IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMATION SYSTEM AND IMGAGE FORMATION METHOD

摘要

An image processing method includes a page layout adjustment step of converting image data to create print data having a page layout such that, when printed sheets each of which has a specified number of pages are discharged from an image formation apparatus thereby forming a stack of the printed sheets in the discharged order and in a case where the stack of the printed sheets are cut into the specified number of separated stacks corresponding to the page layout, the stack order of the cut printed sheets in each of the separated stacks corresponds to a sequence page order.

主权项

1. An image formation apparatus comprising:
storage units configured to store printing media therein; medium detection sensors provided in the respective storage units and each configured to detect whether or not there is a printing medium in the corresponding storage unit and output a medium detection signal; size detection sensors provided in the respective storage units and each configured to detect the size of the printing media in the corresponding storage unit and output a size detection signal; an image formation unit configured to receive print data and print images on the printing media; conveyance units each configured to convey the printing media in the corresponding storage unit toward the image formation unit; a display unit configured to receive display information including information on switching to the printing media and display the display information; an input and setting unit configured to receive a user input; an image data output unit configured to output image data, perform layout processing of print contents of the image data, and output layout-pro S pcessed data of the layout processing; a size switch control unit configured to control switching to alternative size printing media detected by the size detection sensor and output information on the switching to the alternative size printing media; and an image processing unit, wherein the image processing unit: receives the information on the switching to the alternative size printing media and transmits the information to the display unit, obtains a to-be-printed page number by counting the number of pages yet to be printed in the printing media or the alternative size printing media, receives control information including the medium detection signal, the size detection signal, the image data and the layout-processed data and controls the conveyance units and the image formation unit, and generates the print data based on the control information, the information on the switching to the alternative size printing media and the to-be-printed page number, and outputs the generated print data to the image formation unit.