine200-3b, which is connected to the printing apparatus100.

Furthermore, if the operator has operated the operation unit204and issued an instruction for performing saddle stitch binding processing, the control unit205performs the processing for printing on the sheet for the print job with the printing apparatus100. Then, the control unit205performs stapling processing instructed by the operator on the printed sheets with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cconnected to the printing apparatus100.

Similarly, if the operator has operated the operation unit204and issued an instruction for performing either of punching processing, cutting processing, and folding processing, the control unit205performs the sheet processing instructed by the operator with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cconnected to the printing apparatus100.

The control unit205receives a request for performing sheet processing desired by the operator, of candidates for sheet processing that can be performed with the sheet processing apparatus200connected to the printing apparatus100, together with a print request issued by the operator via the operation unit204.

When the control unit205receives the request for printing the job to be subjected to the instructed sheet processing via the operation unit204, the control unit205performs the print processing requested in the print job on the sheet with the printer unit203.

Then, the control unit205performs control for conveying the sheet that has been printed in the print job to the sheet processing apparatus200that can perform the sheet processing desired by the user via the sheet conveyance path, to perform the requested sheet processing with the sheet processing apparatus200.

Here, suppose, in the printing system1000having the configuration illustrated inFIG. 3, that the user has instructed the control unit205via the operation unit204to perform processing for stacking a large amount of sheets with the large-capacity stacker200-3awith respect to the print job to be subjected to the sheet processing desired by the user (in this case, the processing for stacking a large amount of sheets) whose request for printing has been issued by the user. The job like this is hereinafter simply referred to as a “stacker job”.

When the stacker job is processed in the system having the configuration illustrated inFIG. 3, the control unit205, at first, allows the sheet in the job that has been printed with the printing apparatus100to pass a point A inFIG. 3and to be conveyed into the large-capacity stacker200-3a. After that, the control unit205performs the stacking processing in the job with the large-capacity stacker200-3a.

Then, the control unit205allows the print product of the job on which the stacking processing has been performed with the large-capacity stacker200-3ato be held in a paper discharge destination X in the large-capacity stacker200-3a, without conveying the print product to another apparatus (for example, an apparatus downstream to the large-capacity stacker200-3a).

The operator can take out the print product of the stacker job that is held in the paper discharge destination X inFIG. 3directly from the paper discharge destination X. Accordingly, a series of operations of the apparatuses and the operator's operation including conveyance of the sheet to a paper discharge destination Z at the most downstream position in the sheet conveyance direction inFIG. 3and taking out of the print product of the stacker job from the paper discharge destination Z become unnecessary.

In addition, suppose that the job to be processed whose request for printing has been received from the operator in the system configuration inFIG. 3is a job that has been instructed to be subjected to sheet processing (for example, gluing binding processing, such as case binding processing or top gluing binding) with the gluing binding machine200-3b. That job is herein referred to as a “gluing binding job”.

In performing the gluing binding job in the system having the configuration illustrated inFIG. 3, the control unit205, at first, allows a sheet printed with the printing apparatus100to be conveyed into the inside of the gluing binding machine200-3bvia points A and B inFIG. 3. After that, the control unit205performs the gluing binding processing of the job with the gluing binding machine200-3b.

After the gluing binding processing for the job with the gluing binding machine200-3bis completed, the control unit205allows the print product of the job on which the gluing binding processing has been performed with the gluing binding machine200-3bto be held in a paper discharge destination Y in the gluing binding machine200-3b, without conveying the print product to another apparatus (for example, an apparatus downstream to the gluing binding machine200-3b).

Furthermore, for example, suppose, in the printing system1000having the configuration illustrated inFIG. 3, that a job to be processed whose request for printing has been received from the operator is a job that has been instructed to be subjected to sheet processing with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c.

Here, the sheet processing performed with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cincludes, for example, saddle stitch binding processing, punching processing, cutting processing, shift discharge processing, and folding processing. The job like this is hereinafter collectively and simply referred to as a “saddle stitch binding job”.

In processing the saddle stitch binding job with the system configuration inFIG. 3, the control unit205allows a sheet used in the job printed with the printing apparatus100to pass points A, B, and C inFIG. 3to be conveyed to the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c. After that, the control unit205performs the sheet processing of the job with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c.

After the saddle stitch binding processing for the job with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cis completed, the control unit205allows the print product of the saddle stitch binding job that has been subjected to the sheet processing with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cto be held in the paper discharge destination Z in the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c.

Note that in the present embodiment, the paper discharge destination Z includes a plurality of paper discharge destination options. With the plurality of paper discharge destination options, the saddle stitch binding machine200-3ccan perform a plurality of types of sheet processing in which different discharge destinations are used for respective types of sheet processing.

As described above with reference toFIGS. 1 through 3, in the printing system1000according to the present embodiment, a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses200can be connected to the printing apparatus100. The plurality of sheet processing apparatuses200can be connected to the printing apparatus100in an arbitrary combination thereof.

Furthermore, the order of connection of the plurality of sheet processing apparatuses200to the printing apparatus100can be freely determined or changed as long as the sheet conveyance paths provided among the sheet processing apparatuses200can be continuously provided. Furthermore, a plurality of different types of sheet processing apparatuses200can be used as the sheet processing apparatuses that can be connected to the printing apparatus100.

Now, an exemplary inner configuration of the sheet processing apparatus200that can be connected to the printing apparatus100according to the present embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 4 through 6.

To begin with, an exemplary inner configuration of the large-capacity stacker200-3a(FIG. 3) is described with reference to the cross section inFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a cross section illustrating an example of a configuration of the large-capacity stacker200-3aaccording to the present exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 4, the large-capacity stacker200-3aconveys the sheet that has been conveyed from an upstream apparatus selectively into three conveyance paths. The three conveyance paths include a sample tray path251, a stack path252, and a straight path253.

The stack path252, which is included in the large-capacity stacker200-3a, is a sheet conveyance path for conveying the sheet onto a stack tray254.

The stack tray254is a stacking unit that is provided above an extendable stay255. A detachable cart256is provided below the extendable stay255. An operator can easily carry the sheet that has been stacked on the stack tray254by using the detachable cart256.

Here, if the operator has operated the operation unit204to issue a request for performing a job for starting processing for stacking the sheet with the large-capacity stacker200-3a, the control unit205performs control for conveying the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100into the stack path252of the large-capacity stacker200-3aand discharging the sheet on the stack tray254via the stack path252.

The straight path253of the large-capacity stacker200-3ais a sheet conveyance path for conveying, to an apparatus in a subsequent stage, the sheet used in the job that does not require processing for stacking the sheet on the stack tray254of the large-capacity stacker200-3a.

The sample tray path251is a sheet conveyance path for discharging the sheet onto a sample tray257. The straight path253, the sample tray path251, and the sample tray257are used to provide an easy access to a print product by making it unnecessary for the operator to take out the print product from the stack tray254. In this case, the control unit205performs control for conveying the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100onto the sample tray path251and discharging the sheet onto the sample tray257via the sample tray path251.

Note that a plurality of sheet detection sensors (not illustrated), which is used to detect a status of conveyance of the sheet and paper jamming, if any, is provided in the sheet conveyance path in the large-capacity stacker200-3a.

In addition, the large-capacity stacker200-3aincludes a central processing unit (CPU) (not illustrated). The CPU of the large-capacity stacker200-3anotifies the control unit205of information about sheet detection, which has been sent from each sensor to the control unit205via a signal line used for performing data communication. The control unit205can recognize the state of sheet conveyance and the occurrence of jamming in the large-capacity stacker200-3aaccording to the information from the large-capacity stacker200-3a.

Note here that if another sheet processing apparatus200is provided and connected between the large-capacity stacker200-3aand the printing apparatus100, then a CPU (not illustrated) of the sheet processing apparatus200provided between the large-capacity stacker200-3aand the printing apparatus100notifies the information from the sensor of the large-capacity stacker200-3ato the control unit205.

Now, an exemplary inner configuration of the gluing binding machine200-3bwill be described below with reference to the cross section inFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a cross section illustrating an example of a configuration of the gluing binding machine200-3baccording to the present exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 5, the gluing binding machine200-3bconveys the sheet that has been conveyed from an upstream apparatus selectively into either one of three conveyance paths, namely, a cover path261, a contentblock path262, or a straight path263.

In addition, the gluing binding machine200-3bincludes an inserter path264. The inserter path264is a sheet conveyance path used for conveying the sheet that has been set on an inserter tray265into the cover path261.

The straight path263of the gluing binding machine200-3bis a sheet conveyance path used for conveying, to an apparatus in a subsequent stage, the sheet used in the job that does not require the gluing binding processing with the gluing binding machine200-3b.

Furthermore, each of the contentblock path262and the cover path261of the gluing binding machine200-3bis a sheet conveyance path used for conveying the sheet necessary for generating a case-bound print product.

For example, in generating one case-bound print product using the gluing binding machine200-3b, the control unit205performs control for printing image data for the content that is to be printed on a sheet for the content of the case-bound print product with the printer unit203. In generating one case-bound print product, a sheet stack for one book including sheets for the content is covered with one cover sheet. The sheet stack for the content used in case binding is herein referred to as a “contentblock”. The content may include or consist of text and/or one or more images.

The control unit205performs control for conveying the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100, which is to be the contentblock, into the contentblock path262.

Then, in performing the case binding processing, the control unit205performs processing for binding the contentblock sheets that have been printed with the printing apparatus100with the cover sheet which has been conveyed via the cover path261.

For example, the control unit205allows the contentblock sheets conveyed from an upstream apparatus to be serially stacked in a stacking unit266via the contentblock path262illustrated inFIG. 5. When the sheets onto which the contentblock data is printed are stacked on the stacking unit266in an amount equivalent to the number of sheets for one book, the control unit205allows one sheet used for the cover required in the job to be conveyed via the cover path261. It is useful if the cover sheet set on the inserter tray265is conveyed into the cover path261via the inserter path264or if the cover printed by the printing apparatus100is conveyed into the cover path261. The operator can change the setting as to which of the above-described method for providing the cover is to be used.

In parallel to the above-described operation, the control unit205performs control for gluing a spine portion of one set of the sheet stack, which have been stacked on the stacking unit266and are to be used for the contentblock, with a gluing unit267.

After that, the control unit205controls the gluing unit267so that the gluing unit267attaches the spine portion of the contentblock to a central portion of the cover sheet. In attaching the contentblock to the cover, the contentblock is conveyed while being pushed towards a lower portion of the gluing bookbinding machine200-3b.

Thus, the control unit205performs processing for folding the cover sheet to wrap the contentblock with one cover sheet. Subsequently, one set of sheet stack is stacked on a turntable269along a guide268.

After one set of sheet stack has been set on the turntable269, the control unit205can perform three-edge cutting processing with a cutter unit270. Here, the three-edge cutting processing refers to processing for cutting three edges of the sheet stack for one set of a book except the spine portion thereof.

More specifically, the control unit205performs control for rotating the sheet stack by 90 degrees with the turntable269every time the cutting processing for cutting one edge of the sheet stack is performed. When the cutting processing for cutting one edge of the sheet stack is performed on three different edges thereof, the three-edge cutting processing is completed.

Then, the control unit205performs control for pressing the sheet that has been subjected to the three-edge cutting processing against a basket272with a pressing portion271. Thus, the sheet stack is stored in the basket272. By performing the above-described processing, the present exemplary embodiment can output a case-bound print product.

Now, an exemplary inner configuration of the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cwill be described below with reference toFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a cross section illustrating an example of a configuration of the saddle stitch binding machine200-3caccording to the present exemplary embodiment.

The saddle stitch binding machine200-3cincludes various units provided for selectively performing various processing, such as stapling processing, cutting processing, punching processing, folding processing, shift discharge processing, or saddle stitch binding processing, on the sheet that has been printed with and sent from the printing apparatus100, as will be described in detail below.

Furthermore, the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cdoes not have a straight path that functions as a sheet conveyance path to a downstream apparatus. Therefore, if a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses is connected to the printing apparatus100, the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cis connected as the last apparatus, as illustrated inFIG. 3.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the saddle stitch binding machine200-3chas a sample tray281, a stack tray282, and a booklet tray283. The sample tray281and the stack tray282are provided outside the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cwhile the booklet tray283is provided inside the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c.

When the control unit205receives an instruction from the operator for performing stapling processing with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c, the control unit205, at first, performs control for serially stacking the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100on a processing tray284, which is provided in the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c.

After the sheets for one sheet stack are stacked on the processing tray284, the control unit205performs the instructed stapling processing with a stapler285. Then, the control unit205performs control for discharging the stapled sheet stack from the processing tray284onto the stack tray282.

Furthermore, when the control unit205receives an instruction from the operator for performing a job for which the Z-folding processing with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3chas been designated by the operator, the control unit205performs processing for folding the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100in a Z-like shape with a Z-folding unit292.

Then, the control unit205allows the folded sheet to pass through the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cand to be discharged onto a discharge tray, such as the stack tray282or the sample tray281.

When the control unit205receives an instruction for performing the punching processing with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c, the control unit205performs control for performing the instructed punching processing on the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100with a puncher unit286.

Then, the control unit205allows the sheet to pass through the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cand to be discharged onto a discharge tray, such as the stack tray282or the sample tray281.

Furthermore, if the control unit205performs the job for which the operator has issued an instruction for performing the saddle stitch binding processing with the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c, the control unit205, at first, performs saddle stitching at two positions in a central portion of the sheet stack including a plurality of sheets for one set with a saddle stitcher unit287. After that, the control unit205performs two-folding using the central portion of the sheet stack as a reference by engaging the central portion of the sheet stack with a roller.

In the above-described manner, a leaflet-like booklet can be produced. The sheet stack on which the saddle stitch binding processing has been performed with the saddle stitcher unit287as described above is then conveyed onto the booklet tray283.

Furthermore, when the control unit205receives an instruction for performing the cutting processing on the job in which saddle stitch binding processing is instructed to be performed, the control unit205performs control for conveying the sheet stack that has been saddle-stitch bound from the booklet tray283to a trimmer288.

Subsequently, the control unit205performs control for cutting the sheet stack that has been conveyed to the trimmer288with a cutter unit289. Then, the sheet stack that has been cut with the cutter unit289is conveyed to a booklet holding portion290to be held therein. Here, note that the saddle stitch binding machine200-3ccan perform the three-edge cutting processing on the sheet stack that has been subjected to the saddle stitch binding processing.

It is also to be noted that if the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cdoes not include a trimmer, the sheet stack that has been bound with the saddle stitcher unit287can be taken out of the booklet tray283.

Furthermore, the saddle stitch binding machine200-3ccan add the sheet set on an insertion tray291(for example, a cover sheet that has been previously printed) to the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100and conveyed from the printing apparatus100.

Now, a configuration of the operation unit204according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference toFIG. 7.FIG. 7illustrates an example of a configuration of the operation unit204according to the present exemplary embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 7, the operation unit204includes a touch panel unit401and a key input unit402.

The touch panel unit401is constituted by a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a transparent electrode attached on the LCD. The touch panel401displays various setting screens used for receiving an instruction from the operator.

That is, the touch panel401not only functions to display various setting screens but also functions to receive an instruction from the operator. The received instruction is notified to the control unit205.

The key input unit402includes a power key501, a start key503, a stop key502, a reset key504, a user mode key505, a numeric keypad506, and a clear key507. Here, the start key503can be operated by the operator to issue an instruction for starting a copy job or a send job by the printing apparatus100. The numeric keypad506can be operated by the operator to enter a numerical value for a print setting item, such as the number of print copies. The clear key507is can be operated by the operator to clear various parameters set with the numeric keypad506.

The control unit205controls the printing system1000so that the printing system1000performs various processing according to an instruction from the operator received via various screens displayed on the touch panel401and an instruction from the operator received via the key input unit402.

FIG. 8illustrates an example of a setting screen800used for allowing the operator to select a type of the sheet processing to be performed on the sheet that has been printed with the printing apparatus100according to the present embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 8, when the operator presses a sheet processing setting key609(FIG. 7) on the screen displayed on the touch panel unit401(FIG. 7), the control unit205displays the setting screen800illustrated inFIG. 8on the touch panel unit401. The setting screen800is configured so that the operator can select a type of sheet processing that can be performed with the sheet processing apparatus200in the printing system1000.

The control unit205receives the settings for the sheet processing to be performed during a job to be processed via the setting screen800(FIG. 8). Then, the control unit205performs the sheet processing with the sheet processing apparatus200according to the received settings. The user can input an instruction for executing case binding processing by pressing a “gluing bookbinding1(case binding)” key displayed on the setting screen800.

FIG. 9illustrates an example of a configuration of a setting screen900according to the present exemplary embodiment. The operator can register the types, number, and order of sheet processing apparatuses200connected to the printing apparatus100via the setting screen900. When the operator presses the operator mode key505(FIG. 7), the control unit205performs control so that the setting screen900can be displayed on the touch panel401.

For example, in a case where the printing system1000has the system configuration illustrated inFIG. 3, the operator sets, via the setting screen900, registration information indicating that three sheet processing apparatuses200, namely, the large-capacity stacker200-3a, the gluing bookbinding machine200-3b, and the saddle stitch binding machine200-3c, are connected to the printing apparatus100in this order.

In this case, the control unit205stores the information related to the sheet processing apparatus200set by the operator via the setting screen900in the RAM208as system configuration information, and reads and refers to the stored information as necessary. Thus, the control unit205verifies the type of sheet processing that can be performed by the sheet processing apparatuses200and how many sheet processing apparatuses200are connected to the printing apparatus100in what order.

Suppose that the operator has performed a setting via the setting screen900inFIG. 9so that a saddle stitch binding machine having no straight path is connected at some midpoint of the combination of a plurality of sheet processing apparatuses200. In this case, the control unit205disables the setting and displays an error message on the touch panel401.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 9, it is also useful if the control unit205displays guidance information for making a notification for prompting the operator to connect the saddle stitch binding machine200-3cas the last of the sheet processing apparatuses200.

In the present embodiment, the operation unit204included in the printing apparatus100is described as an example of a user interface unit applied in the printing system1000. However, the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the printing system1000can perform the processing according to an instruction generated via the user interface unit included in an external apparatus, such as the PC103or the PC104.

In remotely operating the printing system1000from an external apparatus, a setting screen1001related to the printing system1000illustrated inFIG. 10is displayed on a display unit of the external apparatus. A description thereof will now be made below using the PC104as an example.

FIG. 10illustrates an example of the setting screen1001displayed on a display of the PC104according to the present embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 10, a CPU included in the PC104, when receiving a print request from the operator, displays the setting screen1001illustrated inFIG. 10on the display of the PC104, and then receives the settings set by the operator of the PC104via the setting screen1001as a print processing condition.

For example, the CPU of the PC104receives from the operator the type of the sheet processing to be performed by the sheet processing apparatus200with respect to a print job that is requested from the PC104via a setting field1702.

When a request for performing printing is received upon pressing of an OK key inFIG. 10, the CPU of the PC104performs control so that the print processing condition input via the setting screen1001and the image data to be printed are linked with each other as one job and the job including the print processing condition and the image data is sent to the printing system1000via the network101.

In the printing system1000, when receiving the print request for printing the job via the external I/F unit202, the control unit205performs control of the printing system1000so that the printing system1000performs print processing for the job received from the PC104according to the print processing condition input by the operator via the PC104. As described above, various units, as well as the operation unit204, can be provided in the printing system1000as a user interface thereof.

Now, a job holding function used in executing a print job will be described in detail below with reference toFIG. 11. The job holding function is a function for temporarily storing (holding) a print job on a hold queue of the HDD209under control by the control unit205and for printing a print job if it has been instructed by the user to print the print job via the operation unit204. The hold queue can hold a print job received from the external PC103or a print job for printing an image read with the scanner unit201. The user can refer to and verify the print job stored on the hold queue by displaying a job holding screen1101(FIG. 11) on the operation unit204.

The job holding screen1101is displayed when the user selects a “hold” tab604displayed on the touch panel401(FIG. 7). More specifically, when the user touches the “hold” tab604, the control unit205controls the touch panel401to display the job holding screen1101. At this time, as illustrated inFIG. 11, the control unit205reads information about the print jobs held in an area within the HDD209for temporarily storing print jobs (hereinafter simply referred to as a “hold queue”) and displays the print job information as a list.

The job holding screen1101displays a reception number1102, a document name1103, a user name1104, and a paper type1105as information about each print job held on the hold queue.

The operator can select one or more print jobs via the job holding screen1101. The operator can perform an operation of the corresponding print job by selecting the job via the job holding screen1101and touching either one of buttons provided in the lower portion of the job holding screen1101. The operation includes “preview”1106, “test-print”1107, “print”1108, “delete”1109, and “edit”1110.

The “preview” button1106can be selected by the operator to display image data included in the corresponding print job as a preview. The “test-print” button1107can be selected by the operator to print one copy of the corresponding job. When the “print” button1108is selected, it is determined that a print instruction has been input and the corresponding print job is printed. The “delete” button1109can be selected by the operator to delete the corresponding print job. The “edit” button1110can be selected by the operator to change the setting of the corresponding print job. As described above, the job holding screen can also function as a job selection screen.

By using the hold queue, which temporarily holds the jobs as described above, the user can perform an operation for the job stored on the hold queue without entering a password. Accordingly, an operator other than the user who has input the job can also perform an operation on the job stored on the hold queue.

Furthermore, by using the job holding function, the user can hold a print job for printing a bookbound product (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “bookbinding job”) on the hold queue. The bookbinding job includes a job such as a top-gluing binding job, a case binding job, or a saddle stitch binding job. In the present exemplary embodiment, it is supposed that the gluing binding machine200-3bexecutes case binding processing. A product to be book-bound output by executing case binding processing includes a cover and content. The bookbound product is output by the gluing binding machine200-3bby executing processing for case-binding content sheets with a cover sheet.

In this regard, more specifically, the user generates data for the cover and other data for the content on the PC103. Then, the user performs a setting for currently displayed page via a print setting screen illustrated inFIG. 12and instructs printing. When the user print instruction is input, the PC103transmits a print job for generating a bookbound print product to the printing apparatus100.

In this regard, various methods can be used as a method for transmitting the print job for generating a bookbound print product to the printing apparatus100. For example, in transmitting the print job to the printing apparatus100, the user can hold the data for the cover and the data for the content on the hold queue of the printing apparatus100as one print job.

Furthermore, as another method for transmitting a job to the printing apparatus100, the user can separately and independently hold a cover print job (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “cover job”) and a content print job (hereinafter simply referred to as a “content job”) on the hold queue.

Furthermore, if a cover job is already held on the hold queue, the user can transmit only the content job to the printing apparatus100to hold the content job in association with the cover job already stored on the hold queue. This method is useful in executing processing for case-binding the content to be instructed to be printed with a cover to be printed by executing the cover job stored on the hold queue. In this case, the user can designate, via a case binding screen1201illustrated inFIG. 12, identification information for identifying the cover job held on the hold queue, input a print instruction for printing the job, and transmit the print job to the printing apparatus100. Then, the printing apparatus100mutually associates the content job and the cover job according to the identification information added to the received content job and holds the content job and the cover job on the hold queue.

On the other hand, if a content job has already been held on the hold queue and thus a cover job is transmitted to the printing apparatus100in this state, then the user designates identification information for identifying the content job held on the hold queue and instructs printing of the content job. In addition, the printing apparatus100mutually associates the cover job and the content job and holds the same on the hold queue according to the identification information added to the received cover job.

Furthermore, if the user desires to perform printing by feeding an already printed cover from the inserter tray265by hand, the user can instruct printing of a content job only from the PC103and hold the content job on the hold queue.

The user can arbitrarily select a desired method from among the above-described methods as necessary.

Now, a method for inputting a print job for performing case binding from the PC103on the hold queue of the printing apparatus100will be described in detail below.

On the PC103, the user who desires to input a print job generates image data with an application, sets a print setting with the printer driver, and instructs the printing apparatus100to perform printing.FIG. 12illustrates an example of a case binding screen1201of a printer driver according to the present exemplary embodiment for performing a setting related to case binding processing.

The case binding screen1201is displayed on the operation unit204when “case binding” is selected as a setting of a printing method in a “finishing” setting field in the print setting screen1001illustrated inFIG. 10. Furthermore, when case binding is selected, a cover setting item1204is displayed. By setting a parameter for the setting item1204, the user can select the paper size of a cover, a paper feed unit for feeding the cover, a printing method for the cover, and whether to print the cover, related to the case binding printing. Furthermore, the user can also select the paper type (not illustrated).

When the user has completely performed the setting of the case binding processing and instructed printing via the case binding screen1201, the PC103transmits the print job, to which the setting set by the user has been added as a print setting of the data to be printed, to the printing apparatus100.

When the user has selected “printing” in an output method field1202in the case binding screen1201and instructed printing, the received printing apparatus100that has received the print job inputs the received print job in a printing waiting queue. Then, the printing apparatus100performs the instructed printing according to the printing order of the print jobs registered in the printing waiting queue.

On the other hand, if the user has instructed case binding via the case binding screen1201(FIG. 12), the printing apparatus100performs the instructed case binding processing and outputs a case-bound print product. Furthermore, if the user has instructed printing when “hold” is selected in the output method field1202, the printing apparatus100, which has received the print job, determines that the print job is a job to be held on the hold queue and then inputs the received print job on the hold queue.

Now, a method for instructing printing from the PC103related to the case binding processing will be described in detail below.

The method for instructing printing related to case binding includes the following four case binding cover/content instruction methods (1) through (4).

When the “case binding cover/content instruction method (1)” is selected, the user can hold the content job to be printed and the cover job held on the hold queue in association with each other. The “case binding cover/content instruction method (1)” is useful if the processing for printing a cover has already been stored on the printing apparatus100.

More specifically, if it is determined by the PC103that the user has selected an “input job” as the printing method for the cover in the setting item1204, then an area of the screen for receiving an input of a reception number1205of the input cover job is displayed. At this time, the user can enter a reception number of the job that has already been input on the hold queue of the printing apparatus100.

Subsequently, if it is detected by the PC103that the user has pressed an OK key via the print setting screen1001, then the PC103transmits a print job including print data for the content and a print condition set via the case binding screen1201to the printing apparatus100as PDL data. After receiving the print job, the printing apparatus100holds the received print job on the hold queue as a content job.

When the “case binding cover/content instruction method (2)” is selected, the cover job and the content job can be held on the printing apparatus100as one print job. The “case binding cover/content instruction method (2)” is useful if the content job and the cover job are yet to be printed.

More specifically, in holding the data for the cover and the data for the content on the printing apparatus100as one job, the user selects “print” as the print method. Subsequently, if it is determined that the user has pressed the OK key via the print setting screen1001, the PC103transmits the print job including the data of the content, the data for the cover, and the print condition set via the case binding screen1201to the printing apparatus100as PDL data. After receiving the print job, the printing apparatus100holds the received print job on the hold queue as one print job for printing the content and the cover.

When the “case binding cover/content instruction method (3)” is selected, the cover job and the content job are held as mutually different print jobs. The “case binding cover/content instruction method (3)” is useful when the content job and the cover job are yet to be printed.

More specifically, in holding the cover job and the content job as different two print jobs, the user selects “print” as the print method and marks a check box of a cover/content separate setting field1206. Subsequently, if it is determined that the user has pressed the OK key via the print setting screen1001, then the PC103transmits the print job including the data for the cover, the data for the content, and the print condition set via the case binding screen1201to the printing apparatus100as PDL data. After receiving the print job, the printing apparatus100holds the received print job on the hold queue separately as the content job and the cover job.

When the “case binding cover/content instruction method (4)” is selected, a sheet placed on the inserter tray265(FIG. 5) is used as sheet for the cover. The “case binding cover/content instruction method (4)” is useful when an already output sheet is used as the cover.

More specifically, in this case, the user selects “no” (do not print) as the print method. Subsequently, if it is determined that the user has pressed the OK key via the print setting screen1001, then the PC103transmits the print job including the data for the content and the print condition set via the case binding screen1201to the printing apparatus100as PDL data. After receiving the print job, the printing apparatus100holds the received print job on the hold queue as the content job.

Now, the operation of the control unit205of the printing apparatus100performed after receiving the print job transmitted by the above-described method will be described in detail below. After receiving the print job from the PC103, the control unit205analyses the PDL data and determines whether the received print job has been instructed to be held on the hold queue. If the received print job has been instructed to be held on the hold queue, then the control unit205issues a reception number of the print job and stores the same on the hold queue.

Furthermore, the control unit205determines whether the received print job has been instructed to be case-bound. If the received print job has been instructed to be case-bound, then the control unit205performs the following control. That is, the control unit205determines which of the above-described case binding cover/content instruction methods (1) through (4) has been designated by the user according to the print condition set for the print job. The control unit205changes the method for holding the print job on the hold queue according to the designated case binding cover/content instruction method.

If it is determined that the case binding cover/content instruction method (1) or (4) has been designated, the control unit205holds the received print job on the hold queue as a content job.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the case binding cover/content instruction method (2) has been designated, then the control unit205holds the received print job on the hold queue as one job for printing the content and the cover.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the case binding cover/content instruction method (3) has been designated, then the control unit205holds the job on the hold queue separately as a cover job and a content job.

Furthermore, the control unit205adds the data of the print job to the hold queue and records attribute information indicating which of the case binding cover/content instruction methods (1) through (4) has been designated with respect to each print job in a job management table1301(FIG. 13).

The job management table1301manages information such as the reception number1102, the document name1103, the user name1104, and the paper type1105, which are displayed on the job holding screen1101, with respect to each job. In addition, the job management table1301manages information such as the case binding cover/content instruction method and the reception number of the cover job with respect to each print job.

After receiving the print job from the PC103, the control unit205analyzes the PDL data included in the received print job. If it is determined that the print job has been instructed to be held on the hold queue, then the control unit205performs the following control. That is, the control unit205stores the print job on the HDD209and stores the information1102through1105in the job management table1301as information about the stored print job.

Note that if it is determined that the case binding cover/content instruction method (1) or (3) has been designated, then the control unit205sets the reception number of the cover job in the job management table1301as the print job information. More specifically, if the method (1) has been designated, the control unit205registers the reception number entered by the user via the case binding screen1201in the job management table1301. On the other hand, if the method (3) has been designated, the reception number allocated by the control unit205to the cover job in separately holding the content job and the cover job is set in the job management table1301.

The control unit205displays the job holding screen1101(FIG. 11) on the operation unit204according to the information stored in the job management table1301. In this case, the control unit205identifies the correspondence relationship between the content job and the cover job and displays the identified correspondence relationship between the content job and the cover job on the job holding screen1101displayed on the operation unit204to allow the user to easily recognize the same.

In displaying the job holding screen1101on the operation unit204, the control unit205performs the following control. That is, the control unit205identifies the cover job corresponding to the content job having the reception number003as the cover job having the reception number002, for example. Then, the control unit205displays the same number in a related job field1011for the reception numbers002and003.

Thus the user can easily recognize the correspondence relationship between the cover job and the content job even if a plurality of cover jobs and a plurality of content jobs are held on the hold queue.

Note that the method for specifically displaying the correspondence relationship between the cover job and the content job is not limited to the above-described method for displaying the same number in the related job field1011. That is, it is also useful if the same symbols are displayed. Furthermore, it is also useful if the corresponding jobs are displayed in the same color.

Furthermore, it is also useful if the control unit205, if the user has selected the content job, changes the color of the field for the content job and the color of the field for the cover job corresponding to the content job. Thus, the user can easily identify and recognize the cover job corresponding to the content job in printing the content job.

As described above, the printing apparatus100having the above-described configuration can allow the user to easily recognize the correspondence relationship between the content job and the cover job held on the hold queue.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the information about the cover job corresponding to the content job is managed as information about the content job. However, it is also useful if the information about the content job corresponding to the cover job is managed as the information about the cover job.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the printing apparatus100holds the mutually associated cover job and content job and prints the print job instructed by the user to be printed.

By using the printing apparatus100having the above-described configuration, the user can select and instruct printing of the content job only. If the content job only is selected and instructed to be printed, then the control unit205performs the content job and stacks sheets for the content on the gluing binding machine200-3b. In addition, after completely stacking sheets for one book, the control unit205feeds a cover sheet for case-binding the sheets stacked in the gluing binding machine200-3b. In this case, if the cover has already been printed, the user sets the cover on the inserter tray265and can print the cover with the printing apparatus100.

However, if the user has not instructed printing of the cover job, the printing by the printing apparatus100may be stopped due to a failure “no paper”. In this regard, the content job may be output instead of stopping the printing. However, the sheets having the content are output without being case-bound by the cover. Thus, in this case, the user may obtain an undesired output product.

In order to address this, a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention prevents outputting a product not desired by the user, which may be output when the user has instructed printing of the content job held on the hold queue only and thus the content job only is output.

FIG. 14is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary operation for performing print processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. Each processing in the flow chart ofFIG. 14is executed with the control unit205by reading and executing a program previously stored on the ROM207.

Referring toFIG. 14, in step S1401, the control unit205determines whether the user has input an instruction for printing from the hold queue. More specifically, the control unit205determines whether the user has selected a job via the job holding screen1101and pressed the print key1108(i.e., whether the user has input a print instruction). If the user has selected a print job via the job holding screen1101and it is detected that the print key1108has been pressed (YES in step S1401), then the control unit205determines that the instruction for printing from the hold queue has been input.

In step S1402, the control unit205refers to the information stored in the job management table1301to determine whether the case binding cover/content instruction method (1) or (3) has been designated for the print job selected in step S1401.

If the method other than the case binding cover/content instruction methods (1) and (3) has been designated for the selected print job (NO in step S1402), then the processing advances to step S1404. In step S1404, the control unit205transfers the instructed print job as it is to the printing waiting queue. In addition, the control unit205prints the print job with the printer unit203according to the printing order. On the other hand, if the case binding cover/content instruction methods (1) or (3) have been designated for the selected print job (YES in step S1402), then the processing advances to step S1403. In step S1403, since the print job is a content job, the control unit205determines whether the cover job has already been printed. If the cover job has already been printed (YES in step S1403), the user can set the already printed cover on the inserter tray265and print the cover job and the content job. Here, the control unit205refers to the reception number of the cover job stored in the job management table1301of the selected print job to perform the determination in step S1403.

More specifically, the control unit205determines whether the print job having the reception number of the selected print job has been or is to be output before printing the selected print job. In this regard, for example, the control unit205refers to the printed job history to determine whether the print job having the reception number of the selected print job has already been printed.

Furthermore, the control unit205refers to an execution waiting job queue to determine whether the print job having the reception number of the selected print job is to be output before the selected print job. Alternatively, the control unit205verifies whether the print job whose printing has already started includes the print job having the corresponding reception number. Here, the state in which “printing has already started” is not limited to a state where image forming with the printer unit203has been started. That is, the state in which “printing has already started” can include a state in which the printing of another print job has already been started and the print job is to be started after the another print job is completely printed.

If the cover job has already been or is to be printed before printing the selected print job (YES in step S1403), then the processing advances to step S1404. In step S1404, the control unit205prints the selected print job as it is. On the other hand, if the cover job has not been printed yet in step S1403(NO in step S1403), then the processing advances to step S1405. In step S1405, the control unit205displays a verification screen1501(FIG. 15) for allowing the user to select how the selected print job is to be processed on the operation unit204. The control unit205performs control in step S1406according to the instruction input from the user via the verification screen1501.

Now, what is displayed by the verification screen1501will be described in detail below. The verification screen1501displays a message1502indicating the cause for displaying the verification screen. In the present exemplary embodiment, the message1502indicates that the cover for the case binding processing has not been printed yet and thus the content only is to be output if the job is printed with the current setting. The verification screen1501displays various soft keys, which can be selected by the user. The soft keys include a “cancel” key1503, a “compulsory printing” key1504, a “print together with cover job” key1505, a “print cover job first” key1506, a “change settings” key1507, and a “list of candidates” key1508. The user can select a desired processing method by pressing a soft key corresponding to the desired processing method.

Now, “post verification processing”, which is performed in step S1406, will be described in detail below. In step S1406, the control unit205performs printing according to the processing method selected by the user. Hereinbelow, the processing performed according to each processing method will be described in detail.

When the “cancel” key1503has been pressed, the control unit205closes the verification screen1501and stops the printing of the print job selected in step S1401.

When the “compulsory printing” key1504has been pressed, the control unit205closes the verification screen1501, transfers the print job selected in step S1401to the execution waiting queue, and starts printing according to the printing order.

When the “print together with cover job” key1505has been pressed, the control unit205closes the verification screen1501and combines the cover job and the content job selected in step S1401into one job. More specifically, the control unit205combines the content job selected in step S1401and the cover job corresponding to the content job into one job according to the information stored in the job management table1301.

In addition, the control unit205prints the content with the printer unit203and stacks the printed sheet on the stacking unit266of the gluing binding machine200-3b, as in the case binding processing. Furthermore, the control unit205prints the cover with the printer unit203, case-binds the content glued through the cover path261of the gluing binding machine200-3bwith the cover, and outputs the case-bound printed sheet bundle. By combining and printing the content job and the cover job as described above, the present exemplary embodiment can case-bind the content sheets with the cover sheet and output the case-bound print product without causing the user to set the cover sheet printed by executing a cover job on the inserter tray265.

When “print cover job first” key1506has been pressed, the control unit205closes the verification screen1501and starts the printing of the cover job held on the hold queue. More specifically, the control unit205executes the cover job identified by the “cover job reception number” of the print job selected in step S1401according to the information stored in the job management table1301. Then, the control unit205starts the printing of the content job selected in step S1401after executing the cover job. In this case, in outputting the case-bound printed sheet bundle, the user sets the cover that has been printed first on the inserter tray265of the gluing binding machine200-3b. The control unit205prints the content with the printer unit203and stacks the printed content sheet(s) on the stacking unit266of the gluing binding machine200-3b. Then, the control unit205feeds the cover from the inserter tray265, case-binds the contentblock that has been glued through the cover path261of the gluing binding machine200-3bwith the cover sheet, and outputs the case-bound printed sheet bundle.

When the “change settings” key1507has been pressed, the control unit205displays a setting changing screen1601illustrated inFIG. 16. The setting changing screen1601displays an advanced mode key1602. If the advanced mode key1602has been pressed by the user, the control unit205displays an advanced mode screen1701illustrated inFIG. 17on the touch panel401. The user can cancel or disable the setting for the case binding processing. The control unit205starts the printing of the print job selected in step S1401according to the setting updated with the change input by the user via the setting changing screen1601and the advanced mode screen1701.

When the “list of candidates” key1508has been pressed, the control unit205displays a candidate list screen1801illustrated inFIG. 18. By pressing the “list of candidates” key1508, the user can select the cover job corresponding to the content job selected in step S1401and output the selected job as the cover job.

The candidate list screen1801displays a list of jobs whose paper size complies with the paper size set for the content job selected in step S1401, which have been extracted by the control unit205from among jobs held or stored on the hold queue and boxes. A “box” is a storage area provided within the HDD209and different from the hold queue. Here, the hold queue and the box can be provided on different memory devices.

The control unit205can receive a condition (the paper size, the paper type, and the like) for searching for a cover job input from the user via the candidate list screen1801. The control unit205can search for candidate jobs according to the received search condition. If it is detected that the setting for a search condition1802has been changed, the control unit205searches for jobs held or stored on the hold queue and the box according to the condition set in the search condition field1802. Then, the control unit205displays a candidate job key1804in a candidate job field1803, which indicates the name of the candidate job.

Furthermore, if it is detected that the candidate job key1804has been selected, the control unit205prints the job selected via the candidate job key1804. Then, the control unit205prints the content with the printer unit203and stacks the printed content sheets on the stacking unit266of the gluing binding machine200-3b, as in the case where the user has pressed the “print cover job first” key1506. Then, the control unit205feeds the cover selected via the candidate job key1804and that has been printed from the inserter tray265, case-binds the contentblock glued through the cover path261of the gluing binding machine200-3bwith the cover, and outputs the case-bound printed sheet bundle.

When a “scan” key1805has been pressed, the control unit205reads a document with the scanner unit201, feeds a sheet complying with the search condition1802, and prints an image of the read document with the printer unit203. Furthermore, the control unit205prints the content with the printer unit203and stacks the printed content sheets on the stacking unit266of the gluing binding machine200-3b. Then, the control unit205feeds the cover sheet having the image of the document read with the scanner unit201from the inserter tray265, case-binds the contentblock glued through the cover path261of the gluing binding machine200-3bwith the cover, and outputs the case-bound printed sheet bundle.

As described above, the printing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment can prevent outputting a product of the content only, which is not desired by the user, when the user instructs printing of the content job held on the hold queue.

In the second exemplary embodiment, the control unit205determines whether the cover job is to be printed before printing the content job in step S1403and performs the subsequent processing according to a result of the determination. In a third exemplary embodiment, the control unit205performs the following control in step S1403. That is, if the user has instructed printing of a content job only, the control unit205determines whether a cover job corresponding to the content job can be printed according to whether the cover job has been held on the hold queue. In addition, if it is determined that the cover job has been held on the hold queue and thus can be printed, then the control unit205controls so that the content job and the cover job are output at the same time.

On the other hand, if the cover job has not been held on the hold queue and thus cannot be printed, then the control unit205notifies so to the user. Furthermore, the control unit205performs control for displaying a screen for performing a setting for supplying a cover from a unit other than the hold queue on the operation unit204. In this regard, the control unit205displays, on the operation unit204, a screen for allowing the user to select between feeding the cover from the inserter tray265and feeding the cover by executing the cover job stored in the box.

By performing the above-described control, the present exemplary embodiment can allow the user to print the content job and the cover job at the same time if the user has instructed printing of the content job and if the cover job has been held on the hold queue. Furthermore, if the user has instructed printing of the content job, the printing apparatus100can allow the user to select the method of feeding the cover if the cover job has not been held on the hold queue. Thus, the present exemplary embodiment can perform the control as desired by the user. Note here that it is also useful if the control unit205, if the user has instructed printing of the cover job only, determines whether the content job corresponding to the cover job can be printed and outputs the content job and the cover job at the same time if it is determined that the content job can be printed.

Now, a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference toFIG. 19. In the present exemplary embodiment, if the user has selected the content job only and if the selected content job has been associated with the cover job, then the printing apparatus100automatically prints the content job and the cover job without requiring the user to verify the processing.

The control according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in detail below. Note here that in the present exemplary embodiment, the printing system1000has the configuration illustrated inFIG. 3as in the first and the second exemplary embodiments. In addition, the method for inputting a case binding job into the hold queue of the printing apparatus100the method for instructing the cover and the content during the case binding processing are the same as those in the first and the second exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 19is a flow chart illustrating exemplary print processing according to the present exemplary embodiment. Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, processing different from that described above with reference toFIG. 14only will be described in detail below. That is, processing in steps S1901through S1903is the same as that in steps S1401through S1403, and accordingly, the description thereof will not be repeated here. The following processing is centrally controlled by the control unit205.

Referring toFIG. 19, in step S1903, the control unit205determines the current status of the cover job. More specifically, at first, the control unit205acquires the reception number of the cover job stored in the job management table1301of the selected print job. Then, the control unit205determines in which of the following states the cover job is. The states include a state A, in which the cover job having the acquired reception number has already been printed or is to be printed before printing the selected content job, a state B, in which the cover job is to be printed after printing the content job, and a state C, which is a state other than the states A and B. In the state C, the content job and the cover job have been combined, for example.

If the cover job is in the state A, the control unit205, in step S1904, prints the selected content job as it is. On the other hand, if the cover job is in the state B, the control unit205, in step S1905, changes the printing order of the cover job so that the cover job is to be printed before printing the content job. More specifically, in this case, the control unit205does not start printing the content job until the cover job is printed (starts printing the content job after printing the cover job). As described above, if the cover is output before the content, it is useful, in printing the content job, not to start printing the content job until the cover sheet is set on the inserter tray265and to start printing the content job after the cover is set on the inserter tray265. By performing the above-described control, the present exemplary embodiment can output a case-bound print product by feeding the cover set on the inserter tray in executing the content job.

If it is determined that the cover job is in the state C in step S1903, then the processing advances to steps S1906and S1904. In steps S1906and S1904, the control unit205prints the content with the printer unit203and stacks the printed content sheet on the stacking unit266of the gluing binding machine200-3b. In addition, the control unit205prints the cover with the printer unit203, case-binds the contentblockc glued through the cover path261of the gluing binding machine200-3b, and outputs the case-bound print product bundled in this manner. By printing the combined content job and the cover job, the present exemplary embodiment can case-bind the contentblock with the cover and output the case-bound print product without requiring the user to set the sheet printed by executing a cover job on the inserter tray265.

As described above, the printing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment performs the control for automatically outputting the cover job before outputting the content job even when the user has issued an instruction for printing the content job only before printing the cover job. Furthermore, in printing the content job, if the cover has been output before the content job, the present exemplary embodiment does not start printing the content job until the printed cover is set on the inserter tray265and prints the content job after the cover is set on the inserter tray265.

In this regard, it is also useful if a message to prompt the user to set the cover on the inserter tray265is displayed on the operation unit204while suspending the content job. Furthermore, if a print job subsequent to the content job that has been suspended exists in the execution waiting queue while the printing of the content job is suspended, it is also useful to execute the subsequent print job in priority to the suspended content job. In addition, it is also useful if one print job including a content job and a cover job combined with each other is executed instead of printing the cover job before the content job. With the above-described configuration, if the user has selected and instructed the printing of the content job only, the present exemplary embodiment can automatically output the content job together with the cover job by using the printing apparatus100.

With the above-described configuration, the present exemplary embodiment is useful if the user who has input the print job (job inputting user) is different from the user who selects and executes the print job on the printing apparatus100(execution instructing user), for example. In this case, the printing apparatus100holds the print job input by the job inputting user on the hold queue and executes the print job if the execution instructing user has instructed printing of the print job.

By using the job holding function, the job inputting user can input a print job on the printing apparatus100without particularly becoming aware of the order of outputting print jobs. In addition, the execution instructing user can issue print instructions in an efficient printing order by referring to the status of the printing apparatus100and the list of jobs held on the hold queue. However, if the job inputting user separately inputs a content job and a cover job, the execution instructing user may not recognize the correspondence relationship between the input content job and cover job. In this regard, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the correspondence relationship between the content job and the cover job is displayed in a user-recognizable manner. Thus, the user (execution instructing user) can easily identify and recognize the correspondence relationship between the content job and the cover job.

Furthermore, the printing apparatus100according to the present exemplary embodiment verifies the method for providing the cover with the user if the user has instructed the printing of the content job only. Accordingly, the present exemplary embodiment can prevent outputting of a print product of the content job without case-binding the contentblock, which may occur due to an operation error by the user. Furthermore, if the user has instructed the printing of the cover job only, it is also useful if the printing apparatus100verifies the method for providing the content with the user. Accordingly, the present exemplary embodiment can prevent outputting the cover without case-binding the contentblock, which may occur due to an operation error by the user.

In the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the case binding processing is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the present invention can be implemented in performing gluing binding or saddle stitch binding processing on a cover and a content. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to bookbinding processing for executing a cover job and a content job. That is, the present invention can be implemented in performing bookbinding processing for executing a content job and a sheet insertion job for inserting an insertion sheet.

In the above-described embodiments of the present invention, after performing a print setting for a bookbinding job, a content job, and a cover job via the case binding screen1201, the PC103transmits the jobs whose print settings have been set to the printing apparatus100. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the user can input an instruction for executing a print job via the operation unit204of the printing apparatus100. In this case, the control unit205displays an operation screen having a function substantially similar to that of the case binding screen1201on the operation unit204and receives the print setting set by the user via the operation screen.

The functions according to the above-described exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings can be implemented by a host computer (the PC103or the PC104, for example) using a program that is externally installed. Note here in this case, data for displaying an operation screen similar to that described above in the embodiments of the present invention having each operation screen is externally installed to provide the above-described various UI screens on a display unit of the host computer. For example, the print setting screen1001described above can be used as an example of such an operation screen. Furthermore, in this case, the present invention is applied to the case where a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a computer-readable storage medium such as a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a flash memory, and a floppy disk (FD) or from an external computer-readable storage medium through a network.

The present invention is embodied in a program for a computer which on execution by a computer implements the functions of the invention described herein. The program may be carried on a carrier medium such as a computer-readable storage medium or a transmission medium (signal). The present invention can thus also be achieved by providing a system or an apparatus with a carrier medium such as a computer-readable storage medium storing program code of software implementing the functions of the embodiments and by reading and executing the program code stored in the computer-readable storage medium with a computer of the system or the apparatus (a CPU or a micro processing unit (MPU)).

In this case, the program code itself, which is read from the computer-readable storage medium, implements the functions of the embodiments described above, and accordingly, the computer-readable storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Accordingly, the program can be configured in any form, such as object code, a program executed by an interpreter, and script data supplied to an operating system (OS).

As the computer-readable storage medium for supplying such program code, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk (MO), a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a compact disc recordable (CD-R), a compact disc rewritable (CD-RW), a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a read only memory (ROM), and a digital versatile disc (DVD (DVD-recordable (DVD-R), DVD-rewritable (DVD-RW))), for example, can be used.

In this case, the program code itself, which is read from the computer-readable storage medium, implements the function of the embodiments mentioned above, and accordingly, the computer-readable storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

The above program can also be supplied by connecting to a web site on the Internet by using a browser of a client computer and by downloading the program from the web site as a signal to a computer-readable storage medium such as a hard disk. In addition, the above program can also be supplied by downloading a compressed file that includes an automatic installation function from the web site to a computer-readable storage medium such as a hard disk. The functions of the above embodiments can also be implemented by dividing the program code into a plurality of files and downloading each divided file from different web sites. That is, a World Wide Web (WWW) server and a file transfer protocol (ftp) server for allowing a plurality of users to download the program file for implementing the functional processing configure the present invention.

In addition, the above program can also be supplied by distributing a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM and the like which stores the program according to the present invention after an encryption thereof, by allowing the user who is qualified for a prescribed condition to download key information for decoding the encryption from the web site via the Internet, and by executing and installing in the computer the encrypted program code by using the key information.

In addition, the functions according to the embodiments described above can be implemented not only by executing the program code read by the computer, but also implemented by the processing in which an OS or the like carries out a part of or the whole of the actual processing based on an instruction given by the program code.

Further, in another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, after the program code read from the computer-readable storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in a computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, a CPU and the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit carries out a part of or the whole of the processing to implement the functions of the embodiments described above.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to a system including a plurality of devices and to an apparatus that includes one device. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented by supplying a system or an apparatus with a program. In this case, by reading the carrier medium such as a computer-readable storage medium that stores a program described by software that can implement the present invention with the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can implement the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is not limited to a specific description hereof.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-060076 filed Mar. 10, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.