JP2001058397A - Printer and method for printing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely set a layout of an image by a single printer and to facilitate its setting. SOLUTION: A carriage 53 contains a reader having a light emitting unit 61 made of a fluorescent tube and a photodetector 62 including a mirror, a lens, a CCD and the like. Actually, a sheet in which a black line drawing surrounding a region having a position, shape and size of printing an image is read by the photo-detector 62, and a printing region of the image printed based on the read graphic figure is established. The image is printed on the sheet in correspondence with the printing region based on the image data acquired from a recording medium.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printer and a printing method for printing an image on paper based on image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital cameras, which have become widespread, record images using electronic data, so that users of digital cameras can print images recorded in various forms using printers. For example, when an image recorded by a digital camera is printed on paper by a printer, the image can be printed by designating the layout of the image on the paper. The method of printing an image on paper by designating a layout in this way is roughly classified into the following two methods.

The first method is a method in which an image is taken into a personal computer and a layout for printing the image is designated. According to this method, printing can be performed by designating a relatively free layout.

[0004] A second method is to use a printer whose layout can be selected by the printer itself. A plurality of layouts are prepared in advance for such a printer, and a desired layout can be selected from the prepared layouts.

[0005]

However, there are only a limited number of digital camera users who can import images into a personal computer and specify a layout. That is, a user who does not own a personal computer or a user who is unfamiliar with the operation of the personal computer cannot specify a layout freely and print by the first method. On the other hand, according to the second method, the layout that can be selected by the user is limited, and printing cannot be performed by designating a free layout. Therefore, the conventional printer has a problem that an operation environment in which a user who does not own a personal computer or a user unfamiliar with the operation of the personal computer can specify a free layout and perform printing is not realized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and provides a printer and a printing method in which the layout of an image can be freely set by a printer alone and the setting can be easily performed. The purpose is to: Another object of the present invention is to provide a printer and a printing method that can cut an image, which could not be achieved without using a dedicated application in the past, by operating the printer alone.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the reading unit irradiates the first sheet on which the graphic is drawn with light by the light emitting unit, and irradiates the first sheet with the light from the light emitting unit. The light reflected by the paper is received by the light receiving unit, and an output signal corresponding to the light intensity is transmitted. The control unit uses the first calculation unit to perform the second calculation based on the arrangement, shape, and size of the figure grasped by the output signal transmitted from the light receiving unit.
The print area on the sheet is determined. The output unit prints an image on the determined print area on the second sheet based on the image data obtained by the input unit and processed by the control unit. Since the print area for printing the image is determined based on the graphic drawn on the paper, an arbitrary layout can be designated and printed by the printer alone, and the designation of the arbitrary layout is extremely easy.

According to the printer of the present invention, the first calculating means determines a rectangular area circumscribing the figure as a print area on the second sheet, so that the print area is determined based on the figure having the curved portion. Can be determined.

According to the printer according to the third aspect of the present invention, the control unit uses the second arithmetic unit to trim the image data obtained by the input unit in accordance with the print area determined by the first arithmetic unit. Therefore, the aspect ratio of the graphic drawn on the first sheet can be reflected in the aspect ratio of the image to be printed. Here, trimming means that the ratio of the number of vertically arranged pixels to the number of horizontally arranged pixels of the image data is equal to the ratio of the vertical length to the horizontal length of the print area. Means that some of the pixels are deleted.

According to the printer according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control unit uses the third arithmetic means, and corresponds to the position outside the figure in the pixels constituting the image data trimmed by the second arithmetic means. Change pixels to colorless. For this reason, when an image is printed in the determined square print area,
An image surrounded by a figure drawn on the first sheet can be printed. That is, the original image can be cut into an arbitrary shape and printed on paper.

According to the printer of the present invention, the reading unit is structurally provided integrally with the printing means of the output unit for fixing the color material on the second sheet while reciprocating. For this reason, the image of the entire first sheet can be read by the light receiving unit including the small number of light receiving elements.

According to the printing method of the present invention, the first paper on which the graphic is drawn is irradiated with light, the light reflected by the first paper is received, and the output corresponding to the intensity of the light is received. Send a signal. Further, a print area on the second sheet is determined based on the arrangement, shape, and size of the figure grasped by the output signal, and an image is printed on the determined print area on the second sheet. Therefore, it is extremely easy to designate and print an arbitrary layout.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; 1 and 2 show a printer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Printer 1
Is an apparatus for printing an image on a sheet based on magnetic information recorded on a recording medium inserted into the card slot 21. The output unit includes an input unit 3, a transport unit 51, and a printing unit 52. Various operation keys to control,
And case 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, a card slot 21 for inserting a recording medium is formed on the front surface of the case 2. The input unit 3 for reading magnetic information of a recording medium is accommodated inside the card slot 21 as shown in FIG. The input unit 3 acquires magnetic information written on a recording medium such as a memory card as image data, and
The image data.

A paper supply port 22 and a paper discharge port 23 are formed in the case 2 as shown in FIG.
An output unit that prints an image while transporting the paper from the paper discharge port 23 is accommodated. The output unit includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a transport unit 51 for transporting the paper 99, and a printing unit 52 for ejecting ink droplets on the paper 99. Conveying means 51
Is a transport roller driven by a motor (not shown),
And a driven roller that contacts the transport roller and transports the paper 99 by friction. The general feed roller and the driven roller rotate to rotate the paper supply port 22 to the paper discharge port 23.
Paper 99 is transported. The printing unit 52 includes an inkjet head, an ink tank, a carriage 53, and the like, and ejects ink droplets on the paper 99 by a known inkjet method. The carriage 53 is supported by the case 2 so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the paper 99, is driven by a motor (not shown), and houses an ink jet head, an ink tank, a reading unit, and the like.

The reading unit accommodated in the carriage 53 includes a light emitting unit 61 composed of a fluorescent tube, a mirror, a lens, and a CCD.
(Charge coupled device) and the like. The light receiving unit 62 is provided at a position for receiving the light emitted from the light emitting unit 61 and reflected on the paper,
An output signal developed in a binary data format in a matrix in the AM is transmitted to the control unit 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, various input devices for setting printing conditions are provided on the upper surface of the case 2 as shown in FIG. The pair of image selection keys 41 is a key for selecting an image to be read out from the recording medium and printed by being pressed up or down. Image selection key 41
The number for identifying the image selected by the user is displayed on the image number display panel 42 which is a segment type liquid crystal display device.
Displayed by The pair of number selection keys 43 is a key for selecting the number of prints of an image to be read from the recording medium when one of the upper and lower keys is pressed. The number of images to be printed is displayed by a number display panel 44 which is a segment type liquid crystal display device. The handwritten layout key 45 is a key for starting an area determination module described later when pressed. Print start key 4
A key 6 transmits a printing condition setting signal to the output unit 4 when pressed, and starts printing using a later-described conversion module or the like.

The control unit 6 includes a CPU, a RAM (not shown),
It is composed of a ROM and the like. The ROM stores a program for converting image data into print data in accordance with a print condition setting signal and an output signal of the light receiving unit 62. This program includes an area determination module as a first operation unit, a trimming module as a second operation unit, an update module as a third operation unit, a conversion module, and the like. The CPU controls the transport unit 51 and the printing unit 52 by executing these modules.

When the handwriting layout key 45 is pressed, the area determination module alternately repeats the transport of the sheet and the reciprocating movement of the carriage 53, reads a line image hand-drawn on the sheet in a binary data format, and surrounds the line image. This is a module for storing the minimum rectangular area as a print area in the RAM.

The trimming module compares the aspect ratio of the number of pixels of the image data with the aspect ratio of the print area, and adjusts the length or width of the image data and the print area so that no margin is formed in the print area, and extends out of the print area. This module erases and trims image data. The update module compares the image data trimmed according to the print area with the binary image data of the line drawing, and the pixels outside the area surrounded by the line drawing when the four sides of the image are overlapped so as to be in contact with the line drawing. This module updates the image data by rewriting the color information as colorless.

The conversion module converts the image data into print data for controlling the transport means 51 and the print means 52 in accordance with the print condition setting signal, and develops the print data in the RAM.
Conveying means 51 based on printing data developed in AM
And a module for controlling the printing unit 52.

Hereinafter, the operation of the printer 1 will be described. The printer 1 can print an image on a postcard-sized sheet by designating an image to be printed, the number of prints, and a layout.

By operating the image selection key 41, any one of the images corresponding to the numbers 1 to 99 recorded on the recording medium can be designated as the image to be printed. The printing condition setting signal sent from the print start key 46 to the control unit 4 is changed according to the number of times of pressing from the initial setting state, and the conveying unit 51 and the printing unit 52 are configured to print the images specified by the numbers 1 to 99. Is driven.

The number of prints can be selected from 1 to 99 by operating the number selection key 43. The printing condition setting signal sent from the print start key 46 to the control unit 4 is changed according to the number of times of pressing from the initial setting state, and the conveying unit 51 and the printing unit 51 print one to 99 sheets of the designated image continuously. 52 is driven.

The printer 1 has a handwriting layout key 45
If is not pressed, one image is printed on the entire postcard size paper. When the handwritten layout key 45 is pressed, an arbitrary layout is specified by reading the first sheet on which the handwritten figure is drawn. Hereinafter, a method of specifying and printing an arbitrary layout will be described with reference to FIG. This will be described in detail.

First, a postcard-size sheet in which a black line drawing surrounding an area where a picture is actually printed, a shape, and a size is drawn as the first sheet is set in the sheet supply port 22. When the handwriting layout key 45 is pressed, the area determination module is called, and the transport mechanism 51 transports the first sheet to a position where the edge of the sheet faces the reading unit. The light is emitted from the light emitting unit 61 to the first sheet while the carriage 53 moves in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction,
When the reflected light is read by the light receiving unit 62, an output signal in a region of a predetermined width is transmitted to the control unit 4 and
It is stored in the RAM in the form of value data. When the carriage 53 completes one reciprocating movement, the sheet is conveyed to the sheet discharge port 23 by a predetermined width. The light is emitted from the light emitting unit 61 to the first sheet while the carriage 53 moves in the direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction at the conveyed position, and the reflected light is read by the light receiving unit 62 so that the light receiving unit 62 reads the first sheet. The output signal from the inside is transmitted to the control unit 4 and stored in the RAM in a binary data format. Thereafter, similarly, the conveyance of the sheet and the reciprocating movement of the carriage are repeated, and the binary image data representing the image of the entire sheet is developed in the RAM of the control unit 4 (S
10).

The area determination module identifies the boundary line between the black area on the paper and its own area from all the pixels constituting the binary image data expanded in the RAM, and determines the area surrounded by the outermost boundary line on the paper. Is determined as an area surrounded by a black line drawing drawn on paper, and data is stored in the RAM as an image area. Further, the smallest rectangular area surrounding the image area is calculated as the print area, and the data is stored in the RAM (S2).
0).

Next, a postcard-size sheet on which an image is to be printed as the second sheet is set in the sheet supply port 22, a recording medium on which the image is recorded is inserted into the card slot 21, and the image and the image to be printed are printed. After designating the number of prints, the print start key 46 is pressed.

When the print start key 46 is pressed, the conversion module is called and the image data corresponding to the specified image is expanded in the RAM (S30). When the image data is expanded in the RAM, the conversion module calls the trimming module to compare the image data with the print area, and a predetermined position on both the upper and lower sides or both the left and right sides of the image data so that the image is output in accordance with the print area. The width data is erased (S40). Further, when the trimming module ends, the update module is called, the image data is compared with the image area, and the color information of all the pixels in the area where the image protrudes from the image area is rewritten to be colorless and the image data is updated (S50). ). When the update module is completed, the process proceeds to the execution of the conversion module, where the updated image data is converted into print data based on the print area, and is expanded in the RAM. When the conveying unit 51 and the printing unit 52 are driven based on the printing data and the image data is printed on the printing area of the second sheet, the same as the area surrounded by the line drawing drawn on the first sheet. The original image is cut out and printed at the same position and size as the area surrounded by the line drawing (S60).

According to the printer 1 of one embodiment of the present invention,
Since the layout of the image can be set by reading the figure drawn by hand, the layout of the image can be freely set by the printer alone, and the setting is easy. Further, an image can be cut out and printed in an arbitrary shape by operating the printer alone.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a printer according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an operation of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 3 Input part 4 Control part 51 Conveying means 52 Printing means 61 Light emitting part 62 Light receiving part

Claims (6)

[Claims] An input unit for acquiring image data; a light emitting unit for irradiating light on a first sheet on which a figure is drawn; and a light receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected on the first sheet. A reading unit having a light receiving unit for transmitting an output signal corresponding to the intensity of light, and the arrangement, shape, and size of the figure grasped by the output signal transmitted from the light receiving unit. A control unit having a first calculation unit for determining a print area; and an output unit for printing an image on the determined print area on the second sheet based on the image data processed by the control unit. A printer characterized in that: 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first calculation unit determines a rectangular area circumscribing the figure as a print area on the second sheet. 3. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein the control unit includes a second calculation unit that trims the image data obtained by the input unit according to the print area determined by the first calculation unit. The printer described. 4. The control unit includes a third calculation unit that changes a pixel corresponding to a position outside the figure from the pixels constituting the image data trimmed by the second calculation unit to colorless. 4. The printer according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The output unit is configured to move back and forth while reciprocating.
5. The printer according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit configured to fix a color material on the sheet, and wherein the reading unit is provided integrally with the printing unit. 6. 6. A step of irradiating light on a first sheet on which a figure is drawn, receiving light reflected on the first sheet, and transmitting an output signal according to the intensity of the light, Determining a print area on the second sheet based on the arrangement, shape, and size of the figure, and printing an image on the determined print area on the second sheet. A printing method characterized by the above-mentioned.