JP2008260148A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program for executing image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lay out and print a plurality of page images so as to fit on a paper of the same series larger than a specified size even when an out of paper occurs and an alternative paper is selected.
A plurality of paper feeding units capable of feeding paper of a plurality of types of sizes, a detection unit for detecting the presence or absence of a first size paper to be output corresponding to the print data, and the detection unit A means for detecting the presence or absence of a second paper that is larger than the first paper and of the same series size when the absence of paper is detected, and when the second paper is present by the detection means, Means for laying out and combining a plurality of page images generated with the first paper size so as to fit the second paper size, and outputting a post-process for the page outputted with the second paper; Means for generating a job description file to be instructed.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for outputting an image in accordance with input print data, and a program for executing the image forming method, and without particularly reducing productivity even when an error such as a paper out occurs. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of performing printing processing efficiently.

  In an image processing apparatus such as a page printer that executes image processing in accordance with print data input from outside, a drawing instruction or device is written in a page description language (hereinafter referred to as PDL) described in a predetermined format (syntax). It is configured to perform control. That is, the page printer analyzes the received print data in the PDL format according to a predetermined format, generates an intermediate format drawing object (hereinafter referred to as a display list, or DL for short), and then generates the DL. Is rendered to generate a bitmap image representing the page contents, that is, a page image, which is printed and output on a sheet of a size specified by the PDL.

  Such a page printer is provided with a plurality of paper cassettes or paper feed trays, and is configured to feed a plurality of paper sizes. Here, if the paper of the size specified in the PDL is not prepared in the cassette or the paper feed tray or is lost during the printing process, a paper replacement request is made to the panel provided in the image processing apparatus. And waits for the user to select whether paper of the specified size is replenished or printing is continued using alternative paper.

If the designated print paper is not in the paper cassette of the printer, select the paper cassette containing print paper that is one size smaller than the designated print paper, and print from the changed paper cassette. An unfolded image corresponding to two pages of printing paper is output to the printer engine while the photosensitive drum rotates once so that two sheets of paper are continuously fed and printing can be performed on the two printing papers. And developing the developed image on two sheets of the printing paper (see Patent Document 1).
JP 11-296021 A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, if an alternative sheet is selected when the paper runs out, a printed matter in which a plurality of paper sizes are mixed is produced. There is a problem that the result is missing or an extra margin is generated, and the paper is wasted. For example, if you want to output to A4 paper and the paper runs out and A3 is used as a substitute paper, the A4 page image specified in PDL is printed on half of the A3 paper, and the remaining half is output as blank paper. End up. Alternatively, when output to B4 paper is desired and the A4 paper is used as a substitute paper when the paper runs out, the printing result of the portion that is insufficient with the A4 paper is missing.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes the following means. That is, in an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs a page image corresponding to print data input from the outside, a plurality of paper feeding units capable of feeding paper of a plurality of sizes, and an output corresponding to the print data Detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of the first size paper to be printed during the printing process, and a second size larger than that of the first paper and having the same size when the detecting means detects no paper. A means for detecting the presence or absence of the second paper, and when the second paper is present by the detection means, a plurality of page images generated with the first paper size are laid out so as to fit the second paper size. And a unit for generating a job description file for instructing a post-process for the page output on the second sheet.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention further includes the following means. In other words, the image processing apparatus is characterized in that the post-process is cutting.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention further includes the following means. In other words, the image processing apparatus further includes means for prompting the user to replenish paper or select a substitute paper provided in the paper feed means when the detection means detects no paper, and the substitute paper As one of the options, the second paper size for printing the combined page image is described.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention further includes the following means. In other words, the job description file is described in JDF (Job Description File).

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention further includes the following means. That is, the means for laying out and outputting the plurality of page images generated in the first size to the second paper size rotates one page image by 180 ° so that the binding direction is outside the paper. Layout.

  According to the present invention, even when out of paper occurs and alternative paper is selected, the output obtained by laying out and printing a plurality of page images to fit on the same series paper larger than the specified size The intended output can be obtained only by applying a post-process to the result, that is, by performing a cutting process. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus can generate a job description file for instructing the post-process, thereby reliably performing a subsequent printing process assuming a near-line finisher.

  In addition, when performing page alignment, one page image is rotated by 180 ° and laid out, so that the cut surface can be prevented from being in the binding position, so even when binding is specified, It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can perform a binding process without being affected by cutting.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Configuration example of image processing apparatus according to this embodiment>
First, the configuration of an image processing system according to the present embodiment suitable for applying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. For example, the case of a laser beam printer is shown. Note that the image processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the laser beam printer, but may be a printer apparatus of another printing method, and may be applied regardless of the difference in equipment configuration such as a monochrome / color printer. Is possible.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an external device such as a host computer, and reference numeral 102 denotes a laser beam printer main body according to the present embodiment.

  The laser beam printer 102 receives print data (character code, graphic data, image data, etc.) in a page description language (PDL) format generated by a printer driver operating on the external device 101, and responds according to the information. A character pattern, a graphic pattern, or the like is created, and an image is formed on a recording sheet as a recording medium. In addition, the laser beam printer 102 is configured to be able to register a character pattern, form data, macro data, etc., in a data storage unit (not shown), similarly to the print data received from the host computer 101. A page image is generated according to the print data in the storage unit.

  In the laser beam printer 102, 103 is a printer control unit (controller unit) that controls the entire laser beam printer 102 and analyzes print data (such as character information) supplied from the host computer 101. The control unit 103 is connected to the printer engine unit 105, generates a page image composed of dot data based on the print data, and sequentially transmits the dot data (video signal) to the printer engine unit 105.

  A printer engine unit 105 forms a latent image on the photosensitive drum in accordance with the dot data (video signal) and performs thermal printing on the paper to perform printing. Reference numeral 104 denotes an operation panel on which operation switches and LED indicators are arranged. The operator (user) designates a predetermined operation to the laser beam printer 102 by operating the panel unit 104. Alternatively, the print environment can be set.

  Here, the laser beam printer 106 and the host computer 101 are connected by a network capable of communication by a predetermined protocol such as TCP / IP, and a plurality of host computers are connected to the network. It is common. In addition, as a connection form, you may connect by one to one by other interfaces, such as Centronics and USB.

  Reference numeral 107 denotes a nearline finisher, which performs a cutting process according to the description of the job description file generated by the laser beam printer.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the laser beam printer 102 of the present embodiment, and mainly shows the configuration of the printer engine unit 105. Here, the same components as those in FIG.

  In the figure, a laser driver 201 is a circuit for driving a semiconductor laser 202 and switches on / off a laser beam 203 emitted from the semiconductor laser 202 in accordance with the video signal output from the control unit 103. The laser 203 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 204 and scans the electrostatic drum 205. Thereby, an electrostatic latent image such as a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 205 by the charged toner. This latent image is developed by the developing unit 206 around the electrostatic drum 205 and then transferred to the recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording paper, and the cut sheet recording paper is stored in a paper cassette 207 mounted on the laser beam printer 102, and is taken into the apparatus by a paper feed roller 208 and conveying rollers 209 and 210. It is supplied to the electrostatic drum 205.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the basic components of the image processing system according to the present embodiment, and shows the internal configuration of the control unit 103 of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. ing. As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, a single device or a system in which processing is performed by a plurality of devices arranged via a network such as a LAN may be used.

  In the figure, a control unit 103 of a laser beam printer is connected to a host computer 101 which is an external device via a predetermined interface 308 (106), and print data sent by a printer driver operating on the host computer 101. The predetermined printing process is executed according to the above. Here, the print data received from the host computer 101 is first temporarily stored as received data in the reception buffer 305a.

  Reference numeral 301 denotes a printer CPU. Based on a control program stored in a program ROM 303 in a ROM 302 which is a read-only memory, an access to various devices connected to the system bus 306 and an ASIC 309 configured by a hardware circuit are installed. It has overall control. Here, the control program is composed of the following programs. That is, the print data stored in the reception buffer 305a is analyzed, a DL generation unit 303a that generates at least one page of drawing objects (Display List: DL), and then a raster image of one page based on the drawing objects. (That is, a page image) is generated, and a DL drawing unit 303b that stores the page image in the hard disk 311 and a printing unit (printer engine) 105 via the printing unit I / F 310 turn on a bit representing the page image. It comprises an engine control unit (not shown) that outputs a video signal by / OFF.

  In addition, the laser beam printer 102 is supplied with power from a power supply unit (not shown).

  In addition to the above configuration, the control program 303 includes a program for realizing the following functions. That is, after detecting the absence of paper by the paper absence detection unit 303c that performs various types of paper control such as detection of paper absence and detection of the paper size provided in the paper feeding unit, A page image layout unit 303d for imposing and pasting a plurality of page images on a large and similar series of paper, and instructing cutting of the paper on which a plurality of page images are pasted together in a subsequent process A job description file generating unit 303e for generating a job description file for printing, a printing environment control unit (not shown) for setting various printing environments in accordance with an input from the operation panel 104, and the like.

  The ROM 302 is also used as a memory for storing font data composed of dot fonts used for character output and outline-type scalable fonts (font ROM 304).

  Reference numeral 305 denotes a RAM that functions as a main memory, a work memory, and the like of the CPU 301, and is configured such that the memory capacity can be expanded by an optional RAM connected to an expansion port (not shown). The RAM 305 includes a DL storage unit 305a that stores the drawing object generated by the DL generation unit 303a, a work memory 305d that is temporarily used in various drawing processes by the control program 303, and a page memory that corresponds to a page image of one page. In addition to 305c, it is used for a font cache memory (not shown) that caches a character pattern developed based on scalable data in the font memory 304.

  A hard disk 311 registers resources such as font data and overlay data described in the PDL format in addition to the page image generated by the DL rendering unit 303b, and various print logs generated in the image processing apparatus. In addition, it is used to temporarily store print data in order to realize functions such as saved jobs and confidential printing. Although the print data has been described as being stored in the hard disk 311, the print data may be stored in a non-volatile memory (not shown) such as a flash memory, the RAM 305, or another storage device.

  Further, the apparatus constituting the present invention has been described as being supplied as a program stored in the ROM. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the apparatus is supplied by a medium such as a flexible disk or a hard disk and loaded into the RAM or the like before execution. It may be configured to be executed. In addition, the present invention can be implemented even if a drive (not shown) is removed from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, memory card, DVD, etc., and the control program is installed and controlled. Yes, the present invention includes this.

  312 is a printer driver that operates on the host computer, receives a print instruction from the application software through the OS, and generates a PDL format print data that can be interpreted by the image processing apparatus 103; , And an output control unit 312b for outputting the print data to the image processing apparatus.

<Example of Print Job Operation in Image Processing System of Present Embodiment>
(Configuration example of print data)
Next, a format example of print data output from the host computer to the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  The start and end of the print job and the designated part of the number of copies are configured in a language called JL (Job Language), and include the following instruction groups for specifying various uniform environments (job environments) within the print job.

A job start instruction indicating the start of a print job (job ID = JOBID is specified as a parameter)
A print resolution designation command (600 dpi in this embodiment) for setting a print resolution for processing a print command in the subsequent PDL data format
・ Printing side designation command to specify whether printing is performed on one side or both sides of the paper (both sides)
・ Specify number of copies (1 copy)
・ Discharge port selection command (cassette 1)
-PDL transition instruction (start A) that instructs the start of the PDL analysis processing program to process the print data
Here, A is LIPSLX (LIPS is a registered trademark).

  Although omitted in the present embodiment for the sake of simplicity, JL includes various commands for remotely setting various print environments that can be set from the operation panel 104 in addition to the print environment described above. . The contents set by the JL are configured to temporarily override the printing environment set on the operation panel and become effective only within the JL job.

  Up to this point is a JL command (hereinafter referred to as a job environment setting command), which will be written in PDL from now on.

A PDL job start command indicating the start of PDL data (data resolution (600 dpi) specifying the resolution used in the rendering command as a parameter)
-Page start command (with parameters such as paper size A4 and image orientation)
・ Character set registration command to process registered character patterns (followed by various parameters and character pattern data)
Brush designation command for determining drawing color (R = 128, G = 128, B = 128)
・ Registered character print command (font ID, character ID) for printing the pattern registered with the character set registration command
Subsequently, various drawing commands are instructed by the data structure as shown in FIG.

:
-Page end command (paper discharge command)
:
-PDL job end instruction that defines the end of a PDL job This is described in PDL, and at the end of the print job,
A job end instruction that defines the end of a print job by JL is described.

(Print job processing procedure)
Next, a print data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  FIG. 4 shows the print result output in this embodiment and the contents of the generated job description file when the paper runs out during the output of the print job specifying A4 as the paper size. Is a flowchart showing the procedure of this processing.

  In FIG. 4, after the image processing apparatus detects no paper, it is larger than the paper size A4 specified by the PDL (401 in the figure) and the same series, for example, A3 paper is set in another paper feed stage. If A3 paper can be fed, a plurality of page images generated with the A4 paper size are combined into a multi-page printing layout as shown in 402 in FIG. A job definition file 403 for designating an instruction to cut the A3 sheet output by combining the images to the subsequent process is generated.

  In the job definition file (JDF) 403, a comment “%% JobDescriptionFile” indicating that the file is JDF is first written in the header portion. Subsequently, the document name is described in the Title column, and the job ID for specifying the job description file is described in the JobID column. Here, the document name and job ID are described with reference to the contents designated by the printer driver by JL. In the subsequent Media column, the output paper size is described. Information on whether double-sided printing or single-sided printing has been performed is described in the Plex column. Further, in the “cut” column, the sheet specified in the job description file is specified to be cut (in this embodiment, “center” indicating cutting at the center of the sheet is described), and finally, the print job is specified. The number of pages after which the cutting process is required (the page position where the paper has run out) is described in the startPage column.

  Next, a processing procedure performed when the image processing apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment detects a paper out will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step 501 in the figure, a page image is generated based on the received PDL analysis result, and in the subsequent step 502, it is checked whether or not all pages have been discharged. Here, discharge of all pages has been completed. If so, the processing of this print job is terminated. On the other hand, if a page that has not been ejected remains, a paper out detection is performed in order to confirm whether or not the paper of the paper size to be output for performing the paper ejection process remains in the paper feed stage (step S503). If a predetermined paper is detected, it is checked whether or not the output paper size has been changed in the print job, that is, whether or not the paper is once detected (step S504). In this determination processing, the determination may be made based on whether or not a job description file for the print job has been generated, or by a flag that is initialized at the start of the print job and set when the layout is changed after detection of no paper. It doesn't matter. If the output size has not been changed, the print job has not yet detected no paper, and the paper is discharged with the paper size specified by the PDL (step S505). The output page count initialized at the start of the job is incremented (step S506). After the discharge of one page is completed in this way, the process returns to S501 to generate a subsequent page image.

  On the other hand, if no paper is detected in step S503, in step S508, a plurality of page images larger than the designated paper size and adapted to the same series of paper sizes are combined, and the output size is changed and the paper is discharged. (Step S509). In a succeeding step S510, a job description file as shown in FIG. 4 is generated. At this time, the page count incremented in S506 is described as the start page field of the JDF, so that the page position for the subsequent process is specified with reference to the JDF.

  Further, after detecting the absence of paper once in S503 and performing the processing steps in S508 to S510, the determination result in S504 is Yes, and after changing the same as the processing in S508 and S509 by combining a plurality of page images. The paper is discharged using this paper (S507).

  According to the processing procedure described above, after detecting the absence of paper, the layout is changed, printing is performed on the same series paper having a larger paper size, and a JDF is generated for designating cutting the paper after the layout change. Thus, it is possible to give an accurate finishing instruction to the subsequent process without wasting paper.

(Configuration example of drawing object and drawing information)
A configuration of a drawing object and drawing information generated by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of the DL storage unit 305a for one page in the present embodiment, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of a drawing object, and FIG. 10 is a drawing information.

  First, in FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes a page information header portion for storing various information for each page, and the print resolution, paper size, color mode, number of bands, total capacity of drawing objects belonging to the page ( It is composed of information to be managed for each page, such as memory usage), page state (drawn / shipped, etc.), page number for counting the page sequentially and identifying the page. The print resolution and the like are determined from the print resolution specified by JL at the start of the job, and the number of bands is obtained from the paper size and the print resolution, with the height of each band as a predetermined fixed value. Reference numeral 802 denotes a band table, in which areas are prepared for the number of bands, and a drawing information group 803 belonging to the band is linked to each band table (see FIG. 9). As will be described below, each piece of drawing information indicates how and in which position each drawing object is printed in each band. Subsequently, the DL storage unit 305a includes a drawing object group 804 in which DL generated from character patterns and image data to be printed, graphic data such as rectangles and run lengths are stored.

  Here, the drawing information is referred to as “appl” (abbreviation) in the drawing. In this embodiment, the individual drawing information 901 and drawing object 902 are held separately in the drawing information group 803 and the drawing object group 804 in the DL storage unit 305b. It may be configured as described above.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of one piece of drawing information, and is configured to include the following information as information for drawing a drawing object. That is, the print position in the band (bit offset value from the upper left end of the band) 1001, the drawing height 1002 of the drawing object, the drawing logic (AND / OR, etc.) 1003 with the band raster, and the information to be drawn on the background of the drawing object , Background information (BG information) 1004 indicated, start address 1005 of the corresponding drawing object, and offset indicating how much the drawing object should be skipped when drawing the middle part of the drawing object from the beginning of the bunt (Number of lines) 1006, the top address of the next drawing information (the link end is NULL) 1007, and the like. Here, it is assumed that the BG information is composed of gray levels, and at the time of drawing, a dither pattern corresponding to the gray level is pasted as the background of each drawing object.

  Here, when a drawing object is drawn across a plurality of bands, a plurality of drawing information corresponds to one drawing object. When the same character is printed by the font object, a plurality of drawing information corresponds to one font object. That is, the drawing information is assigned by the number of times of drawing. In the example of FIG. 9, the character “A” is drawn across band 0 and band 1 by appl1 and appl3, and is further drawn in band n by appl5.

  It should be noted that each piece of information in the above-described drawing information only needs to have at least the number of bits that can express the designated paper with the designated resolution, and the link between the drawing information and the drawing object is not limited to the address in the RAM. The link may be based on an ID (in this case, it is converted into an address via an ID table prepared in advance).

  With the above configuration, in order to draw each drawing object for each band and generate a band image, each drawing information linked from the band table is sequentially read, and printing position information stored in each drawing information The drawing object may be drawn according to the above. By repeating this process until the next drawing information address becomes NULL, the rendering process for one band is completed, and the process is continuously read and processed from band table 0 to n to process one page. The rendering process ends.

  In the first embodiment, the case of single-sided printing has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, double-sided printing may be designated.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an output result when the present invention is applied to double-sided printing. As shown in the figure, when a page layout is changed and output after detecting the absence of paper in a print job instructed to be printed on both sides, the page image is synthesized so that a correct print result can be obtained by cutting. . That is, when the A4 sheet is changed to the A3 sheet, the page images of the pages 1 and 3 and the pages 2 and 4 are combined, and the page images combined on both sides of the A3 sheet are output.

  By applying the present invention, it is possible to obtain a desired output result by cutting a sheet laid out on a plurality of pages even when there is no paper, but the cut surfaces are not neatly arranged by cutting. There can be cases. Therefore, even when the binding margin is specified in the JL of the print job, the page images to be combined are rotated by 180 ° and combined so that the binding process is not affected by the subsequent cutting process. You may do it.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a printing result in this embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, when the page images 701 and 702 are combined, the page images 702 are combined by rotating 180 ° so that the binding position in the longitudinal direction is designated. The binding position is the position indicated by the bold line in the figure and is not affected by cutting. In addition, when the four pages are combined and output, such as when the A5 sheet is changed to the A3 sheet, if the pages are combined as shown in FIG. 7B, the binding process is performed without being affected by the cutting. be able to.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium (or recording medium) in which a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is recorded to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or CPU) of the system or apparatus. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the MPU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  When the present invention is applied to the above storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowchart described above (shown in FIG. 5).

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a laser beam printer to which the present invention can be applied and a host computer on which a printer driver operates and a post-process processing apparatus. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the laser beam printer shown to this Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a control unit (controller unit) and a basic configuration of a printer driver of the image processing apparatus shown in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a printing result and contents of a generated job description file in the first embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print data processing procedure in the printer according to the first embodiment. It is a figure explaining the example of the printing result in 2nd Example. It is a figure explaining the example of the printing result in a 3rd Example. It is a figure which shows the memory map which shows the content of DL storage part 305a for 1 page. It is a block diagram which shows the outline of the link structure between drawing information / drawing object. It is a figure which shows the structure of drawing information. It is a figure showing an example of a format of print data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Host computer 102 Image processing apparatus 103 Controller part 105 Printer engine part 301 CPU
303 Program ROM
303a DL generation unit 303c No paper detection unit 303d Page image layout unit 303e Job description file generation unit 305 RAM
305b DL storage unit 312 Printer driver 312a Drawing processing unit 803 Drawing information unit 804 Drawing object (DL) group 901 Drawing information (appl)

Claims (5)

In an image processing apparatus that generates and outputs a page image corresponding to print data input from outside,
A plurality of paper feeding means capable of feeding paper of a plurality of sizes;
Detecting means for detecting during printing processing whether or not there is a first size paper to be output corresponding to the print data;
Means for detecting the presence or absence of a second paper having a size larger than that of the first paper and having the same series size when the detection means detects no paper;
Means for laying out and combining a plurality of page images generated with the first paper size in conformity with the second paper size when the second paper is present by the detecting means;
Means for generating a job description file for instructing a post-process for a page output on the second sheet;
An image processing apparatus comprising:   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-process is cutting.   The image processing apparatus further includes means for prompting the user to replenish paper or select a substitute paper provided in the paper feed means when the detecting means detects no paper, and the alternative paper option The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second paper size on which the combined page image is printed is expressed as one of the following.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job description file is described in a JDF (Job Description File).   The means for laying out and outputting the plurality of page images generated at the first size to the second paper size rotates and layouts one of the page images 180 degrees so that the binding direction is outside the paper. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

Images